Page 21 of K-9 Prime Target

“I’ll get them,” a man standing to the side said. He clicked out of his skis and hiked the short way up the slope to retrieve the skis.

“Just put them alongside her after we get her in the toboggan,” Brian said when the man returned with the skis.

Brian, Nina and Raz worked together to shift Layla into the toboggan. They wrapped her in blankets, fastened the restraints and arranged the skis and her pack with her. “You can meet us down at the clinic,” Brian told the brother. Then he positioned himself at the front of the toboggan and began towing it down the slope.

Nina and Raz checked the area for any missing belongings or supplies. “For someone who isn’t supposed to be working patrol, you seem to keep showing up at the scene of accidents,” Raz said.

“Yeah. I’m just lucky that way.”

“Lucky for us, you mean,” Raz said. “Anyway, thanks for your help.” She waved, then skied away.

Nina followed at a more leisurely pace. She wasn’t surprised to find Liam waiting near the entrance to the clinic. When he spotted her, he moved to join her beside the rack where she stowed her skis. “I saw them bring the skier down,” he said. “How’s she doing?”

“I think it’s a pretty minor injury,” Nina said. “Maybe a shoulder separation or a dislocation. The clinic will take X-rays to be sure.” She tried to look stern. “What’s this I hear about you chasing down the snowboarder who hit her?”

“I couldn’t let him get away with a hit-and-run.”

“You could have been in a lot of trouble. His parent could have accused you of assault.”

“Nah, the dad was cool. The kid was, too. He was just frightened. What will happen to him?”

“The resort will pull his pass. The rest is up to the girl’s parents, since she’s a minor. But you should have let the patrollers take care of it.”

“Maybe you’re right, but I’m not the type to stand back and let someone get away with fleeing the scene of an accident like that.”

She sighed. “I guess I already knew that about you. But I had to say something.”

“Consider me suitably chastised. Are you about ready to call it a day?”

“Yes.” The sleepless night and the tension of the day was catching up with her, making every movement an effort.

“Want to go somewhere for a drink? Maybe grab something to eat?”

Part of her wanted nothing more than to retreat to her home. Except home no longer felt like a sanctuary, now that Nicholson had been there—twice. She would have to return there eventually, but spending a few more hours with Liam was too big a temptation to deny. “I’d like that,” she said. “But I’ll need to get Sky.”

“She and Angel can hang out in my hotel room for a while,” he said. “If you think she’d be all right.”

“She will.”

His eyes locked to hers, a searching stare that filled her with warmth. “You’ll be okay, too,” he said.

“I will.” Maybe she wasn’t really as confident as she sounded, but she wanted the words to be true. So much.

Chapter Six

They stopped at Liam’s hotel room only long enough to get the dogs settled. He stashed his camera gear in the room safe. Then they headed to the hotel bar. Nina looked exhausted, though she was fighting it. He wanted nothing more than to gather her into his arms and hold her, to tell her she didn’t have to be so strong. But maybe being strong was all that kept her going. Who was he to take that from her?

The snow was falling harder outside, so they settled into a cozy padded booth near the fire and ordered red wine and a cheese plate. She sipped wine, then closed her eyes and leaned her head back. “This is just what I needed,” she said. She opened her eyes. “Tell me about Ukraine. How long were you there?”

“Three months. Both too long and not long enough.”

“You were filming for a children’s charity?”

“Yes. I was there to document the plight of children who had lost their homes to the bombings, or one or more of their parents in the fighting. And the families whose children had been kidnapped and taken to Russia.”

“Oh, Liam.” She looked stricken.

“Maybe we should talk about something more cheerful,” he said.