Page 31 of One Last Shot

So much stun power. Too bad she was immune—been there, done that, thank you.

Still.“And Air One has a stake in this. So I’ll train you up and maybe get you in on a rescue, and hopefully the show will be a hit.”

He had started to stretch, leaning against the car to work his calves. For a country singer, he had decent back muscles.

Oh brother.

“I hope so.” He stood up. “Listen. I know what you probably think of me, but I promise, I’ve had my fair share of survival experiences. And I’m not afraid of hard work. I’ll get it done.”

His voice held such sincerity. . .

“Okay, then. I’ll see you at the Tooth.”

“The Tooth?”

She tossed her towel back into the trunk area. “It’s what we call the Air One HQ. The Moose’s Tooth is a rocky peak just south of Denali.” She took another sip of water. “It’s a really challenging climb but super worth it—the view is amazing. Sort of like when you actually save someone.” She capped her water bottle. “So, yeah, I think it was Axel who first dubbed HQ the Tooth.”

“Axel?”

“He was the other guy on the chopper with us. Rescue swimmer.”

“Right.” He worked his neck, then caught his ankle to stretch his thighs.

“We also have Shep, our team lead, and London, who is our climbing expert. And another pilot north of here, along with a dogsledder and a slew of other volunteers if we need them. It’s a small crew, but we’re well trained.”

He let go of his grip on his other ankle. “Good to know.”

Again, the cover-model smile.

She had the sense that she might be babbling.This was why she made great fodder for reality shows. She wanted to thump herself, hard, on the head.

Tossing her bottle in, she shut the trunk. He had started running in place. A real go-getter.

“Don’t get too worn out. I have a big day planned.”

“As long as it doesn’t involve jumping out of a chopper, I’m good.” Then he winked and took off for the trail.

Oh boy. But she wasn’t cancelling today’s agenda.

She got into her Rogue and headed home, only a few miles away.

The sun had baked off more of the snow from the yard, and she spotted London on the wooden deck, on her yoga mat, seated and staring into the sun, her blonde hair long and shimmery.

Sheesh,the woman didn’t even have to try. A long drink of water with blue eyes and an easy smile, London was tough, smart, and came with an aura of mystery. All Boo knew was that London knew Shep from ages past and made a mean Scotch egg. And she could beat Boo in Dutch Blitz without breaking a sweat.

Still, they shared music tastes, and London didn’t ask too many questions, which Boo appreciated in a housemate.

Although for a second, Moose’s weird shutdown of her suggestion that Oaken train with London flitted across Boo’s mind.

Whatever.

Boo toed off her shoes at the door and headed into the kitchen, following the smell of fresh-brewed coffee. She poured herself a cup, then headed upstairs to shower.

Twenty minutes later, she found London in the kitchen, cooking scrambled eggs, crispy bacon on a paper towel on a plate, a bowl of berries on the counter.

“Eggs?” London said as she pulled a couple plates from the shelf, then turned off the heat on the stove.

“Please.” Boo slid onto the stool at the counter.