Page 24 of One Kind Hand

“Is there something I can do for you?” More specifically, was there something he’d let her do for him?

Austin didn’t answer right away and Charlie wondered if he was thinking about those few moments in his bedroom.

“I was calling to see if you wanted to watch the filming tomorrow. I know there aren’t chopper scenes on the schedule, but perhaps it would be helpful for you to see how things roll before you need to be on camera.”

Right. Because he didn’t want her to screw up his movie.

“If you’re not busy, that is,” he quickly added.

“I don’t currently have anything on tomorrow’s schedule,” she said. “I would like to come, but if I get a rescue call I might have to jet. Is that okay?”

“Sure. How did today’s rescue go?”

“We were able to locate and extract the missing pair of hikers. One of them earned a busted up ankle, but they were otherwise fine.” She stretched her bruised elbow as she wore a rut in the rug in her living room.

“Wow. You’re a superhero, aren’t you?” Austin’s voice held a note of awe that stroked Charlie’s ego big time.

“I do what I can to help out.”

“And do you get called to help out a lot?”

“Yeah.”

“See? Superhero. Your skills are life-saving.”

Charlie’s cheeks heated and she flattened her palm to one of them. Good thing Austin couldn’t see her right now. “And your skills thrill the masses.”

“I guess we all have our roles to play in life, huh?” Barking sounded in the background.

“Hey, is that my new pal, Berto?”

“Yes. He’s managed to get tangled up in a bath towel.”

“And the bath towel is winning?”

“You guessed it. So much for fulfilling his guard dog duties.”

“I think you’ll be safe with the security at that fluffy luxury hotel, Mr. Penthouse Suite.”

“That felt like a dig,” he said, a laugh in his voice. “Was that a dig, Badass Chopper Pilot?”

“Maybe.”

“I told you I’d be happy with a little cabin in the woods.”

“I’ll believe that when I see it.”

He laughed and she closed her eyes as the sound rippled through her.

“I’m a simple guy, Charlie. Honest.”

She hummed as if she wasn’t buying it, but she’d actually seen firsthand today that he was just that. A simple—but crazy attractive—guy.

“Where should I report tomorrow to watch the filming?” Back to business would keep her from asking him if he wanted to meet her at Pine River Cottages right now where she’d show him how fun a little cabin in the woods could be.

More barking filled her ear.

“Berto’s making a request that you meet us for breakfast at the fluffy luxury hotel before watching the filming. What do you say to that?”