Page 11 of Some Like It Hot

Barry finished, then looked up, straight at Tucker. “God is able. And you are able through Him. Let’s go.”

Tucker nodded, as if he’d suddenly gotten religious, but maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing, given their job.

Riley leaned down to grab his PG bag when a hand covered his.

Larke.

He looked up.

She had been standing behind him—maybe that’s who Barry had been looking at. She had changed into a pair of jeans, a jacket, baseball cap, and shades. He would have liked to have seen her eyes.

“So…” She made to reach out, as if to touch his chest, his thundering heart, then pulled back her hand. “Just—stay alive, okay?”

A smile tipped his lips and…ah, shoot. He leaned down—

She stepped back. Her mouth in a tight line. “No. I just…” She shook her head. “Last night was then. Today, I’m just saying don’t get hurt. Come back in one piece.”

Okay. Huh. But, “Sweetheart. I’m indestructible.”

“Right.” She crossed her arms. Glanced at his shoulder. Yeah, well, he’d popped enough pain relievers to keep him going for the next eight hours, maybe more.

“Trust me. I’m coming back. Alive.”

“Good.” She turned, but he caught her arm.

“When I do, I want that kiss.”

She raised an eyebrow, caught her lip between her teeth. “We’ll see.”

Oh, great balls of fire, he was so coming back, alive.

* * *

And,she’d clearly lost her mind.

Larke unbuckled as the plane lurched to a halt, having worked as spotter as they dumped the team over a cauldron of fire.

Trust me. I’m coming back. Alive.

That possibility seemed grim as the black smoke swallowed up the jumpers one by one.

This could end very, very badly. She climbed out of the plane, stalking back to the lodge.

The last thing she should be offering was a second chance for Riley to find a toehold in her heart. Or akiss. She’d liked falling asleep in his arms—innocent as it had been—way too much for her own good.

She needed more sleep, maybe. But frankly, she’d had a very rare, nightmare-free night, woken alone, havingnotbroken promises to herself, and felt more alive today than she had in, well, years.

And she blamed it all on Riley. The good guy in wolf’s clothing because when she’d hunted him down last night at the Midnight Sun, watching the stars under a wan moon was not on her agenda. Well, notallthat was on her agenda.

And sure, she knew it was simply the lonely, broken, empty places longing for temporary healing, but…

But Riley. Who turned out to be more than she’d expected. Even when he’d kissed her goodnight on the doorstep, not even stepping a foot over the threshold of her cabin.

Keeping his word.

Good thing because she’d nearly tugged him inside.

Instead, she’d closed the door behind him and made herself not open it and run after him as he trekked back to his cabin.