Celebrating Tina Read online

  Now, here he was, still living up to her nickname for him, needing her to rescue him. Tina rolled her eyes as he glanced around. Who was she kidding? He had a decent snow cave going and could survive the night without her help. Hopefully, he wouldn’t recognize her from school. Since she no longer wore the atrocious glasses that covered half her face, maybe she’d get away with him never making the connection. She just had to snap out of it and get to the whole rescuing the hero in distress part going.

  “Are you out here by yourself?” Milo groaned and rubbed his knee, before turning his baby blues her way.

  They were even more amazing up close.

  “Yeah.” Tina cleared her throat. “Scout and I are on an overnight training trip. When I called home to Stryker Security to check in, I was told you might be out here.”

  Tina shifted to his leg. Was it broken or just badly sprained? Before touching him, she glanced up at him in question and smiled.

  “I’m Tina, by the way. Tina West.”

  “Milo, but I guess you already know that.” Pain strained his voice.

  “How’s your knee?” She placed her palms on the sides of his leg to stabilize it.

  “Twisted.” Geesh, his scowl was even handsome. “I went one way as I tumbled down the hill, and my leg went the other.”

  “So, you don’t think it’s broken?” If it wasn’t, she could work on getting hot food in him and setting up the tent.

  “Nah. I think it’s just sprained. Can’t put pressure on it, though.”

  “Okay. That’s good.” She took off her pack and dug through it.

  How much stuff did the guys add to her gear? Milo shoved his hands against his body and shivered. Right, fire first, then she’d work on shelter. Her face heated at the thought of her small, one-man tent and the sleeping bag they’d need to share. Maybe she should just call in the real rescue team and get them out of here.

  She glanced at the sky. The horizon already showed the slight pinks of sunset. Unless Milo would die overnight, it would put the rescuers in danger if she called for an evacuation now. Looked like this training trip would be even more uncomfortable than she originally planned.

  She pulled out her Bushbuddy stove and quickly set up the compact unit. With night coming on fast, it’d be best just to use the small stove to cook dinner and get settled in the tent. Rushing to the aspen trees, she broke off dry twigs from a downed tree to start the fire. Five minutes later, flames flicked around her titanium pot full of a freeze-dried stew and satisfaction flooded through her veins. Maybe she could do this whole search and rescue thing.

  “Come and hold your hands over the fire.” Tina scooted over to give Milo some space. “Do you have any gear?”

  “Yeah.” He motioned with his chin to the mountain. “Somewhere in the snow up there.”

  “Oh.” Tina scanned the slope to see if she could find it. When she came up empty, she shrugged. “I have plenty to get us through the night. While we’re waiting for the evac to arrive tomorrow morning, I’ll see if Scout can locate your stuff.”

  “I’d appreciate it.” Milo sighed as he held his hands close to the stove. “I’m kind of embarrassed I lost it. Should’ve replaced my pack when I noticed the broken strap.”

  Tina cringed. “That’s a bummer.”

  He grunted. Tina turned away as she smirked. Living with Eva and her mother, Samantha, in their apartment at the ranch the last month had given Tina lots of experience with grumpy men. The angry slash of Milo’s eyebrows, slumped curve of his shoulders, and the scornful sound of his voice told Tina he wasn’t happy with himself. It shouldn’t amuse her, but she couldn’t help it. If he was anything like her friends, being saved by a woman probably pinched even more than needing to be rescued in the first place.

  Well, if she wanted to prove to be deserving of that title, she needed to get busy. She yanked the way too small tent out of her pack and shook out the scant patch of fabric that had seemed larger the week before when she practiced setting it up. Laying it flat on the snow Milo had already packed down, she went to work popping the poles together. She tried to ignore the way he stared at her as she worked.

  “Sorry, I’m useless right now.” His voice pulled her eyes to where they already were fighting to go.

  His cheek muscles clenched as he poked at the stew with her spork.

  “You’re not useless.” She smiled to lift his spirits. “You’re slaving over the stove.”

  He snorted, but the wrinkle in his forehead eased. Maybe if she got him talking, he’d ease up on himself.

  “Do you go backcountry skiing often?” She threaded the pole into the tent’s sleeve and moved to the next one.

  “Not as often as I want to.” He set the spork off to the side and looked at her. “My brother and I normally go on Thanksgiving day since our mom usually has to work. When he bugged out this morning, claiming he’d stayed up too late playing poker with the guys, I came on my own.” He shook his head. “Guess I should’ve waited until later this weekend.”

  That sounded like Jase — always living for the minute, never following the rules. She couldn’t remember how many times he and her brother had gotten in trouble for staying out too late. Blake’s excuse had always been that the time had gotten away from them, but she had figured it was more likely they just hadn’t cared. Why leave the life of the party when their foster parents never followed through on their punishments?

  She glanced at Milo. Blake had often groused about Milo being hard on Jase, being a pain in the butt and acting all parental instead of enjoying life. Looked like nothing had changed in the Bishop family. A shame she couldn’t say the same.

  “That’s family for you, always letting you down.” Why did she say that? She stood abruptly. “I’m going to check in before I look at your knee and we get settled for the night.”

  She stomped to the middle of the clearing as she dialed the ranch. She’d have to watch what she said. Being around Milo might be her teenage self’s dream come true. Forgetting what happened when you trusted the wrong people would be a nightmare she never wanted to repeat.

  Four

  Milo’s hands shook uncontrollably as he watched Tina walk away. She intrigued him more than anyone had in a long time. Was she really a part of that security team holed up on the ranch outside of town? She had a sense of adventure, being out here in the backcountry all alone. If she was part of that team, she was capable. He scanned the gear she’d efficiently set up. All the latest stuff he’d been sticking in his wishlist but couldn’t afford, at least not with Jase still in college.

  She’d even pulled out items he’d never seen before, like the smoked sockeye chowder steaming a drool-inducing aroma to his brain. He’d have to check into this Heather’s Choice company when he got home, maybe order a case of the stuff. If it tasted half as good as it smelled, he might decide to just live on chowder alone.

  “Hey, Rafe.” Tina’s tired voice strained back to him. “I found Milo.”

  He scooted closer to the small fire, uncomfortable with the need to be found.

  “Yeah, he’s fine. Twisted his knee though, so we’ll need an evac tomorrow morning.” She peeked back at him, her eyes darting to the tent, then turned back around. “We’ll be fine.”

  Why were her cheeks flushed with a blush? Milo’s eyes snagged on the small shelter. Oh. He gulped. She hadn’t planned on having company.

  Maybe he should finish scooping out his snow cave. He shivered more violently at the thought of the freezing night ahead. He shook his head. It’d take hours to finish digging a shelter big enough. Scout whined and laid his head on Milo’s leg.

  “Yeah, probably not the smartest idea.” He scratched behind the dog’s ear. “Looks like we’re in for a long, awkward night.”

  With them piled in her tent, they’d be plenty warm. Milo turned his attention back to Tina as she headed over. For being such a petite thing, she had gumption. They were deep in the wilderness, and she’d gotten there on snowshoes. Had s
he planned to come this far, or had she pushed because he’d gotten himself in a jam?

  “You’ve got my location. See you in the morning.” Tina smiled, a loud laugh escaping. “Whatever. Maybe you should stay out of trouble.”

  Her gaze connected with his, and she sobered. Ducking her head, she clicked off the call and stalked toward camp. How was she connected to Stryker Security?

  They’d heard about the company down at the precinct. The owner of the security company had called officers out to take statements for an explosion that had happened out there. They came back with stories of super soldiers and a complex that rivaled Fort Knox. He had laughed it off as tall tales, just another rich guy throwing his money around. Now, though, she had piqued his interest.

  “So, you’re part of Stryker Security?” He studied her face as she kneeled by the stove.

  Her lips twitched like she held in a laugh. “No, I’m just the nanny.”

  “What?”

  He shook his head. Was he that cold? Because he thought she just said she was the nanny.

  She smiled fully, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “I was hired as the nanny for Eva, the accountant’s daughter. Samantha’s ex’s family was trying to kidnap Eva, so, since she can’t go to preschool, they needed help keeping an eye on her.”

  The attempted kidnapping at the train depot came back to Milo. How could he have forgotten that Stryker Security had been involved with that situation?

  “So, you have a background in private security?”

  Tina snorted. “No. Waitressing.”

  Milo scrunched his forehead, rubbing his still-shaking hand over his neck. “I must be colder than I thought. My brain isn’t working.”

  “Oh, shoot.” Tina reached for the pot of soup. “Let me get you a cup of this. I’ll also get you some ibuprofen.”

  She poured most of it into a tin cup she grabbed from her bag and handed it to him, then went to her first aid kit and grabbed a packet of painkillers. He wouldn’t turn them down. He tried to lift the spork to his mouth, but his hand shook too much. He pinched his lips, frustration tightening his chest.

  “Let me help.” Tina scooted closer.

  “No.” Milo’s voice came out harsh and short.

  She flinched, the action twisting his stomach with regret. Here she was saving him, and he acted like a petulant child.

  He sighed. “I’m sorry. I’m frustrated with myself, and it’s making me grumpy.”

  “No, I get it.” Tina swirled the remaining soup in the pot. “I’d be upset too.”

  “It’s still no excuse to be a jerk.”

  Milo plopped the spork into her pot and lifted his cup to his lips. The creamy saltiness of the chowder soothed his nerves as it slid warmth to his stomach. He’d definitely be ordering a case when he got home.

  “So, you’re not a bodyguard?” Milo took another drink, gazing at her over the cup’s rim.

  She choked on a laugh, covering her mouth. “Oh, ouch.” She closed her eyes. “Laughing with a mouth full of hot soup hurts.” She rubbed her nose and shook her head. “I’m not a bodyguard. I had been working as a waitress while training to be a paramedic. Zeke, the owner of Stryker, had come to the coffee shop enough that we got to talking. Being ex-special forces, he’d been trained in emergency medical procedures and would ask what I was learning.”

  She shrugged, looking in her pot as she absentmindedly stirred the contents. What was bothering her? More importantly, why did he care? She sighed and took a bite.

  “Anyway, he needed a nanny for Eva, and I needed a better job.” She smiled as Scout thumped his tail against the snow.

  “If you’re just the nanny, why are you out here?”

  She stiffened. Could he be any ruder? He needed to shut his trap until his body returned to normal operating temperature and his brain started functioning properly.

  “Well … Zeke knows how I want to help others, so when Scout here retired from the military and needed a home, Zeke thought adding a K-9 unit to his services would be good.” She reached over and ran Scout’s ear between her fingers. “So, while I still help with Eva, Scout and I are training up. Well, I’m training. Scout already is amazing at this stuff.”

  Scout’s entire body wagged as he moved from Milo’s side to bury his head into Tina’s lap. Instantly, Milo’s warmth evaporated, and he missed the dog’s heat. He shivered and took another drink, needing two hands to bring the cup to his mouth.

  She looked up at the sky and took two quick bites. “The temp is just going to keep dropping. Let’s get you settled and warmed in the tent. I don’t want you getting any colder.”

  He nodded, too cold to talk. Warmth. Warmth would be good. His gaze darted to the small tent and back to Tina. Even the awkwardness of snuggling up to a stranger didn’t bother him anymore.

  Five

  Tina rushed through the rest of her dinner, determined not to let the nerves of being in the small tent with her high school crush knot her stomach. Arranging the pad and sleeping bag as best as she could, she took a deep breath and turned to Milo. He sat by the stove, his head hung and shoulders slumped. His body shivered constantly despite having Scout’s warmth curled back up against him.

  “Come on, Milo. Let’s get you warmed up.” She went to his side to help him stand.

  He held up his hand with a shake of his head. “I think it’ll be easier if I just crawl over.”

  Tina rushed to the tent and turned open the sleeping bag. She winced as he grunted in pain and made his way to her, dragging his leg awkwardly behind him. Maybe she should take a closer look at his knee. He might need to get to a hospital quicker than in the morning. He flopped into the tent with his arm over his face and his chest heaving. She unclipped one of his ski boots and tucked it under the entry canopy.

  “I’m so exhausted I’m not even embarrassed that I can’t take off my own boots.” Milo’s muffled words made her grin.

  “Well, you should be.” She undid the other one. “Your feet stink.”

  He huffed a laugh, then groaned as he rolled all the way into the tent. She motioned Scout in and turned back to the stove. She cleaned up the pot and his cup with the pill packet trash sitting in the bottom, packed all the gear away but the first aid kit and compact lantern, and stowed everything in the tent's vestibule. Next, she took off her boots and tucked them under her gear. With the shelter meant for one person, there just wouldn’t be space for Milo, Scout, her, and the gear.

  She darted one last look around the almost dark forest, took a fortifying breath, and crawled into the tiny tent. As she zipped the tent closed, her heart raced faster and faster. Stop being such a ninny. She turned to find Milo staring at her.

  “We should get out of our snow gear.” Milo swallowed and pushed up to sit. “Packed in this tent like sardines, we’ll hopefully get warm fast.”

  She nodded, already warmer than she should be. “Good. I want to inspect your knee.”

  “There’s no use. It’s an old injury. One I got chasing an escaped bull through the Glenwood Canyon.” He smiled when she gasped, though it looked more like a grimace than a smile. “I’ll tell you about it sometime.”

  “We aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.” She pulled off his coat and laid it along the edge of the tent.

  He unbuttoned his snow pants and tried to shimmy them off his hips. “It’s no use.” He laid back with a grunt. “You’re going to have to pull them off.”

  She shifted to his feet and willed the heat to cool from her cheeks. “How did a bull get loose in the canyon, and why were you chasing it down?”

  She made quick work of getting his snow pants off, making sure to avert her eyes, though he wore thermal-wear underneath. She wanted to be professional in this uncomfortable situation and ogling the way his shirt stretched tight across his muscular chest would be the exact opposite.

  After piling his pants on top of his coat, she tucked her head and unzipped her own. Her hands shook with nerves. Geesh, it wasn’t like
she didn’t hang out with hot guys all the time. Living at the ranch, she should be immune. Of course, the guys weren’t her high school crush, falling into the older brother category.

  She uncapped her canteen, took a chug, and extended it to Milo. He took a quick drink, then recapped it, his hands trembling. Her eyebrows pulled together. She could feel him shaking all over.

  “Come on. We need to get you warm.” She stripped off her snow pants, crawled into the sleeping bag next to him, and zipped it closed, glad the guys bought gear that was larger than the normal mummy bags.

  She sucked in a yelp as he put his freezing feet on her calves. “Maybe I should rub those icy bricks and heat them up.”

  “No.” He rolled onto his side and pulled her closer. “You’re toasty.”

  Scout placed his head on Milo’s shoulder with an exaggerated huff.

  Milo chuckled, the sound vibrating against her palms pressed against his chest. “You’re cozy too, Scout. Between the two of you, I’ll heat up soon enough.”

  She relaxed her head against his bicep, the strain of staying rigid draining after the long trying day. There was no way she’d be able to sleep snuggled up to him like this. She hadn’t been this close to another person since she and her foster sister, Faith, would sneak into each other’s room and giggle under the covers late into the night.

  Tina had been so confused and hurt when Faith said they shouldn’t do that anymore. Tina now knew the insistence had come from Faith’s fear their foster dad would turn on Tina as well. Maybe if Tina had pushed harder to keep the carefree escapades instead of sulking in her room upset, she could have helped Faith fight him off. Her heart ached in her chest. She couldn’t think about that now.