Page 25 of High Seduction
“Devon, we need to talk about cutting back on trips to the pub,” Alisha muttered, and the rest of them snickered.
“In position, and... lift,” Tim ordered.
The entire wooden box of the pommel horse shifted position, a scant two inches, but that was enough. “Devon, drop your hands, now.”
The rope pulled free from under the wood frame, and Devon cheered.
“Put it down, boys.”
He had to be cutting it close. Time would be up, and he still had to find Erin. He helped Alisha lower Devon to the floor, unknotting the rope from the man’s wrists. Then he pushed himself on top of the horse. Tim twisted slowly, examining the room, the obstacles. There seemed to be nowhere large enough for a person to hide. “Erin’s in the room?” he asked.
Anders nodded in confirmation.
Tim collapsed, sprawling on the padded surface of the pommel horse as a sense of deep satisfaction hit. “Then I call time. Mission accomplished.”
Alisha and Tripp removed their blindfolds. Devon checked his watch. “Thirty seconds.”
“That’s our time to spare. Well done, everyone.” Tim clapped in approval.
Anders and Tripp exchanged glances. “You’re missing one team member,” Anders commented.
Tim shook his head. “You said to assemble the team. We’re all here.”
For one second he worried he’d guessed wrong, then Alisha smiled. “How did you figure it out?”
Tim hopped to the floor. “Bigger than a bread box. It’s the only spot in the entire room with enough space to hold her. Also, I’ve been on too many rescues with kids who hid when they got scared. It was the only thing that made sense.”
He motioned for Devon to help him, and together they lifted off the uppermost section only of the pommel horse.
Erin beamed at him as she uncurled herself from inside the wooden box, crawling over the edge and brushing off the dust. “Thank you. It was getting a trifle close in there.”
“Glad you’re not claustrophobic,” Devon teased.
“Do I pass muster?” Tim asked the members who had gathered around him.
“You’re quick on your feet,” Anders admitted. “I liked how you got Devon to deal with Tripp. Good use of the team there instead of assuming you had to do it all on your own.”
“He did assume I needed more help than I did, though,” Alisha pointed out. She faced him straight on, chin held high, her attitude one of competence and power. “You could have asked if I was able to start without you.”
Tim nodded slowly. “You’re right, I didn’t think of that. I underestimated your abilities—I won’t do it again. You’re capable of doing a self-belay, even blindfolded.”
She held up a hand and gave him a high five. “You did well.”
“Thanks.”
“Now the real test,” Tripp warned. “Final, most important decision of the afternoon.”
Tim lifted a brow. “Yes?”
Tripp grinned. “Teriyaki or buffalo wings?”
CHAPTER8
Easy conversation flowed around the table as everyone on the team got to know Tim better over a relaxing evening at the team’s usual watering hole.
The staff at the Rose and Crown pub had greeted them happily before leading them to the area they’d claimed as their own. Comfortable couches slightly away from the rest of the bar and the live music. A place they could sit and relax.
Erin alternated between lazing and madly assessing exactly what needed to happen next.
