Explosive Alliance (Wingmen Warriors 9)

That awful, huh? "It's Vic's vet practice and Seth's plane. And they would also have to deal with firing the other guy, who happens to be a student of Seth's from his stint teaching at a flight school before he joined up with Vic."

Although even Seth admitted the guy was rock bottom of his class.

"Fair enough."

"Might as well do that now. Vic will be walking over in a second."

She reached for the door handle, already wondering what her overprotective lug of a brother would have to say about this turn of events.

"Christ on a crutch, Paige." Bo's low whistle turned her around before she reached in to retrieve her snoozing daughter. "That walking mountain is your brother? I thought the mosquitoes were monster big. What about your cousin Seth?"

"Seth's even bigger, lumberjack material with a beach bum facade, and how strange is that since there aren't any beaches here? He wanted to fly for the Air Force, even started ROTC at the University of Miami. But then he grew again and was too tall. All the farm feeding and fresh air, I guess."

"Poor dude. That sucks for him."

She looked at her brother—the blond blur ambling her way. Hmm. He was tall. Funny how she just thought of him as the pest who'd cut her favorite Barbie's hair off. She turned back and found Bo already unbuckling Kirstie with ease. Accepting his help could become a habit even in two short weeks. She needed to establish boundaries, and for once she might not mind her hulking relatives' help with that. "And, Bo?"

"Yeah, Paige?"

"They really don't like it when anyone checks out my ass."

Don't be an ass, Bo reminded himself, not for the first time. Charm always won the day, hands down.

Hefting Kirstie the rest of the way out of her seat for Paige, he slammed the passenger door closed and started toward her behemoth blond brother who was saying goodbye to the inept pilot. Good thing the temp was getting into his car to leave so they could get right to the discussion of a replacement, something that had to happen pronto. The guy hadn't even tied down the plane, for God's sake.

Bo kept his steps slow but purposeful, giving himself a few extra seconds to think—and assess her brother. Making sure Paige didn't climb into the Cessna with that joke of a pilot was too damn important to screw up because his libido wanted to think for him.

Hitching Kirstie over against his shoulder, Bo thrust out his other hand. "Good afternoon.

Rokowsky. Bo."

"Vic Jansen, Paige's brother," Jansen answered with a heavier lilt to his Dakota accent than his sister. The overgrown veterinarian in a John Deere hat and blood-caked jeans gripped back, firm and hard in that unspoken male measuring ritual.

Bones once crushed groaned in protest. Bo kept his face clear and returned the shake without a flinch. "Nice to meet you."

Maybe.

"So you're the Air Force captain Kirstie was telling me about." Without elaborating further, Vic Jansen pulled his hand free and turned to his sister. "How did the air show go today? You're home early."

"We had a wonderful time. Bo showed us around and shared details about the aircraft we wouldn't have gotten on our own. It was great, right up until Kirstie ate too much and—"

Paige swirled her hand in front of her mouth "—you know. Then my glasses slipped off and broke when I held her over the nearest trash can, so I couldn't drive."

"Sounds like a full day." He nodded to Bo. "Thanks for seeing them home safely."

"No problem at all, dude. It gave me a chance to check out—"

Paige's face blanched.

"—some of the countryside." He subdued a smile. He might be reckless enough to razz her about her excellent back view, but he wasn't stupid enough to announce it to her brother. Especially when he needed to win this man over to his side, something he couldn't do with Prickly Paige around.

Bo passed Kirstie, leaving Paige no alternative but to take the kid. "You probably want to put her down."

"Bo—"

"What?" He flashed his best earnest look her way. "I just want to talk to your brother about our discussion."

"Fine, but I'll be right out in a few minutes. Don't wander off without me." Backing away, she met him gaze-for-gaze with a look that said she wasn't letting him steamroll her by joining forces with her brother.