Lana blinked. “You want to belay me?”

“Love to.” He stepped in closer and checked her harnesses, careful to keep his touch professional, but chatting on the flirty side to ensure she didn’t get any ideas about suggesting to switch partners.

Alisha returned from the storage area with new body harnesses in hand. She eyed Lana and him, one brow sneaking upward. She didn’t say anything, though, just turned to Xavier and flashed him a big smile. “So, big guy, you want to play with me today?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” He took one of the harnesses. “This is different.”

“More loops around the back. It’s rated for higher weights. Thought it might be good for winter work when we’ve got sleds to deal with.” She laid the harness on the ground and began a systematic check through all the webbing. Xavier squatted beside her and did the same for the one she’d brought for him.

The exercise was going well, he supposed, as he and Lana followed Becki’s directions and worked the side of the tall tower outside HQ. There were stairs on the interior he’d run a million times during training, but here and now it was the climbing holds on the exterior they focused on.

Around the opposite side of the Lifeline yard, Erin was working her new helicopter, turning it and hovering, moving into position and waiting while Anders lowered Tripp over targets. The sound of the props was constant in Devon’s ears even though they were far enough around the corner to be out of sight most of the time.

He concentrated on the wall. On Lana. On following directions instead of staring at Alisha as she and Xavier laughed and worked the kinks out of the new gear.

Lana climbed well for the most part, but she seemed to have the same trouble as him, her gaze drifting to Alisha and Xavier far more often than it should. When her feet hit the ground after one climb, Devon waved a hand in front of her face. “Hey, they aren’t the ones on the end of your rope.”

She blinked and turned to smile at him, all contrite. “I’m sorry. I’m just . . . curious about the new gear.”

“Stay on task.”

She nodded and focused a bit better for a few minutes before the side-eyed looks started again. Lana was halfway up a climb when Becki stopped beside Devon. “How’re her skills, in your opinion?” she asked quietly.

Devon was honest. “I want Alisha on the end of my line when we’re out in the real world.”

Becki nodded before glancing up. “Lana. You’re following a nice straight path, but you’re using too much arms. Major muscles, remember? You’d blow up too fast on an extended climb at this rate.”

“Okay. I’ll remember,” Lana sang back sweetly, and Devon wanted to gag.

Becki was better than him and kept a straight face. She waited until Lana faced the wall again, then patted him on the back and spoke softly. “Trust me, I want Alisha belaying you.”

She stepped away to work with Alisha and Xavier as Devon hid his grin.

Lana had just landed on the ground when the unusual silence in the air caught his attention. A moment later the speaker on Becki’s hip buzzed with Marcus’s signal. “Sorry to interrupt, but can I steal someone from you?”

Becki frowned even as she signaled for Devon to unclip. “I can give you Devon, but what’s up?”

“Tripp’s not feeling a hundred percent. I’m sending him home, but Erin and Anders need more practice. That requires a body.”

That was where the silence came from—the chopper was grounded. Devon dropped the rope and followed orders, waving at Alisha and Xavier as he jogged toward the main building.

Tripp passed him outside HQ doors en route to a taxi waiting in the yard. “You going to live?” Devon asked.

His teammate’s face was white and he swallowed rapidly. “Stomach flu or something. Hit hard.”

“Damn.” Devon checked the chopper waiting for him. “Do you want me to drive your truck home later?”

Tripp nodded and passed over the keys. “I’d appreciate it. I’m too dizzy to drive—but some of that might be Erin’s fault. She’s got a lot of pendulum happening in the new bird. I think I set a new record for spins per minute.”

Devon laughed as he escorted Tripp to the taxi. “Thanks for the warning. Don’t go getting Jonah sick.”

Tripp made a face. “He probably gave it to me—there’s always one bug or another going around the school.”

Devon’s walkie-talkie squawked. “Anytime, Mr. Leblanc,” Marcus drawled.

“Just tucking Tripp into bed, sir. I’m on my way.” He broke into a jog and headed around the field. He hoped his stomach was ready for whatever twisted routine Erin was about to put him through at the end of the rope.

* * *

Alisha sent the e-mail message from Vincent to archives. It was another of the not-creepy-enough-to-be-useful and yet not-ordinary-enough-to-avoid-being-creeped-out variety, and she sighed.

Devon paused at a set of lights. “You’re wearing that face again.”

Alisha took a deep breath and looked him in the eye. “I have a face?”

“A Vincent-the-Vamp-is-annoying-me face. What’d he do now, order your bridal gown?”

The light changed and Devon was forced to turn his attention to the road, giving her a chance to consider for a moment. “The last time I showed you one of Vincent’s messages, you taught me new swear words.”

“I’ve matured since then,” Devon quipped. He laid a hand on her thigh and squeezed lightly. “Let me help if you need it, okay?”

Alisha knew that. Needed that. “He pointed out that if I book my flights home now, we’d have time to attend the governor-general’s Christmas ball. He has two tickets and really should RSVP soon.” She didn’t mention that a link to the gown he’d picked out for her was included in the e-mail.

The warmth of his palm on her thigh was reassuring and more as he slipped his hand slightly higher. “You are not required to do what he wants.”

“Nope. You’re right.” She stared out the window at the houses passing them. “And not to change the subject, but this is where your parents live?”

Devon smirked, both hands back on the wheel. “Welcome to the family homestead.”

Sheesh. She caught herself before she pressed her nose to the window to rubberneck at the acreages going past. She hadn’t realized until that moment that there were details missing from what she knew about him as well.

“Devon, hit me for being an idiot, but—ow.” Alisha rubbed her arm where he’d bumped her with the back of his wrist. “I didn’t mean it literally, you jerk.”

“Hey, a lady asks me to spank her, I oblige.” He pulled to a stop at a massive gated entrance, lowering his window to enter the access code.

Alisha was embarrassed now at the visions she’d had about him fighting to find food during school. The starving student and the humble-living search-and-rescue worker were miles away from the enormous home with multiple outbuildings they were approaching down the long driveway. “You forgot to tell me your parents were, what? Cattle barons?”

Devon made a rude noise. “Please. You’re not going to give me shit for not talking about my background, are you? Miss Sphinx?”

“Fine, I deserved that.” She gave in and gawked out the window. “You have horses. Devon, oh my God, you have a whole herd of them in your yard.”

“My parents’ yard. And those are the family rides. I don’t own a horse anymore. It would be hard to stable her in Banff.”

She twisted away from the fascinating sights outside to examine Devon closer. His smooth jaw had tightened in the past few minutes, and this time she was the one who laid her hand on his arm to apologize. “I’m sorry for making assumptions.”

Devon shrugged. “You have no idea.”

He flashed a smile, and her worry eased. “Will you take me riding?”

“Can you ride?”

She gave him a look.

He gave her one back. “Not that fancy bullshit show stuff, but real riding.”

Alisha grinned harder. “Want to see who can finish a course faster? I’m game.”

The suggestion of yet another contest eased the last of the awkwardness that had risen between them, and she slipped her fingers into his until he needed his hand to apply the parking brake.

Devon walked around to open her door, then dragged a hand through his blond hair, leaving it standing every which way. “You don’t have to memorize everyone’s names,” he reminded her. “If you forget, just ask—they’ll be happy to tell you again and again. Don’t accept any babies or small children out of guilt, especially not ones with suspicious scents.”

Alisha laughed, stepping closer and straightening that lock of hair that always drove her crazy. “Relax. I can handle myself. I can handle your family.”

He slipped his arms around her and lowered his head until their lips made contact. “Thank you for joining me.”

She still had her fingers in his hair when the front door swung open, and noise enveloped them.

A deep, firm voice reached them first. “Devon. And Alisha. Welcome.”

Higher-pitched feminine laughter stole out. “You’re interrupting them, Dad.”

“That’s my job,” he insisted as Alisha straightened in embarrassment.

Devon kept a tight hold on her so she was forced to remain tucked against his side. An older version of Devon peered down from the landing, his hands resting on the wheels of his wheelchair.

“It would be politer to greet guests with a drink,” Devon pointed out, escorting Alisha up the stairs to the side of his dad’s chair.

She held out her hand to him. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Leblanc.”

“Please, call me Stewart.” He accepted her hand but didn’t shake it, instead tugging her forward with a wink. “Pretty girls I insist on kissing on the cheek.”