Chaska put on a harness, a helmet, and his climbing shoes, then grabbed a radio and a rack of climbing gear, and was off, Moretti and Herrera beside him, carrying ropes.
Herrera turned to look over his shoulder. “Looks like you got something going on with that sweetmami.”
“Don’tcall her that.”
“Oooh.” Herrera laughed. “Looks like I’m right.”
“Button it, Herrera,” Moretti said. “You’ll have time for that kind of eighth-grade bullshit when we’re done.”
They reached the base of The Bastille, a huge, craggy buttress of stone, where O’Brien was already on his way up, Nicole on belay. Chaska tied into the rope, looking for the fastest route to the top of the wall. They needed to get above the victim to set up the ropes that would support the weight of the litter, the victim, O’Brien, and at least two members of the evac team—fifteen hundred pounds to be safe.
Chaska waited for Moretti and Herrera to be ready. “Are we good?”
“Let’s get it done,” Moretti said.
“On belay?” Chaska asked, going by the book as Megs demanded.
“Belay on,” Moretti replied.
“Climbing.”
“Climb on.”
Chaska moved up the rock face.
Chapter 15
Naomi showedMegs the photos she’d taken of the rescue, only too aware of the man who sat beside her, his hard thigh pressed against hers, this attraction between them like a living thing. Even surrounded by a pub full of people and Team members, all she could think about was Chaska.
It was a Monday evening, so Knockers wasn’t as busy as it had been last time she was here, bluegrass music playing on a jukebox, the stage dark and bare. Her taco salad had been delicious, but Naomi wanted to go so that she and Chaska could be alone.
She had plans for tonight.
“These are incredible,” Megs said. “You make us look like badasses.”
“Youarebadasses.”
Naomi was in awe of the Team. She’d watched the rescue from beginning to end, amazed by their skill and the smoothness with which they’d gotten that climber to safety. Not two hours had gone by from the time they’d gotten the call to the time the victim was loaded into an ambulance. And watching Chaska climb…
She’d be lying if she said it hadn’t made her want him.
Megs looked up from the photos. “Could I persuade you or perhaps beg you to let us post these on our website? I’ll happily give you credit.”
Naomi was touched. “Are you kidding? I’d be thrilled to have them on your website. You all saved my life, remember? I can never repay you for that.”
“You let us post the photos, and we’ll call it even.” Megs scrolled through the photos again. “I photograph most of our rescues, but my pictures never turn out like these.”
Naomi had seen Megs’ little point-and-shoot. It had a zoom feature, but that wasn’t enough to get good action shots at a distance. “You need a better camera.”
“Are you sure it’s just the camera that needs to improve and not the photographer?” Ahearn joked from across the table.
Chaska leaned in, spoke for Naomi’s ears alone. “All I want right now is to be alone with you. Let’s get out of here.”
Naomi’s pulse skipped. “Yes.”
Chaska stood. “I think Naomi and I are heading out. I had an early morning meeting with a team from NASA, and I’m wiped.”
Megs glanced up, looking from Naomi to Chaska. “I bet you are.”