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Mac shut down the aircraft, grabbed the tow hook and lined it up. Five minutes flat, and she had the machine bouncing along behind her as she rolled it into the hanger then shut the doors, shaking her head at how the rain pelted the metal side, each hollow ping reverberating through the large space. Charlie appeared a moment later, the collapsible basket tucked under one arm as he made a beeline for the chopper.
She stopped him just shy of the doors, nodding at the main entrance. “Is Beckett already gone?”
Charlie nodded. “That new medic your dad just hired, Remington, I think. He was waiting in a truck outside, and your buddy Beckett jumped in as if his ass was on fire.” Charlie chuckled. “Not that I’m surprised. You were a bit…”
“Honest?”
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
“Charlie…”
Charlie propped the basket against the chopper, looking at the door then back to her. “I realize it was probably the fatigue and anger talking. I mean, you did give up a lot in the name of family. And I know working for your dad isn’t all rainbows and puppies. He’s gruff, stubborn and tends to yell first, consider apologizing later. But you might have been a bit… harsh with Beckett. Especially if you were trying to give him a reason to join.”
Mac sighed, resting her ass against the chopper door. “Don’t hold back, Charlie. Tell me what you really think.”
“You know I love you and your dad like family. Adopted family that I often want to disown, but family, nonetheless. But you both tend to go straight for the jugular when you’re passionate about a subject. And sometimes, that comes back to bite you in the ass.”
“I wasn’t wrong.”
“I never said you were.”
“But you’re saying I went all pit bull on him instead of being a snuggly golden retriever.”
“Sorry to break it to you, honey, but you’ll never be a golden retriever. A husky, maybe.”
“Oh, so I’m the dramatic type?”
“God, you’re so much like Atticus and Josh it’s downright scary.” Charlie paused as her brother’s name slipped out before he sighed. “Like I said, you’re family. Why else would I stick around when I could make double the money working somewhere sunny and warm. With babes in bikinis.”
“You’re perfectly primeval.”
“Get some sleep. And maybe consider buying that guy some whiskey. You know that old saying, sugar catches more flies…”
“I doubt a bottle of Glenfiddich is going to sway him.”
“Maybe not. But it wouldn’t hurt. And seeing as the rest of his former team work here, it might be nice if you two didn’t shoot daggers at each other every time you ended up in the same room.” Charlie shrugged. “Just a thought. I know all too well you’ll do what you want, and nothing and no one will change that.”
“Wow, you’re on fire tonight.”
“I’m tired, too. And cold. Now go. And remember you’re only on call tomorrow, so don’t show your face in here unless I page you.”
She saluted him then struck off, stopping at the doorway when he called her name.
Charlie held up a wallet as he darted across the hanger, placing it in her hand. “This must have fallen out of Beckett’s pocket when he got knocked over by the basket. Be a doll and see he gets it back.”
“Be a doll?”
“Are you seriously going to bust my ass every time I use an old phrase?”
“Only when they’re sexist or just plain wrong.”
“Goodnight, Mackenzie.”
She flipped him off, shaking her head as she made her way out to her Wrangler. She jumped inside, tossing Beckett’s wallet on the passenger seat as she started her Jeep, letting it idle until the heated seats had taken away the worst of the chill. She glanced at the worn leather, debating whether she should drop it off tonight or just give it to one of his buddies when she inevitably saw them at work.
Her earlier words echoed inside her head, his pale skin and hollow eyes wavering in her rearview. Charlie was right. She had been harsh. But more than that, she’d been judgmental. And she knew, firsthand, never to judge someone before she’d gotten to know them. Had a chance to see beyond the curtain because as sure as she’d be eating crow giving back his wallet, there was a much deeper reason Foster Beckett didn’t want to get behind the controls. And she had a bad feeling she’d manifested that demon tonight.
Chapter Three