Yet she loved how he cared for her son, how his blunt speech was balanced by his gentleness. There were times the sadness in his gaze made her want to hug him as if he was Aric’s age. She’d seen the quiet pleasure in his face when he simply sat and watched the lake, and she’d wanted to sit beside him.

And his laugh—those rare laughs lit her heart.

Without further talk, he packed them back into his helicopter and took off.

After a glance at her face, he flew a few circuits around the Hermitage and then the town, naming landmarks in an extravagance of two- or three-word sentences.

Then he flew them up the mountain and did the same with McNally’s Resort.

The resort had a huge hotel surrounded by numerous other buildings. A tram led upward to a small day lodge perched near the head of the chair lifts.

“What a beautiful place,” Kit said, peering out the window.

“It died a decade ago. Pretty much killed Rescue. Reopened last year. The town’s coming back to life too.”

She grinned. He’d used more words today than she’d ever heard before. Maybe gun battles were good for him.

After setting the helicopter down, he opened the back door, undid her son’s seat restraints, and let him clamber out on his own.

Then Hawk helped Kit out.

She could feel her cheeks warm at feeling his hands on her body, at being so close. He hadn’t taken advantage of her at all, but there was a very male look in his eyes when he released her and stepped back.

Aric took her hand and asked Hawk, “Can we get burgers?”

She watched the man’s hard face turn gentle. He glanced at Kit. “My treat.”

When her son gave her a puppy-dog-look, she couldn’t refuse, no matter how much it hurt her pride. “All right, sure.”

Hawk led them around the side of the massive hotel building, giving her a chance to admire the landscaping, before they entered the restaurant.

One breath brought her the aromas of grilling burgers and french fries, and her stomach growled.

“I guess I’m hungrier than I thought.” She put her hand over her embarrassing belly.

“Me too,” Aric stated.

Back in the kitchen, someone shouted.

Aric jumped and moved closer to Hawk, latching onto his jean’s pocket. Hawk didn’t seem to mind, just set a hand on her son’s shoulder.

“Have you two been here before?” she asked Hawk.

He nodded. “My partner and I haul McNally’s guests around. Aric’s my co-pilot.”

When her son’s chest puffed out, she had to smother a laugh.

“They got fries ‘n’ everything,” Aric told her, pulling her and Hawk forward.

A glint of amusement appeared in Hawk’s eyes. “We’ll eat outside.”