Page 27 of Burning Hearts

She pointed to a building down the road beyond the hangars. At the end of that road there was another hangar with the doors rolled up. Someone drove a forklift out of the building, in a circle, and then back inside.

“It seems like a great setup.”

Raine grinned. “Us girls are all close. We share everything. Even socks.”

Sanchez shot her a look. “You’re the one who’s been borrowing my socks!”

Raine dissolved into giggles, though Sanchez didn’t seem to find it quite as funny. She led them to the women’s cabin, where a row of plastic Adirondack chairs lined the porch. Most had a blanket on top. A mug and a worn Bible had been left on a small round table between two of the chairs.

The girls headed inside, and Jamie turned to look one more time at the Midnight Sun jump base. Hangars. Buildings that looked like they’d been here for years, weathering the elements Alaska threw at them. She saw a brown dog with long curly hair dart out of the mess hall building door and run into the hangar beside it.

No matter the warmth she’d found with these women, who seemed intent on inviting her into their lives, she was still worried about Tristan. Her brother was the reason she’d come up here.

Not Logan and the community he’d found.

A school bus pulled between the cabin and the office where she had spoken with Commander Newman. It turned left and drove in front of the cabins, where the driver parked on the asphalt between the firepit and the runway. A line of bedraggled-looking smokejumpers filed out, dispersing to the three cabins. Logan’s crew.

People who looked out for each other and watched each others’ backs.

Meanwhile, Jamie had never had anyone who showed up for her the way these people would for their team.

At least, not until Logan.

The bus pulled away, and she saw Logan walking across the runway toward them. A female smokejumper with brown hair, probably early twenties, trudged past Jamie and went into the cabin.

Jamie couldn’t tear her gaze from Logan.

She wouldn’t come up to Alaska for anything other than someone she cared about. That was why she’d done what she had to do and shown up to go after her brother.

Had he really come up here to find her? The girls seemed to be convinced it was true. But despite him originally saying he thought they should try and get back together, his actions and his words now painted a different picture, and she couldn’t get a clear image.

All Jamie knew?

She didn’t want to leave before she figured it out.

SEVEN

Logan lookedout the window of the single men’s cabin, wondering what Jamie thought of the base. It was huge—but Alaska made everything look bigger. Then he wondered why he cared what she thought, considering she would be leaving first thing in the morning.

Kane slapped him on the shoulder. “Relax. The girls will take care of her.”

“Right. I’m sure she’s fine.” They probably all figured he’d sneak out and visit her in the girls’ living room later, but they didn’t have to know that wasn’t going to happen. Only Orion would be aware he didn’t leave their shared room.

In the corner of the guys’ living area, in lieu of a dining table, they had dragged in a pool table they’d got from a bar in Anchorage that had closed down. Saxon was playing pool with Hammer and Mack. Vince and Orion were chatting by the fridge, close to where Grizz stirred a pot on the stove, his big meaty fist grasping the handle of the wooden spoon.

Logan bellied up to the other side of the breakfast bar. He had to hand it to the Trouble Boys—they’d definitely designed the space with its use in mind. Even though there were eight guys in the room, it didn’t feel crowded. He said, “What’s for dinner?”

Grizz kept stirring, all his focus on the pot. “How should I know? This is for Jubal.”

Vince glanced over, breaking off his conversation with Orion. “Grizz thinks the dog has a sensitive stomach.”

“So you either don’t care or you’re just blind.”

Vince shot the big man a look. “Speak for yourself.”

“Just because Cadee isn’t here, doesn’t mean you need to pick a fight with me. Go find your girlfriend if you want to bicker with someone.” Grizz shut off the burner and moved the pot to the other side of the stove.

Vince looked like he wanted to say something, but Orion shoved him out of the kitchen. Always the peacemaker. But then he said to Logan, “So, you found her.”

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