Page 40 of One Last Shot

“When I was onSurvivor Quest,I teamed up with a guy named Blake Hinton. He was... well, I thought we had something. He teamed up with me right away, and we worked together through all the first eight legs. And then he got food poisoning out on the trail. Part of the show was making it to our destination by the deadline. But he spiked a fever, and I suggested that we stay. So we did. We were in the lead until that night. And by the time we arrived the next day, we were dead last.”

“You were disqualified?”

“No. We made the deadline. But...” She closed her eyes, looked away. “He voted me off the race and partnered up with the only other woman in the race.”

A beat, and she couldn’t look at him.

“Sounds like a real piece of work.”

She lifted a shoulder. “It wasn’t until I saw the show that I realized he’d betrayed me. And you know, it’s just a stupid show. In the end, he didn’t even win. Misty Buchannan, his now fiancée won.”

“Oh.”

“And whatever, right? But . . .” She blew out a breath. “He said some pretty . . . he said . . .”Aw,she couldn’t get it out.

“It’s okay, Boo. I get the picture.” She looked at him, and he crossed his arms, took a breath. “I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have been treated like that.”

And now she really couldn’t tell him the rest. So shesimply nodded.

“But Air One Rescue is your home now, and these are your people, and you’re never going to be voted off our crew.”

She couldn’t breathe, the words finding all her soft places. Her mouth opened, closed, and then she simply closed her eyes, nodded. “Thanks.” Her voice barely emerged.

“And no one is going to blame you if something goes south. So... look at me.”

She opened her eyes, met his gaze. Gritted her jaw to keep anything from leaking out.

“Just do your job. That’s all we can ask. I’ll take care of Huxley and Reynolds, and even Oaken if you need me to step in, okay?”

“I can handle myself.”

“I know you can. But...” He smiled. “You don’t always have to.”

He hadn’t lived her life, but she nodded anyway.

Movement at the door made her glance toward the main area. Oaken Fox walked in carrying a couple two-liter sodas and nodded at the team.

They waved him over and he grinned, and already he was their bestie.

“Go get something to eat, Boo.”

She looked at Moose, who gestured with his head.

“I think I’ll head home.”

“Boo—”

But she was already leaving his office.

“Hey, Boo!” said Axel from where he was taking the soda from Oaken, bringing it to the refrigerator. “London made lasagna?—”

“It’s from Costco and it was frozen about four hours ago, so I’m not sure that qualifies asmade lasagna,” said London. She sat, dressed in her uniform, her blonde hair pulled back, utterly perfect for the role of reality-television trainer in Boo’s opinion.Whatever.

Boo lifted a hand. “I’m headed home.”

“Aw, c’mon and join us,” Shep said. He wasretrieving garlic bread from the oven, wearing a couple of hot pads. Axel brought over cups.

Her gaze went to Oaken.

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