Page 108 of Starting Over with You
And then another shot.
It wasn’t until I hit the floor and the black crept into my vision that I recognized Winston on the floor, a gun in his hand and half his face blown off.
So much blood pooled around me, but it wasn’t just mine; it was Nyle’s too.
He tried to help, but I think he lost consciousness.
Then I did.
I feel like Dean came for me. Really, I know he came for me. It’s Dean. Something like this wouldn’t happen without him coming to save me. As I try to wake up from whatever drugs they’ve pumped into my system, I swear I hear his voice. His roughDarlin’. Him begging me to be okay. It is all so fuzzy.
My mouth is dry.
My head is pounding.
My chest is burning and not in the good way that Dean makes it burn.
Almost like that hot lava is burning up my collarbone and down my arm.
Not cool. Not a fan.
I hear the beeps of machines, and I think there is an oxygen mask on my face.
My eyes flutter open, and everything is hazy until it’s not.
I see Dean pacing.
He isn’t in his firefighting clothes. He’s in a pair of my favorite Carhartt jeans and a pink Beer League Belles’ shirt. His hair is an utter mess, and I know it’s because he’s been running his fingers through it like a crazed man. His shoulders are taut, his eyes wild, and he is the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen in my life. I swallow hard, tears blurring my vision as I drink him in.
“Dean,” I cry out, and his head whips toward me, his watery blue gaze leaving me needing the damn oxygen mask. I pull it off anyway, needing to tell him more.
“No.” I arch my brow in confusion before he closes the distance between us with purpose. His knee lands on the bed before he cups my face in his hand, his eyes locking on mine as he leans in. He presses his head to mine. “Do not say a damn word.” My eyes widen in confusion. “I have told everyone else in this fucking world how I feel about you, and I refuse to go another secondwithout telling you to your face.” His fingers bite into my skin, his eyes so blue and full of reverence.
For me.
“I love you, KenniLeigh Colburn.” My breath catches, and then he smiles. The panty-dropping one that has his mustache hitching up at one side. A tear rolls down his handsome face, and I’m breathless as I gawk at him. “I have loved you for longer than I care to admit, but I’ll never stop admitting it. I am yours, darlin’, and I love you. Fuck, I love you. I love you so much.” His voice breaks on a sob before he smashes his mouth to mine. I welcome the kiss, covering his cheeks with my hands as his tongue meets mine, and we both groan in unison. He tastes like mint, and his mustache tickles my nose in the best way. Our kiss is urgent, dirty, and full of so much need, I’m bawling by the time he pulls away.
Even with my voice so hoarse, I tell him what I’ve been wanting to say for days. “I love you too, Dean. I know a part of me was always yours, but now you have all of me.”
Our tears and our breaths mix together as we stare into each other’s eyes. “Forever.”
“And then some.”
Dean’s grin is quick, his eyes full of awe before he slants his mouth over mine again. This time, our kiss is a little softer, but still so needy. Dean pulls away to kiss along my jaw, my cheeks, then both my eyelids before he nibbles on the tip of my nose. The giggle I let out hurts, but I don’t care.
Dean Moore is kissing me.
“How are you feeling?”
“Oh yeah, I was shot,” I say, and he lets out a bark of a laugh that startles me.
“Yeah. Knocked ten years off my damn life!” I grimace, and he cups my jaw. “Pain?”
I nod. “Some.” Then my eyes widen. “Nyle! Is he okay?”
Dean sighs deeply, and my heart clenches. “Yeah, he’s fine. And now I have to like the guy because he saved my girl.” My eyes fill with tears as relief hits me. Don’t get me wrong—the guy is adumbass, but I don’t want him to die. He’s Missy’s person. They’re having a baby. “He woke before you did. You hit your head and have a concussion, by the way.”
“Fantastic,” I mumble, and he chucks my chin.
