Mending His Heart

Injury forced Nic Maddox out of the US Navy and into a quiet life of rehabilitating homeless dogs at the Wounded Warrior Rescue. Now that he’s accepted a new job leading a civilian search and rescue operation in the far north, his adrenaline is pumping again. But when his ex-girlfriend shows up at his door, he learns that his new position comes with a lot more baggage than the simple suitcase he’s already packed.

Fearless pilot, Rachel Stone, was blindsided when she learned that someone new was hired for the team lead spot on her Alaskan search and rescue team—a job she'd been sure belonged to her. With her pride still stinging, she’s sent to the small seaside town of Liberty Cove to pick up her new boss and fly him north. But no one prepared her for the moment she’d realize that he’s the same man who broke her heart years ago.

Being together in their hometown brings up old memories—good and bad—as a hurricane barrels toward shore. It’s a race against the clock as Nic and Rachel settle into an uneasy truce while they rush to evacuate the dogs and prepare the rescue for the coming storm.

However, time runs out when the weather intensifies quicker than expected. Out of options, they hunker down at the rescue—together. But one reckless kiss rocks their world, sending their hearts into a tailspin. If they manage to survive the hurricane, can their truce survive the aftershocks of that kiss?

A sickening crack ripped through the air, followed by the sound of scraping tree branches. Howler darted into a side room with his tail between his legs, looking for cover. A moment later the window at the end of the hall gave way to a massive limb. Nic pinned Rachel to the wall, cupping his arm around her head to shield her from the glass and debris.

It was the second time that day her ex had protected her from harm with his own body.

Rachel sucked in a sharp breath when Nic slipped his arms around her and scooped her off her feet. She gazed into his eyes, tempted to reach up and dry the beads of water clinging to his lashes. “What are you doing?”

“You left your shoes on the beach,” he said taking a few steps down the hall. “I can’t let you walk barefoot through this mess.”

Rachel glanced at her bare toes as Nic’s shoes crunched over the glass on the floor. “I forgot all about my shoes. How did you remember?”

The hall had become nothing but a wind tunnel as the hurricane pressed on toward land, rushing through the gaping hole in the back side of the rescue. A shiver ran through Rachel’s body when Nic put his lips close to her ear. “I remember everything about you, Rach.”

The lights flickered, and then the power went out. Nic turned the corner and shoved the bathroom door open with his foot. He set her down. “I’ll be right back.”

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t think we’re leaving Liberty Cove tonight. I’m getting Howler and one of my bags from the hall. There should be something dry in there you can change into.”

“And you want me to just hang out in a pitch-black bathroom until you get back?”

“You know the severe weather drill. Go to the interior of the house and put as many walls between you and the outside as possible. Unless you want to spend the night with me and Howler in the three-by-four-foot coat closet down the hall, this bathroom is our best bet.”

“I think I’m liking this place better already.”

Nic chuckled and started to pull the door closed, but Rachel stopped him.

“Nic…” Her cheeks heated beneath his gaze, and she was grateful for the dim light to hide in. She wanted to say everything and nothing all at once—either to gush about how she now realized what he meant to her or to simply exist in the same space and feel him beside her, vital and strong.

Nic’s brows rose, as if asking her why she’d called his name and stopped him from closing the door.

How was she supposed to explain her brand-new feelings to an ex she’d never thought would be a part of her life again? That wasn’t an easy conversation to have. And it was more dangerous than the hurricane threatening to rip the roof off the rescue that very night.

She chose the safest words she could think of. “Just… be careful.”

“Will do.” The base in his voice hit her in the chest, causing her breath to come in shallow gulps. There was something about the way he’d said it that told her he understood the emotions at odds inside her. Maybe he understood because he felt the same way.

Did she dare hope?

The bathroom door clicked shut, leaving her to the privacy of her thoughts.

She rested her hand on the door, straining to hear Nic’s footsteps over the hurricane’s roar. The storm outside was nothing compared to the one inside her. Nothing about this trip to Liberty Cove had gone as planned—not seeing Nic, not feeling this way. Maybe it was time to embrace the unexpected. Her feelings for him, once buried, were alive again. The urge to keep him by her side forever was overwhelming.

Forever.

What would Nic say if he knew she was thinking about that word?