Page 19 of Unlocked Dive
“No,” Byrd replies, starting toward the airstream. “I met them after a show on one of my first trips up here with Lara. But they let me play in the tent sometimes, and it’s always fun to connect with the performers they bring out for rehearsals in the spring.”
“The ‘beautiful freaks’?” Remembering the first night in his kitchen, I flash a grin at him, and his answering smile makes my heart leap.
“We’re the best kind,” he says, and I don’t miss how he includes himself, and me, in the statement.
“Byrd! I thought I heard voices.” A tall, totally ripped woman with short graying hair exits the airstream and throws her arms around Byrd.
“Hi, Shilo.” He returns the hug with genuine affection before releasing her and gesturing to me. “This is Echo Wash. He’s here for the summer, and I thought he’d enjoy checking out your scene.”
“Welcome to Big River Big Top,” Shilo says, shaking my hand. She has the calloused palms of an aerialist and asks the universal question. “What’s your poison?”
“Rope. Some silks. Tumbling too, but I always preferred to be in the air.” My standard answer, so practiced I don’t have to wonder if it’s still true.
“One of us, then.” She winks at Byrd. “Maybe you can talk this guy into getting back where he belongs so I can hire him one of these days.”
“I’m too old to start over with performing, Shilo,” he protests, shaking his head.
“Bullshit.” She smacks him, not particularly gently. “I’m forty-five, and you don’t see me rolling over.” Turning back to me, she asks, “What do you think? Seen him on the rope yet?”
Fuck yes.But I pretend I’m not swooning like a total fanboy. “Only conditioning at the cabin. I think I intimidate him.”
Byrd coughs and Shilo laughs, and when I catch his eye, the heated warning there sends sparks along my spine.
“Where’s everyone else today?” he asks, changing the subject.
“Cheyenne drove to SFO to pick up our first contract—duo hoop act from Hungary. They won’t be back until late. Hals is on a grocery run. You probably passed him on your way up Little Lake. Josha and Milla are around somewhere. They’re supposed to be running a light check this afternoon.” She backsup a step before shouting “Milla” in a voice used to being obeyed.
A teenage girl in sparkly leggings and a long blond ponytail skips out of the tent, followed by a guy around my age with close-cropped auburn hair in jeans and work boots. He’s pulling on a button-down shirt with the sleeves already rolled up, and even with Byrd’s aura drenching my skin, I check him out by reflex.
“Almost done hanging the lights,” he tells Shilo as they approach. “Hi, Byrd.”
Byrd is currently wrapped in the exuberant teenage girl but manages to extract a hand to shake.
“You brought a friend,” the girl, Milla, says, giving me a once-over from her spot under Byrd’s arm. “He’s kinda cute. Very anime. I like your tattoos.”
“Milla.” Shilo shakes her head. “Sorry about my daughter. We’re still working on her manners.” But she sounds more exasperated than embarrassed.
“Echo.” I offer my hand first to Milla—“Ooh, cool name!”—and then to the guy, Josha. “Welcome to Big Top,” he says, echoing Shilo’s earlier greeting, and he blushes when his hand touches mine. It’s kind of adorable, but I can’t help glancing over at Byrd to see if he noticed or cares.
Is he trying to set me up? Does he really think throwing me at some small-town virgin will change the insistent chemistry that fizzes between us? He doesn’t protest when Milla and Josha decide to drag me back to the tent to help with their light check.
“Go have some fun.”
No way I’m letting him get away with that when he had his tongue down my throat less than an hour ago.
“Sending me off to sit at the kid’s table?” I tease, low so no one else can hear. His lips twitch, and for onebrief, lunatic second, I consider stealing another kiss just to see his reaction. As if sensing my wild intent, he shoves me gently away, but his eyes fall to my mouth like he’s tempted.
“Try to stay out of trouble.”
“No promises.”
10
Byrd
“We missed you last year.” Shilo hands me a beer from the fridge in the airstream before cracking her own and leaning against the built-in table.
“I know. I’m sorry.” I spent most of the past eighteen months scrambling to salvage my marriage, and trips to the cabin weren’t part of the agenda.
