Page 2 of High Seduction
Instant shock registered on his face. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“The one who lasted three weeks finally cornered me in the change room to suggest he’d waited long enough for a taste of brown sugar.”
“Crap.” Marcus took a deep breath. “Erin, I’m damn sorry.”
She shrugged. “Not your fault the members of the old-boys’ club are threatened by a female in a position of authority. You aren’t the one with the problem.” Erin stiffened her spine again. “Only I won’t work with the asses.”
“Which means it is my problem. We need a full team in place before the winter holiday season gets under way.” Marcus rested his one good hand on the desk, his amputated left arm tight to his body as he stood. “The medics from the hospital—they’re good on a temporary basis?”
“Never had an issue with any of them.”
He nodded, then made a face. “I’ll arrange for more loaners while I extend the search for new members, but in the meantime?”
Erin waited as he strode to her side to poke his finger directly in her face.
“Next time there’s bullshit happening, tell me instead of taking matters into your own hands. I don’t doubt your skills or your ability to make a point. This is a team, however, and you’re a vital part of it. Anyone who can’t respect that doesn’t deserve to be a part of Lifeline.”
“Dealing with them is so much fun, though,” she deadpanned.
He rolled his eyes. “Ten-million-dollar chopper, and you’re using it to teach respect. How about we do it my way in the future, all right?”
Erin grinned. “I’ll think about it.”
She scooted out of Lifeline HQ before the next round of fireworks started. Marcus was right. While she was more than capable of taking care of herself, there was a warm glow inside knowing someone else was about to feel the wrath for their idiotic behavior.
The parking lot held one more vehicle than expected, and she paused. Her bit of showboating must have attracted tourist attention. Better to nip this in the bud and make nice—a little one-on-one conversation could hush up any potential rumours.
A tall man stood outside his truck, staring into the distance with his profile toward her. Jet-black hair just long enough to curl slightly at his neckline topped what was a lovely-looking masculine build. It was a warm enough December afternoon that she’d grabbed a light coat, forgoing the thick winter parka needed on more inclement days. This fellow wore a much-faded leather jacket, collar flipped up against the wind. A scruff of beard shadowed a firm jawline, lips that were firm and slightly parted in a cocky smile.
Hmm, under the right conditions she liked a little un-groomed cockiness.
“Can I help you?”
The stranger turned from examining the airfield to face her. A pair of brilliant blue eyes caught her full on. There were lines at the corners of his eyes, his skin deeply tanned from exposure to the sun. A vast amount of time spent outdoors was clearly written into his skin. She stepped a couple of paces closer before her eyes and brain connected.
Her stranger was all too familiar.
“Tim?”
The slightly cocky smile bloomed into a full-out grin, teeth flashing white against his skin. “Hello, love. Good to see you up to your old tricks.”
The roundhouse kick that burst free was instinctive. It was wrong, perhaps, to lash out physically at someone she hadn’t seen in years, but the response was as involuntary as breathing.
Her heel failed to make contact with his gut as planned, however. Instead she found her foot trapped in a strong grip, and before she could adjust her attack he’d flipped her around, catching her against his body with her arms pinned behind her back.
“Kitten, pull in your claws,” he warned.
His voice stroked nerve endings even as her blood boiled. She struggled briefly to assess his hold, but unless she truly wanted to hurt him, he had her locked in position. “I’m not your kitten, and you can goddamn let me go before I call the cops.”
“Just protecting myself,” he said.
After all the time that had passed since they’d been together, the flash of anger that hit was far too strong. She ground the word out through clenched teeth. “Spider.”
She hadn’t expected to be instantly set free. Had thought maybe he’d forgotten what the word meant. Or that maybe he would simply ignore her.
Yet a second later only the icy wind surrounded her.
Tim not only let her go, he retreated far enough away that they were in no danger of any further accidental physical contact. “That wasn’t nice,” he growled.
