Burn Zone (Hotshots 1)

Not the right time. See? He was doing better, turning off the memories, especially at inopportune times. Couldn’t be thinking about kissing right then anyway, not with tons of others milling around, waiting for their assignments. Or in the plane, on the way to the jump. He had to be one-hundred-percent focused on the job, which meant tuning out any potential distractions while they waited for Ray’s signal to jump, trying to tune his focus inward, the same way he had with MMA matches.

The jump was into the forest, trees stretching to the horizon, undulating green waves. Even as he juggled multiple data sets that needed his attention like his altimeter, he had to take a second to appreciate the gift of such a stunning view. The canopy of trees was dark green now, surrounded by a crisp blue sky, not a fire in sight. The sight made him feel their mission in a bone-deep way he hadn’t before, not even on the front lines of the hotshot ground crew. This was what they were protecting for future generations, these centuries of trees, this endless beauty.

He landed a little hard—nothing he couldn’t handle, but a tooth-rattling jolt nonetheless. But he remembered the training, letting his butt rather than ankles absorb the impact, rolling with the momentum.

“You okay?” Linc rushed over, more mother hen than usual. Jacob got it—Wyatt’s death was always going to hang over Linc, but even knowing that didn’t mean the hovering was always easy to take.

“The rook’s fine,” Garrick answered for him, brushing off his shoulders with a quick, impersonal touch that was nothing like Linc’s. “Let’s get going.”

Ray had stayed on the plane, radioing information down about the cargo drop coordinates and other relevant information for their assignment. That left the three of them to go find the cargo drop, do the necessary tree removal, and then pack out.

The revving of their chainsaws broke through the stillness of the forest. Linc and Garrick did a better job than the classroom lectures of explaining how strategic cuts would make a difference in fire management and how working quickly and safely was key in accomplishing their job. He had to climb a few more trees, resisting the urge to show off for Linc.

“Damn.” He turned his face heavenward, drinking in the spring sunshine when they took a break for food and water. “Sure is a beautiful day. We’re damn lucky to get to do this, you know?”

“Yeah.” Linc’s voice was gruff, a strange, confused look on his face, almost as if he were seeing Jacob for the first time. “Be sure and hydrate before we start the hike out. You’re going to handle the compass for us.”

“I am?”

“Yeah, Rook, don’t get us lost.” Garrick slapped him on the shoulder. “There’s often no groomed trails out where we work. We’ve got GPS devices, but if they go out, we need to go old school. If you don’t know your compass skills, you’re fucked. And you can’t rely on Linc or me to be the one to navigate you out or for the comm sets to work. So get to work.”

“Will do.” He maybe should have paid more attention to the compass lecture earlier in the week, but he wasn’t about to admit that to the other two. Following Ray’s directions over the comm set, he set off in a southeast direction, all three of them loaded down with equipment.

“Better not make us double back,” Linc huffed as they trudged through the forest.

“I’m trying.” Pausing, he checked the compass again. “This way.”

Right when he was about to give up and admit compass reading defeat, they hit the old logging road they’d been aiming for. “Fuck, yeah!” He fist pumped as they emerged from the dense forest. “Told you I could do it.”

“You did.” Linc shook his head, a half smile teasing his lips, clearly amused at Jacob’s happiness. “Good job.”

Hell. Jacob had it even worse than he’d thought. Only that small bit of praise was enough to make a happy shiver race up his spine. Maybe there was some sort of vaccine he could take to make him immune to Linc because this was getting ridiculous.

Resolved, he tried harder to keep his distance, both physically and psychically, as they tromped toward the rendezvous point. But then all those good intentions fled when he ended up next to Linc for the truck ride back to headquarters. He was intensely aware of their thighs touching, the brush of Linc’s wide shoulder, the warmth radiating from him.

And maybe Linc wasn’t oblivious himself because as they exited the truck, Linc dropped his voice. “You win.”

“What?” Jacob struggled to follow. Did they have some sort of bet?

“You. Win.” Still barely a whisper, Linc enunciated more clearly. “I give. Uncle.”

“Hey, Linc, where did you want this stuff?” Garrick called, removing any chance of Jacob getting clarity as Linc hurried away.