Total pages in book: 45
Estimated words: 41634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 41634 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 208(@200wpm)___ 167(@250wpm)___ 139(@300wpm)
I take the espresso from him with a smile. “Thank you.”
He runs his finger down the side of my cheek, sending a shiver down my spine. “You look tired.”
“I left tired in the rearview mirror two hours ago,” I admit, too exhausted to pretend otherwise. I sink into the chair across from him, the warm cup between my hands, and for the first time in hours, I feel the tension go out of my neck and shoulders. “But it’s not like you’re the picture of rest. What happened to your eye?”
He touches the cut with two fingers, as if he’d forgotten about it. “Friendly fire. My captain’s stick. I’m fine.”
I can’t help myself. I lean in, gently brushing my thumb over the cut. “You don’t have to come here every night.”
He grins, and it’s so genuine that for a second, I forget every reason I’ve ever had to keep him at arm’s length. “Yes, I do,” he says, and he means it. “Seeing you is worth losing a couple hours of sleep.”
My heart does a weird, traitorous thing in my ribcage. I want to say something clever, but the only words that come are honest ones. “I’m glad you came.”
He looks at me, really looks, and the world gets very quiet. “I wouldn’t miss the chance to spend a few minutes with you.” Oh, man. He’s making it so hard for me to remember my “no athletes” rule.
He stands up, slow and deliberate, and pulls me to my feet. He’s so much taller, but when he cups my face in his hands, I feel like I could take him apart with just a word. “I’ll see you soon.” He smiles and places a soft kiss on my lips.
I shake my head, not trusting myself to speak. Instead, I go up on my toes and kiss him back, and this time I don’t stop at a single brush of lips. The kiss is urgent, desperate, like two people trying to memorize each other before the world gets in the way. When he finally lets me breathe, I’m lightheaded.
“I’ll look forward to it.” I really freaking mean it.
The rest of my week is a blur of work and anticipation. Every night, he’s there. Sometimes it’s just for five minutes, sometimes longer. By the end of my five nights in a row, I’m not just melting. I’m already halfway in love with him.
I’m so tired the world has gone fuzzy around the edges, but every cell in my body is buzzing. I finally get home just after dawn, throw myself in the shower, and let the hot water do its best to bring me back to life. But nothing works. I can’t stop thinking about him. I’m in so much trouble.
CHAPTER TEN
JAXSON
The private airfield is nothing but endless gray tarmac, windswept and desolate under a Seattle sky that’s slowly choking itself with clouds. I check my watch again. That’s four times in two minutes, and the damn thing feels colder each time. I wanted to pick Harper up, but she flat refused like I should’ve guessed she would. Says she never lets a man come to her place on a first date. Smart, I know. Problem is, it reminds me that I’m not the first man she’s dated. And the thought of her dating anyone else makes me want to put my fist through concrete. God. I’m losing my fucking mind.
Her car finally rolls through the gates, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. The relief almost knocks me on my ass. She parks, steps out, and even from half a football field away, the way she moves gets me. The trench coat she’s wearing is a soft cream, tied at the waist, and the fact that I’m standing here on an empty tarmac waiting for her tells you exactly how close to the fucking edge she’s got me.
I start toward her before she’s even halfway across the lot.
She hits me with her sass right on arrival. “You look like you’re about to lead a tactical mission,” Harper says, eyes bright and wicked, the runway lights catching every spark. “Is this a date or am I being kidnapped?”
“Depends on how the evening goes.” I try for a smile, but I’m not sure I manage it. In that moment, I catch myself reaching for her elbow. She stiffens a little, then lets me lead her toward the hangar. “Figured I’d cover all my bases.”
She glances past me and finally spots the blacked-out Airbus H130, rotors already spinning up, a vibration you feel in your bones. “You don’t do anything halfway, do you?” She says it just loud enough to hear over the engine noise.
I shake my head and let my hand find the small of her back. “I had to go all out since I only get one chance to impress you.”