Dirty Working Hero (Hard Working Hero 2)

“Yeah, yeah. So, what are you and Narissa doing later? Maybe we can all meet up for drinks after dinner? Maybe we can meet at Jones?”

“Sure, I'm down for that, we don't have anything going on. Just shoot me a text when you're ready, and we'll meet you there.” He claps his hands and points at me. “Don't forget to stop by Cross Street to see if the tile delivery got dropped off today. I've got to go meet Narissa at a new remodel.”

“Will do. I'm actually just finishing up this counter base, and then I'll head over there.”

“Thanks, I'll see you later.” Oliver gives me a wave, then heads out the door.

I finish building the counter base for one of the apartments on Cross Street. For everything that Millie hated about her father's law firm, I'm really proud of her for taking a stand.

She spoke out against something that she didn't agree with. Turned out, her father’s client is Narrisa Thayer’s father. Because of what she said and how passionate she was about it, Ethan Thayer is now doing exactly what Millie had suggested.

The apartments he bought are now being renovated and expanded to house more families. The food bank is also getting a makeover, and Ethan has even taken it upon himself to donate thousands of dollars of his own money to build up the shelves. Millie's garden is the biggest contributor of fresh vegetables to the food bank.

She's doing it. She's living her dream.

Millie did change the world for all those people, and everyone who's going to cross her path in the future. I'm so proud of her.

The woman is selfless, and I love her so damn much for it. Millie just glows with happiness. I haven't seen her not wearing a smile in months.

I rush home to shower and change for dinner with Millie after checking on our order at the apartment complex. Millie's already home, her car is in the parking lot as I pull into our building.

I thought she was going to be at her parents’ house until five.

Her parents are coming around slowly. They weren't too happy when she left the firm, and they weren't too happy when she chose me over them, but they never fully closed their door to her.

There were a lot of idle threats, but they just couldn’t go through with them.

No matter how many times they came at her, the less she seemed to care, the more they wanted to be around. They're softening up and realizing she's happy.

People can change, people are always changing even if they don't realize it. No one is the same person they once were, no matter how much they try to believe it. I'm not the same man I was at eighteen or twenty-two, and I won't be the same man ten years from now.

That's what life does. The more you live, the more you grow.

I unlock our door and go inside. “Babe, I'm home,” I call out. She doesn't answer. I drop my keys on the table and put the flowers in the center. “I got you something,” I say loudly. “Where are you?”

“I'm in here,” she finally responds. Her voice crackles like flaming tinder as if she's been crying.

I walk quickly to our bedroom. “What's wrong?” I ask.

Millie is sitting on our bed, her hands fumbling in her lap. Her eyes are red and puffy, and streaks of tears line her face. She's ghost white, her skin almost opaque. She looks up at me, eyes wide and shiny like glass.

I drop to my knees in front of her, reaching up and taking her hands. “What's going on? What happened?”

Her lips turn paper thin as she attempts to speak. “I. . . I. . .” she bumbles out as she inhales deep breaths trying to calm herself down. “Hardin, I. . .”

“What? You what? Just tell me, Mil.” I squeeze her hands firmly, searching her eyes for whatever it is she can't say.

My heart is hammering inside my chest, beating so loudly it's drowning out my own thoughts. Fear hits me, sending a rush of adrenaline through my system. My skin is hot and clammy, and my stomach is in my throat.

What's going on?

She's mute, completely silent.

“Millie, what is it? Why are you crying?”

She slips her hand out from mine, reaching behind her back on the bed. Pulling out a small white stick, she holds it out. “Here,” she says flatly.

“What is this?”

“Just look at it.”

Taking the plastic strip from her, I look down and see a small clear window with two lines. I know what it is, but it's like my head just can't wrap around it. I stare at it for what seems like eternity, trying to understand what she's telling me.

“Is this—” I cut myself off, unable to find the words.