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“Mackenzie. As in his daughter. Ex-Coast Guard, and the woman who likely has a hit out on me.”
Chase’s jaw dropped open before he burst out laughing, wiping at imaginary tears a few moments later. “Let me get this straight. Your first time even sitting in a chopper in five months, and you lose your cool in front of Atticus Parker’s daughter. Oh man, that’s rich. Wait until I tell the guys.”
“This isn’t funny, jackass. I practically hyperventilated in there. But what’s worse, she knew exactly who I was. Apparently good old Atticus has been singing my praises only it’s this version of me that showed up and she’s struggling to see even a hint of the man her father painted me to be.”
“Was it the hair?” Chase grinned. “It’s usually the hair.”
He groaned as he shook his head, letting it fall back against the seat. “What’s that saying? You can never go home?”
Chase schooled his features, pushing out a long slow breath before he punched Foster in the arm. “Well, I’ll be damned. You like her.”
Foster jerked his head around, torn between wanting to smack Chase and wondering if he’d suffered some kind of head injury during the rescue. “Where the hell did that come from?”
“Please. You’re never this worked up unless there’s a whole lot of emotion involved.”
“Yeah, the angry kind mixed with a healthy dose of self-loathing. Maybe a splash of embarrassment.”
Chase merely raised a brow. “How long have we been friends?”
“Is that what this is? Because I’m feeling very attacked right now.”
“Twenty years. And when have I ever been wrong about something?”
“Will a numerical list do, or…”
“You’re not crazy, and you’re not broken.” Chase rolled his eyes when Foster stared at him. “Okay, maybe a little broken. But not beyond fixing. Whether that involves you getting back behind a set of controls or moving on to something new, this is all part of the process. And if Mackenzie is anything like her old man, she’s just frustrated that her life has taken a turn, too. I’m sure she’s still dealing with losing her brother. Changing careers.”
Chase slapped Foster’s arm. “Though, I would have paid good money to be a fly on the wall in that chopper. How are her hands?”
Foster laughed. “Only you would ask that instead of if she was smart or pretty.”
“And?”
“She’s got some mad skills.”
“I bet she does. And is she smart and pretty?”
“More sarcastic with a side of blood lust.”
“Sounds like the woman of your dreams, buddy.”
“Not a chance. Now are we going in or just staying out here because Kash is staring out the window like some anxious mother hen waiting for her chicks to come back to roost, and I’m betting Zain has eaten all of the good stuff.”
“Definitely going inside. Just wait until I tell them you’ve got the hots for the boss’ daughter.”
“Chase, I swear…”
But the man was already out and hoofing it to the door. Kash met him in the foyer, bending over laughing when Chase said something as he pointed at Foster. The two men stopped, met Foster’s glare then started up again, disappearing into the main house as lightning danced across the sky.
Foster opened the door and stepped out, darting over to the house as the rain got impossibly harder. He instinctively reached for his keys, mumbling under his breath when he realized he hadn’t driven. Discovering his wallet wasn’t in his back pocket sent a shiver down his spine. What was shaping up to be one hell of a mishap because it had either fallen out during the rescue, which meant it was lost. Or it was on the floor of Atticus’ truck. Maybe in the chopper. Either way, it meant he’d have to man up and face both Atticus and Mackenzie again.
This was crazy.
She was crazy.
Mackenzie stared at the turn-of-the-century mansion as she sat in her Jeep, wondering how she’d even gotten there. The last thing she recalled was listing all the points why confronting Foster now — while her harsh words still echoed in her head — was courting disaster. Yet, her damn Wrangler had just turned onto the long winding gravel driveway before she’d even realized it. And now, she was sitting there, gathering the courage to face the man.
The fact there were three other trucks parked off to one side set off warning bells. That he likely wasn’t alone. She wasn’t sure if the rest of his team lived nearby or if they simply made a habit of hanging out most nights together. Because with the rain still coming down in sheets and the wind threatening to blow away anything not tied down, it seemed unlikely that they’d simply stopped by for a chat.