High Passion

by Vivian Arend

  “On the road?” Erin sounded puzzled. “Then who made the tracks up to the entrance I was guarding?”

  Marcus actually grinned for a moment. “Some poor sod who’d decided to set up a cache for the ice climbing season. He had a gearbox he’d hauled into the cave to save himself from having to carry everything once the snow gets deep. He nearly fainted when he got rounded up by RCMP waving guns at him.”

  The moment of lightness passed all too quickly as their laughter died down and Marcus turned serious again.

  “Lana says Vincent approached her after I’d hired her. He suggested all she needed was a chance to make a good impression on me, and I’d willingly move her onto the team full time. She took the drugs from him—he assured her he simply wanted a chance to play the hero to Alisha while he was in town. Wipe her brow and stuff while she was ill with the ‘flu.’”

  “Seriously?” Tripp shook his head. “How could someone who wanted to work with the team agree to do a stupid thing like that?”

  Marcus shrugged. “For whatever reason, she fell for it. And when Tripp got sick instead of Alisha without any serious repercussions, she didn’t think anything of trying it a second time. Only the dose must have been higher, and it backfired. When she told Vincent she wasn’t interested in helping him anymore, he turned mean.”

  “Who messed with Xavier’s belt?” Anders asked.

  “That one we have to wait to confirm. Vincent has lawyered up, although Lana insists it had to be him or someone working for him. When he threatened her, she gave him a key to the Lifeline building.” Marcus paced, dragging his hand through his dark hair as he’d obviously done a lot in the past hours, if the mess was any indication. “Speaking of which, I’m getting the locks changed and a new security system put in, and if any of you say something about locking the barn after the cows escape, I’ll scream.”

  Tripp snorted. “Not the first analogy that popped into my mind.”

  “You didn’t grow up on a farm like Becki.”

  There was one question still bothering him. “Did anyone mention how I got from Vincent’s room to the car?” Devon asked.

  “Easier than you think. After Lana knocked you out, she and Vincent manhandled you onto the luggage cart and took the elevator to the basement parking garage.” Marcus grimaced. “I’m sorry this happened. You shouldn’t have to worry about your teammates being a danger, and I was the one who hired Lana. If any of you want to leave the team, let me know. I’ll do everything I can to get you settled with a new SAR somewhere you feel more comfortable.”

  Devon barely had time to register shock at Marcus’s suggestion when he was hit even harder as Alisha spoke, her usually firm voice whisper-soft.

  “You didn’t do anything wrong, Marcus.” Alisha cleared her throat. “Lana screwed up, not you. And . . . it was my fault in the first place. Vincent was here because of me, and I should have done something sooner to stop him. I’m the only one who needs to apologize. If anyone feels uncomfortable with me staying on Lifeline, let me know. I’ll understand and give notice.”

  Devon wasn’t the only one to make scoffing noises, but he was the first to speak. “Bullshit on you quitting the team. You said it—Lana was in the wrong. Vincent was wrong. You’re not taking the blame for their stupidity.”

  Alisha pointed to the rules painted on the wall. “This is a place we need to trust each other one hundred percent. What we do to save lives puts ours on the line every single time, and if we can’t trust the entire team, that’s not going to work.”

  “I trust you.” Devon spoke clearly, catching her by the chin and forcing her to look at him even as he gestured to the others. “They trust you. This doesn’t change that one bit. Am I right, guys?” He raised the question to the rest of the team.

  A chorus of voices echoed his words as Erin, Tripp, and Anders all gave her their support. She swallowed hard, her eyes brightening with moisture.

  “Enough talk about quitting, got it? You’re stuck on Lifeline for a good, long time.”

  He didn’t look away until she nodded.

  “I’m not done with you,” he whispered, stroking a thumb over her jaw as colour rose in her cheeks. “Give me a minute.”

  Devon let her go and stood, stepping toward Marcus, his injury forgotten in his need to slap down the bullshit. Of all the conversations they could have had, this one had been the least expected. Like hell was he going to let the second-best part of his life vanish because of guilt.

  He’d dealt with enough guilt over the years. No way was he letting this one pass.

  “We all trust you. You did what you had to do. Instead of cutting off someone too soon who might have become a valuable part of the team, you gave Lana a chance. I haven’t always gone by all the rules, but I’d give my life for any of the team. I know they’d do the same for me. Lana chose a different route and it cost her. It’s not on you.”

  Marcus lifted his chin slightly.

  Devon wasn’t finished. “Being a part of Lifeline is a huge privilege, and there’s no way I want to give it up. I don’t want you to feel you’ve let any of us down, either, and I know damn well I’m speaking for Xavier as well. He trusted all of us and gave one hundred percent, all the time. He’s going to get better because of that attitude, and you were the one who beat that attitude into us.”

  Marcus paced away for a moment, his broad shoulders straightening as he returned to the gathering. He cleared his throat, then nodded at Devon. “Thank you.”

  Devon took his seat on the couch. Alisha curled her warm fingers around his arm and squeezed him tight. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

  At the head of the room, Marcus had regained his control. “We’re taking a week off. Devon, the medical reports on you look as if you had a fucking guardian angel. If you get doctor’s approval, rejoin training. We’ll take a look then and figure out when you’re ready for active duty. In the meantime I’ve got three people coming in to try out for the position of paramedic. We’ll work with them during training time, and either bring support onboard or only take calls we can do with limited medical on the scene. Becki has volunteered to join us until Devon is back on full roster.”

  There was a lot of nodding of heads as they processed the information. The meeting finished up shortly after that. Suggestions were made for activities on the days off, and a few random hugs and pats on the back given from the guys before Alisha ushered Devon to the car and took him home.

  For all the planning and details they’d covered, there were still a few important personal issues to deal with.

  * * *

  Alisha’s throat had tightened even as her sense of pride had soared. Devon hadn’t only soothed her fears, he’d stepped up and been a real leader. Confronting Marcus had pulled the group tighter when the situation could have torn them apart.

  Her admiration for him rose another notch, and now that they were back at his place, she couldn’t take her eyes off him. He’d changed into a pair of soft grey sweatpants and a plain blue T-shirt. His calf was bandaged, but he would only need the dressings for a few days if he avoided infection.

  Devon caught sight of her and strode to her side, his fingers slipping into her hair as he cradled her head and kissed her breathless.

  She could get used to this far too easily.

  When he broke away and scooped her up, she damn near squeaked in protest. “Devon, your leg. Put me down.”

  He shook his head in denial. “My injury isn’t that bad, and I’m not letting you go until I know you’re going to stick around and listen.”

  Somehow that meant being tossed on his bed, which she was totally okay with. He crawled over her and caught her hands in his, pressing them to the mattress on either side of her head as he stared down, his blue eyes shining bright.

  Alisha opened her thighs and allowed his hips to settle more intimately and as usual, the sexual tension between them kicked into high gear. “You plan on ravishing me? I don’t know if that was on the lis
t of approved activities the hospital provided.”

  He nuzzled along her neck, pressing his lips to her skin and giving her goose bumps as he worked his way up to her ear. “I’m pretty sure the instruction paper said you’re supposed to wake me every two hours all night long. I’d like to put in my request list now for the various types of wake-up calls I’d enjoy.”

  “I bet you would.” And she’d love to fulfill each and every one of them. He lifted his head and caught her gaze again, his laughing expression shifting into something far more serious. “What?”

  He paused. “I don’t want you to leave.”

  She wiggled gently to emphasize the complete hold he had. “Doesn’t look as if I’m going anywhere anytime soon.”

  Devon shook his head. “That’s not what I mean. I mean . . . move in with me.”

  Alisha smiled. “I thought I already did.”

  “Permanently.”

  Her breath skipped. “Devon?”

  He nodded. “I love you, Alisha. I want us to be together. We can deal with our insane families and the media, and whatever the hell else life throws at us. I want to be the one you turn to when you’re sad or afraid. I want to hold you tight, and let you wash away my frustrations.”

  Her heart swelled with joy as he stroked her cheek. “You’re a glutton for punishment, are you?”

  Devon chuckled. “I dare you. I dare you to tell me you don’t want that. To have adventures together, to work together and push each other to be even better than we are. I bet you can’t resist the idea of getting to wake up in the morning knowing I’ll do everything I can to challenge you.”

  She laughed out loud. “Another contest?”

  “Always. Because I love you.”

  “I love you more.”

  They broke down, laughing far too hard to do any serious kissing or fooling around. Instead, they ended up in the middle of the bed, Devon wrapped around her like a safety rope.

  He stroked her arm as they relaxed. “You never answered me.”

  Alisha twisted to face him, brushing her cheek against his. “You sure you’re ready to take on a full-time, permanent relationship knowing I have Bailey Enterprises as the skeleton in my closet?”

  He made a rude noise. “You’re not Bailey Enterprises. You’re a member of Lifeline, a kick-ass search-and-rescuer, and the only person who pushes me to be everything I can be.”

  “God, you’re good.” She was nearly floating from his praise. “You just try to kick me out.”

  His expression of joy reflected back and made her even happier. Then he rolled her on top and stripped off her shirt, and things weren’t nearly as relaxed or peaceful as they’d been a moment before.

  She straddled him, settling her fists on her hips. “How come it suddenly looks as if you have sex on your mind?”

  Her bra vanished and his strong hands slipped up her torso to begin a determined assault on her senses. “It’s not my mind you have to worry about.”

  Alisha laughed, then moaned as he went to work on making both of them very happy.

  It was no contest this time. They both won.

  Turn the page for the next book in the Adrenaline Search & Rescue series by Vivian Arend

  HIGH SEDUCTION

  Coming soon from Berkley Books!

  A low buzz of propellers settled in his ears then inched down his spine like an eerie warning. Timothy Dextor planted his feet a little firmer on the gravel. He leaned on his car door and stared up, waiting for the first glimpse of the chopper to break through the low December cloud cover.

  The whining buzz in the distance increased in volume briefly before stuttering. The noise smoothed momentarily then choked again leaving a far quieter pulse accompanied by the thin whistle of the north wind.

  His skipped heartbeat changed to a rapid pulse as the bright red body of a chopper burst from the clouds. A red top, twirling as it fell, the side to side motion barely balanced by the spin.

  The rapid descent could only mean disaster within the next thirty seconds. That is, if someone other than who he expected was flying.

  Sure enough, the next move was not a continued free-fall toward certain death, but the re-ignition of the tail rotor. With a smooth swoop toward the clearing on the north, the chopper leveled out and glided over the treetops with scant meters to spare.

  Tim grinned. Good to know some things hadn’t changed. The entire time it took for the chopper to circle then land neatly beside the large industrial looking building, he was busy thinking about all the things that had changed. Like him. Like his priorities.

  Changes that meant the meeting that was now inevitable would be fiery and exciting and, hopefully, far more satisfying than the last time they’d been involved. Him and Erin.

  The passenger door on the chopper opened. A slim man slid to the floor before easing himself to the ground, pausing to rest his hands on his knees. His head hung low, his body language screamed he was fighting to stay vertical. As the main propellers slowed their rotation, the man finally found his feet and made his way none too steadily toward the building.

  Such a typical Erin move.

  Tim was too far away to see details, but he could picture her perfectly. The thick mass of hair she kept pulled back in a ponytail most of the time. Her smooth dark skin, soft under his fingers. Her long, lean body, firm under his demanding touch. Her dark eyes that would glitter at him in amusement, in passion, flashing in anger all too often.

  All those images were crystal clear in his memory.

  It was definitely Erin who exited the pilot’s door a minute later. Confident body position, head held high. Damn near cocky in her circle of the chopper and subsequent strut to headquarters.

  Yeah, that was something that hadn’t changed one bit, and Tim was glad. Of course it also meant his chances of getting kicked in the nuts sometime in the next hour were at an all-time high.

  The thought of the coming storm shouldn’t have made him grin all the harder.

  * * *

  It had taken exactly five minutes longer than she’d expected to break the next applicant. Five minutes, and a spiraling descent wild enough that if Erin Tate had been a passenger and not behind the controls of the chopper, even she might have questioned their chances of survival.

  Only she was the one holding the stick and adjusting controls, and that made all the difference. It was why she had avoided the fate of the wannabe newest member to the Lifeline team who was in the men’s change room attempting to pull himself together after his abrupt and explosive episode of nausea.

  She squared her shoulders, stared at the wall and determinedly hid the smirk that wanted to escape.

  Across the room her boss tossed her a dirty look. “You realize I’m onto you, right?”

  “Of course, you are. Sir.”

  Marcus Landers snorted his disbelief. “And don’t try to hand me that ultra-polite ‘sir’ shit. Not now. Not after you’ve managed to convince all the candidates I’d shortlisted that they’d rather be stationed on Kodiak Island than join the insane crew based out of Banff. What are we supposed to do on the next call-out? Go without a paramedic?”

  “I have no objection to a competent search and rescuer joining the team,” Erin insisted.

  “Sure looks like it to me.” Marcus tossed five files onto his desk, the papers spreading like fall leaves tossed in the wind. “All qualified, all eager to move here. The longest any of them have lasted is three weeks. So I want to know. What is your goddamn problem?”

  Erin eased back on her flippant mindset a notch. It wasn’t Marcus’s fault, and he should know that she wasn’t just being a troublemaker. “I didn’t like their attitudes,” she shared honestly.

  “Their attitudes?” Marcus’s brows were near the ceiling. “This from the woman who tells me to fuck off on a regular basis, and you had a problem with their attitudes?”

  Erin twisted to face him. Marcus had established their elite team years ago with the reputation of hiring only the best.
He’d supported that team through thick and thin. The trouble was he occasionally focused too hard on the job skills rather than the weakest link in the people themselves. “I’ve never suggested you should drop to your knees and service me, though, have I?”

  Instant shock registered. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “Took the one, who lasted three weeks, that long to corner me in the change room and suggest he’d waited long enough for a taste of brown sugar.”

  “Crap.” Marcus took a deep breath. “Erin, I’m damn sorry.”

  She shrugged. “Not your fault the members of the old boys’ club are threatened by a female in a position of authority. You aren’t the one with the problem.” Erin stiffened her spine again. “Only I won’t work with the asses.”

  “Which means it is my problem. We need a full team in place before the winter holiday season gets into full swing.” Marcus rested his one good hand on the desk, his amputated left arm tight to his body. “The medics from the hospital—they’re good on a temporary basis?”

  “Never had an issue with any of them.”

  He nodded, then made a face. “I’ll arrange for more loaners while I extend the search for new members, but in the meantime?”

  Erin waited as he strode to her side to poke his finger directly in her face.

  “Next time just tell me instead of taking matters into your own hands. I don’t doubt your skills or your ability to make a point. This is a team, however, and you’re a vital part of it. Anyone who can’t respect that doesn’t deserve to be a part of Lifeline.”

  “Dealing with them is so much fun, though,” she deadpanned.

  He rolled his eyes. “Ten million dollar chopper, and you’re using it to teach respect. How about we do it my way in the future, all right?”

  Erin grinned. “I’ll think about it.”

  She scooted out of Lifeline HQ before the fireworks started. Marcus was right. While she was more than capable of taking care of herself, there was a warm glow inside knowing someone else was about to feel the wrath for their idiotic behavior.