A Hotshot Christmas Read online

  A low thrumming echoed through the water, a heavy bass beat that only a helicopter could create, a big one like a Firehawk.

  He opened his eyes and lifted his head to see if they’d come for him.

  From less than a hundred feet away, he looked straight into the face of a beautiful helicopter pilot.

  If there were moments he was never going to forget, the next three seconds were clogged with them.

  The pilot sat almost fully exposed by the curved windshield of the helicopter. Gorgeous. Her straight black hair fell past her shoulders. Her skin was the color of mid-roast coffee with just that perfect amount of cream. Her dark glasses and pilot’s helmet with mic boom added to the image. Hot professional female pilot.

  The next impression was how huge the approaching helicopter was—and because it was so close, it seemed twice its normal size. Instead of the vicious sleekness of a Black Hawk, it had a bulbous nose and was brilliant orange like the Muppet Beaker, who always looked as alarmed as Gordon was starting to feel.

  The last impression, more memorable than anything else—except perhaps that knockout pilot now looking almost directly down at him—was the long white boom that the Aircrane was slicing through the water.

  Straight toward him!

  There wasn’t time to react. Hell, there wasn’t even time to blink.

  Gordon braced himself to be chopped in two.

  * * *

  Purchase to keep reading at: www.mlbuchman.com

  About the Author

  M. L. Buchman has over 50 novels and 40 short stories in print. Military romantic suspense titles from both his Night Stalker and Firehawks series have been named Booklist “Top 10 of the Year,” placing two titles on their “Top 101 Romances of the Last 10 Years” list. His Delta Force series opener, Target Engaged, was a 2016 RWA RITA finalist. In addition to romance, he also writes thrillers, fantasy, and science fiction.

  In among his career as a corporate project manager he has: rebuilt and single-handed a fifty-foot sailboat, both flown and jumped out of airplanes, designed and built two houses, and bicycled solo around the world.

  He is now making his living as a full-time writer on the Oregon Coast with his beloved wife and is constantly amazed at what you can do with a degree in Geophysics. You may keep up with his writing and receive a free Starter Library by subscribing to his newsletter at www.mlbuchman.com.

  Also by M. L. Buchman

  The Night Stalkers

  Main Flight

  The Night Is Mine

  I Own the Dawn

  Wait Until Dark

  Take Over at Midnight

  Light Up the Night

  Bring On the Dusk

  By Break of Day

  White House Holiday

  Daniel’s Christmas

  Frank’s Independence Day

  Peter’s Christmas

  Zachary’s Christmas

  Roy’s Independence Day

  and the Navy

  Christmas at Steel Beach

  Christmas at Peleliu Cove

  5E

  Target of the Heart

  Target Lock on Love

  Firehawks

  Main Flight

  Pure Heat

  Full Blaze

  Hot Point

  Flash of Fire

  Smokejumpers

  Wildfire at Dawn

  Wildfire at Larch Creek

  Wildfire on the Skagit

  Delta Force

  Main Flight

  Target Engaged

  Heart Strike

  Angelo’s Hearth

  Where Dreams are Born

  Where Dreams Reside

  Maria’s Christmas Table

  Where Dreams Unfold

  Where Dreams Are Written

  Eagle Cove

  Return to Eagle Cove

  Recipe for Eagle Cove

  Longing for Eagle Cove

  Keepsake for Eagle Cove

  Deities Anonymous

  Cookbook from Hell: Reheated

  Saviors 101

  Dead Chef

  Swap Out!

  One Chef!

  Two Chef!

  SF/F Titles

  Nara

  Monk’s Maze

  The Me and Elsie Chronicles

  * * *

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  www.mlbuchman.com

  Copyright 2016 Matthew Lieber Buchman

  Published by Buchman Bookworks

  All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the author.

  Receive a free Starter Library and discover more by this author at: www.mlbuchman.com

  Cover images:

  Warm Fire, Engine Operations © U.S. Forest Service

  Run to Remember © U.S. Coast Guard