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That, and teaching his own private recruit — me — everything about dragoning. Shifting, flying, breathing fire… You know, all the usual things.
In return, I taught him everything I knew about ranching and ballooning. A win-win for everyone.
To Nash’s delight and surprise, Ingo had taken the agency position.
Tomysurprise, Ingo was theFrankI’d “met” on the phone — Nash’s insider at the agency.
To Pippa’s surprise, Ingo wastheIngo, her ex-boyfriend. I couldn’t decide whether she was delighted or dismayed to have him in town indefinitely. A little of both, I suspected.
Nash and I had spent a lot of time with the wolf shifter since then, and I’d learned a lot about the supernatural world, as well as the secret government agency.
In fact, I was still reeling from Ingo’s biggest bombshell.
Word is, the agency tried to recruit your mother, way back when,Ingo had said.
My jaw had dropped, though it made sense, in a way. Secret agents had to be tough, unattached types — and unfortunately for my sisters and me, that fit my mother to a T.
Apparently, she turned down that offer, but she might not have turned Edwards down entirely…Ingo had added with a sly grin.
That explained how they knew each other. But, yikes. Captain Edwards and my mother?
I’d stopped asking questions after that, because, well…too much information. I barely had the headspace to keep track of three of my mother’s ex-lovers — my father, Pippa’s, and Abby’s, the “only” three she’d had children with.
In any case, this flight was a business expense for Ingo. Part of his brief was developing a risk-assessment report for Sedona, which included getting an overview of things — literally.
Nixing the idea of enlisting his help as ground crew, I thought about Pippa next. Could she help?
Yes, my younger sister was there too, smiling and joking with the other guests, though studiously ignoring Ingo. It was a weekpast her birthday, and friends all over town had pitched in to gift her a voucher for a balloon flight.
I was delighted. For the first time ever, I could fly with one of my sisters.
Not about to ruin that, I folded my arms and stared down Henry. “The good news better be that you found a replacement.”
“I did!” Henry grinned and motioned someone out of the shadows. “Amanda, come on over.”
His eyes danced as he watched my reaction.
“We might be one man short, but we’re one woman up. Erin, meet Amanda.”
I shook hands enthusiastically. Amanda was a pretty Hispanic woman a good ten years older than me, and though a little shy on her first day on the job, the brunette was definitely not a pushover.
“Nice to meet you,” I said, and boy, did I mean it.
“Nice to meet you too.”
I introduced her to Nash and Chico, who took a shine to her immediately.
“I’ll show you the ropes,” he promised, puffing out his chest a little.
Nash winked and spoke into my mind.
Who knows. Maybe we won’t be the only happy couple to have met on Henry’s crew.
I laughed, thinking back to those days.
When our eyes locked, my heart swelled. Nash’s step was so light, his eyes so bright. The same old Nash in all the best ways, but an entirely new version too. He was happier. More easygoing.Alive,as he liked to put it.
Alive,my inner dragon murmured just as happily.
