Page 28 of Heston
“Shut up,” Heston growled. He stuck a hand out at London, and she honestly thought he wanted her hand until he snapped, “Phone. Please. Now.”
Oh, yeah. Alex. He worked for Alex and… yeah. London stalked around Heston, grabbed the satellite phone and its charger off the end of her bed and handed it over.
With a grumpy huff, he sat at the table, jerked the phone from the charger, and thumbed a number. He didn’t look up. Didn’t say anything else.
“Stupid ass,” Asher hissed. “Stow your gawddamned pride, Contreras, and see what I’m seeing for a change, would you? It’s obvious you two have some hot chemistry between you. Damn it, get over your—”
“Mark?” Heston’s head came up, his gaze fixed on the paneling across from him. “Yes, Heston here. Did Mother get the photos London sent?” Pause. “Good.”
Asher slammed the door on his way out. The camper shook but Heston never blinked. Didn’t act like he’d heard Asher at all. “Hoped she could sharpen the clarity… Right.” Pause. “I’m glad London didn’t take unnecessary chances, too.” Heston went on to explain London’s theory of how Kelsey had been caught by the cattle guard, then dragged out of the river before she could drown. He told Mark he’d retrieved the brackets and bolts that held the cattle guard in place, and that the entire bridge needed to be fingerprinted. But Heston never said how dangerous retrieving the brackets had been or the risk he’d taken. When he was done speaking, he stuck the phone in London’s face and said, “Mark’s on the line.”
“Hello?” She answered with her heart pounding a zippy salsa beat.
“Excellent job, London. Mark Houston here. Girl, you’re one in a million.”
“I am?” His earnest praise made her chest swell and her eyes blink. Mark’s deep baritone was hot-damned sexy over the phone. He was also married and one of the kindest, most level-headed men she’d ever met.
“I know the Forest Service fired you,” he went on. “Sorry about that, but their loss is our gain. Alex wants you on his payroll, possibly as an agent, maybe in a support role, he didn’tsay. Can I interest you in coming in for an interview when everything settles down?”
“M-me?” she squeaked. “But I…” She cleared her throat and tried again. “But I…”Aye, aye, aye…
“Think about it, London.” He made thinking sound easy. “No hurry. Just wanted you to know your dedication to locating Kelsey hasn’t gone unnoticed. Hell, even now when you’re unemployed, you’re still working to solve our problem. On your own dime. Aren’t you?”
“Yeah, well… yeah.” She swallowed hard, lost as how to respond. “I, umm, really like Kelsey and Alex, and anyone can see how much he loves her. How could I not help them? They were in trouble. Helping was the right thing to do.”
“Yup. One in a million. Listen, Alex is damned choosy. You’d be one of less than a hundred operators on his payroll. Like I said, think about it. Take your time. Let me know what you decide.”
“Okay, um…” Geez, she couldn’t think. This was the job Heston had hinted at, working for a hardass. For Alex. With men. Other men, not only Heston. Men like Mark. Wow. “Y-yes, sir, Mr. Houston. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can think straight.” London cringed.Did I just say that last part out loud? To the man who might someday be my boss?Talk about cringe worthy.
A rumbly chuckle came over the connection. “No worries, kiddo. The pictures you took are running through our facial rec program right now. Mother thinks we’ve got a good chance of nailing the guys who shot Kelsey.”
“I sure hope so.”
“Put Heston back on. Again, thanks for everything you’ve done. And please, think seriously about my offer. Okay?” Mark was so, so nice.
“I will. Here’s… here’s Heston.” London’s fingers were trembling when she handed the phone back to Heston.
He took it without so much as a touch or a glance. “Hey, Mark...” Pause “He’s what? Wow. I guess that’s good, but…” He ran a hand over the top of his head. “I’ll call Deck for a ride. Yes, tonight. No reason to stay now that I’ve got what I needed from that cattle guard. Can’t check them for prints up here, can I?”
London had to turn away. With a snap of his impatient fingers, he’d changed back into the driven Army Ranger who’d only had room in his life for his CO and his country. Not for her. Not for the real her. He might have room in his heart for a brainless woman who loved cleaning, waiting at home, and chumming around with husband-approved girlfriends. But she refused to live in the stone ages.
“Say again?” Hes barked, then, “You’re shitting me? The Irishman wants Alex to accept President Adams’ offer? He wants Alex to be Vice President? Why?”
He paused while Mark replied.
“Shit, no. Alex will never do that. Not after what they did to Kelsey. Hell to the no.”
“What?” London was dying to know what the Irishman wanted Alex to do.
But Heston ignored her, looked down at his boots, and told Mark, “Copy that. I’ll see you as soon as I contact Deck...” Pause. “Sure thing. Three hours, maybe less. Yeah. Thanks.” And he hung up the phone.
Chapter Fourteen
Heston stood there in London’s camper with her phone in his hand, mad, and not sure where to look or who to look at. She’d done it again, broken his heart when he’d thought he’d stood a chance of getting her back into his life. He flat wasn’t going to answer her. Not this time. What Mark told him was TEAM business. Not London’s.
Heston wasn’t just butt-hurt, but stinging from the teasing that always ended in rejection. Over-exerting himself back at the bridge didn’t help his disposition. Every muscle burned and he refused to dig into his bag for his IFAK, to throw back four Motrin in front of London. Neither could he sit around and play house while she dished out lunch. Not with her making future plans to work for Alex. How the hell was that even feasible? Them in the same office, seeing each other during the day, but going home to different houses at night? What if she fell for one of the guys he worked with? His life had turned into one big disaster and his patience was gone. So were his dreams.
“Hes,” London murmured from the counter where their lunch waited. “Talk to me. What’d Mark say?”
