CHAPTER 9
“I told you to get to know her, not ask her out on a date,” Harris said into the headset, the wind and chopper blades muffling his voice.
“It’s not a date,” Ford shouted back as Bullseye barked into the wind.
Ford was leaning backward off the side of a Super Huey, Bullseye strapped to his side in a doggy Bjorn, with only a helicopter skid and a hundred-foot rope between them and rocky terrain.
Ty was already on the ground below, and because this was a joint training with CalFire, Harris was next to Ford, hooked into his rappelling gear instead of piloting the bird, and Bullseye was harness-on goggles-down, waiting for the go. Today’s exercise was supposed to be fast roping into uneven terrain, but Harris was making it an exercise in patience.
Harris could be a whiner.
“As head of community outreach, this is what I do,” Ford added.
Harris turned his head toward Ford, and even through his aviator glasses he could clearly make out a bullshit expression. “And you’re doing it when her kid is at camp?”
“Tomorrow morning was the only day I’m in the office and she had free.”
“If you don’t stop bitching like a couple of girls and clogging the airways, I might leave you here until Monday,” Ty said, his voice booming through the earpiece.
“As the father of a girl, I resent that, since it’s always the big boys who have a hard time following instruction,” he said, even as he looked at the training coordinator for the all clear but was signaled to hold until the other team cleared the landing zone. “And as a single parent, I can also tell you that if this kid-free coed outing involves a picnic, then don’t be surprised if you show up tomorrow and she’s dressed for romance instead of recon.”
All guys who wore a department-issued uniform and gun had experience with badge bunnies—women who would do anything to marry into the lifestyle. Ford had had his fair share of flings and cons over the years, and he’d learned what to look for.
“Liv isn’t the kind of woman to use her job to get a date,” he said, confident in his assessment.
Harris gazed over the top of his aviators and looked at Ford. “Liv also hasn’t gone on a date in over a decade.” Even though Ford was sitting under a fifty-foot fan, he felt sweat bead on his forehead. “Yeah, so maybe you want to rethink your whole zip-lining outing.”
Ford was tired of rethinking. He’d been doing it for two years without finding any closure. And if helping Liv with Wagon Days got him one step closer, then he was game.
“You suggested I get to know her, and she asked me for help with something that happens to be in my job description, so I said yes,” Ford argued. “As for the zip-line request I put in, she wants to do a mini one for Wagon Days, and I thought using the department’s training course would be a fun way to help her see the different kinds of courses we can build for the kids so she can get a better idea of what would work for the event.”
“That’s it?” Harris asked skeptically.
“That’s it, man,” Ford said. “But if you’d rather I call her and cancel so I can hold your hand while you clear some of those missing-pet cases off your desk, all you need to do is ask.”
The training coordinator gave them the thumbs-up, then held up five fingers, ticking off the seconds before they began their descent.
Harris held up another finger altogether. “About those cases—you’d better focus on holding on to that rope, because if I make it down first, you’re taking those back.”
“And if I make it first?”
Harris looked at Bullseye and laughed. “Whatever you want.”
Ford thought about the stack of applicants he had to call back and grinned. He might be carrying an extra sixty pounds in dog weight, but he also had the fastest rappelling time in his county. “You’re on.” Ford looked down at Bullseye, who was panting with excitement. “It’s go time, buddy.”
The coordinator dropped his last finger, and Ford pushed back off the skid and immediately let five feet of rope slide through his right hand. He was free-falling for a second before the rope tightened, swinging him and Bullseye up underneath the body of the helo.
With a final smile at Harris, Ford released his grip and quickly started descending. The air rushed past, pushing under his shirt and making Bullseye’s tongue flap to the side.
“That better not be drool hitting my face,” he said, but he was smiling because, man, he loved this. The rush, the weightlessness, the sense of freedom while being in complete control.
When Ford was in the moment, adrenaline pumping hard, he felt invincible.
And right then, nothing could touch him. Not the past, not the future, and certainly not Harris, who was a good ten feet above him, probably wondering how the fuck that had happened. Ford knew. Because while being tethered to a dog made the initial push-off more cumbersome, once they were hanging, that additional sixty pounds equated to one hell of a ride down.
And yeah, maybe Ford was easing up on the rope more than usual, but after this week he needed a win. So he didn’t up the pressure until he was ten feet from touchdown. His feet touched solid rock, and he was unhooking Bullseye when Harris finally caught up.
Goggles and earphones off, Bullseye ran in circles, barking up a storm, excited for his reward.
“I’ve got some treats in my pocket,” one of the other K-9 officers offered, but Ford shook his head.
“He wants something else. Don’t you, boy?”
Breathing nonexistent, ears like a periscope, tail frozen, eyes locked on the tiny pink ear that was sticking out beneath Ford’s vest harness, Bullseye gave a final bark and sat at Ford’s feet.
Ford tugged Lambkins out by the ear, and Bullseye went stock-still. “Okay, here you go.”
Bullseye looked at the proffered reward and threw his head back and belted out an argumentative bark, which echoed off the rocks and drew the attention of a few of the guys.
“Fine. Close your eyes, I give one distress call, then we’re done,” Ford said, and Bullseye dropped to his belly, placing his paws over his eyes.
Ford walked around in circles, crossing back over his trail several times to increase the difficulty, and then hid Lambkins in Harris’s pack. With another crisscross of the area, Ford came back to Bullseye. Adopting the pussiest voice known to man, he said, “Help me, help me, Bullseye.”
Bullseye sprang to his feet and, sniffer to the ground, followed the exact path Ford had taken, finding his prize in the pack in seconds. With the gentleness of a mother, Bullseye picked up his baby and proudly strutted among the men.
“What the hell was that, Daisy Doolittle?” Harris asked when Bullseye sat at Ford’s feet to groom his baby.
“What?” Ford laughed. “Us kicking your ass, or the sound of the gigantic stack of volunteer applications hitting your desk?”
“Shit.” Harris looked up at the sky, breathing heavily. “I’ll make the calls, but you’re running the meet and greet.”
While Ford wasn’t all that much of a department spokesman, he enjoyed working with volunteers and their dogs. Training dogs was a challenge that got him excited, and watching them deepen the bonds with their owners was rewarding. “As long as you give me volunteers who can be trained to help with basic stuff for Wagon Days, not a problem.”
Harris studied him for a long moment. “There will be a problem if you don’t honor the single-mom code.”
“Jesus.” Ford threw his hands in the air, then looked at Ty. “Will you tell him this is not a date?”
Ty grinned. “I would, but the only reason I’m here on a Sunday morning with you losers, and not at home with my smoking-hot wife, is because she’s at Liv’s helping her pick out what to wear.”
Later that afternoon, Liv found herself back down at the hospital, arguing the merits of her idea, while Kevin shot a hole through each and every one.
“I think we need to take a step back and reevaluate the situation,” he said, and Liv was surprised at the conviction in Kevin’s voice. She hadn’t expected him to flat-out reject her Wild West Roundup idea.
In fact, she hadn’t even filed the permits, and already she knew she’d made a huge mistake.
She’d spent most of the weekend in the ER, fielding patients who were all suffering from different ailments but seeking the same outcome—a say in how Wagon Days was going to be run.
Once word spread that the event was under new management, people wanted face time with the newest chair. Most sought assurance that the event would reflect the town’s history—or rather, each person’s individual interpretation of the town’s history—except Chuck, the butcher.
He’d come to talk about a history of a different variety—Liv’s dating history. Which ultimately led to his idea for a “How to properly dress a hog” demonstration, with Liv as his number one assistant. But since Liv wasn’t all that big on the idea of slaughter lessons as a first date, Chuck had left with his bouquet of hand-stuffed sausages and an apology on how dating a butcher went against Liv’s recently adopted views on vegetarianism.
Now Kevin was so against her Wild West Roundup that he’d brought his concerns to Nicole. “If her new ideas for Wagon Days fall through or flop, that would be Mobile Medic’s first introduction to the community.”
“It isn’t going to fall through, and there is nothing to reevaluate,” Liv said assertively, part of her confidence coming from having someone in her corner.
She’d forgotten how that felt. Her focus as of late had been finding her footing so she could stand on her own. And she still was. Only today, she had someone standing by her side, in a sense. A sweet and sexy someone who not only made her smile, but made her feel special. And took an interest in her goals. It had been a long time since someone outside of her peers had taken the time to understand what she was trying to accomplish. For herself and her family.
“I was elected to head up the entertainment for Wagon Days, and I am heading it up.” She looked at Nicole, who was leaning back in her chair listening to both sides as if she were the judge and jury. “You wanted to introduce the Mobile Medic and its team to the community in a fun and creative way, and this is the perfect opportunity.”
“The perfect opportunity is waiting until after we finalize the staff,” Kevin said, as if he considered himself a part of the bigger we, “then visit the schools to promote health awareness and back-to-school flu shots and vaccines.” Kevin handed Nicole a flyer he’d taken the liberty to print up while Liv was cleaning up his exam room. “I’ve already cleared it with the superintendent, who is excited about the project and on board with helping spread the word about what we offer.”
She was also Kevin’s aunt.
“I didn’t think a van full of needles was the first impression we were going for,” Liv said, taking some ownership in the clinic’s future. “Kids are already nervous about going back to school. My proposal lets us meet kids at a time when they are happy, excited, and feeling good. Which means they’ll have a positive first experience with the clinic.”
“It’s a small detail that could have lasting effects on the way the kids perceive the clinic,” Nicole agreed, and Liv had to stop herself from grinning.
“True, but pledging our support to an event that I hear is a long shot to be approved would have a lasting effect on how the board decides to fund us,” Kevin pointed out.
“I’m already in the approval process,” she said, telling herself that taking a hike with the gorgeous community-outreach officer, while not a date, was close enough to having this thing in the bag.
She had no idea how she was going to get the final sign-off, but Ford had been confident. And she was going to find enough volunteers to free up the officers to manage the course. Even if it meant joining every club in the county. All she needed was the medical personnel on hand.
And to think, this was all coming together because she had finally allowed herself to open up to someone new.
“I’m not asking you to sponsor the event,” Liv explained. “I’m just asking you to give some of the staff permission to volunteer their time in an official capacity, and agree to have the Mobile Medic serve as the extra medic support for Wagon Days.”
Nicole considered this. “This is one of the outreach issues Mobile Medic was created to handle.”
“But the clinic won’t be approved for service until the next board meeting,” Kevin pointed out ever so sweetly.
“I can call a special meeting—that’s not a problem. It’s missing a great opportunity to serve the community because I was waiting for permission that bothers me,” Nicole said, opening a journal and jotting down some notes. She looked up at Liv. “As long as you’re sure you can get the permits, I don’t see why we can’t do a test run.”
“That’s fantastic,” Liv said, moving to the edge of her chair. “I won’t let you down.”
“I hope not,” Nicole said. “Once I call the board, they’re going to be watching how you handle this new position and work with other groups in the community. This could be a big moment for you and the mobile clinic.”
Kevin straightened in his chair, his too cool to sweat it ’tude fading. “I can’t work that weekend. I’m already committed to run several other booths, and so is Brittany,” he said, referring to the vocational nurse who was already placed on Nicole’s team.
“I’ll be coordinating the event, so I can’t either, but I’m sure there are other nurses and doctors who would love the chance to work on the van for a day,” Liv pointed out. “In fact, I bet I can find you a team before I go home today.”
“That won’t be necessary,” Kevin said in a tone that translated into Aren’t you sweet, and Liv understood why Ford took issue with the phrase. “I didn’t want to say this, but last night one of my Moose Lodge buddies who works in the permitting office told me that you won’t get your permit approved this late in the game.”
“That’s funny,” Liv said, looking Kevin in the eye. “Who’s your guy? Because my guy said it wouldn’t be an issue.”
Kevin grinned. “Well, my guy runs the Department of Community Development, which means he is the only guy who matters.”
It was a rare day in Liv’s world when she was afforded the pleasure of sipping her morning coffee while it was still hot—and from an actual mug. Usually it was sucked down during her commute to the hospital. But since today was Liv’s day off, and Paxton was already at camp, her plan should have been to enjoy her morning fix on the front porch and take in the rare silence.
The sun was up, the sky was the perfect color of blue, and several kayaks were already out on the lake. Liv let the breeze brush her face as she watched a flock of Canada geese who’d decided to cut their migration short and skim above the water’s edge, flying under the new banner hanging in downtown.
It was so big that Liv could clearly make out every word, even from across the lake.
THE TRAILBLAZERS OF WAGON DAYS BRING THE LIGHTNING AND THUNDER BACK TO SEQUOIA LAKE. COME ENJOY THE CRAFT BEER, ART, AND ONE OF THE WILDEST ADVENTURES IN THE WEST.
An adventure that was sure to be Liv’s last, she thought, hefting her backpack over her shoulder. She’d called the Department of Community Development first thing that morning. Even spoke with Kevin’s guy, Harvey, who had sadly confirmed Liv’s worst nightmares.
Her guy was full of shit.
While the sheriff’s department signed off on any permits involving re-trafficking and crowd control, Ford had zero say in the final approval of permits. Something she would have known if she’d done her due diligence and research instead of up and changing direction based solely on the promise of a handsome man.
Ford’s heart had been in the right place, of that she had no doubt. But it didn’t change the fact that Liv now had twenty-four hours to come up with an alternate solution or she would miss the window to apply for the correct permits.
She wasn’t so much mad at him as she was with herself for falling back on old habits. Which is why she’d texted Ford before she left the house and canceled their day. She needed to come up with a plan B, fill out the new forms, and get them in and approved ASAP. And that didn’t leave time for a leisurely morning on her porch.
Especially charming and sexy ones who wanted to play hero for the day.
She needed to be her own hero, and this was her last chance to show what she was made of. Or Nicole was going to have to back Kevin’s idea. It was the smart move. Kevin had the contacts, the necessary approvals, and the board’s backing going for him. All Liv had was a binder of unvetted ideas and a twin-pack of Hostess cupcakes from her secret hiding spot—because, apparently, her guy was full of frosting.
The Women of the Wagon Trail were already hard at work on the event. News of the “Wagon Days Messiah” had spread like wildfire. Carolyn had found a new Crock-Pot recipe for tuna. And Liv still had to hike around the lake to do recon for an event that was likely to be canceled.
She looked at her cupcakes and wondered what the punishment was for eating dessert before eight in the morning. Double calories, she imagined, since that would be just her luck.
Maybe if she sucked down her coffee, the cupcake could be considered a breakfast pastry.
Liv set her backpack on the sand and tried to unhitch her thermos from the safety strap. It was childproof and secured tightly, so she pulled harder. With a frown—and a whole lot of bad words directed at whoever invented the idiotic idea of childproofing anything—she told herself that Paxton would never know and went straight for the sugar.
“I’m more of a bacon-and-eggs kind of guy, but for you I’d risk the sugar crash.”
Liv looked over her shoulder, surprised to see Ford leaning on the railing of his deck, holding two cups of coffee. She was less surprised by the irritating tingles that started low in her belly. Surprise over her reaction to him had disappeared when she’d agreed to let some sweet-talking playboy distract her from her goal.
He was in nothing but a sleepy grin, yesterday’s scruff, and a pair of worn jeans that hung indecently low on his hips—as if he hadn’t bothered to button them. No shoes. No shirt. Just enough bedhead to make her wonder how warm his sheets still were. Which shouldn’t have her body humming. But it did. And that made her nervous.
“Sorry, breakfast for one,” she said, sticking half of the cupcake into her mouth, because if she was going to get that promotion, then she needed to come up with a plan B, and that didn’t include the man who’d ruined plan A.
“That’s a shame,” he said. “Because breakfast for two is so much more fun.”
“I don’t have time for fun.” She shoved the rest of the cupcake into her mouth, and it sank to the bottom of her belly with a thud. “But you enjoy your coffee.”
“While your cupcakes were a breakfast for one, this coffee here is poured and ready for two.”
“I’ve already got coffee.” She nudged the thermos with the toe of her boot.
“Mine is piping hot and doesn’t come with a screw top.”
He held up the mug, and Liv nearly moaned as the steam rose into the morning mist. Her mouth watered.
“Coffee is coffee,” she lied. “And mine won’t accidentally burn me.”
“Huh, you’re one of those grumpy-in-the-morning people,” he said, releasing double-barreled dimples. “Cute.”
“I’m not grumpy.” She was hurt. And felt foolish.
Liv knew better than to entrust her family’s future to somebody other than herself. Not that she’d completely handed over the reins to Ford like she had with Sam. But when Ford had presented her with a simple solution that could solve all her problems, she’d naively bought into it. And almost blew her chance at a dream job.
“Oh yeah?” He casually rested his forearm on the railing, then eyed her backpack. “Then you want to explain why you texted a message canceling today, only to sneak out with enough gear to hike Everest? Most guys would take that personally.” Bullseye stuck his head through the gaps in the railing and barked. “Bullseye agrees.”
“I’m not sneaking, and I’d tell you it isn’t personal, but that would be a lie. I’ve learned the hard way not to rely on people who make promises they can’t keep,” she said, sticking the remaining cupcake in her backpack and swinging it over her shoulder, the weight knocking her off balance. Or maybe that was the look of hurt in Ford’s eyes at her words.
“What does that mean?” he asked, his tone going crisp like the morning breeze.
“That I was so focused on step four, I almost forgot I had to master step three first.” And single moms with futures to secure had no time for distractions from fly-by-night heroes.
“Step three?”
“Making sure Paxton gets the childhood he deserves.” She had to clear her throat before she could continue. “I had a plan and a direction, and maybe it wasn’t as flashy as others, but it was a good one.” More important, it was obtainable. “Now I have a bunch of people counting on me to deliver an event I can’t possibly pull off, and a timeline that ensures whatever I do deliver will be a disappointment.”
Even saying the word had knots forming in her stomach.
“With this Wild West–themed ropes course, no one will be disappointed.”
“There won’t be a ropes course,” she said, looking up at him. “Not that my boss knows that. She’s still holding out hope that her faith in me wasn’t misplaced.”
And Liv knew exactly what that felt like.
Setting the mugs on the railing, Ford walked down the steps until his feet were in the sand and he was inches from Liv. “Why won’t there be a ropes course?”
“Because between crowd control and traffic control, there aren’t enough officers to run an event that complex.” Liv relayed the information she’d been told by Harvey at the Department of Community Development. “So if I want to still be in the running for my promotion, I need to simplify this event, get the forms down to city hall by five p.m., and make it exciting enough to bring the crowds.”
“A ropes course will bring the crowds, and it can be simple.” Ford looked down at his lack of attire, and Liv told herself not to notice how incredible he looked—or smelled. When that didn’t work, she turned to face the water. “Just give me five minutes to get dressed, and I can show you.”
When she didn’t answer, he touched her shoulder. “Five minutes, Liv, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.”
But he wasn’t just asking for her time. He was asking for her trust, and that was something she wasn’t sure she could give right then.
“Don’t worry about it.” She gave a shrug to show him how this big issue wasn’t all that big. “I work better alone.”
“You’d work faster with someone who has done these kinds of things before.” And although Liv was still watching the water lap against the shore, she could feel him move closer behind her. “Do you feel like you misplaced your trust in me?”
Liv wanted to say that she was still holding out hope too, but she knew she needed a more assertive emotion if she was going to salvage this event.
“Your confidence and charm is magnetic,” she said, turning to glance at him over her shoulder, their eyes locking instantly. “It’s easy to get caught up in.”
“Seems like we both have the same problem,” he said—to her mouth. And wouldn’t you know it, little sparks of attraction shot straight down to her toes.
“Which is why doing this together is a bad idea.”
“A bad idea is walking an hour around the lake with all of that weight on your back,” he said, lifting her backpack off her shoulders. “Especially when we could take my truck and be there in ten minutes.”
“I’d rather walk,” she decided.
He studied her for a long moment, then shrugged one big shoulder. “Have it your way,” he said, slipping the backpack on, his muscle bunching and coiling as he headed north along the shoreline.
With an excited bark, Bullseye raced behind him.
“Wait, I didn’t say you could walk with me,” Liv called out after him.
“We can discuss it on the way.”
“You’re half-naked.”
Ford turned around, but he kept walking backward. “You can strip down to your lace if it makes you feel better.”