by Amy Vastine
Nicki, the nurse who’d briefed Ally, seemed to appear out of nowhere. Tucking an arm through Kate’s, she led her toward the exit. “Come with me. I’ll show you guys where to go.”
Ally’s back had been to the door, so she realized someone else had joined them only when a man stepped forward, presumably to allow the family to pass. That’s when she saw him clearly: Tag James—every handsome, frowning inch of him.
CHAPTER FIVE
TAG STOOD BESIDE the helicopter and watched Ally push through the doors onto the rooftop landing pad. Perfect timing—the patient was being loaded. She’d secured her silky black hair into a messy bun and tendrils were slipping loose in the force of the late spring breeze. A messenger-style bag hung diagonally across her body to rest against one hip, and she’d traded her hospital blazer for a sporty fleece jacket. She looked relaxed and happy.
And why wouldn’t she be? She’d just worked a magical spell on Jacob Weil. Not that he could blame the guy. Tag had been rather spellbound himself. Emotion stirred in his chest as he thought about her compassion and empathy for Ginger.
Flynn followed a few seconds later, took Ally by the elbow and steered her off to one side where they conversed for a moment before Flynn patted Ally on the shoulder. She pivoted and headed in Tag’s direction, and an almost panicky feeling assailed him as he reluctantly allowed himself to acknowledge just how pretty she was. He couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her, and his lack of self-control left him vaguely appalled. It dawned on him that she was likely younger than his baby sisters.
“Ready, pilot?” She blew by him, throwing a tentative grin his way, and continued to the passenger side of the chopper.
He felt his jaw drop at the teasing remark. Flashes of her comments about his being too slow to take off spurred him into action. Once on board, he found her already checking on the patient. She slid Tag a glance and the playful half smile on her face made him go soft.
He couldn’t resist a little teasing of his own. “You’re not back there smearing mud all over him, are you? Cuz I think he’s already set.”
Her gaze snapped up to meet his, and the laugh that followed had Tag feeling like he’d won a little prize. She scurried forward to her seat.
“So, you take this strap—” He bit off the explanation of how to work the intricate seat belt when he realized that she already knew. He’d never seen anyone who could get buckled in faster than he. Until now.
Cocking her head, she gave him an inquisitive look. “You were saying?”
He couldn’t help but grin. He buckled up and after a thorough run-through of preflight checks they were ready for takeoff.
Adjusting his headset, he asked, “Hear me okay?”
“Roger that,” she responded, and within minutes they were off the ground and on the way.
Seconds after he’d settled the helicopter at their altitude and cruising speed, Ally’s voice came through his headset. “Before we start making awkward small talk I need to say something.”
“Okay?”
“I want to apologize.”
Sparing her a glance, he noticed how intently she was staring ahead, brow softly furrowed, and something warmed inside him because he knew she’d been rehearsing this.
“You were right the other day when you said I owed you respect as a medical professional. You were right, and I didn’t give it to you and I’m sorry about that. I’m not usually so ruffled under pressure. I’ve heard—and I learned the hard way—that emergencies feel different when they’re family. I don’t like excuses for bad behavior, but that’s mine for being short with you on the plane.”
“That’s understandable. There’s a difference between a reason and an excuse, though, and I understand—”
“Hold on, please,” she interrupted gently. “I’m not finished. In addition to excuses, I’m not great at apologies, either. I don’t have to be, because I don’t make very many mistakes. But I’ve practiced this one so I’d like to get it out.
“I was going to wait for our meeting with Flynn, but you haven’t scheduled it yet, and I don’t want things to be uncomfortable between us today, not to mention that an emergency could happen at any time that would force us together again where on the spot decisions will have to be made.”
“Ha. That must be nice, the not making mistakes part.”
“Oh, I’m talking about my professional life, like where my job is concerned. In my personal life, I should probably just start every conversation with an apology.”
He laughed.
“You laugh, but it’s true. Interpersonal communication is not my strong suit. When you came to my office that morning, I’d just come from Dr. Boyd’s office, where he gave me his opinion on the use of traditional medicine in his hospital.”
“He’s very old-school.”
“And I’m new-school, which technically is older school, but… Regardless, I’m more of a blend of the two, but I don’t think he’s interested in blending. Anyway, I am sorry for not speaking to you more professionally that day, as well. I promise it’s not normally like me. If anything, I get accused of being too professional, too…stoic.”
“Okay. Well, then, I’ll return the favor and admit it wasn’t my finest moment when I brought up your age, which inadvertently implied a lack of experience.”
“Thank you. Apology accepted. That is a bit of a hot-button issue with me. It gets…old, for lack of a better word. I try to let my actions speak to my experience and usually it works. But I have my moments.”
Tag resisted the inclination to point out that only experience would make things easier, but as he worked through her explanation he wasn’t so sure. He tried to put himself in her position as a woman and a young, beautiful Native one at that. It was impossible to imagine what she went through, dealing with people’s doubts and preconceived notions, and constantly having to prove herself. In truth, he’d probably be a whole lot more defensive than she was.
A million questions flashed through his mind about her age, her experiences and her life, which he suspected had already been an interesting one. But he wasn’t about to ask any of them now. He didn’t want her to think he had more doubts. He’d already messed that up once. Better to let his actions speak for him.
“I appreciate you laying all this out on the table. I tell you what, let’s work it out later when we can talk more…face-to-face, so to speak.”
A soft sigh sounded in his earphones, giving him the impression she liked the layer of distance the onboard communications provided. “Okay.”
“So, I don’t know if Flynn mentioned it to you, but we’re bringing my sister Iris back with us from Anchorage.”
“He did not mention it. How nice. Does she live there?”
“No, she’s flying in from Washington, DC.”
“She lives in DC?”
“She was living there and going to graduate school. Just finished and now she’s looking for her dream job.”
“Hmm. So, I’ve met two of your sisters, a couple of cousins and I think your cousin-in-law? How many of you are there, anyway?”
“Um, a lot.” Tag hadn’t known she’d met any of his family. He wondered what they’d thought of her. “Tons of cousins. Six kids in my immediate family. Me, Shay, Hannah and then the triplets, Hazel, Seth and Iris.”
“Triplets?”
“Flynn didn’t tell you Iris is a triplet?”
A glance at her told him she was pondering that. “No, he didn’t. I don’t think I’ve ever met a triplet. Where are the other two?”
“Seth lives in Rankins. But he’s a professional fisherman, so he’s gone a lot, out on the water. Works with my dad. Hazel is a travel writer and blogger. Very adventurous. She’s currently in Mongolia.”
“Mongolia? Wow. That is utterly cool.”
He laughed. “I think so. Our dad? Not so much. He doesn’t
understand Hazel’s desire to constantly put herself in harm’s way.”
“You probably get her, though, don’t you? The adventure part, anyway?”
A bolt of surprise went through him and it must have shown, because she added, “Pilot is not exactly a low-risk occupation.”
“But I’m a paramedic, too. Saving people cancels out the danger.”
Her husky laughter filled his headphones and worked right into him, into places that had him thinking about her in a way he knew he shouldn’t. Too young for you, James, he told himself. Too young and too…what? Different? Yes. Probably. At this point, he hoped so, because a reason beyond their age difference would help to put him off.
“Nope, doesn’t work that way, cowboy. Floatplanes, dual props, gliders, helicopters all scream risk taker. Paramedic just says you also like taking charge and helping people.”
Cowboy? Hmm. And how would she know he liked to fly gliders? Had she been asking about him? He found himself smiling; he’d never have guessed Ally Mowak had this fun, easygoing side. Despite his first impression and having questioned some of her beliefs, he liked her. She seemed like a good person with the intentions to match. That’s why, when the time was right, he was going to give her some advice.
* * *
TAG JAMES LANDED a helicopter just as smoothly as he did a floatplane. Granted, a landing pad on top of a hospital probably wasn’t as challenging as a lake. But what did she know about piloting? They both seemed difficult, and frankly, she was relieved the trip had gone so well.
They seemed to have put the clay incident behind them. And she’d learned from the Weils that Tag was a friend of Ginger’s, so her unease over finding him in the hospital room was pretty much alleviated. For some reason, probably Flynn’s comment about Tag’s close relationship with Dr. Boyd, she’d assumed that he was checking up on her.
Hospital staff was waiting in Anchorage, and they handed off the patient to the medical team without incident before climbing back into the helicopter. Within minutes they’d taken off and then landed again.
“This is a private airfield,” Tag told her when they disembarked. “Iris is taking a car from the airport and meeting us here. We probably have enough time to grab a sandwich if you’re hungry? There’s a…” He’d been checking his phone as he spoke and she watched his brow knit with concern. “Uh-oh. Well. Maybe dessert, too, it looks like. Her flight was canceled.”
“Oh, no.”
“Mechanical problems. They put her on a different plane, but she’s going to be delayed a bit. I’m sorry.”
“You should be more than sorry if you did something to that plane just to hang out with a girl for a few hours,” she said drily.
She’d meant it as a joke, but for a half a second he looked alarmed by the thought. Then a slow smile spread across his face. Hazel eyes narrowed and swept slowly over her, leaving a trail of heat across her skin and a pleasant tightness in her midsection.
“That’s funny,” he said in a quiet voice, those eyes pinned on hers now.
Her throat went dry. “I just meant that you don’t need to apologize for your sister’s flight delay,” she said, because she couldn’t think of anything else. Why was the back of her neck tingling?
“But it’s Friday, and you probably have plans. Now we’re not going to get back until late.”
“No plans. Unless you consider eating pizza and watching the Mariners game plans?”
Was it her imagination or did he look pleased by that answer? Considerate of him to be worried about ruining her Friday night. She had to concede that Flynn was right; Tag did seem like a nice guy.
“In fact, I would consider those plans. Very fine plans indeed. You wanna grab a bite and watch the game while we wait?”
She grinned. “Uh, yeah.”
They walked to a nearby sports bar. Because it was early for dinner and late for lunchtime, the bar was quiet inside with only a few tables filled. Fellow Mariner fans were easy to spot in their blue-green and gray caps and shirts.
A sign indicated that they could seat themselves, so they grabbed a booth with a good view of one of the oversize television screens. A woman wearing a snug Mariners T-shirt and a tight denim miniskirt hustled over from the bar. She was attractive with thick, strategically applied makeup and blond hair up in a complicated twist. Her name tag said Rita.
“I’m sorry,” she said, giving Tag an apologetic smile before pinning a gentle scowl on Ally. “But this side of the restaurant is for customers twenty-one and older only.”
Tag blew out an exaggerated huff and reached for his wallet. “Will this madness never end? I’m getting so tired of it. I’m going to be twenty-three next month, or is it twenty-four? Hold on, let me check.”
Ally laughed and dug her wallet out of her bag. She handed her driver’s license over to the waitress. Rita was giggling and seemed far more interested in examining Tag than Ally’s ID.
“Sure you are. Come on…” Cupping her fingers, she waggled them in a come-hither gesture. “Hand it over. I can spot a fake ID from a mile away. Sneaking into bars is going to get you into big, big trouble, Mister…?”
“James. Tag James,” he supplied.
“Tag, huh?” Reaching out, she gave his shoulder a playful nudge. “You’re it.”
Wait… What? Was this woman hitting on him while Ally was sitting right here?
Rita thrust her ID in Ally’s general direction with a flat “Thanks, hon.” Eager blue eyes remained fastened on Tag. “Is this little cutie your daughter?”
Ally slid a hand across the table, threaded her fingers through Tag’s and pitched her voice to sweet. “Wife, actually. Thank you, Rita, for your meticulous and painstaking commitment to the law. You’re a credit to your profession.”
“Oh…” Rita drawled, her pale cheeks turning nearly as pink as her lip gloss. “Um…you’re welcome. Are you guys ready to order?”
They both asked for the special, the Mariner Plate, which consisted of deep-fried fish, clams, and shrimp with spicy slaw and french fries.
Ally turned her head and pretended to watch the game while Rita hurried off toward the kitchen. She hadn’t thought this through, because now her skin was burning at every contact point where it touched his, but she didn’t want to remove her hand in case Rita was watching. Tag’s gaze was intent on her, no doubt wondering how many shades of psycho she was.
It took all of her willpower not to squirm. Was he upset? She should probably apologize for thwarting Rita’s romantic ploy. But then the sound of his low, deep chuckle seeped into her, heating her from the inside out. She really liked his laugh.
He gave her hand a little squeeze. Her eyes felt heavy as she heaved them up to meet his. A rush of heat blasted through her at the intensity she saw there. She couldn’t blame Rita. No doubt he had women hitting on him constantly. She already knew he did. As Rankins’s most eligible bachelor, the title all but guaranteed it.
His brows shifted up along with the corners of his mouth. Eyes shining, green hues dominating, he repeated the word, “Wife?”
Subtly, she tried to extricate her fingers, but he held firm. “Stop that,” he said, “I’m holding my wife’s hand.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I do if you want to pull this off. Rita is over there telling her friends right now about the cradle robber she’s serving at table seven.”
Ally snickered and offered up a helpless shrug. “I’m sorry if I got in the way of something there. But the way she looked at me and then just dismissed me with the ‘hon’ and the ‘cutie’ and then hitting on you right in front of me? It was rude. Now you see what I was talking about earlier? I’ll tell her the truth if you want. I’ll even ask her out for you?”
“I’m not interested in her,” he said in that warm gravelly tone that melted into her like honey on toast. She managed a weak smile and tri
ed not to think about why that statement pleased her.
“And, I assure you, I can find my own dates. But you do realize that you are probably young enough to be my daughter?”
She knew he was teasing, but for some reason, she needed to make sure he understood. “Technically, I suppose, yes. But I’m also old enough to be a paramedic, an Army veteran and the hospital liaison—as well as your wife.”
Like she’d hit a dimmer switch, his expression faded to serious. “Ah,” he said, brushing his free hand across his jaw. “Are you sure this isn’t still about our first encounter?”
Was it? She didn’t know. The way his thumb was moving over her hand made it difficult to think. She did know that she wished she hadn’t turned the look in his green-brown eyes from lazy fun to sharp and solemn. Although they probably should discuss the subject further, as they’d agreed. Face-to-face. She just wished his face, his hand, his voice and the rest of him wasn’t so…unsettling.
“I don’t know. You made that crack about the clay in the helicopter, but you never scheduled a meeting with Flynn. Are you going to give me grief going forward?”
He seemed to be thinking it over. “Oversight on my part about the meeting. My office assistant is on leave, and things have been a little scattered. Let’s meet right now.”
With a wink, he lifted her hand and brushed a soft kiss across her knuckles before letting it go. Ally’s breath froze in her lungs because his lips seared her skin and her heart was beating this hard, rhythmic thud in her chest. Then he reached across the table to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, and her pulse took off like a bottle rocket anxious for the Fourth of July. Husband-like gestures, she reminded herself; he was only playing a part. And for her sake, no less.
He took a sip of his water. When he spoke, his voice sounded low and a little husky, and she had to focus on the meaning of his words. “I do plan on requesting that you adhere to strictly modern medical practices in emergency cases where I’m involved. As we previously discussed, I understand that Louis is your cousin and that you hadn’t technically started the job yet, so you’ve got a pass there. But in future cases, we need to be on the same page regarding treatment.”