That’s closer. We’ll get to him sooner. Do you have an update on his condition?” she asked.
“Charlie said he was designated as critical.”
Macie moaned.
“He’s alive, Macie. Focus on that,” Wyrick said.
“Yes, you’re right. Thank you for the update.”
“Of course,” Wyrick said. “Travel safe.”
After that, she dropped her phone back in the bag, took out a Pepsi to wash down the last of her candy bar and then headed to the lodge. If Charlie was so dirty that he felt the need to change, he was going to need more than a change of clothes.
An hour passed and Wyrick was just hanging around the lodge admiring the scenery when she saw a Jeep pull into the parking lot. She stood, watching as Charlie got out. He was filthy, as promised. Crawling around inside a cave would do that. He looked tired, and had a two-day growth of whiskers, and still looked like he could kick ass if the need arose. She sighed.
Dude, dirt and all, you are one sexy man.
The fact that she even thought that pissed her off. She did not want to feel anything for another man as long as she lived, and yet Charlie Dodge got under her skin without even trying. Thankfully, he didn’t know it, and she intended it to stay that way. She went to meet him as he walked toward the lodge.
* * *
The feeling Charlie had when he saw Wyrick walking toward him always settled whatever chaos he was feeling, which didn’t make a lot of sense, since she was also responsible for the aggravation in his life, as well.
Maybe it was because she was steadfast. She had never once let him down in anything he’d asked of her. Maybe it was because she didn’t live with the guile most women had. With Wyrick, there was no subterfuge. She was exactly who she appeared to be. A one-of-a-kind warrior woman with an oversize sense of responsibility.
Today, she was the calm in his storm.
And then they were face-to-face.
“You stink,” she said.
His eyes narrowed. “It’s good to see you, too.”
She ignored the sarcasm. “I reserved a room for you inside the lodge long enough to shower and change. They were quite accommodating for the hero of the day.”
Charlie sighed. “Your prior comment on my aroma is forgiven. That’s freaking awesome.”
She shrugged. “I thought you might want to swing by Odessa on the way home to check on Tony Dawson...and I didn’t want to smell you all the way home, either, so there’s that.”
Charlie laughed.
The sound moved through her like a bolt of lightning, leaving goose bumps on her skin as she led the way into the lodge.
The manager met them at the front desk to greet Charlie personally.
“Here’s your key, Mr. Dodge, and on behalf of all of us, we are grateful you found the lost boy.”
Charlie took the key, then glanced at Wyrick.
“I had help. Invaluable help.”
Wyrick ignored the praise. “I’ll be waiting here in the lobby.”
Charlie nodded. “I won’t be long.”
As soon as he left, Wyrick headed to the restaurant to pick up the food she’d ordered for him, too.
He returned about a half an hour later in clean clothes, with his hair still wet, and still sporting his two-day growth of black whiskers, giving his appearance a slightly dangerous edge.
Wyrick glanced at him once.
“You smell better,” she said.
“No, I smell good, woman...damn good, compliments of the pine-scented soap in the shower. Almost as good as you smell,” he said.
She held up the bag in her hand. “You smell your roast beef hoagie,” she said, and led the way out of the lodge and across the area to the chopper.
Charlie dumped his backpack inside.
“Oh wait! The kid’s backpack. It’s at the ranger station.”
He took off running, and a few moments later, he came out carrying it and put it inside the chopper, then climbed in.
Wyrick gave him the sack with his food, handed him a cold Pepsi from the cooler behind their seats and then did a follow-up check before takeoff, even though she’d done one after landing.
By the time she got in, Charlie’s sandwich was gone. She pulled out two more Snickers bars and gave him one, and then got one more cold Pepsi for herself and began preparing for takeoff. By the time they were in the air, Charlie was licking the last of the chocolate from his fingers.
“We’re still good for Odessa?” Charlie asked.
“Yes.”
He leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes.
She glanced at him once, thinking his eyelashes