Into the Fire (Bridge Book 2) (24 page)

M
aya Jacobs was my life
. My whole world. And in a matter of hours, she’d be my wife.

I’d carried her with me everywhere…for years. Through war. Through painful separations. By some miracle, I’d found her again. Now we were together and so close to taking the next step in our relationship.

But something wasn’t right. I could feel it.

I was supposed to stay with Darren tonight. Go out with the guys and throw some back. But nothing could keep me from her. Darren didn’t even try to argue. I knew something was wrong, and I was determined to unearth it before we said our vows tomorrow.

I knocked on the door to our penthouse room.

After a few seconds with no answer, I opened the door. Ocean air wafted over me, and the curtains at the balcony billowed with the wind. I shut the door and crossed the room. The sky was a midnight blue. Only a sliver of moonlight reflected over the ocean waves.

Through the tall arched doors, I found Maya curled up on a wicker couch with a light shawl around her shoulders. She looked up at me, wide-eyed. Her blond hair whispered in the wind.

“Cam. What are you doing here?”

“I wanted to see you.”

“But we’re not supposed to see each other until tomorrow.”

“I know. I guess I don’t care.” Probably sounded crazy that I couldn’t spend a single night without her.

“I don’t really either,” she said softly. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve missed you.”

I sat beside her and took her hand in mine. We hadn’t spent a night apart since I’d proposed to her months ago. I hoped we’d never have another reason to. Why start now?

We sat in silence for a while. She leaned against me, and together we listened to the soothing sounds of the ocean.

“How are you feeling about tomorrow?”

She looked down at our fingers now entwined. “I’m ready. A little nervous, I guess, because of all your family being around. But if all goes to plan, I think tomorrow will be wonderful.”

I traced the contours of her hand, tightening my grasp in hers.

“Maya…”

She looked up at me with her thoughtful brown eyes. “What?”

“I know you, Maya, and something feels off. It’s like a stone in my stomach, and I can’t shake the feeling. I want tomorrow to be perfect for you, but I can’t do that if you don’t tell me what’s bothering you. Is it your mom?”

She stared silently a moment before looking out to the horizon. “No. I mean, I miss her, of course. I wish she could be here more than anything. But every time I think about it, I think about how grateful I am that I have you and our friends who’ve become my family.”

“Then what is it?”

She sighed, and all my instincts told me I’d been right. The stone only grew in size as the seconds passed.

“Baby, tell me. Whatever it is, we can handle it. That’s what I promised you, right? We can get through anything together.”

I grazed her cheek with my hand, guiding her gaze to mine. Her eyes were glassy but not sad. She captured my hand and brought it down until it rested over her lower abdomen.

My heart started a rapid uneven beat in my chest. Our gazes locked, and I couldn’t breathe for a minute.

“Maya.” I exhaled her name like a prayer.

Her jaw was tight, her eyes wide, as if she were waiting for my reaction.

“Are you pregnant?”

She nodded, and her throat moved with a swallow. “Please don’t be angry.”

Ten thousand trumpets could have sounded in the distance. I couldn’t hold back a smile so big it hurt. I lifted her from her seat and brought her over me and into my arms.

I tucked her tight against me, smelling her sweet scent, reveling in her warmth. “I’m not angry. I’m so happy I can barely breathe. This is amazing.”

“I was worried I would ruin everything,” she whispered, her breath soft at my ear.

I caught her cheek, tilting her back so I could see her face. “This is without a doubt the best wedding present you could possibly give me.”

She smiled sweetly, and in that moment, my love for her took residence in every cell of my body. I wanted her happiness more than I wanted my own. I lived for that smile and for the tears of joy that glistened at the edges of her eyes.

I’d sworn I would make her happy every day of her life.

“We’re going to have a baby.” I said the words out loud because I still couldn’t believe it.

She kissed me softly, a tender touch that matched this beautiful moment. I brought my hand down to her belly. My heart swelled with all the emotions consuming me in this moment. The thought that our child was growing there overwhelmed me—a rush unlike any other.

“Half you and half me,” I whispered against her lips.

“Half you and half me,” she whispered back.

Full of an energy that felt too big for my body, I took her lips and kissed her deeply. She folded her arms around me, holding me close to her. I held her, caressed her, cherished her. My beautiful Maya.

When we broke away, we were both breathless.

“I don’t want to leave,” I finally said.

She sifted her fingers through my hair. “Then don’t.”

In the distance, we heard a loud whoop. I glanced down over the balcony to the beach below. I could make out Darren’s figure. He was walking bare-assed into the ocean. A minute later, Vanessa followed him out in nothing more than her underwear.

I couldn’t stifle the laugh that broke free. “I don’t think I have much choice. Looks like Darren’s room might be occupied tonight.”

Maya followed my gaze. “I hope that doesn’t backfire.”

I trailed my fingers along her jaw, turning her back to me. “Maybe love is in the air, and we shouldn’t worry about them so much.”

Her shoulders softened with a sigh. “Maybe you’re right. I should probably give him the benefit of the doubt. He is going to be my brother-in-law after all.”

“He can also be a real jerk, so I don’t blame you if you don’t.”

She toyed with my hair and canted her head. “Do you think he deserves her?”

“Probably not. But something feels different when he talks about her. Call me crazy, but they might have a chance.”

“I hope so.”

She brushed her mouth over mine, teasing her tongue against my lips. All thoughts of my crazy brother and his beautiful conquest vanished. Maya was warm under my touch, responding when I ran my hands up her thighs and over her soft skin.

“We have a big day tomorrow,” she murmured.

“Should I go?”

Even as I said the words, I knew I couldn’t leave her tonight. I had to have her. Tonight, and tomorrow, and every day after that.

She shook her head. “No. Don’t ever go.”

* * *

P
enning Darren
and Vanessa’s story was a challenge. Every book I write is. My biggest thanks goes to my characters, for their patience, for letting me ignore them and neglect them while life pulled me in a hundred other directions. Thank you for never abandoning me.

I haven’t conquered a significant writing project to date without the support of my husband. Thank you, Jonathan, for your tough love and for attempting to hide books from me that were taking me too far away from the task at hand. Thank you for reading, for lending your unique firefighter knowledge to Darren’s world, and for being the first fan of anything I do.

Many thanks to the Waterhouse staff, Shayla, Kurt, Yvonne, and David. Without your daily efforts, this book would not exist. There simply weren’t near enough spare minutes in the day to both write a novel and pull off everything that we’ve accomplished as a company these past several months—further proof that as a team of individually passionate people, we can do amazing things! Special thanks to David Grishman for your story insights and for helping me connect the dots of Vanessa’s seedy financial underworld.

As always, thanks to my editor, Helen Hardt, for balancing your valued work as an editor with your dreams as a truly talented author. I’m so thrilled to be a part of both!

Big thanks to the ladies in my Skype sprint group for motivating me and keeping me company during critical writing pushes!

Many thanks to my awesome beta readers for your critical feedback and to my amazing Team Wild ladies for giving me the motivation and drive to keep writing.

Thank you, Mom, for helping me cut through the chaos and the noise.

Last, but never least, thank you to one of my best friends. Mia, I can’t help but feel like you’re on the sidelines ready to cheer me on whenever I need a push or a hug. That unfailing support gives me more comfort than you can possibly know. You have such a special place in my crazy world! I love you, through and through.

M
eredith Wild is
a #1
New York Times
,
USA Today
, and international bestselling author of romance. Living on Florida’s Gulf Coast with her husband and three children, she refers to herself as a techie, whiskey-appreciator, and hopeless romantic. When she isn’t living in the fantasy world of her characters, she can usually be found at

www.facebook.com/meredithwild
.