Page 143 of Nothing But Air

“I meant surviving the summer.”

“Ah.” Teague’s grin turned wry. “Well. That was a team effort.”

The SAR helicopter radioed in, the transmission crackling through Noah’s headset. “Roosevelt located and secured. Unconscious but breathing. Vitals stable. We’re lifting off for Flagstaff Medical now.”

Noah settled into his seat as the Black Hawk’s engines increased pitch. The pilot’s voice came over his headset. “All personnel accounted for. Where am I taking you?”

Noah’s gaze snagged on the rock spire Teague had indicated earlier—barely visible in the darkness. The gold cache. So close after all this time. Part of him wanted to go back now, to finally close the door on this entire chaotic summer.

But that could wait.

This summer hadn’t been what any of them expected—the mob, getting buried alive in a cave, the stabbing, a mad chase through the canyon—but Noah would do it all again. Every terrifying moment.

Just to hear Meg say yes one more time.

He squeezed her hand. She squeezed back, her ring cool against his fingers.

“The North Rim. Let’s go home.”

“Copy that.” The helicopter lifted off. The ground dropped away beneath them. The plateau receded and became just another shadow in the vast darkness of the canyon.

Meg’s head leaned onto his shoulder. Her breathing slowed. Her hand stayed in his.

The nightmare was over.

And tomorrow—for all of them—could finally begin.

Sixteen

Most men brought flowers on a first date. Teague Hamilton brought a rope, two harnesses, and a four a.m. wake-up call.

In his defense, it had been Eden’s idea—he just made it happen. It was two weeks since they’d been rescued off that ledge, and Teague was tired of waiting to get Eden truly to himself. But between reports, interviews, and her traveling to Flagstaff to check on Sierra and Trey, time for a date just hadn’t happened.

He tested the next hold, fingers finding the familiar crack in limestone. Dawn was still an hour away, the canyon below them a vast shade of gray slowly picking up color. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of sage.

“I can’t believe this is what you wanted for our official first date.” He glanced down at Eden, maybe ten feet below him on the route.

She still wore a black neoprene wrist brace for support, but her movements were fluid. Confident. The climber in her returning more each day.

“Official date?” She laughed, the sound echoing off stone. “Just because we nearly died on the other climbs doesn’t mean they weren’t dates.”

“True, but if Xander and Marcus were there, it wasn’t a date.” Teague pulled himself up another few feet, his ribs giving only a slight twinge. Two weeks of healing had done wonders. “Most women prefer candles. Dinner. A movie.”

“I’m not most women.”

No. She wasn’t.

“Besides, the park reopens to the public a week from tomorrow.” Eden moved smoothly up the rock, compensating for the brace with her footwork. “This is our last chance to climb here without special permission.”

“So romantic.”

“You’re the one who called me a caged climber.” Her voice held warmth and a touch of challenge. “Have to make up for lost time.”

Teague looked up at the route above them—maybe thirty feet to the top. “No complaints. I just hoped for more snuggling and less rock face.”

“We can do that too.” Eden was beside him now, both on a ledge barely wide enough for two. Their shoulders touched. “After.”

“Is that a promise?”