Game of Fear (Montgomery Justice #3)(7)

Hawk elbowed Gabe. “She looks hot.” When Gabe didn’t respond, he leaned closer. “For the last few months you two have been sending signals a five-year-old would see. It’s past time to make a move.”

“Give it a rest. Now’s not the time. You know that.” Gabe knew the words to be true, but his heart rate picked up anyway when the group closed in on the bar.

Though her flight suit hid most of her curves, Deb’s forthright smile and the spark of fire in her eyes kick-started Gabe’s libido. Her bold gaze traveled down his body, then up, settling on his lips. Her no-nonsense stare fanned the embers into a full-fledged fire inside him.

“A shot of Cuervo for everyone, Gabe. On me.”

“Oh, no.” The head of the Search and Rescue crew shouldered in. “On me, Montgomery. We’re celebrating.”

“So, I’m not fired anymore?” Deb said, her brow arched.

Her boss frowned. “I haven’t decided. After that stunt you pulled, you’re grounded for a week. Then I may reinstate you. You could have ended up splattering my chopper on the side of the mountain.”

“What the hell happened?” Gabe swallowed back his fear. He knew Deb’s rep, and he nearly leapt over the bar.

“The boss is overreacting,” she said, sprinkling salt on her wrist, biting the lime. With a deep breath, she tossed back the tequila. Her face flinched as the drink went down.

“I don’t think so.” The guy turned to Gabe. “You were SWAT. You know about chain of command. Picture this. We’re in the mountains of New Mexico. Snow everywhere. Cloudy day so the light sucked. Sun’s going down. We call the flight crews in, but Annie Oakley here decides to disobey orders and fly several more passes. Practically gave her partner heart failure. Not to mention costing me at least ten years of life while I watched the air show.”

“We found the kids, didn’t we?” Deb countered. “I knew what I was doing. The risk was worth it.”

“Look, Deb.” Her boss snagged a peanut and popped it into his mouth. “You’re a great flyer, but you can’t save everyone. One of these days you’re going to have to face that fact.” He glanced at Gabe. “Get us two sampler platters.” He downed a tequila in one shot. “And another round. I need it.”

The rest of the group patted Deb on the shoulder before huddling at a table in the corner with their boss. “He’ll get over it,” one said. “That was some hellacious flying.”

Gabe squeezed the bottle of tequila in his hand. How his grip hadn’t shattered the bottle, he didn’t know. “Deb, can I see you for a minute?” he asked through gritted teeth.

She’d taken a couple steps toward the S&R group but paused and turned toward him, her look quizzical. “Okay.”

He clutched her hand and pulled her to his office, walked in and shut the door. He turned on her. “Are you crazy?”

Her mouth fell open and then a disbelieving expression that should have warned Gabe away crossed her face. “Excuse me?”

He clasped her shoulders. “You could have been killed.” Gabe knew he was being unreasonable, knew he was out of line, but he couldn’t stop himself.

Her arms thrust out to escape his hold, and she launched forward, pressing her hand against his chest. With the other hand she poked him, just below the collarbone. “I knew exactly what I was doing, Deputy. It’s my job and I’m damn good at it. Or perhaps I should address you as ex-Deputy.”

The barb didn’t stop him. In fact, the flash in her green eyes only fed his desire to get closer.

“I know you’re a great flyer, Deb. That’s what terrifies me,” he admitted. “I’ve gotten used to you sitting on that bar stool giving me a hard time. I’d hate to think I’d miss that because you decided to be a hero one too many times.”

She stilled, the anger seeming to seep out of her, and her shoulders sagged. “You think that’s what this is about. I want to be a hero?”

She dropped her hands. He didn’t want to lose her nearness, but it was the disappointment in her voice that squeezed his heart.

“I didn’t mean—”

“I don’t leave anyone behind. Not ever,” she said, her voice firm, but with just a hint of shaky desperation. “And especially not kids.”

Her eyes flashed with pain, her expression haunted. He’d seen the same look in Luke’s face after a particularly rough tour in Afghanistan before he’d turned journalist.

Gabe hooked her finger with his, the tentative touch cautious. He hated himself for bringing that inner ache to her eyes. He said nothing, but slowly he laced her fingers with his, staring at the connection. They fit together. Too well.

The outside world faded. In this small room, they were alone. He tugged her closer, unable to resist. He’d wanted to touch her this way for so long. Longer than he’d admitted. He wanted to know if his dreams were anything close to reality.

Her gaze rose to meet his, her cheeks flushed. She stared at his lips, then her tongue moistened her own.

Gabe didn’t want to say a word. He didn’t want to break the spell that had settled over them like a warm blanket. He leaned in, hovering closer, his lips just inches away. They tingled in anticipation.

Deb’s phone blasted between them. Gabe sucked in a deep breath and straightened. With a last look, he let her hand drop. At his movement, Deb’s eyes went from foggy to clear.