Chapter 2
TWO
Allie couldn’t believe Dakota Masterson was here in the middle of the Montana wilderness. Clearly he’d succeeded in rehab. His blue eyes were clear and focused—nothing like the bloodshot, full-of-shame look they’d carried last time she’d seen him. Even in sooty pants and a loose T-shirt he looked good. Healthy.
But why he was trying to get rid of her and acting all embarrassed when obviously he should be celebrating wasn’t something she had time to figure out. Not when the mother of those two adorable boys looked like she was about to faint.
“I haven’t seen Ethan and Nolan since this morning.”
Jen sucked in a short breath. “They said they wanted to hike the Green Loop trail, right? That’s what they told you?”
Allie nodded.
“They should’ve been back by now.” Jen’s voice shook. “And Ray is ready to go, but—” She bit down on her lip like she was trying not to cry. She whipped her head around, looking in every direction, and gasped. “I can’t find them.”
Allie laid a gentle hand on Jen’s arm. “I’m sure they’re around. I’ll help you look.”
No way would Allie leave when two young boys were lost in the forest. So whatever mystery there was to solve about Dakota showing up as a firefighter—a hotshot and part of her friend Emily Micah’s crew, no less—needed to wait.
“You need to evacuate, Allie,” Dakota said. “It’s not safe here.”
“Excuse me, this is what I do. I find lost people. Remember?”
Emily gave Dakota a good glare. “Masterson, she’s right. We have work to do. We need to finish evacuating. I trust Allie will stay safe. Tho?—”
“Jen!” an angry voice yelled. “Where are they?” A bald man, stocky and tall with a bushy beard, came from behind the tent the boys had pointed out that morning. The glower on his face disappeared the moment he spotted them. He walked over with a chuckle. “Sorry to yell, babe. Didn’t realize you were visiting with folks.” He swung a beefy arm over her shoulders. “Where are the boys? It’s time to go, and I bet these firefighters want us out of the way.”
Allie watched Jen shrink. “They’re still…hiking. I think. I told them to be back by now. Ethan has his watch, but?—”
“They aren’t back?” The man, presumably Jen’s husband Ray, bristled. “We need to get home.”
Scout stood at alert, sniffing the man. Unlike he had with everyone else in the group, the Lab didn’t go right up to him. Instead, the dog stayed by Allie’s side, giving her a solid idea of the dog’s instinct about his man—and she got the same vibe.
“I know, but they’re missing.” Jen’s voice hitched.
“Missing?” He looked at Dakota and the guy with him. “You guys are firefighters. Can’t you help us find the boys?”
Emily stepped up to him. “We have to finish evacuating, but Allie is a search and rescue professional. She can help find them.” She turned to Dakota and his partner. “We better get going. There’s still a lot of people, and we need to clear everyone out.”
Dakota gaped. “We can’t let Allie go alone. The fire is heading right toward the trails.”
Jen gasped. “You have to help find them. We have to find them.” She looked like she would fall apart any second now.
She would be useless in the forest. This worried mother was the last person who needed to be out with Allie.
She injected as much confidence as she could into her voice. “I need you to stay here in case they come back. If you and your husband search the main campground, check the shower houses and gift shop, and stay here in the central area, I can take Scout and search the trails.”
Dakota glared at her. “You shouldn’t be out there alone.”
“I won’t be.” Couldn’t he see that? “I’ll have Scout.”
“Yeah, but the fire?—”
“Maybe you should go with her,” the other firefighter said. What did he say his name was? Kane? “Emily is right. As soon as this place is evacuated, we need to start cutting a break line to save the campgrounds. Gotta keep moving.” He nodded to Allie. “If you don’t mind, I’m leaving you in good hands.” He clapped Dakota on the shoulder and jogged away.
Emily shouted a quick goodbye and warning to be safe.
Great. Now she was stuck with Dakota. Not that she didn’t like the guy. She really thought they’d connected at one point, but now he was acting like he wanted to get rid of her. And—yes, maybe the way he’d left with barely a goodbye after that long road trip still stung. But she needed to focus on Jen before she collapsed. She would probably do better with a task. “Jen, Ray, go search those areas I mentioned. One of you stick by the tent. Do you have a phone?”
Jen nodded and pulled her cell out of her back pocket. “Yeah.”
Allie gave her her number. “Call if they come back.”
Dakota shook his head. “You’re not going to have reception out there.”
“Maybe not, but I’ll check it when I can.” Why was he being so difficult?
“Better yet, find one of the other hotshots. Tell them to call me on the radio,” Dakota told them.
Jen and Ray rushed off.
Allie swung around to face Dakota. “I’m not the one who needs a babysitter. Don’t you have better things to do?”
“There’s a fire roaring up this mountain. Like it or not, I’m sticking close by. I can’t let you go out there without some protection.”
Really? If anything, she might be in more danger with Dakota.
His brother Will had insisted that he wasn’t violent or anything, but what she’d witnessed the first time they met said otherwise. After the storm of his frustration and anger had blown over, he’d been sullen but peaceful during the long car ride they’d taken together. He’d jokingly warned her that he was trouble with a capital T. But Dani had insisted that Dakota was a good guy. And Dixie had liked him right away. She’d always been a good judge of character.
Man, she missed that dog.
And yeah, maybe Dakota’s wounded-hero vibe had seeped through to the long-locked-away places of her heart as they’d passed the hours of that car ride getting to know each other a little. It was a good thing she’d dropped him off at the Ridgeman Center when she did. He’d intrigued her as he’d shared little tidbits of himself.
He liked Garth Brooks and hated sitting in one place too long. He’d grown up in South Dakota and still missed the prairies. He’d made her laugh. Dixie had been downright smitten with him, which told her all she needed to know.
And she’d started to imagine what it would be like to see him again. Get to know him more.
And that was the most dangerous of all.
Her imagination only got her into trouble. She needed her eyes wide open and feet firmly on the ground. Not heady attraction or heated moments. Not with her past.
And something about the combo of brilliant blue eyes in contrast to the red hair and scruff across Dakota’s firm jawline, as well as the strong heroic aura around him, might as well have been a big ol’ flashing sign for her.
Warning. Strong attraction potential. Stay far away.
But the facts were glaring. Just when she’d thought they were hitting it off, they’d reached the Ridgeman Center, and he’d waved goodbye and left. No “Hey, could I have your number?” or “Let’s keep in touch.” Or even a “Thanks for the ride.” He’d simply ducked his head and gone through the front doors with barely an acknowledgement of her existence.
Obviously, she couldn’t trust herself to read a guy correctly. She too easily saw something when nothing was there.
But she also didn’t have any training in fighting or avoiding a wildfire. If she wanted to keep the boys safe, she would need Dakota’s help.
She crossed her arms, noting, as Scout lay down by Dakota’s boots, that even he seemed to like the guy. “Fine, you can come. But I’m leaving now.” She swung her backpack over her shoulders and called to her dog. She’d have to work really hard at keeping herself in check with Dakota.
Scout looked up at her but didn’t move until she gently tugged on the lead connected to his harness. She could’ve sworn the dog sighed as he got up and moved to her side.
Dakota didn’t seem to notice. “The sooner we find them, the sooner we can get you to a safe place.”
“Still acting like a SWAT guy.”
His lip curled. “Yeah, well, that life is behind me.”
“Is it?” She gave him a pointed look.
A muscle in his jaw twitched. “Let’s go find the boys.”
So that’s how it was going to be. He didn’t want to talk about the past. Fine by her. She needed to focus on finding Ethan and Nolan before the fire reached the campground and they couldn’t get out.
Allie and Scout jogged up the trail in front of Dakota, almost like she didn’t want to be near him.
Guess he couldn’t blame her for that. Not with the way they’d met. But like it or not, he wasn’t about to let her walk into a forest on fire by herself. Not with the smoke growing thicker by the minute.
The chatter on his radio indicated the fire was headed right for the campground, and the crew was busy trying to dig a break line to protect it.
But fires were unpredictable. All it took was a few sparks—a snag to fall the wrong direction, to cross the barrier the crew was frantically trying to make—and the campground would be consumed.
They needed to find those kids quickly.
But his new life he was trying to build here could also go up in flames just as easily. Being a rookie meant starting all over again. He was breaking new ground on this team. If they heard he was an addict, how he’d let his last team down, it was all over.
So he needed Allie to trust him. And more, to keep his past to herself and not blab it to the crew. Especially if she already knew Emily Micah. And since she worked closely with his sister-in-law Dani, it would go a long way to proving to his brother that his investment in Dakota’s rehab hadn’t been a waste, that Dakota truly was building a new and better life here.
Could he convince her?
He needed to.
Time to dig up some of that Masterson charm.
“Hey, wait up. I guarantee my pack is heavier than yours.” Dakota infused a lightness he didn’t really feel into his words.
Allie paused on the trail. Scout continued to sniff. “We need to cover as much ground as we can as quickly as possible. I think Scout has their scent.”
“Good.” Dakota caught up to her. There was just enough room to walk side by side on the trail. “Did Scout train at the SAR Training Center too?”
“Yeah. We worked with your sister-in-law. She’s actually the one that picked out Scout for me.”
“How is Dani?”
Allie paused and finally looked at him. “She’s good. Have you stayed in touch with her and Will and the boys?”
“Mostly just by email and text.”
“Actually, your nephews aren’t too far from here. They’re at a youth camp farther north.”
“Yeah, Sam and Josh told me. So is Scout certified?”
“Not yet. That’s why we’re here. We’re trying to finish his training, but he’s proving to be rather stubborn. Well, more stubborn than Dixie ever was for me.”
“I’m really sorry about Dixie. I can’t imagine how hard it was to lose her.”
Allie only nodded. She turned away, eyes scanning the thick forest surrounding them.
Dakota could’ve palmed his forehead. Way to make a girl feel comfortable by bringing up her dead dog .
“Are you still living in Benson?” That was better. Neutral ground.
“Yup.” She stopped and pulled her backpack off. “Scout, come. Let’s keep you hydrated.” The dog didn’t listen. Instead he continued up the smoky trail.
“Scout! Come.”
This time the black Lab stopped and looked at her, but he still didn’t obey her command.
“Come.” Allie pulled out a water bottle and collapsible doggie-dish. Finally, Scout trotted back to them and lapped up the water.
“Is that normal for him not to listen the first time?”
Allie glared at him over the water bottle she chugged. “He’s still in training.”
Lovely. He’d hit another nerve.
But he didn’t mind the break from his own pack as he set it on the ground. He and Allie both drank. With this heat, even in the shade of the tall trees, it wouldn’t take much to succumb to heat exhaustion. As Allie checked Scout’s paws, Dakota studied her.
Thankfully, no signs of paleness or fatigue. Her hair was longer than a year ago, the pointed chin and big hazel eyes exactly the same. Her smooth skin was a dark tan, a shade that seemed to enhance the light color of her eyes—an intriguing mix of amber and jade.
In another life, another situation, he probably would’ve asked her out. But she barely acknowledged his presence, and he was in no way ready for a relationship.
A year out of rehab? A new job? The timing was all wrong.
“We should get going.” He hefted his pack to his shoulders.
Scout lapped up the last of his water and sat on his haunches, watching Allie gather his dish and empty bottle. She didn’t acknowledge him.
Weird. With Dixie, she had constantly been talking to her, petting her, giving her lots of attention. But like she’d said, Scout was still training. Maybe this was part of the technique, not to coddle him.
Still, he felt bad for the mutt. Couldn’t hurt to give him a little attention while she put things away. Dakota whistled to him. Scout came immediately.
“Hey, you’re gonna help us find those boys, right?” Dakota scratched around the dog’s ears and collar. Scout leaned into his touch. “Good boy.”
Allie slipped her arms through the straps of her own backpack. “Let’s go, Scout. Find!”
Scout leaped to his paws and started sniffing, trotting back and forth on the trail.
“He seems like a good dog.” Dakota held back an overhanging branch for her.
“He’s very driven when he has a scent.”
“Why are you training all the way out here? Do you have family in this area?”
“No.”
“So…”
She sighed. “I came with a friend. She lives back in our hometown in Idaho, and the plan was to spend some time together, but her husband freaked out about the fire, and she left earlier this morning.”
“You’re from Idaho, huh? Where abou?—”
Allie stopped and faced him. “Look, I know you’re trying to be friendly and everything, but let’s not pretend. We’re here to find those boys. We’ll do the job and go our separate ways again, just like last time.” She gave him a tight smile. “This doesn’t need to get personal.”
But he needed to protect this job. He had Will, Dani, and the boys, but this—this was the one thing he had going for himself, and he couldn’t screw that up. She didn’t want to be buddy-buddy, fine. But he also needed Allie to see that he was not the same guy she’d driven to rehab. He’d have to shoot straight with her.
“You don’t trust me, do you?”
Her side-eye glance showed surprise. “I barely know you. And what I do know…” Her words trailed off. She shrugged and focused her gaze on Scout up ahead.
Like she didn’t want to say what she was really thinking.
He stepped in front of her, forcing her to stop and look at him. “You saw me at my worst. You saw what I did to Will. So I get it. I have no excuse for the things I did then. But that’s not who I am now. I’m just asking for a chance.”
“A chance at what?”
“To show you that I’m one of the good guys too, like Will. I might not be SWAT anymore or a federal agent like my brother, but I’m trying to build a new life here. I finished my rehab. I’m starting over. So maybe you could help me out. Let me start over with you too.”
She stared at him. It wasn’t a fast refusal. That was a start.
“I can understand not wanting to be defined by your past.” Her voice was so soft he almost missed her words.
“You’ve got regrets too, huh?”
Her sharp intake of breath surprised him. “Doesn’t everybody?”
He’d only meant to relate, but the grief in her eyes rocked him.
Obviously, he wasn’t the only one haunted by his own history. What was Allie hiding?
“But the past is the past, right?” She gave him a tenuous smile, all traces of sorrow swept away. Maybe he’d only imagined it. “And for the record, I’ve always known you were a hero, Dakota. Just as much as Will is.”
Really? Then why did she act so cold with him? “Thanks?—”
Her brows furrowed as she looked over Dakota’s shoulder.
“What is it?”
“Scout is going off the trail.” She jogged after the dog. “Come on!”
Scout led them down a slight incline covered with scrub brush and fallen logs.
“Look!” Allie knelt down in a patch of ferns where Scout sat with his long tongue hanging out as he panted.
She held up a child-size hat. A dark red blob with streaks of mud stained the brim. Studying the ground, Dakota noted a long stretch of bare earth streaking downhill—fresh dirt where someone had fallen and slid.
She looked over with those big eyes. “One of the kids is hurt.”