Page 53 of Operation Rescue
“I meant…personally.”
He drew back slightly as understanding dawned on his face. “No, Erin. There’s no one. There hasn’t really been since you left.”
In two years—because being Blaine she knew he wouldn’t even think about it until the divorce was final—he hadn’t found someone to replace her? Someone with the courage to live with his life and the potential for disaster?
“How about you?” he asked, his expression unreadable now. “Should I expect some guy to show up this weekend and ask what I’m doing here?”
“No!” It came out much more sharply than she’d intended. She took a breath to steady herself. “I haven’t had time.”
It was true. She’d been so wrapped up in getting her business up and running she hadn’t even thought much about it. Except when she went to bed at night, missing him. Aching for him.
And now he was here.
She looked up and held his gaze. “And I haven’t wanted to,” she said.
She waited, every muscle tense as she wondered what he would say, but Rafe and Walker came back out before he could speak. Rafe headed outside, saying he had something he needed to give them. But Walker came over to Blaine, looking at him rather curiously.
“Rafe tells me you’re the pilot who pulled him out of that battle zone when he was wounded.”
“I…yeah.”
“He said you went in alone, without your copilot because it was an emergency and you were the closest. That he would likely have been dead if you hadn’t.”
Blaine smiled rather crookedly and gave one of those annoying half shrugs, usually seen when he’d done something wonderful but didn’t seem to want credit for it.
“It worked out,” was all he said.
“Yeah, especially for Foxworth. And Foxworth will make this work out for you.”
Rafe was back, with what looked like a couple of rather odd-looking cell phones, with the extra buttons like his had, in his hand. He handed one to each of them.
“These are especially designed for Foxworth. That first button will connect you to us, live, wherever we are. The texting app there—” he pointed to an icon that looked, logically, like a fox “—will go to everyone who’s live on the circuit. And that red button there is for emergencies. Either you’re in trouble and need immediate help, or you’ve got something that needs top-priority attention.”
“Wow,” Blaine said, looking down at the device. “Slick.”
“Brainchild of Ty and Liam Burnett, another of our guys from up north. Keep them with you, and don’t hesitate to use them. Here, listen,” he said, and triggered the unique-sounding notification tone.
“And I’ll use it to let you know if, when, and where I find out anything,” Walker said. “Plus,” he added, “I’m going to borrow our furry compatriot there, since he’s the one with the nose and will know if Ethan’s been somewhere, even if it’s being denied.”
“Be sure to tell him to put on his tough guy demeanor,” Rafe said dryly.
Walker only grinned. “I have a feeling he’ll know when to do that, scarily brilliant critter that he is.” He glanced at her and Blaine. “I’ll have to tell you about my first run-ins with this guy sometime. But now, let’s get your boy home safe.”
As they began to lay out a plan, it took Erin a moment to realize that she was feeling…different. Better. Blaine slipped an arm around her. He was rock-steady, as usual.
And in that moment she realized the difference was hope.
Chapter 27
Blaine looked down at the screen on the Foxworth phone, now showing a map of the entire south county, with three areas highlighted.
“We’re going to need Cutter to go through them all,” Walker said. “But I’ll hit this one first—” he pointed to the one farthest inland “—because I know some folks there. Or at least, this guy does,” he added, flicking the thick gold chain he wore. He pointed at the second area. “Rafe, this one is for you. Not quite as touchy about strangers there. Blaine, this is where you first hit something, right?” Walker asked, pointing to the third area, which included the shopping area with the pet store. Blaine nodded, and Walker went on. “Okay, if you can take that, we’ve got the most likely areas covered.”
“If you think I’m just going to sit here at home on the very slim chance he comes back,” Erin began.
Blaine held up a hand. “Nobody said that.”
“Funny, I didn’t hear my name mentioned.”
