Hero By Night (Independence Falls 3)

“Look, if this is about last night, when Susan’s sister dumped her drink on me,” Chad said, “I swear, I thought we were on the same page. I had no idea Susan had gone and built a freaking shrine.”

“This isn’t about Susan. Not exactly,” Eric said with a sigh. “The pilot who moved here last month from California, the one who flew helicopters for a timber operation down there, one of the only ­people in the Willamette Valley qualified for the job—­”

“I didn’t take him out,” Chad said, trying for funny even though he didn’t feel like laughing. This conversation was headed for a crash and burn. And was driving home the fact that Eric Moore was more boss than business partner. Sure, Chad had contributed to the cost of the helicopter and his name was on the deed, but Moore Timber was still Eric’s baby.

“I was planning to grab a beer with the guy to get to know him before we started flying together,” Chad added. “But I never asked.”

“Too late now. He turned down the chance to be your copilot.” Eric ran his hands through his short hair. “He called and left a message this morning. Something about his cousin Amber and last night? He said she came home in tears.”

With each word, Chad felt his dreams for the future entering a downward spiral. He opened his mouth to tell Eric about last night. He’d sent Amber home. He hadn’t touched her. Because of Lena . . .

Chad pressed his lips together, shaking his head. He couldn’t mention Lena and last night to Eric.

“You need a full-­time copilot, someone you can work with as part of team.”

“This isn’t Top Gun,” Chad said, leaning back in his chair, folding his arms across his chest. “We just need to fly the damn helicopter together.”

Eric’s mouth formed a grim line. “You need to work together. One guy spotting, making sure you don’t hit anything or anyone, and the other keeping the bird in the air. I need to know you won’t get into a fight while flying over my harvest site, and my crew for that matter, about who was in your bed the night before. I can’t send you up in the air if you’re a liability. If we have another helicopter accident, we’re screwed and you know it.”

Chad nodded, letting out the breath he’d been holding. Yeah, he knew it. And he sure as shit didn’t want another family to go through what his had suffered these past few weeks. Chad had witnessed firsthand the damage one of the hooks used to secure the logs to the helicopter could do. His little brother was still in the hospital, his short-­term memory a scrambled mess, thanks to a hook to the back of the head.

“Josh’s accident happened at the hands of an independent contractor,” Eric added. “They’ll take the insurance hit and pay the damages. But this is about more than money. It’s about the ­people. I value every member of our crew. I also value our company’s position in this community.”

“I get it, Eric. Trust me, I spent days sitting by Josh’s hospital bed waiting for him to wake up. And he still has a long road ahead of him.”

“Good. Then you’ll understand why I need to say this. If you want to be a part of Moore Timber, if you want to run the helicopter logging side of this operation, hell, if you want the chance to get up in the air with a copilot at your side, you have to settle down.”

Chad’s jaw tightened and he felt knots forming in his shoulders. If he wanted to fly for Moore Timber? It was his fucking dream job. He’d grown up flying helicopters with his dad over logging country just for fun on a Saturday afternoon. “I want to work here and fly. You know I do. But you need to spell out what the hell you’re asking for, Eric.”

“I’m not saying you need to get married.” The man across the desk pinched his nose. At moments like this it was easy to forget they were the same age. He’d grown up with Eric, played ball with him. But Chad hadn’t turned his family business into the largest timber operation in the Pacific Northwest. Eric had. “But would it kill you to stay with one woman for a while?”

Kill him? No. But as far as he could see, relationships led to heartbreak. His father had crumbled when his mother left. Some things stayed with a kid a helluva lot longer than they should.

Chad pushed to his feet. “You have my word I’ll steer clear of the Moore Timber staff and their sisters.”

Eric shook his head. “The whole damn town is connected to this place.”

“If you’re suggesting I need to start something just to keep my job . . . Shit, Eric, I will not lead a woman on, pretending that the thing between us will lead somewhere. I’m honest, man. Always.”

“I’m not suggesting you lie, just try to see if one night could become more,” Eric said. “Moore Timber is too important. I can’t risk losing clients and staff over hurt feelings. Take yourself off the market for a while. But do something.”

“Now you’re telling me I can’t get laid?”

Eric looked him straight in the eye. “Not if it interferes with my business.”

AS A RULE, Lena wore long, flowing dresses. She loved the feel and freedom of fabric billowing around her. But for hiking, she’d chosen cargo shorts, a lightweight long-­sleeve shirt, and boots, which felt heavy on her feet as she followed Georgia and Katie up the dirt path to the waterfalls.

“It will be worth it when we get there,” Georgia called over her shoulder.

Georgia had spent her days hiking through the Afghan countryside carrying her gear not long ago. Lena had been there too, possibly covering some of the same ground. She wasn’t sure, given they’d never talked specifics about their missions. And they probably never would.

Georgia was moving on, barreling toward normal like a tiger charging her prey. Next to her, Lena felt like an inchworm. Lena was doing her best to stay one step ahead of disaster. But that could change at any moment.

Hero brushed against her leg, his tongue hanging out as he panted his way up the path.

“You look about as out of shape as I feel,” she murmured. While there was a chance she’d covered the same ground as Georgia, Lena had been out of the army for nearly a year and a half now. And she’d spent most of those early months after she’d returned to the States in her house, paralyzed by fear.

“Water break,” Katie called, stopping ten paces ahead of her.