Soar high, p.33
Soar High, page 33
Kit rolled her eyes. The armory was not only in the tunnel, but the door was locked and camouflaged. Talk about paranoid. Yet their sarge’s survivalist preparations had saved them all.
Smirking, Caz tugged on JJ’s hair. “It is best to avoid giving the law enforcement types anything extra to worry about. Sí, officer?”
“Ooooh, you’ll pay for that one.” JJ twisted far enough to pinch his ribs, then pinched Regan too.
“Hey! I didn’t do anything,” Regan’s protest was handicapped by giggles.
“Actually… You did.” Smile fading, JJ moved to sit beside the girl. “You snuck away from where you were safe and left the Hermitage. With Aric.”
Regan stiffened, then her gaze dropped, and she nodded.
JJ lifted the girl’s chin. “I am so very proud of your courage. And I was terrified at how badly my girl could have been hurt.”
As Regan’s eyes filled with tears, she burrowed into JJ’s side…and Caz gathered them both in.
Kit had to wipe away her own tears before cuddling closer to Hawk. Her heart felt overly tender, aching as much as her shoulders did.
“I’m not sure I’m ready for kids,” Gabe said under his breath as he rested his hand ever so gently on Audrey’s abdomen.
Sympathizing with his worries, Kit whispered, “They’re terrifying,” and heard Hawk’s almost silent, “Yeah.”
After kissing the top of Audrey’s head, Gabe raised his voice. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I need a shower.”
“You really do, although, at least you’re not covered in blood. Which you should be.” Sitting up, Audrey scowled. “I saw you in the bushes, shooting as if you had a brick wall for cover instead of a few measly leaves.”
“Ah…” Gabe eyed Audrey, obviously searching for a response, then shrugged. “I got nothin’.”
“My crazy hero.” Audrey shook her head and stood. “Let’s go. I’ll scrub your back.”
“Forget showers, I want a long, long bath.” Frankie sighed before glowering at the rope burns on her wrists.
Knowing the hot water would make the abrasions sting, Kit flinched. It was her fault that Frankie and everyone else had been injured. If she hadn’t met and married Obadiah, then—
No, she couldn’t think like that. She’d made the best decisions she could at the time. And many wonderful things had happened. Like Hawk. And Frankie finding Bull.
As if hearing her, Frankie looked over. “Amica mia, thank you. Caz said if you hadn’t kept Nabera and the guards’ attention on you, no one could have freed Hawk and me. I have an idea how hard it must have been to face Nabera.”
“Yeah,” Hawk said in his deep rasp. “That took guts.”
Kit pulled in a shaky breath. It had been so very close, but they were all here and alive. And she had her son on her lap and Hawk beside her.
Life was good.
So was balance. She looked at her bestie. “After getting me out of the compound, you said it was my turn to save you—and I owed Hawk a rescue too. Nabera gave me a chance to pay you both off at once.”
Kit grinned at Frankie, then Hawk. “You’re welcome.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Love is something sent from heaven to worry the hell out of you. ~ Dolly Parton
* * *
Behind Kit in the back of his canoe, Hawk stroked the paddle through the aqua-blue water. Fog drifted over the lake in a silent contrast to the battle last weekend.
For two days, they’d dealt with law enforcement groups and repaired the damage to the Hermitage. The garage doors would sure never look the same. They’d have to buy new ones so the women and kids wouldn’t constantly see the ugly reminders of violence.
Backstroking lightly, he angled the canoe closer to the bank. Now that the town’s floatplane dock was in good repair, more planes landed on the lake. The roadhouse was benefiting from the visitors.
In the bow, Kit paddled smoothly and quietly. Next time, he’d teach her to steer.
Next time.
They had a future together. The knowledge was simply, fucking wonderful, although, yeah, it might take a while to truly accept it.
On the bank, a flock of snow geese were snacking on the grasses and sedges in preparation for their fall migration.
Winter was coming—but the long, dark nights wouldn’t be the same. Not when Kit and Aric would be with him.
“Wow, look.” Kit pointed to a moose rubbing the velvet off its antlers on a tree trunk.
“It’s almost rutting season, so remember that the males can be irritable.”
For a change, he wasn’t one of the irritable males. He’d never been more content.
An hour later, he lay on a heavy horse blanket with Kit straddling his hips.
The canoe rested on the bank, and they’d found a grassy area well hidden by bushes and overhanging trees.
She was so beautiful when naked. The sunlight made gold and red glints in her brown hair—soft hair that whispered over his chest as she bent over him, thoroughly impaled on his dick.
As she planted little kisses on his face, he breathed in the scent of vanilla and lavender.
She’d already come twice from his fingers and tongue, and her eyes were half-closed, her mouth swollen.
Her breasts were heavy in his hands, and when he tugged a reddened nipple, her cunt tightened around him in response.
“Hawk.” Her beautiful voice held an appealing sultriness now. “Don’t you want to get off?”
He’d be happy like this forever, with her smiling at him, with her ass settled on his groin, her breasts right there for him to play with.
But with her question, his cock set up urgent demands. He wouldn’t last much longer.
“If you insist.” Watching her carefully to ensure he didn’t set off a panic attack, he rolled them over to put her beneath him.
Rather than panicking, she giggled. “You really do like being on top.”
On top, standing, beneath, behind. He enjoyed any position when it came to making love with her. “Today, my dick wants to play hammer.”
And because it’d been a patient cock, it deserved a reward.
Her laugh turned to a moan as he demonstrated.
* * *
Oh, sweet heavens, she was going to come again. The heavy pounding had re-awakened every nerve in her body.
Hawk was watching her closely, the way he did whenever he got rougher with her. Now, his eyes crinkled slightly as he bent her right leg and pushed it outward so his pelvis rubbed against her clit with each thrust.
Oh, oh, oh. As her muscles went stiff, everything inside her tightened, and the relentless beat tossed her right over the edge into a lake of pleasure. A bottomless lake it seemed as each forceful thrust set off more and more sensations.
With a guttural sound, he sheathed himself deep. Heat filled her as he buried his face in her hair and let himself come.
Minutes later, her insides continued zinging with aftershocks of pleasure, and her heart had barely slowed. Smiling, she tangled her fingers in his thick blond hair and held his head against her. He was still thick inside her, and the heavy weight of his body was ever-so-satisfying.
Could there be anything more intimate than this?
When he propped himself up to look down at her, she traced a finger over the slight smile on his lips.
He nipped her finger and grinned at her false yelp of pain.
And then he kissed her, soft and deep, so gently for such a deadly man.
When the kiss was done, it took her a second, then she glowered at him. “You bit my finger. A kiss won’t let you escape—”
By the time he finished the second kiss, she’d forgotten she had fingers at all.
Slipping out of her, he propped himself up next to her side. A chill lake breeze wafted over her overheated body, making her nipples contract.
Of course he noticed.
“So pretty.” Smiling, he drew a finger around one breast, and she shivered under his touch.
“I see why parents enjoy the months their children are in school,” he murmured.
She laughed. Yesterday had been the first day of school, and Aric had brought home a drawing for the refrigerator and so many tales. Chocolate milk for snack, and how his newest friend made a big burp. His teacher wore a shirt with penguins on it. On the swing, he went really high—higher than Rachel. “He’s probably having as much fun in school as we are here.”
“Doubt it.” Hawk kissed her again, so tenderly, her eyes dampened.
“I love you, you know.” His blue-gray eyes were serious. “Both of you.”
“I know. We love you too.”
His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking her lips. His gaze went distant, focusing on the trees, the mountains. A crease appeared between his eyebrows, and his jaw went tight.
“Hawk? What’s the matter?”
“I’d like you to move in.” His voice deepened to a rough growl. “With me.”
Taken by surprise, she blinked.
As if he needed to clarify, he added, “To share my house instead of living in Mako’s cabin.”
This…she wasn’t expecting this. Well, okay, yes, maybe she was. Eventually. But to ask her and Aric into his very masculine, very private space was a huge leap for him.
For a long moment, all she could do was stare at him as her heart simply brimmed over.
“Hell, too fast.” Releasing her, he rubbed the scar that ran down his cheek. “Do you want to be together?”
She kicked her vocal cords into gear. “Yes. Yes, I do.”
The tension in his jaw relaxed. “Do you want to stay in Rescue?”
When she didn’t answer immediately, the muscles in his face tightened again. “I’d like to stay close for my brothers.” His lips twisted as he admitted, “And for me. It’s healthier for Aric to be around family too. But if you’d rather move to Anchorage to work, we can do that. Or I can support you.”
Oh heavens, he really did love her. Enough to offer to move to Anchorage—somewhere she knew he wouldn’t like.
Yet he’d set boundaries. He wouldn’t do something truly unhealthy for him or Aric—and she loved his honesty.
His beard was soft beneath her fingers as she caressed his cheek. “I think that’s more than I’ve ever heard you say at once.”
He shrugged.
Aaaand there he was again, her word-stingy warrior.
“You took me by surprise.” She didn’t even need to ask her son what he wanted. He’d loved the deadly ex-merc from the very beginning. “Of course, we’ll move in.”
Tugging her man down, this time, she took her own kiss and took a moment to savor the joy spilling like warm rain from the air and welling up from the ground.
“Because we love you, Hawk. Both of us.”
Chapter Thirty-Three
Good job. You men got the makings of a fine team. ~ First Sergeant Michael “Mako” Tyne
* * *
For fuck’s sake. The school’s parking lot was so full, Gabe had to park well down the street. Cars lined the shoulder of the gravel road. Had the entire population of Rescue shown up for this event? “There are a lot more people here than we expected.”
“Poor Chief. You sound so grouchy.” Laughing, Audrey slid out of his Jeep before he could walk around and help her.
He was looking forward to the days when she’d be so big, she’d need an assist. Being a wise man, he kept that thought to himself.
Instead, he took her hand and laced their fingers together. “Actually, I think it’s great the town is so invested in our children.”
As they walked down the side of the road, he smiled down at her. The afternoon sun brought out the golden colors of her hair and lightened her gray eyes to silver. Her blue hoodie displayed the graphic, Come to the nerd side. We have Pi.
His highly-educated, research-loving librarian was fucking adorable. No wonder the town loved her.
They walked through the gate of the newly installed fence onto the school grounds. There were children everywhere and adults carrying food, blankets for picnicking, and drinks. The light breeze carried the scent of charcoal and grilled meat.
Off to one side, the Roadhouse servers were clustered around Bull. Spotting Gabe, his brother broke off and strode over. “The place looks good, doesn’t it?”
“It does.” Sarge’s Investment Group—aka SIG—the corporation they’d set up to manage Mako’s investments and properties, had donated the one-story house and the land it sat on. At the edge of town, the property had plenty of acreage for the school to grow.
Last fall, the news coverage about the school-destroying earthquake and landslide had brought in a flood of money. It’d taken until now to remodel the house into the school administration building and add the four new portable classrooms around it. The construction of the playground and athletic field was nearly finished.
In celebration of the beginning of classes last week, the school was having a Sunday afternoon open house and celebration.
Perfect timing, really. This morning, termination dust had sprinkled the tops of the mountains with white. It was September, and summer was officially over.
Bending, he kissed Audrey’s soft hair, breathing in her light citrus scent. By next summer, there would be three of them.
“Uncle Gabe, Uncle Bull, Audrey!” Regan ran across the grassy grounds followed by her small pack of children and Gryff. His niece was a natural leader, and Gabe couldn’t be prouder. “Come and see our classroom first.”
Herded by the kids, they started with the third-through-fifth-grades’ classroom. Ms. Wilner, the same teacher Regan had last year, was standing beside her desk, talking with visitors.
With a warm smile, she hugged Audrey, then looked her over carefully. “Thank goodness, you’re all right. I’m sorry I didn’t stay longer at the party. I could have helped; I’m a good shot.”
Gabe stared at the curly-headed instructor who was very clearly sincere. She would have willingly put her life at risk to defend others.
Back in L.A., he’d quit the force when it seemed as if the entire civilian population was against him. Here, his problem would be keeping the civilians from getting killed when trying to help.
Damn, he loved this town.
* * *
Standing to one side of the grounds, Kit was darned glad that Knox and Chevy had caged off her new landscaping plants last weekend. She’d been thinking only of keeping moose from nibbling, but boy, the mob today would have trampled her knee-high baby shrubs and slender trees.
But the crowd provided an excellent chance to observe the flow of people on the property and make plans.
That curve there should definitely be turned into a pathway.
The area just below the rise cried out for a shade tree and a comfy bench for a student or teacher who wanted a little quiet time.
“Ms. Sandersen?” a man called.
Tensing at an unfamiliar voice, Kit turned.
A businessman with white hair and a receding hairline stood at a polite distance.
She was apparently still a bit nervy after last weekend, wasn’t she? Get it together, Kit. She was not only in a crowd, but…she had backup, as Hawk would call it.
JJ, who was patrolling the crowd, was veering closer.
Chatting with Principal Jones, Bull had his gaze on Kit.
On the playground, Hawk was pushing Aric on a swing…and watching. He glanced at the white-haired man, then grinned.
Okay then. Kit smiled. “Yes, I’m Ms. Sandersen. Can I help you?”
“I’m hoping you can.” He held his hand out. “I’m John Biese, and I handle the facilities and grounds management at McNally’s Resort.”
She shook his hand, pleased that his handshake was all business. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“I have to admit to poor behavior. The COO and I were eating lunch—and eavesdropping—when you were telling Hawk what you would change about the resort’s landscaping.” He gave her a rueful smile.
She winced. How badly had she criticized the grounds? “I’m sorry?”
“No, your ideas were spot on. I asked around about your job history and think you might be a good match for us. As it happens, our grounds manager’s wife hates Alaska.”
Hate Alaska? Kit’s gaze took in the rolling forests and the gorgeous mountains christened with the first snow. Around her were the townsfolk, everyone here to support their school. Who could hate this paradise?
Kit tried for a polite response. “I’ve heard that not everyone likes this state.”
But what did this man mean by her being a good match for McNally’s?
“Unfortunately, that means they’re moving back to Kansas.” Biese spread his hands. “If you’re interested, I’d like to set up a time to discuss the position of grounds manager for the resort.”
Just like that, her breathing went away for the winter.
Breathe, fool. She inhaled and kept her voice even. “I’d definitely be interested.”
“Excellent.” He pulled out a card and handed it to her. “If you could call and schedule an appointment with my admin, we can go over what we’re hoping to accomplish. I told him I hoped to hear from you, so he’ll be expecting a call.”
She nodded. “I’ll do that.”
With a pleased smile, the man bowed slightly. “I can’t wait to see the changes you’ll make.”
As he strolled away, she stared at the card.
“Everything good?” Hawk’s rasping voice settled her. When he put a steadying arm around her, she leaned against his side.
“I might have a job at McNally’s as their grounds manager,” she said faintly.
With a finger, he tipped the card to read it. “Biese is a good guy.”
She tilted her gaze up. “You knew this was coming?”
“Nope. Back in June, he asked about you.” Hawk hesitated. “I passed him to Frankie. Figured she’d know how much to tell him.”
