Page 2 of After the End
“That’s fine,” Lou said breezily as she stripped off her outer layers to reveal her long underwear. “You’re not on my cutest couple list at all. Artie is, but you’re not.”
Wilt snickered as he zipped Derek’s suit and then headed for the dive van. Callum couldn’t help but sneak glances at Lou, even as he grabbed a dry suit for her. There was something wrong with him that he thought long underwear was so attractive.
No, he corrected.There’s something veryrightwith her.He crouched, holding open the dry suit. Usually, she helped him suit up on a call, but he was her dive tender today. It felt a little strange, being the one in street clothes who’d stay on shore, but he’d meant what he’d told Lou earlier. She was ready for this. Putting a hand on his shoulder, she stepped into the attached boots. As he stood, holding the suit so she could stick her arms into the sleeves, he had to suppress a grimace. This was not the reason he thought he’d be kneeling in front of Lou today.
Derek was frowning at Lou. “That doesn’t work. You can’t have one-half of a couple on your favorite-couples list.”
“I don’t,” Lou said, sounding distracted as Callum pulled the hood over her head, moving quickly and efficiently, although he was careful not to pull her hair. Turning her to face away from him, he zipped the back and then turned her around again. She grinned as he secured the Velcro flaps. “I put Artie with someone else. Someone who’s nice to me.”
“You can’t do that.” Derek climbed into the passenger side of the dive van. “We’re indivisible. Who’d you put her with?”
“I’m not telling. Derek and Wilt, take the dive van. Cal and I’ll lead in the truck.” She waved toward the dive team’s newest acquisition, a bright blue pickup loaded with gear that was parked behind the matching van. “The roads by the reservoir are still pretty nasty. If one of the vehicles gets stuck, at least we’ll have a second pair of wheels.”
“Look at you.” Derek gave her an impressed nod. “Scene commander?”
A flash of uncertainty crossed Lou’s face, but it disappeared so quickly that Callum almost missed it. “Yes.” Her voice was firm, and her chin was set. “See you at Verde.”
Wilt leaned an arm out of the dive van window. “Copy that, boss.”
Lou’s face lit up, and Callum couldn’t stop a responding grin as they hurried to the dive truck. He started the engine and waited for the dive van to roll through the open overhead door so he could get around it. As soon as it was clear, he asked, “Ready, Boss?”
“Let’s go. Better watch it, though.” Her tone was carefully neutral, so he knew she was struggling not to laugh. “I might have you call me that all the time now.”
Once again, it was impossible not to grin. “I’m fine with that.” He lowered his voice, so it would come out as a raspy growl. “Boss.”
A laugh burst out of her, and he was content.
He pulled out of the station, past the idling dive van, and onto the main road. A fresh few inches of snow hid a layer of ice, and the back of the pickup fishtailed as it turned. Bringing the truck back under control, Callum grimaced. The closer they got to Verde, the worse the roads would be. He accelerated carefully before turning on the overhead lights.
“County 438,” an unfamiliar voice came over the radio. “I’m on scene at Verde Reservoir.”
“Who’s that?” he asked.
“New deputy.” Callum wasn’t at all surprised that she knew the answer. Lou always seemed to be up on the latest Simpson gossip. “Bart…something?”
“He decent?”
“From the little I’ve heard about him from Chris, I’d say yes. I’ve only met him once, but he seems like a good guy…sweet.”
He narrowed his eyes, concentrating on taking the next turn without sending them into the ditch. Despite the nasty driving conditions, he couldn’t let that pass. “Sweet?”
“Sweet.”
That didn’t clarify anything. “In what way?”
“Uh…sweet in a sweet way, I guess?” She sounded both confused and slightly amused. “Like he’d clean elderly people’s gutters and rescue puppies in his spare time.”
“Huh.” Frowning, he took the next hairpin turn a touch too fast, and the truck slid sideways. The rear right wheel dipped into the snow-filled ditch, and the tires churned in place for a second, sending up a wave of white behind them. The truck lurched and pivoted sideways a few feet before it finally caught, sending the truck shooting away from the slushy trap. Callum steadied the pickup, directing it down the center of the snow-coated road.
“Close one. Nice driving,” Lou said, sounding slightly tense.
He blew out a hard breath and then stretched his cramped fingers away from the steering wheel. “Thanks.”
They were quiet for a few minutes as he navigated the twisting, narrow roads that led to the reservoir. His brain wouldn’t let go of Lou’s take on the newest deputy, however. As much as he loved her, and knew she loved him, he couldn’t help but feel an occasional twitch of jealousy. Thankfully, she seemed to find it amusing, rather than annoying.
“What’s he look like?”
“What? What’s who look like?”
