Page 23 of High Intensity

I watched her layer four pieces of sourdough bread with a thin spread of pesto, sliced tomatoes, turkey, and fresh mozzarella, stacking two together to make two massivesandwiches. Then she popped those in the toaster oven on the counter.

She’s just pulled them out, all browned and oozing.

Damn. I didn’t think I was that hungry, but my mouth is watering and my stomach is growling.

We don’t talk much while we’re eating, Jillian apparently starving as well. I’m surprised to see the petite woman devour her entire sandwich in equal time.

“Thank God for yoga pants,” she announces, sitting back as she pats her stomach.

Who knew a woman with a healthy appetite could be all kinds of sexy?

Or maybe it’s because it is Jillian.

It’s probably a combination of a full stomach, the beer, and a serious lack of sleep catching up with me, but I find myself suddenly yawning big. It doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Think you’ll be able to sleep now?” Jillian asks as she gets up from the small kitchen table and gathers our plates.

Probably, even though I’m enjoying sitting in her kitchen, watching her putter around.

“Yeah, I should get going,” I reluctantly admit, pushing myself to my feet. “That 6:00 a.m. briefing will be here soon enough.”

“Like I said before, if you think I could be in any way helpful, I’m here. The snow does not affect the dogs’ sense of smell. In fact, they sometimes track better.”

I’d actually been thinking about that. Maybe I should bring it up with Ewing tomorrow morning.

“Yeah, I do. I don’t make the calls though, but I’ll make the suggestion at the briefing.”

She follows me to the door and waits for me to shove my feet in my boots and shrug my coat on. Then I turn to face her.

“Dinner was great. Again.” I bark out a laugh. “Jesus, you’d think I only show up to mooch a meal off you.”

She flashes me a pair of pretty, wide, green eyes. “Damn, and here I thought you sought me out for my sparkling personality.”

Her comment throws me for a second, but then she starts laughing. A free, lighthearted sound I could listen to all night.

“One of these days I’m gonna knock on your door and take you out to dinner.”

She seems as stunned at my promise as I am. That came out of the blue.

She nods pensively, then steps in and gets on her toes, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek.

“I think I’d like that.”

Eight

Wolff

“We can’t have civilians stomping around the crash site.”

Greg Polman, the NTSB lead investigator, is clearly not on board calling in the dog team.

It’s not just my hackles that shoot up, but I can sense the guy’s callous dismissal garners a similar reaction from the others. But it’s Junior Ewing who pipes up first.

“Miss Lederman is as much a civilian as most of the men assembled here. Her dog team has extensive experience working with law enforcement agencies. Last year, she assisted with the investigation into a pair of serial killers, who used these mountains as their dumping ground, and was instrumental in finding the remains of their victims. We’ve all worked with her and she’s a consummate professional.”

Jonas decides to add a sobering reminder.

“And let’s not forget we’re talking about finding an eleven-year-old girl here.”

---