Just Count on Me: Counting on Love Prequel Read Online Free PDF Page A

all of the horrible things that could have happened, made her hurt.
    She’d been in love with Mac for years before she’d done anything about it. But even in her best daydreams she hadn’t imagined being loved back as fiercely and deeply as she was by him. It had taken him some time to come around, but when he had—her heart sometimes felt like it couldn’t hold all the emotions he made her feel.
    He’d helped her make a home, he’d helped her find her place, he’d helped her become a mother, he’d helped her become less selfish while making her feel treasured. She was a better woman since he’d been in her life. And even when she’d been in love with him as a kid, had him on a pedestal, thought he was perfect, she’d felt nothing compared to how she felt about the real man.
    So, him hurting, made her hurt.
    He shoved the door to the locker room open, stepped inside and swung her feet to the floor before turning and locking the door.
    “What if the guys need something in here for a call?” she asked.
    He started unbuttoning his shirt. “Don’t care.”
    “You don’t care about the victims they’ll be going out to help?” she asked, knowing it wasn’t true.
    “They’ve got everything they need for the call out there. In here they’ve got extra socks, gum and hair gel. They’ll be fine.”
    She laughed. “Besides, you said it would only be thirty minutes.”
    He tossed his shirt to the side and toed off his shoes. “You feeling especially dirty?”
    She breathed in relief. He was teasing. That was a good sign.
    She pulled her shirt up and off, letting it drop on top of his. “I always feel dirty when you’re around.”
    He stepped in close, possessive heat in his eyes. Then his gaze shifted to her cheek and his brows pulled down. He lifted a hand and ran his thumb over her cheekbone.
    “Mac?” She could feel the change in his emotions.
    “Soot,” he said simply. When his gaze returned to her eyes there was pain again.
    She put her hand against his face. “Stop it. I’m fine. We’re fine.”
    His head dropped forward and he took a deep shuddering breath. “I know. Deep down I know that. But…” He lifted his head. “Let’s get the smoke smell out of your hair. That’ll help.”
    He went to the shower stall and turned on the water, letting it warm up. “Come here, Princess.”
    The nickname never failed to make her tummy flip. She crossed the cold tile floor to him, limping only slightly on her sore ankle and trying to hide even that. It was a twist, not even a sprain. She was fine. But if Mac saw it…
    “Dammit.” He met her, hoisted her up against him with one arm and turned toward the shower, setting her down just outside.
    “It barely hurts.”
    “Just let me…take care of you.”
    He always took care of her. Always.
    He reached behind her and unhooked her bra. She let it slide from her shoulders and drop to the floor. His eyes heated slightly as he looked at her breasts. They were definitely bigger with the pregnancy and while he’d never complained before, she knew he loved holding the heavier weights.
    He cupped one, brushing his thumb over her nipple. Increased sensitivity was another plus to the new hormones. She gasped and pressed closer.
    His other hand got busy on the button at the front of her jeans. With surprising dexterity he got the button undone and the zipper down.
    She hooked her thumbs in the waistband of the jeans and her panties, pushing both to the floor and stepping out of them.
    She reached for him next, but he stepped back. “In the shower.”
    She had no hesitation about sex in the shower, but he was overdressed. “Mac—”
    Again he picked her up and put her inside the shower stall, right under the spray. She was drenched before she could protest.
    “You’re coming in, right?” she asked, swiping her wet hair back from her face.
    “I’ll…” He cleared his throat. “Let me wash your hair.”
    Sara took a deep breath. He was holding back. She