“Oh, holy fuck,” I whispered.

CHAPTER FIVE – NOAH

Surprises Aren’t Just For Birthdays

She looked at me the exact same way I imagined I was looking at her.

It was one thing to suspect that the purple-haired woman I’d hauled over my shoulder and carried out of a burning building was the girl I’d been texting all week. I swore I’d heard her give her name as Reagan to the medic, but I’d passed it off as hearing things.

I was working. I was doing my job. Between the burning fire and the sound of the hoses roaring through the night and the commotion of all the people gathered outside, there was every chance I’d heard wrong.

It was too much of a coincidence, wasn’t it? One accidental text message, a few conversations, and she happened to be the first person I rescued from that fire?

It was… weird.

Judging by the way she was looking at me, she felt the same. I hadn’t heard things, and the beautiful, purple-haired woman in the hospital bed in front of me was Reagan.

Was she going to go into shock again?

She looked like she was. Her blue eyes were wide and horrified as they made their way down my arm and recognition set in. Her lips were parted in the most perfect little ‘o,’ and her purple hair was a mass of curls around her head, almost like a halo.

Or a mane.

Something told me that she was a lion.

“Well,” I said, shoving my hands in my pockets, desperate to break the awkward silence. “This is a story to tell the grandkids, isn’t it?”

She blinked at me, and then her bottom lip wobbled. Just as I thought she was going to cry, she burst into laughter. She clapped her hands over her face to cover it as she giggled her way through the next minute.

I could do nothing but smile, so I leaned against the wall and waited for her to calm down.

“Pinch me,” she whispered, coming around from her laughter. “I’m dreaming.”

“’Fraid not.” I held up a hand with an awkward smile. “Hi. I’m Noah. I saved your life last night, and I believe you saw my penis by accident earlier this week.”

She bit her lower lip and dragged it between her teeth. “Hi. I’m Reagan. Thank you for saving my life, and I guess you can now judge for yourself if I have great tits.”

I made a show of looking. “That hospital gown isn’t really doing you any favors.”

Reagan glanced down. “Nah, I guess not. I’d adjust them, but I might set the arm off and Miss Louella will kick you out.”

I glanced at the machine. “Your heartbeat is going nuts. I’m surprised she’s not in here yet.”

“She saw you on the way in. She’s a woman. She’ll understand.”

She had absolutely no filter at all. It was somewhat refreshing.

I chuckled. “Look, I—I just wanted to make sure you were okay. This awkwardness aside… Are you?”