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Any woman who didn’t snuggle his dog and tell her she was the prettiest girl in the world was one he had to walk away from.
Her teeth scraped over his bottom lip, and the world went black. A surprise. The continual surprise of Dr. Mackenzie O’Neil.
“There’s no shame in not knowing how to do something. There’s no shame in learning and trying. Shame never works as a motivator.”
snuggly
snugly. Not snuggly.
She slammed the headset over her ears. “Let’s rock and roll, RS.” With her focus on the patient, she didn’t notice Linc watching the chopper until it disappeared.
“You’re actually doing me a huge favor. It’s wax-the-apparatus day, and she gets in the way trying to bite all the rags.” “You’re making that up.” He was indeed. “I’m truly heartbroken that you would think that. Devastated, Dreamy.”
He and Mack were going to get married and have babies and yellow labs everywhere, Linc decided.
total swoon
She reached for the handle and slowly slid the door open. Another pause. Another beat as they eyed each other. The attraction so palpable, she wondered how she ever thought she could ignore it. “Send me home, Dreamy,” he rasped. In this moment, there was nothing she wanted more than this man’s hands on her.
“Linc.” “Don’t change your mind. Please, Dreamy.” She cupped his face in her hands. “I’m not changing my mind. I just like saying your name while your hands are on me.”
Everything before was a faded black-and-white photo. But Linc’s body pressing hers against cabinet and counter was in full, high-definition color. This was what had been missing. He was who had been missing.
“You could give me some directions here.” “I already had an orgasm,” she said smugly. “Dreamy, you don’t want that to be your only one tonight.” “Point taken. Next door on the right.”
“I still don’t know if I can give you more than this,” she whispered. His eyes bored into hers. “I’ll take whatever you can give me, Mackenzie.”
“I’m seeing stars, Dreamy.” The sweet again sprinkled in with the dirty. Was there anything sexier than that?
Linc spun away from her and took a cleansing breath. Then another. “Linc?” He held up a finger over his shoulder. “Need a minute or I’m gonna say something stupid that you’ll hold against me.”
“I’m sorry for possibly coming close to maybe almost overreacting.”
“You’re saying you didn’t land Sophie Garrison by being a big shot in high school and then picking a career with a uniform that emphasizes your ass and your authority?” Linc asked. Ty looked over his shoulder at his ass. “It really does look good in these pants, doesn’t it?”
“I’m not agreeing with the chickenshit moniker,” Linc insisted. “But?” “But you might have a vaguely sort of almost-but-not-quite accurate point. Also, I only wink with my right eye, so your impression needs work.” He demonstrated, and Ty staggered back. “Damn. It was like I heard a ding when you did that.”
Her heart did an odd roll. “Oh, boy,” she whispered, slapping a hand to her chest. So this was what it was like. There was no point fighting it. She’d gone and fallen in love with Lincoln Reed.
“I was there. On the scene,” he said, the memories rising up as they did sometimes late at night when he couldn’t sleep. “I remember thinking that it was officially the end. I didn’t even know I’d held out hope that someday she’d see me. Choose me.
I guess I’d always hoped that maybe there was still a chance someday. Someday I’d have that. And then it was all over. No more chances.”
“How’d you like me to kiss you, Dreamy?” She wet her lips, and the pink tip of her tongue ignited a want that ached inside him. “Kiss me like nothing else matters,” she whispered.
It hit him. A wave of love and pride so tall, so fierce, it made him weak in the knees.
Later that night, after beer, pizza, bath, and dog snuggles, they curled together on Linc’s big bed. Her back pressed up against his front. His arm anchoring her to him. He waited until her breaths slowed. And when he was sure she was sound asleep, he nuzzled into her neck. “I’m so fucking in love with you, Mackenzie O’Neil.”
“Don’t listen to him. And don’t think about it. Just say yes and put this on.” He tossed a shopping tote at her. Mack peered inside. “No way. Absolutely not.” “Kids. Deploy sad faces,” Linc ordered with a snap of his fingers. Six pairs of pathetic eyes stared up at her. Seven if she counted Sunshine’s. Eight if she counted Bryson’s face peering up from the depths of the bush.
“What happens later?” she asked, still eyeing her reflection. “Superman and Wonder Woman get it on while still in costume,” he said, bouncing off her mattress. “In fact, I don’t know why we’re still standing here talking. Every minute we waste now is one minute longer before I get under Wonder Woman’s skirt.” She crossed her wrists and held them in front of her. “Back off, evil Superman. If you start sporting wood in those tights, a kid is bound to lose an eye, and you’ll be banned from trick-or-treat forever.” “Your argument is strong, but your skirt is short. I’m having trouble focusing on
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“I need my kit,” she said, prodding around the cut on his forehead. “I’ll fix you up good as new.” Then in a gesture so pure, so sweet, it broke his dented heart, she brushed her lips to the cut. “I love you, Mackenzie.”
And you and your gigantic cock, heroic personality, and sweet, beautiful dog will win them over in seconds.” “I approve the order of my virtues.”
“But we’re going to need more room for dogs.” “And maybe other things…small people type things.”
“I want you to stay at the station with me tonight,” he said, his jaw hard. “I’m not staying in a firefighter fart factory.”
“You do a lot for us, chief,” Brody, in a Santa beard, told him. “This is a thank you.” “Shut the fuck up,” Linc said, feeling his throat tighten. “You shut the fuck up,” Brody countered, pulling him in for a hug.
“Mackenzie O’Neil, let’s make this official,” Linc said, producing the box from his pocket. “Shut the fuck up,” she said, bringing her gloved hands to her mouth. “I will once you put this damn diamond on your finger,” he promised.
