Cutting a small gash into his lower neck below his Adam’s apple, she quickly jammed the tube into the hole she’d created, as a stream of blood dripped down his neck.

The flow of air was instant and the man’s body collapsed in relief.

Scurrying to her feet, Erika hurried away and threw up in the snow.

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ARE YOU OKAY?” Reed asked for the tenth time as they arrived at Wild River Community Hospital. An hour ago, the group had made the call for the chopper, despite the avalanche risks. There were far too many injuries and too many lives at stake to postpone the pickup until they’d reached safer ground. Luckily, the mountains had cooperated and the group had been airlifted out without further disasters.

“Yes, I’m fine. I promise,” Erika said. Color was slowly returning to her cheeks, but Reed still worried. The emergency tracheotomy had to be the most life-threatening situation he’d ever faced on a mission, and thank God Erika had been there. Her quick thinking had saved the man’s life.

And damn, if he wasn’t so very grateful for her.

Grateful and a million other things.

He grabbed her hand and held her back from the rest of the crew as they entered the hospital.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing... I just need to do this,” he said, pulling her into his arms and brushing her hair away from her face.

Her eyes widened. “We have an audience and I’m kinda covered in blood.”

From the corner of his eye, he saw the crew members watching...saw his sister’s surprised expression as she leaned on Tank to hobble inside, but he didn’t care. All day, he’d felt tense and uneasy about how Erika had left that morning. He’d been desperately on edge throughout the search and now all he wanted, all he needed was her. To kiss her, to touch her...to show her that in such a short time, he’d fallen for her. “Let them watch,” he said. Holding her face between his hands, he lowered his lips to hers.

She closed her eyes as their mouths connected and at least some of the tension of the day eased from his shoulders as she returned his kiss with passion and eagerness.

He’d missed kissing her. Missed the feel of her in his arms. And now that everyone was safe and alive, he just wanted to hold her close and savor the feelings coursing through him.

Right now, he didn’t want to think about the what-ifs plaguing him or about the fact that their time together was quickly coming to an end. He just wanted to breathe easy knowing the hellish day was over.