High Risk (21 page)

She caught his eye and shook her head in derision.

Marcus raised his brow. “Is this a good time to mention that I threw up on the feet
of the first nurse who tried to sweet-talk me after my operation?”

She blew out a long breath, balancing herself. “Classy.”

“I thought so.” He indicated her bottle, and she obediently sipped at it. “Nearly
there. You’re doing well.”

Becki met his gaze and forced a smile. “I know. Although I hope you brought more bags,
because I have a feeling the trip home might not go so smoothly.”

“You can listen in on the crew line if you want to be distracted for a bit.”

Her eyes widened. “Right. And take the chance one of them is talking about food? No
thanks.”

She’d caught his fingers in hers again, and he stroked her knuckles softly. “I didn’t
even ask—I assume this is the first chopper trip since?”

“First flight, period.”

Anger and annoyance at himself slammed in. “What? I assumed you flew into Calgary.”

She smiled now, more real. “I’ve got my car, Marcus. How did you think it got to Banff,
rock gnomes?”

“I didn’t think, period.” He kicked his own ass for that fact. “I’m sorry—”

“Prepare for landing,” Erin’s announcement cut in. “Marcus, all clear?”

He adjusted channels to speak to his pilot. “Clear. Soft as you can, or I’ll make
you do bump and grinds all afternoon.”

“Got it, boss.”

Becki raised a brow, and he realized she’d been listening. He clicked back to channel
two. “What?”

“You’re such an ass,” she teased.

“What can I say? They love me.”

She closed her eyes, blew out another breath, and hung on tight. Marcus watched with
admiration. Whatever she was, courageous was certainly at the top of the list.

CHAPTER
23

Training was going well even though the entire time the thought hovered that there
was still another flight to endure. Eventually Becki simply resigned herself to the
fact that she would probably be ill on the return trip.

Still, preventive maintenance wasn’t a stupid idea. When she turned down the granola
bar Tripp offered her, Marcus didn’t say a word.

He watched, though. His gaze fixed on her while she coaxed his team through the exercise,
although skillwise there wasn’t much she was able to actually teach them.

She stepped beside Marcus and stared at the narrow ledge Alisha had managed to ascend
to without any trouble. “They are good. This is definitely just a refresher for them,
having me around.”

“I agree and yet, there’s something to be said for trying to impress a hero—they’re
a lot sharper since you walked onto the scene. I don’t see them goofing off as much
in training because you’re here.”

“I think they’re all a bunch of show-offs. They enjoy having an audience to perform
for.” Becki pointed to the family that had stopped to picnic, observing the team train.
Marcus casually slid his hand behind her back as she spoke, and she hesitated. “What
are you doing?”

“Hmm?” Marcus glanced down. “What?”

“We’re training.” She caught his fingers and tugged until he let go. Then she ignored
Marcus and shouted instructions to Tripp, focusing her attention back on the team.

His rumbling laugh snuck along her nerve endings like a low-grade electrical shock,
tingling and making her that much more aware of him.

They stopped for a break, Devon and Tripp stretched out on the grass, Xavier and Alisha
chatting with Anders as they rested in the shade. Erin sat in the open door of the
cockpit reading a book, her dangling feet kicking like a kid.

Marcus stroked her arm and she instinctively jerked away, hiding the motion by grabbing
her jacket and slipping it on.

He frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“You keep touching me.”

“And that’s wrong?”

“It is while we’re training.” Becki pointed to the ropes that hung from the rock face.
“I think the last thing today—”

“No, wait, back up.” Marcus twisted until he was directly between her and the cliffs
she’d been trying to discuss. “I’m a little confused here. Is there a specific reason
why I’m not allowed to touch you in public?”

“While we’re training,” she corrected. “You touched me in public a few times, I seem
to recall.”

“But never while we were around my team.” His face darkened. “Are you trying to keep
our relationship a secret from them?”

Becki paused. “Our relationship?”

“Isn’t that a typical guy line? Yes, our
relationship
. Are you planning to hide the fact that we’re seeing each other for some reason?
Because if you are, you neglected to inform me. Also? Forget it.”

“But I’m not . . .”

She stopped and thought it through. She’d talked briefly to Erin about getting involved
with Marcus, but was she trying to keep this under wraps? She didn’t think so, but
her reactions had said that pretty firmly.

“I don’t know why I’m so antsy. Maybe it’s because I’m tired. I’m not trying to hide
anything.” He lifted his brow, and she had to give him that. She was a basket case.
“Maybe throwing up on top of too little sleep is making me stupid. I’m sorry if my
actions came out wrong. I’m not ashamed to be seen with you. Far from it.”

What he chose to focus on was unexpected. “Why didn’t you sleep? More nightmares?”

Drat. “Yeah, but I’ll be okay. It’s bound to take a while—”

“Dammit, Becki.” Marcus lowered his voice, but his anger screamed out loud and clear.
“Why the hell did you go back to the dorms last night? You should have known that
might happen.”

“There was nothing you could do about it. If I’m going to have a nightmare, I’m going
to have one, and it’s not like you can stop them.”

“I can be there to help you deal with them,” he snarled. He glared over the rock face,
his shoulders tight under his T-shirt. “That’s it. When we get back to town we’re
grabbing your things from the dorm and you’re moving in with me.”

Something totally wild flashed in a series through her. The muted cheer of him wanting
to care for her was rapidly swallowed over by a rush of indignation. “I’m moving in
with you?”

“Yes.” He stared her down. “You can’t stay in the dorms for much longer anyway, so
you may as well get settled where I can keep an eye on you.”

Oh, he did not just go there. Becki was certain her jaw was on the ground. “Keep an
eye on me?”

She didn’t seem to be able to do anything but repeat his words, they were so incredulous.
For a smart man he seemed rather oblivious to her unenthusiastic response. Becki wondered
exactly how long he planned on digging this particular hole.

“There’s no reason you have to suffer through sleep deprivation. I’ll take care of
you.” Marcus stroked her cheek with his knuckles, and she just about lost it.

Her face flushed hot and all traces of exhaustion vanished completely in the rush
of anger that filled her nicely. She rose to her feet and glared down, happy to be
able to tower over him for once as he remained seated. “Excuse me, did you really
just order me to move into your house? What alternate reality are you living in that
makes you think bossing me around is a good thing? Especially when it comes to something
major like where I live?”

He had the grace to look confused while he rose to his feet. “But I thought you enjoyed
staying with me. I thought it helped that I was there the other night when you had
the—”

“This discussion is not happening. Not now.” Becki glanced at the team, who still
seemed unaware that she was close to throttling their boss. “I appreciate many things
about you. The fact you didn’t freak when I lost my cookies during the flight—I appreciated
that a lot. Doesn’t mean I’m moving in with you.”

“You like more about me than that.” Marcus caught her arm and twisted her back to
face him. “The conversation is good, the list of things we have in common is long,
and the sex is more than spectacular.”

“None of which are enough reasons for you to be able to order me around. Good grief.”
She yanked her arm free.

He glared daggers at her, opened his mouth to undoubtedly say something stupid—

An alarm rang out from the chopper, and they all jerked in reaction.

Erin was up in an instant. She vanished inside the cockpit as the entire team snatched
their bags and gear from where it lay and began piling things into heaps. Marcus was
gone, hitting the side of the chopper as the siren faded to a low echo in her ears.

Panic button—she should have known Marcus would have one working, even with the team
on training. The props started the slow buildup to full liftoff, the sound of the
blades cutting through the air still light as she prepared for the worst.

Becki raced to help Tripp stuff ropes as Alisha and Devon gathered the lines scattered
on the hillside. “Emergency call?”

Tripp never stopped. “Guess they didn’t get the memo we were on training this week.
You coming with us?”

Her heart pounded harder than it should, and it wasn’t just the thought of being in
the chopper. Dealing with a rescue—not possible. Not yet.

“I’d only be in the way.”

“Five-kilometer hike back to the highway. It’s fairly level, though.” He pulled out
a cell phone and handed it to her. “If you hit number three when you’re near the highway,
my roommate will come and give you a ride to your place.”

“Got it.” She slipped the phone into a pocket and zipped it up. “I know the route
back—done it a million times or so.”

He grinned at her, and they both grabbed handfuls of gear and headed to the chopper
at a dead run.

Marcus had the team already moving into position. “We’re headed north. First—roll
call. Anyone want to bow out? Too fatigued from training? No penalty, no foul, but
assess your abilities and let’s get rolling. Erin can drop anyone who says no on the
highway. Anders?”

“In.”

“Alisha?”

“In.” She twirled and clambered into position, full harness already in place. She
and Anders set up to be able to winch her down as soon as they hit the rescue site.

Marcus continued rapidly through the list, but his gaze was on her. Becki scrambled
past him to the cockpit and grabbed two of the water bottles from the cooler. She
slipped them into her pack and checked that she had the rest of her gear and clothing.

If he argued with her, he was going to be flying the rescue with sore balls.

“Becki—crawl in the back and batten down.”

“Negative. You don’t want a civilian along. I’ve got an exit plan, water and a ride.
If Tripp has a couple granola bars for me, you can be off.”

“Becki . . .” Marcus’s jaw was so firmly set she was afraid he’d hurt himself. Still,
she didn’t waver.

And how he responded to her right now was going to set the direction for what happened
next between them. Because while she might enjoy having him dominate her during sex,
ordering her around in life decisions was the next wrong progression up from that
macho
you will move in with me
bullshit he’d just tried to pull.

Maybe he knew that. His gaze stayed sharp, but he nodded briskly, glancing at his
watch. “Sunset. I’m calling David. If you’re not at the highway by sunset he’ll come
find you. You got numbers? Phone fully charged?”

Tripp leaned across him and tossed Becki a couple of granola bars. “Fully charged
and all the numbers labeled. She’s a go. We’re ready to roll, boss.”

Marcus took a deep breath. “If you’re sure. Throwing up during a flight isn’t the
worst thing ever, Becki.”

“Go. I’m a hundred percent to stay.”

He shook his head but moved, climbing in and getting into a seat. The chopper was
already lifting into the air as Becki tucked and ran from the revolving props.

Watched it rise and leave her behind.

* * *

Marcus ran on autopilot. His team worked efficiently, completing the rescue without
a hitch as they pulled victims from the crevasse. He’d made sure his focus stayed
on directing as needed, observing the talented group as they worked together. He really
did have the finest team around.

The entire time, though, there was a part of his brain wondering where Becki was and
how she was doing. His focus stayed sharp enough, so it wasn’t a danger, but until
his cell phone hummed and the text came through that she was home, something inside
stayed tight with worry.

He’d fucked up big-time back during training.

Then again, so had she.

Having her twitch away from him had made him angrier than he expected. Although her
explanation about being exhausted made sense—bad decisions were made while sleep deprived—he
still wouldn’t allow her to brush them off like that.

Only she was right as well. Ordering her around wasn’t his brightest move ever. Her
fire and determination were part of why he admired the hell out of her. Why would
he want her to cave in?

Convince? Cajole? One of those would be far better, considering their personalities.

By the time they were headed home, he had his plan of attack figured out. Debrief
first—a formality since the team had worked like a well-oiled cog this time. Next
up would be a non-emotional call to Becki offering his company.

A strong drink if she turned him down. Maybe two.

Erin landed them back at the pad, the clock ticking over to nearly ten
P.M.
David stepped from the hangar doors to greet them, a group of four local students
rushing forward to take gear from his weary team.

David slapped him on the shoulder. “Thought you’d like a little help unloading.”

“Thank you.” Marcus pointed at the showers. “Lifeline, you’ve got a fifteen-minute
reprieve. Soak your brains, then regroup. David’s students are cleaning up your mess.”

“Yeah, David.” Tripp high-fived him as he passed by.

Alisha stopped and gave David a kiss on the cheek. “You have a heart of gold.”

“Don’t expect this all the time,” he warned. “I felt sorry for you doing both training
and pulling bodies.” David glanced at Marcus as activity wove around them. “You okay?”

Marcus nodded. “You heard from Becki?”

“She’s fine. Hiked out with the group of tourists who had been watching your team
train and got a ride with them. She called me, and she said she’d contact you as well.”

“Texted. Is she okay, though?”

David held out his phone. “Call her if you’re so worried.”

Marcus shook his head. He wasn’t going to make his call in public. “I should give
her a little room.”

“Uh-oh.” His brother leaned in closer. “What did you do now?”

Fuckhead. Marcus ignored him and sat on the couch to wait for the crew to return.
“Remind me why I like her?”

David laughed and slapped him on the shoulder before heading over to guide the volunteers
through their tasks.