Chapter 23
One month later…
The helicopter’s spotlight cut through the darkness as the aircraft closed in on the helipad, swirling the ever-present winter fog into twin vortices behind it. A light drizzle misted the air, the threat of something far more substantial lingering on the horizon.
Bodie leaned against the hangar door as the downwash scattered pine needles and leaves across the tarmac before the skids touched down, the engine quickly spooling back.
The rear doors opened, the crew spilling out into the night. Kash’s furry companion, Nyx, trotted out, bounding toward Bodie once she spotted him. He braced for impact, nearly falling on his ass as the dog leaped up at him, paws planted on his chest, tail wagging.
Bodie laughed. “I don’t know how Kash rappels from the chopper with you strapped to his chest.”
Kash walked in behind her, whistled her off. “Some days, neither do I.”
Bodie nodded at Rowan as she talked with Zain and Chase next to the chopper. “Well? How was the flight?”
Kash laughed. “Bumpy. Storm’s coming in fast, but she’s amazing. Might actually give Chase a run for his money.”
“Sheesh, only one full shift and you’ve already replaced me.” Chase shook his head as he stopped next to Kash, shoving him. “That’s cold, brother.”
Kash shrugged. “What can I say? Rowan’s a natural, and she doesn’t try to backseat fly Foster the way you do. You two are like an old married couple, which is creepy considering you’re both actually married.”
“Not sure it’s natural when my dad drilled all that medic crap into me.
” Rowan ducked in out of the rain, stepping over to Bodie’s side.
“But I appreciate the sentiment. And, for the record, no one’s replacing Chase any time soon.
” Rowan leaned into Bodie. “He’s crazy good.
My dad would have sweet-talked him into going on every Doctors Without Borders mission with him. ”
Bodie gave into the urge to close the scant distance, plant a hard kiss on her mouth. “Sounds like it was a good shift.”
Rowan scrunched up her nose. “Just answer me this. Does Foster always fly like that because… Not puking might be my biggest achievement today.”
Kash smiled. “No, sometimes he’s a bit intense.”
Foster laughed as he jogged in from the tarmac. “Give it a month, and you’ll be begging me to go faster. Get just a bit closer.”
“If you get any closer, we’ll be in the trees.” Rowan sighed, leaned fully against Bodie. “You’ve got an impressive team. It’s no wonder you didn’t hesitate to pick us up that night. Probably the only reason we got out of the woods alive.”
Zain shrugged. “The way Bodie tells it, you’re the reason anyone got out alive. And he’s not wrong.”
Chase arched a brow. “So? Did we measure up?”
Rowan scoffed. “Exceeded every expectation. Thanks for having me along.”
“There’s a spot waiting for you. You know that, right?
We’d love to have you double up with us for a while.
We’re only getting busier, and we’d like to eventually shift to two medics on every shift.
Especially with all the multiple trauma calls we get.
” Chase sighed. “But no pressure. I’m sure the National Park Service doesn’t want to lose you, either. Just, give it some thought.”
“Would part time work for you? To start?” She toed at the floor. “I might have already given my boss notice. Told him I’d help close out my active cases, but…”
“Hell, yeah.” Chase nodded at Bodie. “Don’t screw this up because I’d hate to have to kill a brother if you did.”
Bodie waved Chase on. “Glad it’d be mildly painful for you.” He slipped his hand around Rowan’s. “You guys coming over? Nick’ll be here shortly.”
“We’ll be there within the hour. Gotta see for ourselves that Nick actually quit the Agency.”
The group joked as they headed to their trucks, drove off. Bodie parked his inside the garage, led Rowan up to their loft.
Theirs.
He still couldn’t believe she’d finally moved in. After a month of going back and forth between their places, she’d rolled over yesterday morning and simply told him to ask her again.
It had been a whirlwind of packing boxes and shuffling everything over, but it’d been worth it knowing she’d be going to bed with him every night. Waking up in his arms every morning.
Rowan rolled her eyes as she did her best to disarm all the security, mumbling something about it being overkill before opening the door — stopping short.
Her eyes widened as she inhaled, staring at how he’d mixed their stuff together, before looking over at him.
He moved in close, kissed her. “You can change anything you don’t like. I just wanted you to feel like this was your home, too.”
She beamed. “It’s perfect.”
“Does that mean we can spend the next thirty minutes having fun before everyone arrives?”
She threaded her fingers through his hair, tugged him down. “Half an hour’s a bit rushed for what I have in mind, but you might be able to persuade me to change my plans. This one time.”
Bodie nipped at her lower lip. “I’ll make it worth the concession.”
Rowan moaned as he kissed his way up her neck, then claimed her mouth, pulling her flush against him.
She tasted of coffee and promise — that future he’d already started with her.
He’d just begun backing her toward the hallway with every intention of hiking her up on his shoulder — carrying her to bed — when an exaggerated groan sounded from the doorway.
“Jesus, don’t you two ever stop?”
Rowan shook her head as she let it fall against his chest. “You really need to change the code.”
Nick laughed as he walked in. “I worked for the CIA. I can bypass a few codes.” He held up a case of beer. “Besides, we’re celebrating.”
“Downstairs and not for another thirty minutes. I was literally about to give Bodie the best damn blowjob of his life.”
Bodie closed his eyes, breathed. He wouldn’t shuffle her off to the bedroom now. He had more restraint than that.
Nick tripped a step, then shrugged. “He’ll live without it for a few hours longer.”
Rowan accepted the beer Nick handed her. “What are we celebrating early? Me moving in or you?”
He grinned. “Both. But don’t worry. Now that I actually have time, I’m sure I can find a place pretty quickly.”
Rowan shrugged. “Honestly, I kinda like having the extra security downstairs.”
“You mean, you like knowing an intruder would have to go through me before coming for you and Bodie.”
She smiled. “Exactly. The death match would probably wake us.”
“Glad you see my worth.”
Buck and Dalton walked in next, carrying enough food to feed an army.
Dalton piled the bags on the counter. “Greer called. Said to move everything upstairs or you’d probably abduct Rowan and vanish.”
Bodie laughed. “And to think I was supportive of her when she was trying to hook up with Chase.”
Dalton raised a brow. “Is she wrong?”
Nick tsked. “Please, I caught them making out. They totally would have ditched the party.”
Bodie shook his head, grinned at Rowan, then jumped in — helped organize everything. They were pushing the time limit when he stepped back. “You know we’ll never be able to eat all of this.”
Nick laughed. “Please, have you seen Zain eat? Twenty bucks, we won’t have anything left over.”
“You’re on.”
Nick nudged Rowan. “Sloane mentioned that you’d moved your dad to some top-secret facility up north. Like in Canada, for god’s sake. That true?”
Rowan sighed. “It wasn’t really my idea, but a colleague my father had worked with on some joint research projects called.
He’s been experimenting in a similar field.
Thinks he might be able to help. He also promised to keep him off-grid.
Call me crazy, but I wasn’t exactly trusting that the CIA or the DIA wouldn’t just show up at the hospital one day — take him away. ”
Nick nodded. “Not as crazy as you might think. This colleague got a name?”
“Darwin Oswald. Sloane checked him out. Said he was the real deal. And I know I’ve heard his name before.”
Nick squeezed her hand. “I’ve got a few contacts north of the border. I’ll monitor the situation. But if Sloane gave you the green light, then you’re good.”
Bodie moved in close. “Looks like you might come in handy, after all, Nick.”
Nick rolled his eyes, took a long pull from his beer when Rowan stepped forward.
She cleared her throat. “Before everyone arrives, I have something for all of you.”
She darted over to her computer bag — the one item Bodie had left untouched — removed a frame.
She held it close until she reached the counter, turned it.
“I hope it’s okay. I had Greer and the guys from Raven’s Watch do a bit of stealth recon for me.
I wanted the perfect shot. I thought maybe you could put it downstairs in the main office. So, he’s always close.”
The room fell silent, the photo of Evan on a team fishing trip smiling up at him. Happy. Larger than life.
Bodie took it, throat thick, eyes burning a bit. “It’s perfect.”
Dalton held up his beer. “To Evan.”
Bodie raised his beer, everyone else following suit. “To Evan.”
“Are you seriously toasting Evan without me? That’s cold, guys.”
Bodie stilled, damn near choked on his beer, as the voice sounded from the doorway. He turned, heart pounding, as Wade stood in the entrance, his right leg in a massive brace, crutches under his arms. Foster, Chase and the others stood behind him, grinning.
Bodie shook his head as he crossed the room, clapped Wade on the back. “You stubborn son of a bitch. You’re not supposed to walking around, yet.”
Wade motioned behind him. “Chase said he’d make an exception.
Besides, they pretty much carried me up the stairs.
” Wade scanned the place. “Looks like you’ve been busy.
” He nodded at Rowan. “I heard you were sticking around. Agreed to work with Chase and the others, which is the real surprise. They’re nuts. You know that, right?”
Rowan laughed, leaning into Bodie when he wrapped his arms around her. “They made me an offer I couldn’t resist.”
“Danger pay?”
Rowan looked up at Bodie, and his heart stopped. Frozen in his chest at the love shining back. She smiled. “A chance at a real home. Can’t ask for more than that.”
Collective groans rose, the guys all joking about how sappy the two of them were. How it was going to be torture watching them kiss all the time.
Bodie just smiled, enjoying the way everyone fit together, as if they’d been a unit forever. It wasn’t until they’d nearly run out of food before everyone finally said their goodbyes, left Bodie alone with Rowan.
She collapsed beside Bodie on the couch, laid her head on his shoulder. “I’ve never been so wired and so exhausted. Are they always like that?”
Bodie dropped a kiss on her forehead. “Sometimes, they get loud.”
She laughed, the easy sound sparking a new round of energy. He reached over, scooped her off the couch, started walking toward their bedroom.
She swatted his shoulder. “Your leg.”
“Is healed. Stronger than ever, in fact. So, relax, enjoy the ride.” He placed her on the bed, loving the way everything clicked into place. “You really are stunning.”
She drew him down to her with a tilt of her head, stared up at him as he went to his elbows above her. “Are you ever going to use a new line?”
“Why, when the old one makes you blush?” He nuzzled her nose. “I guess I could simply say, I love you, Rowan.”
Her eyes teared a bit as she wrapped herself around him.
“Just when I think I’ve got you figured out…
” She lifted her head, kissed him until he thought they’d both run out of air before running her finger across his shoulder and down his chest. “And I love you more. Though, as I recall, I had big plans before we got interrupted.”
“So you said, but it looks like those might have to wait a bit longer because…” He ran his hand across her hip, didn’t stop until her eyes rolled a bit as she moaned his name. “I’ve got plans, too. Though, I promise you can have your way with me once I’m done.”
Rowan shook her head. “I don’t plan on us being done until you’ve given me those sixty years you promised, but I’ll keep that in mind. Now, show me what you’ve got, tiger, because the night’s just started.”