Page 74 of High Seduction
They were in the middle of a parking lot, the tall lights at the corners of the lot creating a fantastic runway as the skids touched down and they basically landed like an aircraft, rolling forward briefly over the snow-slicked concrete. Erin brought them along so smoothly Tim wasted no time. He unsnapped his harness and grabbed his gun, out of his seat the moment the chopper tugged to a stop.
He turned on Red and got the gun into position. “Don’t move.”
The man’s expression of misery barely changed. “What the hell?”
Outside, flashing red-and-blue lights were converging on the chopper. Erin came back online. “Police are here. Sorry, Red, but there are some promises that aren’t meant to be kept. Anything that starts with a gun involved would be one of them. But we’ll tell the authorities exactly how much you helped us, and what we know you did and didn’t do. The rest is up to you, and how much information you have to give them.”
“Shit.”
Erin had shut down everything and stood in the cockpit, a gun in her own hand. “Tim, go talk to the police. Matt and I’ll keep an eye on Red here until they can take him away.”
There was the usual scramble of dealing with the police made much easier because their kidnapper-turned-rescuer wasn’t interested in struggling as he got put into the back of a squad car.
Tim was ready to burst from pride. They still had a ton of details to deal with, but for now? They were back in civilization and they were alive. There was no way this could be considered anything but a win, and Erin had been a major part of it.
Matt leaned on the car hood beside him. “I had no idea glacier tours were so... invigorating.”
Tim laughed. “Yeah. Erin knows how to show a guy a good time, doesn’t she?”
Erin slipped into his arms and squeezed him tight. “Maybe we can avoid the being-kidnapped part next time.” She held out a hand to Matt, and he leaned in and caught it. “I’m glad we made it out of that in one piece.”
“With my money still intact,” Matt added with a laugh.
“Hey, you notice your money got you a spot in the cabin instead of the shed. See how handy that was?” Tim teased. Erin leaned harder against him, and he cherished her warmth. The affirmation that she was alive.
That they were all alive.
“No more cabins. No more sheds,” Erin stated firmly. “And you two are responsible for finding us a way home from here. I’m done driving for the day.”
CHAPTER20
Marcus peeled open the door a crack, glaring out at the three of them on his doorstep. “You really expect me to let you in after the mess you made of my chopper?”
“Idiot.” A towel hit him in the back of the head. “Open the door.”
He winked before stepping aside, the door swinging wide.
Becki rushed forward, stooping to pick up her towel and welcome them. “Ignore him and come inside.”
She offered a hug to Erin, which, all things considered, Erin gratefully accepted. “Thanks for the lunch invitation.”
“Are you kidding? I was ordered to invite you over because everyone wants to hear the entire story.” Becki squeezed once more before rotating her on the spot.
The rest of the Lifeline team, minus Alisha and Devon, stood in the living room, a few extra bodies hovering on the edges. Tripp’s boyfriend, Jonah, waved from the couch. Anders’s best friend shifted positions where he stood beside Anders. Marcus’s brother David was there as well. The owner of the local search-and-rescue training school stepped forward from the kitchen area, lowering a tray of snacks to the table.
“Dammit, I thought you’d all be busy with other things,” Tim complained. “There’s nothing interesting here. Move along.”
“No? I’ve never been kidnapped in the middle of a rescue. That takes some serious talent.” Tripp gestured them forward. “You may as well give us full disclosure all at one time rather than having to repeat it multiple times.”
“But Tim was planning on getting a barbecue dinner out of each of you while he shared the story over and over again,” Erin drawled. “You’ve gone and ruined everything.”
“Oh shit,barbecue...” Marcus darted across the room and through the deck doors, throwing open the lid on the massive grill. A cloud of smoke rose upward. He grabbed a set of tongs and poked around for a moment before waving the metal hooks reassuringly at the house. “No problems. All under control.”
Becki laughed. “Don’t worry, we have extra. But first—you must be Matt.”
He accepted her hand, then glanced around the room. “Nice place you’ve got. Thanks for including me in the invitation.”
“Hey, we’re an equal opportunity barbecue provider. You get kidnapped, you get the same goodies. Make yourself at home.” She picked up a platter from the side counter and held it toward Tim. “Any of you men who want to go do some male bonding, feel free.”
