Page 9 of Lethal Danger

Probably wondering why she was staring at him. Or maybe he knew.

The thought sent a fresh burst of flame to her cheeks. She turned away, and her foot nearly slipped off the beam. Duh. Try to remember you’re on a Ferris wheel and not on the ground, would you?

“Race you down?” The security guard’s voice was closer behind her than it should be.

She twisted her head around to see him just a couple feet away, holding the rope out toward her.

A twinkle sparkled in his eyes above a mischievously angled mouth.

A surge of heat that had nothing to do with the summer temps lit up her insides. Was he flirting with her?

Two could definitely play that game.

She took the offered rope. “At a time like this?”

His mouth flattened as the spark left his eyes. “You’re right.” He moved his hands to his hips. “Sorry.”

Jazz turned away to hide her smirk as she stepped onto the spoke at the far edge, bringing the rope between her legs and up over one shoulder. She spun toward him, clasping the rope above her body with one hand and gripping it past her back with the other. She sent him a grin. “Last one down has to buy dinner.”

She only stayed long enough to catch a glimpse of his surprised smile—one that would’ve curled her toes if she wasn’t busy rappelling eighty feet to the ground.

Three

The security guard’s laugh followed Jazz’s descent for the first several feet, sparking a surge of butterfly tingles that almost made her forget the pain in her palms.

He waited until she was on solid ground before he added his own weight to the rope.

She stood at the bottom and watched him rappel the first few feet.

“Nice rescue.” Sofia’s amused tone came from behind Jazz.

“Thanks.” Jazz turned to face the raven-haired stunner.

“A little showy, but I approve.” She glanced down at Raksa and Flash as the dogs vied for the best position to smell Jazz’s jeans as if she’d been to another planet and back.

Jazz reached to pet Flash, but he buried his nose in her hands instead.

Sof chuckled. “I guess you have Flash’s approval, too. Though he wasn’t too happy with you leaving him behind.”

“Aww.” Jazz stroked the Malinois’ smooth head as she took the leash from Sof. “Next time, I’ll take you along. Okay, bud?”

“That’ll be an even better show.” The twinkle in Sof’s dark eyes signaled she was teasing.

But was there some truth in the joke? Did she think Jazz shouldn’t have climbed the Ferris wheel to help? Maybe the Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency didn’t get into rescues of this kind. Though they did standard search and rescue all the time. She wasn’t sure when she’d learn all of Phoenix Gray’s unwritten rules.

“Jazz. There you are.”

Recognition came fast on the heels of the woman’s voice. Only Aunt Joan could make it sound like Jazz was tardy or had been goofing off when she’d been saving a person’s life.

Jazz turned to see her aunt walking her way in a navy blue pantsuit that must be stifling in this weather. But it was expensive, elegant, and professional. All the things Aunt Joan prized, and Jazz could never achieve.

“Have you seen the damage?” Aunt Joan’s makeup and hair were still perfect, even in this humidity, but lines crossed her forehead. A rare sight for her foundation-slathered skin and always-controlled demeanor.

“Briefly.”

“Come with me.” Aunt Joan led the way at a brisk pace toward the damaged car lying on the ground.

Jazz scanned the area as she followed.

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