Page 26 of Fire and Rain
Sean dipped the net, caught the line, and Justin pulled it onto the boat. “That is one big winter king. That must weigh at least twenty-five pounds.”
Down and back and down again.
“Abort! Abort! We need to get everyone off the boat and pick them up in the water. They’re cooking meth, and the patient was exposed.”
“Aborting the hoist. Get out of there, Koseki.”
Sean surfaced, grabbed the side of the pool, his heart slamming in his chest.
What thehellwas wrong with him?
The answer came to him in a single word.
Eden.
He’d seen her reaction when he’d taken off his shirt—and had felt an answering pull. Her touch had scorched him, made his blood go hot. He’d found himself wanting to drag her against him, to kiss her, to peel the clothes off her body so he could touch her sweet curves.
No fucking way.
He couldn’t do that. Eden was Justin’s widow. Yes, he’d always found her attractive. What straight guy wouldn’t? But he’d never been tempted to think of her sexually—until yesterday. He hadn’t been able to take his mind off her since, his thoughts drifting to fantasies of kissing her, caressing her, tasting her.
And that’s why you’re torturing yourself?
As painful as they were, memories of his friendship with Justin were easier to handle than knowing he had betrayed that friendship, at least in his head.
The lights came on, and Captain Walcott walked in. “McKenna? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Sean lifted himself to sit on the side of the pool. “I thought I’d get in some laps before turning in.”
He dreaded trying to sleep, knowing what was waiting for him in his nightmares.
“How’s the shoulder?”
Sean rotated it a few times. “It’s good, sir. No pain. My shoulder feels strong.”
Captain Walcott nodded. “Glad to hear it. Pending a green light from medical, I’m returning you to the flight crews. Leavitt’s paternity leave is ending. Apparently, his mother-in-law arrived from New Mexico to help with the baby last week, and Dalton can’t wait to get back in the avionics shop.”
Sean grinned. “Understood.”
Captain Walcott seemed to study him. “Are you sure you’re up for this? What you went through was a Coastie’s nightmare. The Coast Guard can make use of your skills in many ways. You could join an Aids to Navigation Crew.”
Sean appreciated the offer, but trudging through seagull and seal shit to service lighthouses wasn’t his idea of a challenge. He removed his fins and goggles and stood, water streaming down his body to puddle on the concrete. “I’m eager to get back in the air, sir. Every time a helo took off without me, I felt like I ought to be going, too.”
Captain Walcott nodded. “That’s how I felt when I quit serving as a pilot. We’ll get you in for a final medical eval, and I’ll add you to the flight crew duty rotation.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Get some sleep. You all had a busy night last night.”
With three back-to-back SAR missions, the line crew had run full throttle.
“Yes, sir.” Then Sean remembered. “Justin’s son Maverick is almost two, and the kid is crazy about firetrucks. I told Eden I’d try to arrange for him to see the big cherry-picker. Who do I need to see to work that out?”
“It’s fine with me. Check with Lt. Corey Mitchell, chief of Fire and Rescue, just to make sure the time works for them. Let’s do all we can for Eden and her boy.”
“Yes, sir.” Sean retrieved his towel and headed toward the men’s locker room for a hot shower, promising himself that he wouldn’t cross any lines with Eden.
It was a promise he intended to keep.
