Megs held up a check. “I received this today—a check for twelve thousand dollars from Naomi Archer, who is an angel for being true to her word.”
Whoops, whistles, and applause greeted this news.
Oh, yeah. Chaska had forgotten to tell Megs to expect that.
“This wasn’t figured into our budget, so I’d like to use it for new gear, including those bullhorns.”
“We need Camalots and some Big Bros, man,” Herrera blurted.
And then it was on.
“We need to replace some ropes and slings.”
“What about ice tools?”
“What we really need is an overhaul on Rescue One’s engine.”
Sasha bounced up and down in her seat. “This is like Christmas!”
Hawke ignored them. “You’ll see her again soon, man, and when you do… Let me just say that reunion sex—it isinsane.”
Chaska looked over at his friend. “Thanks, Hawke.”
That had given Chaska something new to think about.
Chapter 25
Star looked out the window.“He’s here.”
Naomi jumped to her feet, looked outside, felt her heart melt at the sight of him. Chaska stepped out of his truck, wearing jeans and a white T-shirt, long hair pulled back in a ponytail, the bear pendant she’d given him hanging from its cord around his neck.
She stepped into her flip flops, opened the front door, and ran to him. Okay, so it was kind of a limping run, but it took her straight into his arms.
He crushed her against him, kissed her deep and hard, his familiar scent enfolding her. God, it felt good to touch him again, to feel his strong arms around her, the long weeks of missing him finally over—for now.
“I want a boyfriend to kiss me,” she heard Chumani say from the doorway.
“You can kiss boys when you’re twenty-seven like Naomi,” Dad said.
Then the front door closed, and Naomi and Chaska were alone—or as alone as they were likely to be this weekend.
“I’m glad you got here early.” Her naming ceremony was the day after tomorrow, and tomorrow more than a hundred relatives were expected to arrive, people she hadn’t met before. “At least I get some time with you.”
“This is the first time since I’ve known you that you’ve been walking,” Chaska said, a grin on his face. “How does it feel?”
“My calf muscle is weak from not being used, and my ankle is stiff and sore, but it’s so nice not to have crutches.”
“I bet it is.”
They walked around the yard, talking, their fingers laced together, until Naomi remembered her manners. “Star and my brothers and sisters want to meet you.”
Inside, Naomi introduced Chaska to Star and then to the children. Chumani was shy like a girl who’d been hit with her first crush, barely able to say a word, a little smile on her face. Kimímila rushed up and gave him a hug.
Mato shook Chaska’s hand, very much the young man. “Thank you for saving my sister’s life.”
“I was happy to do it,” Chaska replied, his gaze meeting Naomi’s.
Chayton shook Chaska’s hand, too. “Is it true you have a pet wolf?”