Chapter 5 #2
Because it scared them that she could take care of herself, she’d always assumed.
“Most guys probably bore you to tears.” He set down his menu. “I can tell you’re someone who doesn’t shy away from dangerous situations. You live for this stuff as much as I do.”
“The thrill of being one false step from death?” She tilted her head, studying him. “Is that what drew you to SAR work?”
Something flickered in his expression. “Among other things. But we were talking about your stories first.”
Their server appeared with water glasses, and they quickly ordered—both choosing steaks, both medium rare. Noah’s eyebrows lifted at her order.
“Let me guess.” She took a sip of water. “Most women you date prefer well done.”
“I don’t usually pay attention to what my dates order.” His knee brushed hers under the table. “But I’m paying attention to everything about you.”
Heat crept up her neck at his intense focus. “In that case, you’ve probably noticed I don’t like to waste time either. So tell me about your most dangerous rescue.”
“Trying to avoid talking about yourself?” The amusement in his voice told her he knew exactly what she was doing.
“Maybe I just want to know what kind of trouble you get into when you’re not pulling bodies out of rockslides.”
“Oh, I get into all kinds of trouble.” He shifted closer, his thigh pressed against hers now.
“Last month, I had to race up Mount Peale in a thunderstorm to reach some stranded climbers. Lightning was cracking all around, and the rain made every step a gamble. Nearly lost my footing a few times before we finally spotted them.”
“The west face in that weather must have been a nightmare,” she remarked. “Were you able to approach from the south ridge, or did you have to navigate the northern ascent?”
His eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You’re familiar with the ridge?”
“Race you to the top sometime?” The offer slipped out naturally. She wasn’t usually one to make future plans on a first date, but this was not a typical first date. At all.
His eyes sparkled with the same fierce joy she felt when tackling a challenge. “Now that’s my kind of second date.”
The server arrived with their steaks and salads, and they fell into an easy rhythm of sharing stories between bites. Noah described SAR operations that made her pulse race, while she told him about her favorite climbing routes—the ones that weren’t in any guidebook.
“No wonder you spotted our victim,” he said after she described a particularly hairy solo climb. “You know every inch of that terrain.”
“Speaking of which.” She leaned forward, dropping her voice. “What’s your take on how she ended up there? There was something off about the whole scene, and I think we both know she wasn’t hiking.”
Noah practically lit up, as if he’d been waiting for her to segue to this exact subject. “The position seemed staged, like someone wanted her to be found eventually.”
“Like a message?” Sabrina toyed with her fork, the steak forgotten as her mind raced through possibilities. “But for who? That area isn’t exactly prime hiking territory this time of year. Any time of year, really.”
“Exactly.” Noah’s intensity ratcheted up a notch, which was saying something, given that it seemed to be his default mode. “Someone chose that spot deliberately. Someone who knew the terrain well enough to understand it would be found, but not immediately.”
“By someone who regularly patrols that section.” She met his gaze. “Like me.”
“Have you worked that region long?”
“My whole career.” A thought struck her. “But Bonner tried to take that zone. He was so weird about it. Kind of underhanded, actually.”
“The guy who horned in on our conversation?” Noah’s expression sharpened with interest. “The one who questioned whether you’d actually found a body?”
“The very same.” She sat back, mind whirling. “He was so insistent about taking that search zone. I didn’t think much about it at the time—he’s always trying to weasel his way into the more challenging assignments.”
“And now we know there was actually something to find.” Noah’s knee pressed against hers, grounding her racing thoughts. “But we also know there’s more going on here than a simple case of exposure. Those clothes, that location…”
“The staging,” she finished. The energy between them had shifted, professional fascination merging with personal attraction in a heady combination. “I’ve never had someone to really talk through an odd case with before. Most of the guys I work with—”
“Aren’t interested in your theories?” His mouth quirked. “Their loss. Your instincts are spot on.”
She laughed. “Careful. Complimenting my professional skills will get you everywhere.”
“Good.” He caught her hand where it rested on the table, his thumb brushing over her knuckles. “Because I have a lot more where that came from. You’re an impressive person, Officer West.”
The heat in his gaze made her lungs hitch. Among other things.
“Speaking of professional observation,” Sabrina said, hoping to take it down a few notches before she forgot they were in a public place. “I’ve never seen SAR work like what you did out there. The precision, the control. Most teams I’ve worked with aren’t nearly as methodical.”
His eyes lit with genuine pleasure at the compliment. “SAR requires a specific mindset. You’d be good at it.”
“You think?” She tilted her head, studying him. “It would look good on my résumé, actually. I need an edge for the district ranger promotion I’m gunning for. Would it be hard to get certified?”
“Not for you,” he said confidently. “You strike me as the type who excels at anything you put your mind to.”
That might be the prettiest compliment a man had ever given her. She tried not to let it go to her head, but dang. Noah Colton knew the way to a girl’s heart.
“You’re giving me lots to think about, Colton,” she said with a saucy smile. “Especially since I’m up against Bonner for the promotion. I would like nothing more than to see him crushed under my heel.”
“Now I understand why Bonner went out of his way to get in your face at Peavine.” Noah rolled his eyes, which made her grin.
“He thinks the position is his by divine right or something.” She shook her head. “But SAR certification would definitely help my chances. Especially since no one else in my unit has those skills.”
“I could put you in touch with my trainer.” The way Noah angled his whole body toward her set off sparks in her midsection. “Though I warn you, it’s intense. Long hours, complicated scenarios, complete dedication. But somehow, I don’t think that would scare you off.”
“Please.” She grinned. “You had me at ‘intense.’ I’d love to learn from whoever trained you and Dancer. Your partnership is impressive.”
She’d never had that with anyone. Or even owned a pet. Too much responsibility. On both counts.
“Having the right partner makes all the difference. I’d be happy to help you get started, go through some basics together. Show you the ropes.”
“That would be fabulous.”
They’d gone from zero to sixty in nothing flat. She should be backing way up, playing this nonchalant, aloof. Something other than sitting here grinning at this man who had just volunteered to spend a lot of time with her.
Noah made it sound like fun. That was a neat trick.
Sabrina glanced around, suddenly realizing the restaurant had emptied while they’d been lost in conversation. Only one other table remained occupied, and the servers were starting to give them pointed looks.
“I think we’re about to get kicked out,” she said with a laugh.
Noah checked his watch and his eyebrows shot up. “We’ve been here three hours.”
“Flew by.” She wasn’t ready for the evening to end. Not when every moment with Noah felt like discovering a new section of the wilderness she’d never explored, each turn revealing something more intriguing than the last.
Their server appeared, smile strained. “We’ll be closing in five minutes.”
“Message received.” Noah handed over his credit card and focused on Sabrina once the server left to close out their tab. “Care to continue this conversation somewhere else?”
The invitation hung between them, loaded with possibility. Any other time, with any other guy, Sabrina would have called it a night. Better to leave them wanting more, that was her usual strategy.
But nothing about Noah felt usual.
“There’s a nice walking trail around the pond across the street,” she found herself saying. “Unless you’re scared of the cold?”
His answering grin held a challenge. “I can handle it.”
The man was singing her tune, all right, but she wasn’t sure she could trust the feelings flooding every inch of her body. Yeah, it had been a while, and frankly, she’d never hesitated to jump right into something, even if she didn’t know exactly where she was going to land.
Minutes later, they strolled along the moonlit path, shoulders brushing. The night air held a bite of cold that made Sabrina glad she’d worn boots instead of heels.
“You know what I think?” Noah’s voice broke the comfortable silence.
“About the case or about this?” Whatever this was.
“Both.” He caught her hand, pulling her to a stop. “I think we make a good team. And I don’t know about you, but I’m nowhere near done with this date.”