A low thrumming echoed through the water, a heavy bass beat that only a helicopter could create, a big one like a Firehawk.
He opened his eyes and lifted his head to see if they’d come for him.
From less than a hundred feet away, he looked straight into the face of a beautiful helicopter pilot.
If there were moments he was never going to forget, the next three seconds were clogged with them.
The pilot sat almost fully exposed by the curved windshield of the helicopter. Gorgeous. Her straight black hair fell past her shoulders. Her skin was the color of mid-roast coffee with just that perfect amount of cream. Her dark glasses and pilot’s helmet with mic boom added to the image. Hot professional female pilot.
The next impression was how huge the approaching helicopter was—and because it was so close, it seemed twice its normal size. Instead of the vicious sleekness of a Black Hawk, it had a bulbous nose and was brilliant orange like the Muppet Beaker, who always looked as alarmed as Gordon was starting to feel.
The last impression, more memorable than anything else—except perhaps that knockout pilot now looking almost directly down at him—was the long white boom that the Aircrane was slicing through the water.
Straight toward him!
There wasn’t time to react. Hell, there wasn’t even time to blink.
Gordon braced himself to be chopped in two.
* * *
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About the Author
M. L. Buchman has over 50 novels and 40 short stories in print. Military romantic suspense titles from both his Night Stalker and Firehawks series have been named Booklist “Top 10 of the Year,” placing two titles on their “Top 101 Romances of the Last 10 Years” list. His Delta Force series opener, Target Engaged, was a 2016 RWA RITA finalist. In addition to romance, he also writes thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction.
In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.
He is now making his living as a full-time writer on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife and is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing and receive a free Starter Library by subscribing to his newsletter at www.mlbuchman.com.
Also by M. L. Buchman
The Night Stalkers
Main Flight
The Night Is Mine
I Own the Dawn
Wait Until Dark
Take Over at Midnight
Light Up the Night
Bring On the Dusk
By Break of Day
White House Holiday
Daniel’s Christmas
Frank’s Independence Day
Peter’s Christmas
Zachary’s Christmas
Roy’s Independence Day
and the Navy
Christmas at Steel Beach
Christmas at Peleliu Cove
5E
Target of the Heart
Target Lock on Love
Firehawks
Main Flight
Pure Heat
Full Blaze
Hot Point
Flash of Fire
Smokejumpers
Wildfire at Dawn
Wildfire at Larch Creek
Wildfire on the Skagit
Delta Force
Main Flight
Target Engaged
Heart Strike
Angelo’s Hearth
Where Dreams are Born
Where Dreams Reside
Maria’s Christmas Table
Where Dreams Unfold
Where Dreams Are Written
Eagle Cove
Return to Eagle Cove
Recipe for Eagle Cove
Longing for Eagle Cove
Keepsake for Eagle Cove
Deities Anonymous
Cookbook from Hell: Reheated
Saviors 101
Dead Chef
Swap Out!
One Chef!
Two Chef!
SF/F Titles
Nara
Monk’s Maze
The Me and Elsie Chronicles
* * *
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Copyright 2016 Matthew Lieber Buchman
Published by Buchman Bookworks
All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author.
Receive a free Starter Library and discover more by this author at: www.mlbuchman.com
Cover images:
Warm Fire, Engine Operations © U.S. Forest Service
Run to Remember © U.S. Coast Guard
A Hotshot Christmas Page 5