A Real Live Hero. Kimberly Meter Van

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      “Is she staying with her dad, I wonder? They didn’t part on good terms, either. She burned every bridge on her way out.”

      “No clue. Harlan’s a hard man and always has been. I can’t imagine he’d welcome her with open arms any more than I was willing. But she is his daughter, so who knows.”

      “You know he never treated her right,” Miranda reminded him. “I always felt bad for her.”

      “Don’t. She’s like a cat—she always lands on her feet.”

      “You don’t know that. Maybe she’s changed. A lot can happen in eight years. People can change.”

      “You, of all people, are the last person I’d expect to hear say, ‘Maybe she’s changed.’ What’s going on with you?”

      “Maybe I’ve grown up,” she said, teasing. “Having a kid does change you. And, I don’t know, maybe I’m tired of carrying around all this anger for things I can’t do anything about. Besides, we need to conserve our energy for the fight on the horizon, which, speaking of, have you managed to drop by our parents’ place yet?”

      “No.” He withheld a sigh and ran a hand through his hair, knowing he was going to catch an earful. “I’ve been busy.”

      “Busy doing what? I thought you were taking a breather after the Errington case.”

      “I am, but just because I’m not out with the Search and Rescue crew doesn’t mean I sit around all day.”

      “Trace, no one would ever accuse you of sitting around and twiddling your thumbs. You’re not hardwired to sit still for one blessed second.”

      Trace couldn’t argue that point. “You know that program, the Junior Search and Rescue?”

      “Yeah?”

      “Well, every chance I get I’ve been spending it with them. I like the kids. They’re eager to learn and it feels good to pass on the skills, seeing as I don’t have any kids.”

      “That’s cool. Speaking of kids...it’d be nice if Talen had a cousin or two,” Miranda said, dropping a not-so-subtle hint.

      “Don’t look my way. Talk to Wade. But now that you mention Talen, you ought to have him join the program. I think he’d dig it. He’s an outdoorsy kid, so it’s right up his alley.”

      “Good idea. I’ll talk to him about it. I worried he might be too young.”

      “Never too young to start learning how to read your surroundings. Dad had us out there as soon as we could walk.”

      At the mention of their father, Miranda returned to his least favorite subject.

      “Trace, I really need your help. I know it’s not your idea of a good time—trust me, it’s not mine, either—but Mom’s out of control and Dad... Well, he’s almost a lost cause, but Mom’s in danger. We need to get that house cleaned up before it collapses on her.”

      Miranda thought their mother had a hoarding problem, but Trace was fairly certain Miranda was exaggerating. How bad could it be? Trace thought the bigger issue was their father’s illegal drug operation. But he’d promised he’d take a look and see for himself. “I’ll go today,” he assured her.

      “Should I meet you there?” she asked.

      “No. You and Mom tend to spark off one another—”

      “Just like you and Dad?” she cut in, knowing him well. “Maybe it’ll help to have a buffer.”

      “With any luck, he won’t be around. But even if he is, I’ll keep it civil.”

      “Okay. Let me know how it goes.” She hesitated, then added, “And give some thought to what I said about Delainey. You never know...maybe she regrets how things were handled, too.”

      Trace bit back an irritated sigh. His sister used to be fierce—almost too much of a ballbuster—but now, she was downright tame thanks to that new guy of hers who’d come in and reintroduced joy to her life. Don’t get him wrong, it was great and all, but sometimes he missed the ballbuster.

      “It’s not that I’m not in favor of the kinder, gentler Miranda Sinclair, but you’re wasting your breath and your benefit of the doubt. If anything, she’s gotten worse. She’s a user. So before you go and invite her to lunch or something, remember how she abandoned everyone when they needed her.”

      “Yeah, I know. You’re right,” she conceded with a sigh. “If I see her, I’ll try not to clip her with my Range Rover.”

      At that, he laughed. “Exactly. Knowing her, she’d have you arrested and that new boyfriend of yours would have to arrange conjugal visits in jail.”

      “You’re gross,” Miranda said, but she was laughing as she hung up.

      Trace’s smile faded and he tossed his phone to the sofa. Delainey Clarke...why’d she have to come around again? His life had finally settled into a familiar-enough routine that was devoid of too much emotion. He didn’t date—he found most women too clingy—and he made his life revolve around work. And he liked it that way.

      He saved lives.

      Period.

      What did Delainey do with her life? She’d been in an all-fire hurry to get out of Alaska so she could be famous. Had it worked out for her? Was she some bigwig in Hollywood now? She’d said she was in a bind. What kind of bind?

      Who cared.

      Not Trace.

      For the past eight years he’d worked at erasing Delainey from his memory. He’d burned pictures, destroyed videos and otherwise removed all evidence he’d ever loved her.

      As for the hole she’d left behind?

      It’d become such a familiar feeling, he’d barely noticed it any longer.

      And if there were times when he couldn’t sleep, it wasn’t because his mind was torturing him with memories of how much they’d been in love, because he knew that had been a total illusion. No, Delainey had done him a solid by leaving, because he’d rather be alone than spend a lifetime with someone false.

      The sooner Delainey split town again, the better. She wasn’t good for anyone. Least of all, him.

      CHAPTER SIX

      TRACE FROZE AND immediately glowered when he saw Delainey chatting up his boss, Peter, and knew right away that she was there to cause trouble. Peter caught sight of him and motioned him into the office, which he was tempted to blatantly ignore but chose instead to meet the situation head-on. Whatever Delainey had up her sleeve he could handle. She couldn’t force him to participate in her stupid show, and he felt fairly confident that Peter couldn’t make him either without facing some serious legal ramifications.

      “Trace, come here a minute,” Peter said, smiling from ear to ear. “I’ve been chatting with your friend—”

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