Page 26 of The Maverick of the Mountain
“Taking over the lookout for a few weeks while Wolfe’s away.”
“He left?” Hard to imagine that man leaving his lookout for more than a couple of hours, let alone a few weeks.
“He’s got a girl now.” Heath gets a strained look on his face. “Margot? Yeah, I think that’s right.”
I snort. “How’d he find a girl out here?”
My cabin’s remote, but Wolfe’s lookout makes my cabin feel like it’s in the middle of town. Very few people come out thisway. And the people who do are either lost or a little crazy. Guess I fall into the latter category, but I knew what I was getting myself into. The views are worth every bit of muscle soreness I’ll be feeling over the next week or so.
“It’s a long story.” Heath smiles. “At least, that’s what Wolfe told me when I asked him the same question.”
Corinne sidles up next to me, hooking an arm around mine and making my insides somersault all over the place. Hot flashes. Cold sweats. I’m feeling it all with her hands on me. I should probably get myself checked out, but I know there’s no cure for what’s ailing me.
Except maybe Corinne’s lips. Just a taste would end this.
“You must be Wolfe,” Corinne says sweetly, offering her hand.
Heath smiles, and I hold myself back. Or maybe, Corinne’s holding me back with her arm still hooked around mine.
Heath takes her hand. “Heath, actually. Wolfe’s on a little vacation, so I’m taking over for him in the meantime.”
“It’s gorgeous out here.”
Corinne glances around, and Heath nods. “And it’s our job to keep it that way.”
“Heath’s a Hotshot.”
Corinne furrows her brow, and Heath laughs.
“Smokejumper to some. But really, I’m just a firefighter. Although I don’t usually put out building fires.” He looks out over the forest. “I try to put ‘em out here. Direct ‘em. Make sure the land and the people on it are safe. Sometimes we’re in Whispering Winds. Other times, we’re called out to help elsewhere. Never know where we’ll end up week by week during the fire season.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
Heath doesn’t respond, still glancing over the valley next to us, and then clicks his tongue. “It can be.”
We chat for a few more minutes. Heath talks a little about his work as a hotshot. Corinne talks about her wedding photography, mishaps in the forest, Marge’s notorious maps, and our little chainsaw incident.
“I’d probably run too if I saw this guy wielding a chainsaw.”
I smile, and Corinne squeezes my arm. It feels so damn good.
“Well, I’m going to take Blaze for a walk to the stream. Why don’t you head up to the lookout? As I was saying, the views can’t be beaten.” He winks at me and then pats my shoulder as he leaves.
“Nice guy,” Corinne says as Heath whistles for Blaze. “Can’t imagine what it must be like jumping out of helicopters to fight fires.”
I grunt reflexively, thinking only about Corinne’s arm wrapped around mine.
“Let’s go.” Corinne tugs at my arm. “I’m dying to check out the view up there.”
I look at her, hair fluttering in the light breeze as the setting sun bathes her in golden light. I’m not sure my view right now can be beaten. But I smile and tell her, “Okay.” She runs off, leaving me breathless as I watch her take the steps two at a time.
I don’t know what I’m going to do when she leaves.
“I’m exhausted,”Corinne huffs, falling onto the couch when we finally make it home. “And I smell like death,” she adds, sniffing herself and making an exaggeratedpeeeee-yew.
I slide onto the chair next to her. “Can’t say I’ve smelled death, but if it smells like you, then it smells pretty good to me.”
The words come out before I can even think. And when my brain catches up, I don’t care. It’s the truth. Corinne’s scent is intoxicating. Perfect. And I’m tired of holding back, especially since she’s leaving tomorrow.
