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The Bravest Hero (A Curvy Girls Club Novel Book 2) Page 18
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“When I finally pass the test, I’m going to take you out on a nice date. Because I realized all of our dates have been in a hospital or at your place or mine. What kind of man am I?”
“You’re still getting your life back on track. That takes time. And it’s not like I’ve been free very much lately. But I’ll put everything on hold to celebrate you getting back on full duty. And you will,” Royal said confidently.
He leaned in for a kiss. Royal flicked her tongue against his lips. McKennon pulled back and gave her a look.
“Don’t start anything you can’t finish. And we both have work.” He raised an eyebrow.
“Running a little late never hurt anybody,” Royal said as he came around the island in her kitchen.
McKennon lifted her from her stool to the countertop. He lifted her dress, pulled down her panties, undid his jeans, and slammed into her.
“Aaaah!” Royal cried.
“How are you so wet already?” McKennon groaned.
“I’m always wet when you’re around.”
“Good to know.” He said as he thrust into her.
McKennon pulled her in close. His mouth latched onto her neck. He knew exactly what to do to get her there fast. It took under two minutes for Royal to shatter in his arms. McKennon quickly followed.
Royal slumped onto his chest. She glanced at the clock on her microwave.
“See? We even have time to spare.”
“That’s just because I know your weak spot.”
“Mm…yes, you do.”
“Alright. I gotta go. I love you,” he said and smacked her lips with his.
Royal looked at him with all the love in her eyes, but didn’t say the words back to him. It was the same every day. The skin around his eyes tightened, but he said nothing.
“Have a good day, babe.” She called after him.
“You too.”
Royal knew he was going to ask soon why she never said it back. She didn’t know if she had the right answer for him.
Chapter Thirty-Two
“How about you try taking the test today, McKennon?” Nick said.
“What?”
“You’ve been busting your ass. I personally think you’re ready. But even if you’re not and you don’t pass, you’ll know what to focus on when you train.”
“You’ve got a point. But…”
“You can do it man.” He smacked McKennon on the back. “Hell, I bet you can run the course faster than some of these other guys.”
Those other guys’ ears pricked at the challenge.
“Let’s add some money to that and I’m in.” One of the guys shouted.
“I didn’t hear that,” Nick warned good-naturedly. “Come on. Let’s go to the test facility.”
“Alright. I still don’t think I’m ready, though.”
“You’re never going to feel ready. Might as well rip off the bandage.”
They walked to Nick’s truck and got in.
“How are things going with Royal. You’ve seemed happier than I’ve ever seen you. And more relaxed.” Nick said as he maneuvered the truck out into traffic.
“I’m really happy. I…uh…always had a hard time being myself. She lets me be me.”
“That’s good.”
“But…”
“Uh oh. But what?”
“She…uh…she hasn’t said ‘I love you’ yet.” McKennon said finally deciding to open up.
“You’ve said it to her?”
“Yeah, all the time. She just smiles and looks at me with love in her eyes. But that’s it.”
“Maybe she’s not comfortable saying it. You have to talk to her about it. I’ve learned, you can’t guess what they’re thinking. And you have to communicate and actually hear what they’re saying or it won’t work. I didn’t listen to my ex. I didn’t want to listen. And now, here I am single again.” Nick shrugged. “Just be upfront and open.”
“Thanks, Nick.”
~~~
“Okay, Mack.” Nick said pulling up the stop watch app on his phone. He stood with a fire training official. “You’ve got seven minutes on the clock. As soon as you touch the hose bundle the time starts. You ready?”
“Yeah.”
McKennon stood at the starting line. He wore an 8-pound fireman’s coat, a 20-pound weighted vest, 18.25-pound air tank, 2.5-pound helmet, and gloves. With all of that on, he had to complete five exercises:
Stair Climb Under Load
Hose Drag
Victim Rescue
Equipment Carry
Forcible Entry Test
McKennon grabbed the 58-pound hose bundle, lifted it onto his shoulder, and quickly walked it to the building. Running wasn’t allowed on the course. Except for going up and down the stairs. His prosthetic leg wouldn’t allow him to take the stairs two at a time as he ran up, but with all of his training, he flew up the stairs one at a time. Once he reached the top of the fifth flight of stairs, he dropped the bundle in the designated spot. On the way down, he had to touch every step, none could be skipped. His microprocessor knee kicked in and he was able to control his steps as he quickly ran down the stairs and out the building.
McKennon walked to the water-filled hose. He hefted it over his shoulder and dragged it 75 feet. Headed over to the dummy that would stand-in as a victim. He got his arms through the underarms of the 175-pound dummy and lifted it until the dummy’s feet were nearly off the ground. He pulled the victim back 100 feet and gently laid it down before heading over to a 47.5-pound steel exhaust fan that he carried 150 feet.
For his final test, he had to take an 8-pound steel mallet and use it to move a 150-pound steel girder back 5 feet. McKennon hopped on the sides of the girder and chopped at it with all of the strength he had left.
He barely heard his buddies shouting and cheering. He was in a zone. It was just him and the course. He forgot about the 7-minute time allowance. He just wanted to do the course right and quickly. To listen to his body and new leg. And for the two to work together seamlessly.
Once the girder cleared the finish line, McKennon dropped the mallet and stood up straight. As he let his surroundings back in, he saw his house guys jumping up and down. Their voices finally flooded back in.
“Fuck yeah!”
“You fucking did that shit, Mack!”
“Dude, you made that course your bitch!”
“You did it, Mack.” Nick walked up with a face filled with pride. “You did it in under 7 minutes. You completed the course in 6 minutes and 24 seconds.”
“Are you serious?!”
Nick nodded with a wide grin, “You’re back on full duty.”
McKennon balled his hands into fists, let his head fall back, and shouted up to sky, “WOO!”
The guys of his house lifted him off the girder and bounced him on their shoulders. He was transported back to his high school football days. Instead this time, he was being cheered for doing what he loved. And he loved having a job that saved lives.
If his parents didn’t give him anything else, they gave him that. Their deaths and his pain at not being able to save them, led him to his purpose. And his accident expanded on that. Now he’d help other amputees get their lives back.
“Congratulations, Mack!” A voice said from behind him.
He turned and found Matt the reporter from Channel 5 News there with his cameraman. McKennon’s mouth dropped open.
“Hey, man!” He said as they shook hands. “How did you know?”
“Your captain called me.” He lifted his chin towards Nick. “We figured it was best not to tell you we were here. We didn’t want you to get nervous.”
“Thanks. I would’ve been.”
“You did a phenomenal job. You’ve come a long way since we last saw you,” Matt said impressed.
“I’ve worked hard.”
“We’d love to interview you again.”
“That would be great. My girlfriend and I are putting together a fundraiser to help other first responder an
d veteran amputees get their jobs back. This could be the perfect way to spread the word.” McKennon agreed happily.
“Girlfriend?” Matt crooked his head to the side. “I thought you were engaged or would be married by now.”
“Oh yeah, about that. I broke up with her. I’m with Royal now.”
“The one who saved you?!” Matt’s mouth dropped.
“Yeah.”
“Oh, we have to do a story on you both as well as the fundraiser. It could be an ongoing series. First, the accident. Then you getting back on the department at full duty. And finally, your new relationship with the woman who saved you and the fundraiser.” Matt’s eyes sparkled with the ideas running through his head.
“I have to talk to Royal first, but I doubt she’d have a problem with it. I’ll send you an invite to the exhibition/gala fundraiser.”
“Perfect.”
They finished the interview and as soon as they were done, McKennon pulled out his cellphone. He typed out a short text to Royal.
McKennon:
Put on your nicest dress. Be there at 7.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Royal wore a body-hugging dress in her signature black. Matching stockings with that sexy line from heel to ass ran up the backs of her legs. And she slipped her feet into black heels with silver spikes. She had to add a little edge somewhere.
She added the spiked earcuff to match on the shaved side of her head. Her hair with an underlayer of silver was curled and bounced as she moved. Her makeup was smokey and sexy.
The whir of her elevator signaled McKennon’s arrival and she stood at the gate to wait for him. As the elevator came up and their eyes connected, a shiver passed down Royal’s spine.
McKennon pulled up the gate and his eyes devoured her as she came into full view.
“You look gorgeous,” he breathed.
“As do you.”
Royal looked him up and down. He was in a charcoal gray suit. Impeccable black dress shoes graced his feet. His tie was mint green and made his jade eyes practically glow. As he stood in front of her, you’d never know he’d been in a horrific accident and was missing a leg.
“So…what is all this for? You were being so cryptic earlier.”
“I passed the test, Ro. I’m back on full duty.” McKennon said almost as a whisper. Like if he said it too loudly, it suddenly wouldn’t be true.
“What?!” Royal’s mouth dropped open.
“I did it, Ro.”
“But I thought you weren’t going to take the test for another month.”
“That’s what I was thinking and then Nick said that I should at least try the course. If I failed, I could work on the places where I was the slowest. But I passed.”
There was silence for a moment while he let it sink in.
“Holy shit! Woo!” Royal jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Luckily, McKennon had gotten stronger and steadier on his feet. He caught her with no problem.
“I’m so proud of you,” she said as she planted kisses all over his face.
When she was finished, she giggled. He looked like Mickey Mouse after Minnie had kissed him all over his face. Red lip marks covered his face.
“Oops.” Royal slid down his body.
“Let me guess. I have lipstick all over my face.”
“Maybe a little.” Royal held her thumb and forefinger close together.
“Well, let me wipe my face off and then we’re going to dinner. I made reservations.”
“Ooh, fancy.” Royal grinned happily.
~~~
A half hour later, they walked into Leroux, a fancy French fusion restaurant. It was one of the most popular and expensive restaurants in the city.
“How were you even able to get a reservation on such short notice?” Royal asked McKennon after they were seated in a private booth in the back.
“Nick told Matt Matthews the reporter from Channel 5 News that I’d be testing, so he showed up to film and interview me. Afterwards, I mentioned I wanted to take you to dinner someplace really nice. He knows the chef/owner and got us a reservation.”
“Nice! Good to know people in high places,” she winked at him.
“Speaking of. I told Matt that we’re together now and about the fundraiser. He was excited and wants to do a story on us and the exhibition. I told him I’d run it by you first.”
“Oh, that would be great exposure for the fundraiser!” Royal leaned forward excitedly. “We need all the help we can get.”
“The story about getting back on full duty airs tonight. At the end, he’ll give the information about the fundraiser. Then he’d like to come to the exhibition to film that too. He wants to make it into a three-part series.” McKennon explained.
“It’s perfect. You deserve the recognition and you could raise more than your original goal.” Royal slid her hand across the pristine white table cloth and clasped his hand.
“It could do more than that. Your photographs are stunning. The story has the potential to make your career explode.” McKennon clutched her hand tightly.
Royal smiled brightly.
“Never in a million years did I expect all of this to come from that accident. Is it crazy to say that I’m so happy it happened?” McKennon asked.
“Not at all. You found your voice. Your happiness. You found more ways to help others…”
“I found you.”
The love in McKennon’s eyes made Royal’s heart expand to three times its normal size.
“You changed everything. It all starts with you, Royal. You saved me in every sense of the word. I love you.” McKennon’s eyes were glassy.
“I…I feel the same.”
McKennon’s face fell.
“Why can’t you say it?”
“My family never said it to each other. And every guy I dated. Every guy I loved, never reciprocated the feelings. I don’t think I’ve said those words to anyone but the girls. I’m…scared. Everything is so perfect. I’m terrified that if I say it, everything will fall apart and go to shit. I want to hold onto this for as long as I can. So, I won’t jinx it.”
“I understand where you’re coming from. But think about it. You’ve never said it to any of those men and did it ever work out?”
“No.”
“Maybe if you actually say it, it’ll be the opposite.”
“Does it really mean that much to you?”
“Only two people in my life have ever seen the real me. You and Mariah. She never told me that she loved me, which was my own fault. But now that I’ve finally made things right, it would be nice to hear the words from someone who actually knows me.”
Royal took a deep breath.
“I love you, McKennon. From the beginning.”
The smile that spread across his handsome face was worth her opening up the rest of the way. McKennon partially stood and leaned across the table. Royal followed him and they met in the middle for a sweet kiss.
“Are you serious?” A familiar voice said loudly.
They broke apart and looked up at their intruder. It was Ainsley.
“You left me at the altar for her?” Ainsley asked incredulously. “I just knew something was up. I mean, I knew she was in love with you. And I knew you were being all weird. But never in a million years did I think you’d leave me for this…this…”
“Ainsley…” McKennon warned.
“Be careful with your next words,” Royal ground out.
“It’s not my fault you look like a dyke.”
McKennon’s hand shot out to stop Royal from getting up. Royal’s heart pumped rapidly and she was seeing red.
“Ainsley, fucking leave or I swear to God I’ll call the cops and have you dragged out.”
“What, Mack? Not man enough to do it yourself anymore. I know you’re cripple and all.”
“No, it’s frowned upon for a cripple to take off his leg and beat the fuck out of his ex with it. Now, fucking disappear like you always did. You’re good at
it.”
“Fuck you, Mack.”
The blonde glamazon turned and marched off in her red bottom stilettos. She met a new sucker who was waiting for her at the door.
Royal turned her head back to McKennon. Her eyes spoke volumes.
“I know how that looks. But you’re taking it wrong.”
“I confess that I love you after I told you I didn’t want to say it. And mere seconds pass before your ex storms up and threatens to ruin our lives. That seems like coincidence to you?”
“Royal, you can’t let her get to you. She’s a miserable human being. That’s it. And she wants you to feel miserable too. She changes nothing.”
But it was too late. The loving and celebratory mood that had started the evening was gone. Ainsley had ripped a hole in their newly built foundation.
The waiter came over to help with the French menu. Silence stretched between them. They tried to get back the feeling with small talk, but it went no further than that. The food could’ve been magnificent, but they barely tasted it.
Once they got back to Royal’s loft, she asked McKennon if he wanted to come up and he said yes out of habit. Inside, they went to their separate corners. McKennon turned on the TV to watch a new show he was interested in. Royal went to her laptop to work on her photos.
She had new Curvy Love photos that needed light retouching. But for some reason Royal dragged the cursor over to a folder she had yet to look at. It was the photos they’d taken as they made love the day he’d called off his wedding.
Royal double tapped the folder and the photos opened. Her hand shot up to cover her mouth. Except for the first few that McKennon had taken while looking through the viewfinder, every photo had been taken blindly.
She clicked on each one to enlarge them and flip through them one by one. The emotion on their faces. The passion. The richness of her skin against the paleness of his. Her feminine curves and softness in juxtaposition to his masculine muscles and hardness. They were beautiful.
Some of the photos were out of focus. Normally, they would be throwaway photos. But in the context of what was happening, the blur of the photos made it appear that the couple was being given some privacy.