“I meant about what happened, and where,” he said. “There’s going to always be risky rescues, dangerous fire conditions—”

“I know,” she said softly.

“I don’t know how to ask you to be with someone who—”

“You’re not asking,” she said. “It’s my decision. I want to be with you, Aidan, just as you are, whatever your job is, whatever you do. I just hate that you got hurt—”

“I’m okay.”

Her fingers ran lightly over the splint holding his arm to his chest while her gaze settled on the side of his face, currently burning like fire. Didn’t need a mirror to know what he must look like.

“Are you?” she breathed. “Okay?”

“One hundred percent.”

She arched a brow and he couldn’t help it, he smiled, and … split his lip again. “Dammit,” he said, and brought his fingers up to it.

She caught his hand. “If you’re fine, and I’m fine … are we fine?”

“You still love me?” he asked.

“So you do remember,” she breathed.

“Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“I wasn’t sure,” she admitted, and he realized she was tense with nerves.

With some serious effort he lifted the covers in silent invitation.

She bit her lip. “It’s a hospital bed, I can’t—”

“Come here.”

She glanced at Hudson, found him still snoring, and then kicked off her shoes. “Are you sure I won’t hurt you?”

“He’s fine,” Hudson muttered, eyes still closed, body not moving a muscle. “But you’re killing me. Shut the hell up, the both of you. No talking until …” He opened one eye, looked at his watch, groaned, and said “until much later than seven a.m.”

They both ignored him.

“I remember everything,” Aidan told Lily, tucking her into him. “But you should tell me again just to be sure.”

She smiled. “Well, for starters, I love what happens to you in the morning.” She wriggled against the part of him that did seem to enjoy mornings more than any other part of him.

“Christ,” Hudson muttered. “Get a room.”

“We’re in a room,” Aidan said, sliding his one good arm around Lily. “You were saying?” he asked her. “Something about my good parts?”

“Oh, for God’s sake.” Hudson pushed to his feet, glared at them, and strode out of the room.

“Thought he’d never leave,” Aidan said with a grin.

“He was worried about you,” Lily said. “We all worried about you. Aidan, I’m sorry I was so slow about things. But I meant every word I said to you last night. I want to stay in Cedar Ridge. I want to give us a real shot. I want to love you.”

He nodded, serious now. “For how long?”

“As long as you’ll have me.”

“Every day for the rest of my life,” he said immediately. “Does that work for you?”

Her eyes misted. “Works perfectly.”

Epilogue