Before either she or Gus could say more, Leo Thomas, the manager of the smoke jumpers at Redmond Air Field, in Redmond, Oregon, called, “Dana. Good. You’re here. Come in my office.”
She dropped her pack on an empty chair outside the door and followed Leo. “Hey, my team’s ready when you say—” She pulled up short. Her heart thumped hard against her rib cage. The last word stuck in her throat.
Travis.
He rose to his feet from where he’d been sitting in a metal chair against the wall. “Dana. I, uh, hadn’t expected to see you.”
Travis took the words right out of her mouth. Not planning to see him would be an understatement. The idea of turning heel and running flashed through her mind, but she’d already done that once. She swallowed hard. Grown now, she was determined to act it. Still, words hung in her mouth. The last time she’d seen Travis she’d been foolish enough to try to kiss him. To make matters worse, now she couldn’t seem to do anything more than stand there and stare at him.
“You two know each other?” Leo directed a hand back and forth between them.
She looked at Travis. He watched her. Her attention remained on him as she answered Leo. “Yes, we know each other...”
Dear Reader,
I really enjoyed writing Dana and Travis’s story. The idea of a smoke jumper fascinated me. To create a love story in the middle of an adventure only added to my interest. I hope you find the story as exhilarating as I did.
I have to admit I knew little about the important work of smoke jumpers. For my newfound knowledge I have to thank Steve Gray, who put me in touch with Ryan Koch, a smoke jumper. I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate his time and knowledge. I admire you and your work.
I love to hear from my readers. You can reach me at www.susancarlisle.com.
Susan
Reunited with Her Daredevil Doc
Susan Carlisle
Susan Carlisle’s love affair with books began when she made a bad grade in mathematics. Not allowed to watch TV until the grade had improved, she filled her time with books. Turning her love of reading into a love for writing romance, she pens hot medicals. She loves castles, traveling, afternoon tea, reading voraciously and hearing from her readers. Join her newsletter at susancarlisle.com.
Books by Susan Carlisle
Harlequin Medical Romance
Miracles in the Making
The Neonatal Doc’s Baby Surprise
First Response
Firefighter’s Unexpected Fling
Pups that Make Miracles
Highland Doc’s Christmas Rescue
Christmas in Manhattan
Christmas with the Best Man
Stolen Kisses with Her Boss
Redeeming the Rebel Doc
The Brooding Surgeon’s Baby Bombshell
A Daddy Sent by Santa
Nurse to Forever Mom
The Sheikh Doc’s Marriage Bargain
Pacific Paradise, Second Chance
The Single Dad’s Holiday Wish
Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.
For Mary Beth Norwood, nurse extraordinaire
Thanks for the love you’ve shown Nick and our family
Praise for Susan Carlisle
“Ms. Carlisle wrote a wonderful, flirty, and enjoyable romance that should not be missed. She provided a tale rich with emotions, sexual chemistry, humor, wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters.... I highly recommend The Neonatal Doc’s Baby Surprise to other readers.”
—Goodreads
Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
EXCERPT FROM GREEK ISLAND FLING TO FOREVER BY ANNIE CLAYDON
CHAPTER ONE
DANA WARREN SWUNG the single glass door of the US Forest Service open with a spring in her step and anticipation rushing through her veins. This would be her time. What she’d been working toward for years. Her boss had called her in. There was a fire burning in the Deschutes National Forest southwest of Bend, Oregon. New, smaller fires needed extinguishing before they joined the larger one. Her crew was next in line to jump with her as their trail leader.
She’d trained for this moment and was ready for the task. Adrenaline coursed through her at the thought of jumping. It was what she lived for and loved. There weren’t many women in the smokejumper service, less than 2 percent out of four hundred, but she’d held her own beside the men, earning their respect. Because of that she’d been proud of how she’d moved up the ranks.
Heading straight for the desk of the fire manager, she leaned over his shoulder and studied the computer screen. “Whatta we have, Gus?”
“Nothing for you right yet, but I’m sure it won’t be long.”
Dana pursed her lips and nodded. Gus wasn’t wrong often. His job was to determine the fuel of the fire, the direction, the wind velocity and make the call for the number of jumpers needed to fight it. He was good at his job.
Before either she or Gus could say more, Leo Thomas, the manager of the smokejumpers at Redmond Air Center, in Redmond, Oregon, called, “Dana. Good. You’re here. Come in my office.”
She dropped her pack on an empty chair outside the door and followed Leo. “Hey, my team’s ready when you say—” She pulled up short. Her heart thumped hard against her rib cage. The last word stuck in her throat.
Travis.
He rose to his feet from where he’d been sitting in a metal chair against the wall. “Dana. I, uh, hadn’t expected to see you.”
Travis took the words right out of her mouth. Not planning to see him would be an understatement. The idea of turning heel and running flashed through her mind but she’d already done that once. She swallowed hard. Grown now, she was determined to act it. Still words hung in her mouth. The last time she’d seen Travis she’d been foolish enough to try to kiss him. To make matters worse, now she couldn’t seem to do anything more than stand there and stare at him.
“You two know each other?” Leo directed a hand back and forth between them.
She looked at Travis. He watched her. Her attention remained on him as she answered Leo. “Yes, we know each other.”
Travis straightened as if gathering himself. “Dana and I worked together one summer a long time ago.”
Leo nodded and spoke to Travis. “That’s where you got your experience.”
“I fought fires during my college years breaks and for the year between college and starting medical school.”
Leo nodded, stepping behind the desk. “I see. I bet the medical board found that interesting during your interview.”
“They did, and they especially appreciated the wilderness emergency training I have.”
Leo nodded before looking at her. “Dana, I need you for a special assignment. I want you to take Dr. Russell to a spot just south of Mount Bachelor. He has a medically fragile patient who has refused to leave his cabin. The doctor fears the man has taken a turn for the worse. To make matters more difficult the bridge on the road into his place has burned and the fire is headed his direction.”
Dana glanced at Travis. His blue-eyed look remained on her. She spoke to Leo, “May I speak to you alone?”
Leo sighed, turning his attention to Travis. “Please wait outside for a minute.�
��
Travis started toward the door in one smooth motion. Still as tall and athletic as she remembered, he’d filled out. His jeans fit tightly over thick thigh muscles. He looked trim and fit. Apparently he worked out. Where he had a lanky physique of youth before now his shoulders had the wideness and broadness of a mature man. With his black hair and piercing sky eyes, he could stop her breath. Based on his appearance, Travis looked as if he could handle the grueling physical requirements this trip would require. Something that made up a major part of a smokejumper’s life. What she found most disconcerting was he still had the ability to rattle her nerves.
He quietly closed the door behind him. She rounded on Leo, placing both her hands on his desk. If she went on the mercy mission then her team would go up without her. “It’s my crew’s turn next. This sounds like something for Rescue to handle.”
“Your team hasn’t been called yet. If they are, Ricky can take the lead. Dr. Russell can’t call in Rescue when he doesn’t know the medical situation yet. Winds are picking up and this old man’s cabin is in the thick of the forest, hard to access. With the size of the fire burning, all the available rescue helicopters are in high demand. He has to assess the situation before he can ask for one. The hope is that you two can get the man out without the use of Rescue. While you’re there I’ll also want you to form a fire line around the cabin.” Leo nodded toward where Travis had exited. “Dr. Russell can assist.”
Dana stood straight. She didn’t want someone else handling her crew. She wanted to do her job. She cared nothing about babysitting a man she’d made an idiot of herself over. That had been embarrassing enough but being forced to spend time with him again only added misery to pain. “Come on, Leo. You know I’ve been waiting for my chance with a crew. Can’t someone else take Travis, uh Dr. Russell out? My team and I know how to work together.”
Leo’s eyes narrowed. “There’s a man up there on the mountain,” he pointed the direction on Mount Bachelor. “He may be old and cantankerous by refusing not to leave when he could have, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do what we can to save him. The man may need dialysis. You’ve advanced EMT training. You know the area. You’re perfect for the assignment.”
“Over half of these guys...” she directed a hand toward the outside office “...can be called woofers because they have the same Wilderness First Responder training as I do. One of them could go.”
Leo nodded. “But I’m assigning you to see Dr. Russell gets to his patient safely and that both get back safely. I know this isn’t the norm, but it’s necessary. You’re the best person for the job. You know that area better than any of the others around here since you worked out of the Bend district before you came back here. Dr. Russell assures me this man needs help now or he might not survive. I’ve given you more explanation than anyone about an assignment. You know what you have to do, do it. Now, open the door and ask Dr. Russell back in.”
“Do you even know if he can still jump? I don’t need two people to see about if he gets hurt.” She didn’t hold back her disgust.
“Why don’t you ask him?” Leo suggested.
She flung open the door, stopping it just before it hit the wall. As Travis entered, she saw a shadow of concern in his eyes. Did he fear she’d changed Leo’s mind? Or that she hadn’t changed his mind and Travis would be stuck with her. She glared at him. “When’s the last time you jumped?”
“Three months ago. I jump a few times a year. I can assure you that I’m able to manage a jump.”
She fired at him, “We’ve moved to a new system in the last year. We’re using BLM now.”
“The square parachute. Yeah, I’ve used it. I don’t have a lot of experience with it but I’ve jumped a time or two with one.”
“Good to hear,” Leo said.
Dana inwardly sighed. Travis had an answer for everything. Leo fed Travis’s confidence.
“Then be here in two hours ready to go. The wind is supposed to pick up this afternoon and a front is moving in.”
“I’ll be ready.” Travis’s voice remained firm.
Leo looked at her.
Seeing no way out, Dana nodded and started for the door. She said over her shoulder to Travis, “Be on time.” She retrieved her backpack from the chair on her way by, heading for the outside door with hands shaking and jaw clinched.
Exiting the building and reaching her truck, her hand rested on the door handle when fingers lightly touched the top of her shoulder. A shot of electricity flew through her. She jerked around.
“Dana.”
Embarrassment heated her cheeks. She looked anywhere but at Travis.
“It’s nice to see you again. I’d no idea you were working here. I’m impressed you’ve stayed with smokejumping. You’ve moved up the ladder, as well. But that doesn’t surprise me. You’ve always had the brains and brawn for it.”
“Brawn, huh? Sounds real...”
“Nice. I always thought it looked good on you.” His ice-blue eyes met hers. “Your smarts and instincts have served you well.”
His words made her quake. Why, oh, why did Travis still have that power over her? She should’ve grown up and out of the crush she had on him. Maybe it wasn’t that but just embarrassment. What must he think of her? It could only be she was acting like the naive girl she’d been the last time he’d seen her.
She needed to get away. Find a few minutes to regroup before she had to spend the next twenty-four hours with him. “Yeah. I’m still fighting fires. I been working out of this base for three years. I really should go if I’m going to be back in two hours.”
Travis backed away. “Yeah. See you then.”
As she drove away she looked out the rearview mirror to find Travis watching her.
* * *
Travis had been struck dumb to see Dana. The last time he’d seen her he’d unintentionally hurt her feelings. He’d felt bad about it then, still did. She’d been humiliated and he hadn’t known how to make it better. Dana had wanted something he couldn’t give. He hadn’t been happy about what had happened between them but it had been necessary at the time. He’d wounded a woman’s heart he’d called a friend. That was the last thing he’d wanted to do.
In truth, he hadn’t kept up with her over the years. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t thought about her. All the usual stuff had gone through his mind. What if he hadn’t had a girlfriend at the time, what if he hadn’t been entering medical school, what if they had really kissed, what if...
There had always been something special about Dana. She’d been a great friend and team member that summer. Hard work had been in the center of their time together, but there had been laughter and a comradery he’d not known since. It had been the best time in his life. One he remembered with a great deal of fondness.
Dana had changed, but then, she hadn’t. She still acted headstrong and determined, willing to speak her mind. Like before, she had a body to rival any athlete. The physical demands of her job and her growth from a coltish woman he’d known before to the full-grown woman she was now enhanced her appeal. Her warm brown eyes clearly expressed her feelings.
Her thoughts had been clear through those eyes when she’d seen him in Leo’s office. Total shock. Travis had recognized that feeling. He’d felt gut punched, as well. They’d have to work past that. Despite their history, he had to trust her to help him get old man Gunter to the care he needed.
A couple of hours later Travis again pulled into the parking lot in front of the large white aluminum-sided building with the long narrow windows, a tall center section and the words US Forest printed on the side. He lifted his medical pack from the passenger seat and climbed out.
He looked around the area at the other buildings comprising the firefighting center. No Dana. He’d parked beside her truck so she must be there somewhere. Starting up the steps to the smokejumpers’ building, he stopped when the door
opened and Dana exited.
“We need to get moving.” She pushed past him. “Let’s get over to Cache and get our supplies. The wind is picking up.” Stopping at the bottom of the steps, she gave him a pointed look. “Remember, on this trip you take orders from me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
They headed toward the building adjacent to the main office. There all the supplies and equipment were stored.
Inside Dana went to a storage locker and started removing equipment. She nodded toward a staff member behind a high wooden counter. “Art can help you with the basics.” She looked at Travis from top to bottom. “Tell him not to forget to give you a Nomex shirt and pants. You need to be in something fire resistant.”
“Got it.” He turned to walk away.
“Wait up. Let me see your boots.” Dana stopped what she’d been doing and looked at his feet.
“What’s wrong with them?” He picked up one and then the other looking at the soles.
“I wanted to see the heel. You need to be wearing ones with a low heel. None of those fancy hiking boots. Steel-toed?”
He nodded.
“Those will do.” Her attention returned to her locker.
By the time Dana joined him he had a bright yellow shirt, dark green cargo pants, a black supply bag and jumpsuit lying out on the counter.
She handed him a small radio.
“I get one of these?” He turned the radio over, looking at it.
“Yes. The protocol changed a few years ago. Everybody has a radio now.”
He nodded. “Sounds like a good change to me. It should’ve been done sooner.”
Travis grabbed the shirt and pants. “I’ll have these on ASAP.” He stepped out of sight.
He returned to find that Art had placed two sleeping bags, fire blankets, cook can, batteries, strapping, first-aid kit, and a collapsible bag for water on the counter along with flares and a helmet.
Dana had already gathered them packaged food or MREs. “I don’t need to give you instructions on packing your bag, do I?”
Reunited with Her Daredevil Doc Page 1