Second Chance Summer(90)

“Lily—”

“No, listen. I’m not going to hold back anymore.” She gulped in a breath, needing to hear him say it was all going to be okay.

Radio silence.

She gulped, but she had to finish, she had to put it all out there, like he’d done for her. He deserved that much. “Aidan—”

“No,” he said, cutting her off. “Not here. Not now, not like this. Not because you think I’m in danger.”

“But you are in danger.”

“Gray,” Aidan said. “Get her out of here.”

Gray took the radio from her numb fingers. “No can do, man,” he said into the radio. “She’s not going anywhere, and neither are me and Hud.”

“You’re all sitting ducks out there,” Aidan said. “Take her home or I’ll—”

Gray turned the radio off.

Lily gaped at him.

“He needed a moment to collect himself,” Gray said.

“We’re not leaving,” Lily said.

“We’re not leaving,” Gray confirmed.

“This storm better not go all night,” Hudson muttered, hunkering down in the backseat. “It’s effing cold back here. Hey, Lily, were you going to give him the L-word?”

Lily huddled into herself and went mute. Had she just yearned for family? Because maybe she could do without brothers …

Hudson laughed softly. “You two were made for each other.”

A month ago Lily would have denied that. Hell, even a few days ago she might have squirmed uncomfortably over the notion.

Not now.

Because she knew it to be true. They were made for each other. Aidan had given her back everything that had been missing from her life. Excitement, thrill, warmth, laughter, heat, heart …

Everything. He gave her everything.

She just hoped she hadn’t realized it too late.





Chapter 30


The storm warred directly overhead for three solid hours. Aidan knew this because he counted off every single minute.

And through it all he and Mitch had sat with their backs to the rock, their hoods up, heads down. Their gear was the best of the best, but the storm was crazy wild and no match for any gear.

Rain and seventy-five-mile-an-hour winds beat at them until sometime around midnight.

Then suddenly there was a lessening. And a promising gap without lightning.

And then finally came the radio call that he and Mitch had been waiting for—it was time to get out of this shit.

Aidan couldn’t agree more.

Twenty minutes later, Aidan rounded the top of the cliff, where he was immediately tackled by a bundle in a bright red jacket that was scented like Lily but looked like a wild woman.

They both toppled to the ground.

He sucked in a breath because, son of a bitch, he hurt from the tips of his hair to his toes and everything in between. But the pain faded when Lily clutched him, wrapping herself around him like a monkey.

She was shaking so hard she vibrated. “Guys,” he said to the crew who’d surrounded them. “Give us a minute.”

“No way in hell,” Mitch said. “Let’s get this show on the road. You two lovebirds can kiss and make up later, after we make the hike back to Incident Command.”

“A minute,” Aidan repeated.

“Fine.” Mitch tossed up his hands. “It’s your face that’s going to be permanently swelled up like the Goodyear blimp.”

Aidan ignored that and the two medics trying to get at him. “Lily.”

“Right here.” She very gently cupped his face. “Don’t be mad, we left Incident Command to be here once they gave the clear.”

“Tell me now,” he demanded.

“You’re bleeding.” She looked at someone at his other side, but Aidan didn’t take his eyes off of her. “He’s bleeding,” she said.

“I know,” Mitch told her. “It’s his stubborn head. But apparently none of us are going anywhere until you two have this out. So maybe you could speed things up a little bit, yeah?”

Again the medics tried to move in, but Aidan grated out through his teeth, “Wait.”

No one backed away, but no one dragged him off, either, which he took to mean he could have his damn minute. “Lily. Tell me now.”

She was still hugging him like it was her job, but she pulled back and stared into his eyes. Hers filled. “I love you.”

Yeah. That was what he needed. His entire body relaxed, and suddenly he could breathe as the knot in his chest loosened. The night was pitch black, and one eye had swollen shut, but he had no trouble seeing the shadow of the men hovering over him, trying to move in. He held on to her tight. “Again,” he said.

Her entire demeanor softened, and she bent over him to kiss him softly. “I love you. Always have. Always will.”

He felt the stupid smile split his face and his already split lip. “Shit.”

She let out a breath. “Okay, so now you’re going to stop growling at your team and let them take care of you,” she said firmly.

Mitch laughed, cutting it off only when Aidan glared at him.

Lily ignored the exchange and scooted back just enough to let the medics take over.

“I’m fine,” he insisted, and got to his feet, holding his arm across his chest funny.