Page 74 of Clearly Charmed

As soon as I had the climbing harness on, she put Banjo into the backpack and slid it onto her own shoulders. ‘I’ll take the dog. You need to focus on getting back to the top of the ridge. Take your time. Go slow, like I taught you when we were kids.’

‘Who’s managing who now?’

She let out an irritated chuckle and delivered a half dozen more orders about keeping the rope tight. With the wind tugging its way through my hair, we began the climb side by side. While I wouldn’t admit it to Lia, I ran every single thing she’d ever taught me about climbing through my head as we went. It took a slow but steady twenty minutes before I reached the top of the ridge.

Five members of the SAR team, and a few of Lia’s crew from the station, were waiting. Aiden approached with long strides and clipped me off the line and then went to help Lia. Fire Chief Malbrough’s thick white mustache twitched as he gave me the once-over. ‘You all right, Dr McGuire?’

‘A little scraped up, but other than that I’m fine.’

Darren stood two steps behind him. ‘Dani,’ he heaved out, glancing over his shoulder to where two EMTs had Mara propped up against the base of a tree. ‘I have no words, except thank you for finding my girl.’

‘You’re welcome. She’s a pretty tough kid.’

Aiden pulled Banjo out of the backpack, and as soon as he was on the ground he limped toward Mara.

Darren’s face crumpled. ‘What’s wrong with Banjo?’

‘I think he may have injured his paw. Can I take him to the clinic for an exam? I’ll bring him back to your place as soon as I check him over.’

‘Of course. If you ever need anything, you let me know. I am in your debt.’

‘That’s not necessary. Go and be with your daughter. She needs you.’

That tension in his mouth went slack before he jogged over to her.

Once the crowd dispersed, Bryce was in front of me, yanking me into a tight hug. I let out a low hiss and he stepped back, his eyes blazing. ‘You are hurt. I’m calling over one of the EMTs.’

‘No,’ I argued. ‘They’re just a few cuts. They need to focus on Mara right now.’

He started to protest until Aster nudged him out of the way and wrapped me in her own embrace. This time I was smart enough to bite back the pain, because I did not need the two of them ganging up on me.

‘What were you thinking? You scared the hell out of us, him the most I think,’ she whispered into my ear.

I gave her elbow that triple tap, and she sank into me, reading my worry that Bryce was still watching us.

‘You sure you’re good?’ she said. When I nodded she stepped away to check on Lia.

Bryce approached me hesitantly, scanning my body for any sign of injury. The panic and raw fear in his gaze shook me. I stepped closer to reassure him, and he gently pressed his hands to my cheeks. I couldn’t sense emotion like Aster, but the heaviness in his touch, the threadiness to his breath, had me stroking the tops of his hands. I’d questioned earlier if he was toying with me, offering up small glimmers into his own life to get me to let down my guard. But with him holding me now like he never wanted to let go, I understood this wasn’t a game to him.

We stood quietly, locked in our own world, until Aiden approached us. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but I need to get Dani out of that gear.’

Bryce slowly let me go, and I held my hands out to my sides while Aiden loosened the line from my waist. Unhooked the harness and the clips.

Aster stood a few feet away. There was a cock to her head. A thin press of her pink lips as she watched him move. She saw his color. Knew his match. I wondered who it was. If she’d even tell me.

Bryce watched her too like he recognized her far-off gaze.

Crap. That was gonna be another topic of conversation too, I expected.

When I was free of the gear, Aiden walked to Lia. ‘McGuire, let me help.’ Much to my shock and surprise, Lia let him work the ropes off her harness.

Aster smiled at me. Mouthed ‘McGuire’ with a twinkle in her eyes. She wasn’t letting that one go with Lia.

Bryce slid his fingers through mine and pulled me off the path into a set of trees ten steps away. His hands were at my shoulders, in my hair and slowly running down my arms.

‘You’re bleeding.’ He pointed to the top of my right arm, the sharp, torn edges of the coveralls stained a deep crimson.

‘Like I said, I’m fine.’