Rigby stood when Scarlett came rushing into the waiting room of the hospital, her cheeks streaked with tears. When she saw Rigby, she fell into his arms.

“Thank you,” she breathed.

He nodded, coughing through his emotion. It had been a crazy night. Just as the volunteer fire department showed up on the scene, Rigby blacked out for a couple of seconds, then came to. They checked his vitals and deemed him okay. This took place at the same time they put an oxygen mask over Douglas’s face and took him away in an ambulance. Coralee came home a few minutes later and saw all the commotion. She insisted Rigby take her to the hospital to see Douglas. It wasn’t until he saw the anguished look on Coralee’s face that he realized how much she cared about Douglas. Rigby was all too happy to take Coralee to the hospital because he wanted to check on Douglas too. He’d called Scarlett the first chance he got and learned she was on her way.

“How is he?” Scarlett said.

The stricken look on her face pricked him. “The doctor says he’s going to be okay. His chest was rattling earlier, and he was disoriented, but he seems to be responding well to the oxygen.”

She drew in a deep breath, closing her eyes. “Thank goodness you were there.”

He nodded. “I was watching TV and got up to get something to eat when I saw the flames.” He hesitated, dreading telling her the rest.

“What?”

“On the way out of the house, the smoke got to be too much. I stumbled and dropped Mr. Foster.”

She gasped, winding her hand around her purse strap. “Is he okay?”

He swallowed hard. “His shinbone has a hairline fracture.” Seeing Scarlett go teary-eyed made Rigby want to cry. “I’m sorry. I was trying to save him.”

“You did save him. Chuck Wolfley said Grandpa would’ve been dead by the time they got there.” She put a hand on his arm. “You risked your life for him.” A grateful smile touched her lips. “You saved him.” She paused, frowning. “How did the fire start?”

“Your grandpa was frying something on the stove. The consensus is that the grease spilled over and caught fire. He’d stepped out of the room to use the restroom. When he returned, the kitchen was engulfed in flames and smoke was pouring out. He went to his bedroom to get his cell phone to call 911, but passed out before he got the chance.”

She bit her lower lip, shaking her head. “I’m going to go see him now. You wanna go with me?”

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

She frowned. “Why not?”

“Your grandfather’s not too happy with me right now because I dropped him.”

She gave him an incredulous look. “That’s absurd! You saved his life.”

“Yeah, I guess no good deed goes unpunished.” He couldn’t keep the hurt from sounding in his voice. “Coralee’s in there trying to reason with him.” What was it going to take for Mr. Foster to accept him? Saving his life should count for something.

Scarlett’s eyes sparked as she straightened to her full height. “He owes you his life, and he needs to show some gratitude.”

A wave of tenderness rushed over Rigby. He appreciated how Scarlett was so quick to jump to his defense. And because she did, he could give Mr. Foster some latitude. “Your grandfather’s old. He’s probably embarrassed about the fire and trying to cover it up with gruffness.”

“That’s unacceptable,” she countered.

“Go easy on him. He’s been through a lot today.” It had been brutal on Rigby and he was a lot younger. He could only imagine how tough this must be for Mr. Foster. The back section of the house was destroyed and the rest had severe smoke and water damage. Rigby could tell Scarlett hadn’t yet processed all that she’d lost—her childhood home and most of her possessions.

Her jaw started working, and she looked like she might say more but finally nodded in agreement. She looked him in the eye. “I want you to know how much I appreciate you saving him.” Her brows furrowed. “Despite the fact that he’s being a stubborn mule.” She touched his cheek. “I love you.”

Emotion clogged his throat. Earlier today when the smoke had nearly overtaken him, his entire life had flashed before his eyes, and all he could think about was being with Scarlett. He was grateful his prayer had been answered so swiftly and he was able to save Mr. Foster. Not only for the old man’s sake but also for Scarlett. “I love you too.” He looked, then looked again when he saw Vernie walking toward them.

Vernie focused on Scarlett, ignoring Rigby. “Hey, I got here as quickly as I could.”

It was shocking how fast that one comment jolted Rigby. “You invited Vernie?”

Scarlett flashed an apologetic smile. “He called me on the way over and asked to help. I figured it would put Grandpa at ease to see his own doctor.”

“And friend,” Vernie asserted.

“Of course,” Scarlett said smoothly, “that too.”

“Where is he?” Vernie said.

“Room 202. I was just going there myself. Come on, I’ll show you.” Scarlett got a few steps away, then stopped and turned back around. “Aren’t you coming?”

Rigby hesitated. He’d gone into Mr. Foster’s room earlier. That’s when the old man accused him of dropping him on purpose. He didn’t want a repeat of that experience, but neither did he like Scarlett and Vernie going off together. His shoulders were aching, and he had a dull headache, probably from the smoke. What he really wanted was to go home and get some sleep, but he needed to be here for Scarlett. She probably didn’t even know where she was going to sleep tonight. The answer to that was simple. She could stay at his house.

Scarlett gave him a funny look. “Are you okay? You spaced out there for a minute.”

Seeing the quiet amusement on Vernie’s face emboldened him as he smiled. “I’m good. Just a little tired. And sure, I’ll come along.” There was no way he was going to give Vernie the slightest opportunity to make a move on Scarlett, and if Mr. Foster didn’t like him being in the room. Well, he’d just have to get over it.

* * *

As Scarlett looked at what was left of her home, a sob built in the center of her chest and spread outward like poison, causing shakes to tremble through her body.

Rigby reached for her hand. “I’m so sorry.”

She nodded, unable to contain the tears flowing down her cheeks. They’d come from the hospital to here. The doctor on call and Vernon both agreed it would be best to keep her grandpa overnight to monitor his breathing. All the way back from the hospital, Scarlett tried to prepare herself for what she would see when they arrived, but couldn’t have fathomed it would be this traumatic. She and Rigby were in his Porsche, parked alongside the curb. Seeing the ruin in the dark from a distance, was bad enough. She couldn’t imagine what it would be like in the cold light of day. This couldn’t be real, her mind argued. She’d wake up and realize it was only a bad dream. The back section of the house was reduced to a pile of rubble, and the front was a burned-out hull, swollen with water. Yellow police tape was wrapped around the entire exterior to keep out intruders. She didn’t know how she was going to force herself to step foot in the place to see what, if anything, could be salvaged. But it would have to be done. Her chest constricted making it hard to breathe as a wave of panic hit her.

Rigby shot her a concerned look. “Are you okay?”

She gulped, trying to take in breaths as dizziness wafted over her.

He rubbed her arm, his voice calm. “Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Concentrate on the breathing, and block out everything else.”

She did as instructed and after a few minutes, felt a little better. “I just can’t believe everything is gone.” Her voice caught. “My laptop, clothes, photographs.” She leaned forward in her seat, pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger as she tried to get a handle on the black despair swirling around her.

Rigby rubbed circles over her back. “It’s okay. Let it all out.”

She gulped, then swallowed, letting out ragged gasps. Rigby put his arms around her, pulling her close. She buried her head in his shoulder, a dam bursting loose. She cried until the tears were spent, her eyes feeling big and sore. Rigby’s shirt was soaked from her tears. She let out a half-laugh, feeling embarrassed as she pulled back. “Sorry.”

“No need to apologize.”

“I’m glad you’re here.”

“Me too.”

A shudder went through her as she clinched her fist. “I just keep thinking.” Her voice broke, she swallowed and continued again. “I just keep thinking how close I came to losing Grandpa.” Fresh tears pooled in her eyes. “If you hadn’t gone in and saved him …”

He offered a tender smile, caressing her cheek. “Don’t do that to yourself. He’s going to be okay.”

She nodded peering into his eyes, pools of indigo in the semi-darkness. “I can never repay you for what you did.” Her feelings for Rigby ran deep, and with them came memories of childhood—how they’d been best friends before they fell in love. Now she could add another layer to the mix. He’d saved her grandpa, given her the greatest gift imaginable.

“I did what anyone would’ve done under the circumstance.”

“I love you,” she uttered.

“I love you too.”

As he hugged her again, she felt herself soften against his muscular chest. For just tonight, she wanted to forget all the ugliness and uncertainty and just enjoy being in his arms.