Whitewater Rendezvous

Her eyes were twinkling at Chaz, and she had a shyness to her voice that in light of what they’d been doing to each other all night, sounded incredibly sweet and endearing. Why do you have to be soirresistible?

Chaz did the only thing she could do. The only thing that made sense, when Megan looked at her like that. She kissed her, like she meant it. Like she never wanted to let her go. Damn, she was going to miss those kisses.

“Good morning,” she replied some time later when they came up for air.

“I could get used to having that every morning as my alarm clock,”

Megan said lazily as she relaxed back again Chaz’s chest.

The hint of regular domesticity about that statement made Chaz’s stomach clench. If only that was true. Stoically, she reached for the radio. “It’s late enough that I really need to call in and see when they’re coming for you. Probably would not be real good to have them come up on us unexpectedly.”

“So, what happens next?” Megan asked.

“The air ambulance will fl y you to the hospital in Fairbanks. Orion will be contacting you there and will make arrangement for your fl ight home and anything else you need after you’re released.”

“I don’t suppose I can suggest we postpone getting me out of here another day or two or three?” Megan asked in a quiet voice, not looking at Chaz.

“I wish that was possible. But you need to be looked at. I know they’ll be sending someone as soon as the weather allows.”

“This sucks. I don’t feel bad, considering. Just a sore shoulder. The headache is pretty much gone. I want to spend more time with you.”

“I wish we could, too, Megan. But I also have to rejoin the group. I have a job to do and they need two guides.” With that, Chaz reluctantly turned on the radio and reported in to the Alaska State Troopers.

The news couldn’t have been worse. The chopper was on its way.

They roused themselves and got dressed, and Chaz put some water on for coffee, then packed up their gear and took down the tent. They didn’t say much to each other as they waited. But they sat side by side, leaning back against a gray boulder, legs stretched out in front of them and their bodies touching.

• 201 •

KIM BALDWIN

“You have all my information on the registration forms, right?”

Megan asked.

“Yes. I’ll copy it all down when I get back to the lodge.” Chaz reached into a pocket for a small pad of paper and pen and wrote down her name, address, phone, offi ce information, and e-mail address.

“Here’s mine,” she said, tucking the note carefully into the breast pocket of Megan’s jacket.

“Better be careful where you put those hands,” Megan kidded playfully. “You don’t want to start something you can’t fi nish.”

“Damn, woman, don’t you ever get tired?” Chaz’s comment was offset by the fact that she leaned over to nuzzle Megan’s neck as she said it. She would more than happily go again if they had the time.

But there was no time. They heard it before they saw it. Chaz got to her feet as the chopper came into view over a nearby mountain peak.

Their alone time was at an end, and she felt it as a very real ache in her chest.

“I guess this is it,” she said, leaning down to help Megan to her feet.

Megan gazed up at the approaching chopper. “I hate good-byes anyway. And this ranks up there with the class-A worst ones.”

“Yeah, I’d agree with that.”

“I know you had reservations about getting involved with a client.”

Megan lowered her gaze and turned moist green eyes on Chaz. “How do you feel about public displays of affection?”

“What are you proposing?” Chaz asked with a smile.

“I’d about kill for one more of your kisses.”

Chaz cradled Megan’s face in her hand. Made one last caress of that sun-kissed cheek before she leaned down to claim that mouth a fi nal time.

Megan’s arm came around her waist and pulled their bodies together.

The sound of the helicopter landing on a small patch of level tundra nearby forced them apart.

“Stay in touch,” Chaz said, looking into Megan’s eyes while they waited for the air ambulance crew to disembark.

“I will. Thanks for everything.” Megan wanted to say something profound and meaningful, but how could she think when Chaz looked at her like that? “I’ll never forget last night.”

Chaz couldn’t keep her eyes from misting up. “I won’t either. I’ll miss you.”

• 202 •

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14