Prologue
Smoke shut down the engines and ran a hand over his eyes. He needed some time to catch up with himself. He loved his job, but sometimes he longed to be still for a while. He'd spent the last six months based in Houston, the six before that in Miami, but even being based somewhere meant he spent maybe a week out of every month there. The rest of the time he was flying folk around. Shuttling Jack and Nate between Miami, New York and Houston, spending time out here on the West Coast, getting Pete from LA to San Francisco and Seattle.
He removed his headset and unbuckled his seatbelt. He seemed to spend more time in this cockpit than he did anywhere else. He grinned as he stood to make his way into the cabin. The three hot chicks back there reminded him that he really had nothing to complain about. Most guys would give anything to live the life he was living. Flying a jet, having time to kill in some of the greatest cities in the country. It was looking like his new home base would be Santa Monica—how bad was that?!
He smiled to himself as he let down the steps. Hell, ferrying three hot women around wasn't exactly a hardship! He almost lost his grip on the handle when he spotted another, even hotter woman standing on the tarmac grinning and waving. He felt his throat go dry. Damn! Long dark hair, bright blue eyes, and that smile! He was barely aware of Missy and then Emma thanking him and then making their way down the steps to greet her. He had to drag his eyes away from her and try to focus when he realized Holly was speaking to him.
“...Pete said we should let you know an hour before we head back to the airport, is that enough time for you?”
Smoke stared at her, forcing his mind to make sense of what she was saying. All he wanted to do was turn his head to look back at the woman on the tarmac. “That's great, thanks. It gives me time to file our return flight plan and be ready to go.” He couldn't believe how normal his voice sounded. He was surprised he could even hear it over the thundering of his heart in his chest.
Holly waved down at the others who were waiting, then she raised an eyebrow at him. “Could I introduce you to Laura before we leave?”
Smoke grinned. Could she ever?! He'd already decided Pete's new girlfriend was cool. As he followed her down the steps towards Laura, he upgraded that opinion to awesome. He looked at the beautiful face that was turned towards him. It seemed he mostly dated blondes, but the idea of long dark hair with bright blue eyes had always appealed. And here she was.
“Laura,” said Holly, “This is Smoke, Phoenix Chief Pilot and an old friend of Jack and Pete's. Smoke, this is Laura Benson, Jack's cousin.”
She held out her hand, he shook it as her gaze met his. Hot damn! She was gorgeous. Her bright blue eyes sparkled with fun and laughter as she smiled at him. Her long slender fingers, wrapped around his, made him want her long arms wrapped around his neck—and her long slender legs wrapped around him too, for that matter!
He was vaguely aware that the girls were getting on the waiting golf cart. He should let go of Laura's hand, but all he could do was keep staring at her beautiful face. She wasn't letting go of his hand either. He heard Holly saying “Go, go, go.” The spell was broken as Laura turned away from him.
The golf cart pulled away with three giggling women on it.
“Sorry, sweetie, no room.” Missy waved happily at them.
Smoke grinned as Laura turned back to him and rolled her eyes. “No-one could ever accuse that bunch of being subtle, sorry!”
He laughed. “Subtle no, perceptive, definitely. And I for one am grateful.” More than just grateful. He couldn't believe his luck. She was smiling at him. Damn, she was beautiful!
“Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm grateful too. I'm just not quite sure what to do with it.”
“Well, the way I see it, we could miss an opportunity because we're both taken by surprise, or we can think on our feet and make the most of the few moments we have.”
A touch of color appeared on her cheeks as she looked up at the plane and then back at him. Damn, she had a dirty mind! She looked surprised, but definitely interested. But no, he'd want more than a few moments in the back of the plane with this woman. He'd want a whole night in a big bed.
He pursed his lips and gave her a knowing smile. “When I say we can use these moments wisely, I mean you can give me your number, so I can call you and we can see where this goes.”
She laughed, looking a little embarrassed. “Of course you do.” She reached into her purse and took a business card from her wallet. As he tried to take it from her, she held on to the corner, not letting go. He met her gaze. “You only get it if you really want it, Captain. Don't take it if you don't.”
He flicked his wrist and pulled the card from her grasp. He held it up with a smile. “I really want it, Laura.” He was gratified to see the little pink stains on her cheeks deepen when he added. “And I will take it.”
She put her hands on her hips and smiled, the sexiest smile he'd ever seen. “I want it too, Smoke.” His throat went dry again when she asked, “So, are you going to give it to me?”
He was glad that the black slacks of his pilot's uniform were loose fitting, otherwise she'd see how much he'd like to give it to her!
She threw her head back and laughed. “Get your mind out of the gutter and give me your number, Smoke!”
He laughed with her as he took his wallet from his back pocket and handed her his card. “I will call you, but I need to warn you, my schedule is a little crazy. I don't know when I'll be able to get back here, but it will be as soon as I can.”
She nodded. “That's okay. My life is a little hectic too. I'm sure we'll get around to it.”
Smoke intended to make damned sure they did. “Do you ever get up to Summer Lake?” he asked.
“I'll be going back and forth until Jack and Emma get married, since I'm one of the bridesmaids. Will you be going to the wedding?”
Smoke nodded. “I will.” The golf cart was approaching. Her friends would be waiting. He took her hand again. She smiled. “I'm so glad to meet you, Laura.”
She gave his hand a squeeze. “You too, Smoke.” She climbed onto the golf cart. “I'll see you at the wedding if not before,” she called as she rode away.
Smoke stared after her.
~ ~ ~
Laura smiled to herself as she walked back out to the limo where the others were waiting. Sweet Lord above! That was one hot man. And that uniform? Wow, just wow! He wasn't exactly her usual type, but good grief! She could certainly make an exception, and it wasn't as though her usual type had been working out too well. So she usually went for guys with brown hair? She'd take his gray over any of them. So she was a sucker for green eyes? Who knew gray eyes could be so mesmerizing?
When she reached the limo, the others stood smirking at her. She should be mad at them for running away like that. “Oh my God, you guys! How could you?”
“How could we what?” asked Emma sweetly.
“Sorry sweetie,” laughed Holly. “Had to get to the bathroom.”
“How about a thank you?” asked Missy with a grin.
Laura grinned back. It was hard to believe that she'd only met the three of them a couple of weeks ago. They were becoming real friends. She clasped her hands together. “Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! Where did you find him, and can I keep him?”
Holly herded them all into the limo so they could get going, but Laura's mind was still on Smoke. She took the glass of champagne Missy handed her. Laura wasn't used to being affected like this by a man's physical appearance. She normally went for brown haired, bookish types, more serious and studious than studly. She found herself attracted to men for their minds, not their muscles. She had no idea what Smoke's mind might be like...but holy hell, those muscles! “Did you guys see him? I think I might still be drooling!”
“I know I am,” said Holly. “But he only had eyes for you. He lit up the moment he clapped eyes on you!”
Laura buzzed with excitement at having her own impression confirmed. She knew, just knew, that Smoke had been as bowled over by her as she had by him. Still, hearing Holly say it made it even better. She didn't want to admit it though, so she said, “But you guys were sooo mean, running off like that.” She couldn't even pretend she wasn't happy about it. “And I am sooo grateful!”
Missy gave her a shrewd look. Laura had already noticed that she didn't miss a trick. “So did you get his number?”
She tried to keep a straight face as she remembered the shocked look on his face when she'd asked if he was going to give it to her. “We exchanged cards.”
They were all looking at her expectantly.
She didn't want to admit just how brazen her conversation with Smoke had been. These girls were becoming real friends, but they were still new friends. “It was a little awkward, you know? But he said he'd be at the wedding, so I'll see him then if nothing else.” She smiled at Emma. “Will you hurry up and set a date, Em, and make it soon?”
For some reason, Holly went quiet after that. Missy moved the conversation on to shopping, and shoes, and dresses. Laura's mind kept straying back to Smoke, hoping she wouldn't have to wait ’til the wedding before she'd see him again.
