How was it possible I hungered for her as much as I did? “Someone kept me awake.”
Groaning, the light blush on her cheeks was as adorable as everything else. “Stop it. Why are you guys so shorthanded?”
“The forestry service has yet to approve new jumpers. The firefighters in town are shorthanded as well.” I moved around her, ready to grab my go bag.
“The city council didn’t approve the funding.”
“Nope. From what I heard, your father convinced the city council to use the funds elsewhere for some land development deal. Infrastructure. We have a half dozen firehouses that need new equipment and new recruits. If you ask me, that’s why the firemen didn’t respond quickly on the day of Will’s death.” Maybe that was too much information and second guessing, but it was widely known her father didn’t think either the smokejumpers or firefighters were worth the money spent.
“Shit. That’s terrible. I had no idea.”
“That’s because you’ve been gone for a long time.” Grinning, I grabbed a few things, ready to jog into the bedroom to change.
“Yeah, I know,” she whispered, still shaking her head as if pissed. “By the way. How are we getting off the mountains?”
“Oh, yeah. There’s something else I need to tell you. I hope you’re not afraid of flying.”
CHAPTER 12
Kenzie
Whoosh.
Whir. Whir. Whir.
The constant whirring noise only added to the churning effect in my stomach.
“Oh, God,” I muttered, my breathing swallow and beads of real sweat trickling down both sides of my face. I pulled my still damp clothes closer to my chest, resisting burying my face in them. They were all the clothing I had with me at this point.
Except for the baggy chic offered by my insufferable, handsome, and stubborn host.
When I bit down on my lower lip to keep from laughing, the helicopter was jolted enough I tasted blood.
I’d known coming back home would have its share of trials and tribulations. Just the way I’d left the last visit after an argumentI’d gotten into with my father, I knew being around my parents would test my last nerve.
But this was beyond the scope of anything I’d thought would happen. I hated flying with a passion.
“Just hold tight,” the pilot said into the microphone.
Why did he sound so joyful? I was on the verge of painting the inside of his helicopter with various shades of brown and yellow and he was chipper as could be.
So was Axe, who remained thoroughly amused that I’d fought him tooth and nail before being forced onto the sleek bird. His words, not mine.
My stomach lurched for the fifth time as the sight of several buildings and a few airplanes finally came into view. When another moment of turbulence hit, even with my seatbelt on, I was pitched forward, forced to grip the edge of the passenger seat in front to keep from smashing my face.
Axe was perfectly comfortable and threw a look at whoever was the pilot. I’d heard his name but right now, I couldn’t remember my own. I hated flying in huge airplanes with comfy steel everywhere. This was as if flying in a plastic toy with a big whirlybird on the roof.
“Just a little turbulence, Palomino Girl,” Axe offered.
Why was he using my nickname through the microphone? To torment me again?
“Palomino Girl. Cool name,” the pilot said with the same lilt in his voice and I wanted to deck him from the slight expression of amusement. All smokejumpers seemed to think they were hilarious.
Thank God I’d only had coffee because the man would be wearing my breakfast. When he dropped the helicopter by what had to be a million feet, I slapped my hand across my mouth.
“If what Axe told me is true, you’re damn lucky to be alive. Two Clark Fork dams broke free within thirty minutes. There were water rescues all over the place. The fire department couldn’t be everywhere they were needed. Shorthanded.”
“Any casualties?” Axe asked while tipping his head in my direction.
