Coffee and Cockpits (15 page)

I laughed. “Count yourself a walking miracle then.”

Liam approached the table; shuffling beside him was Samantha. What were they doing together? I hated myself for the small spike of suspicion. Then embarrassment flowed in my veins. Samantha really didn’t look well. Her hair was unwashed; her face the colour of dirty dishwater.

“Are you alright, Samantha?” My voice was soft, encouraging.

A fleeting grim smile graced her lips before she plonked down opposite. “Actually, no, I don’t think I am. Feeling a little odd to tell you the truth.” She looked up with an adoring expression as Liam sat next to her. “Liam took me to see the hotel doctor, but they can’t find anything wrong. They think it’s delayed shock.”

If Liam held any animosity over the little altercation last night, he didn’t show it. He gave me a soft grin. “They’ve prescribed some anti-depressants, but I think it’s best if Samantha takes scenario two.”

My mind whirled, trying to recall scenario two from the letter they gave us.

Liam saved me. “I’m going to arrange transport for her to fly back with another carrier later this afternoon.” He stood, saying, “In the meantime, I’m heading to the buffet to grab breakfast. Our energy levels are low. Food always makes everything better.”

Joslyn leaped up. “I’m so glad you agree. I was trying to be polite, but the pastries have been summoning me for the past ten minutes.” She dashed off.

I smirked, before Liam caught my eye, and my lips uncurled. He held out his hand to help Samantha from the booth.

She gave him a watery smile and headed after Joslyn.

Liam and I stood, the air around us gathering like an electric storm. “So…” He looked at his feet, before blurting, “How do you know Nikolai?”

I swallowed, I wanted to lie and come up with some other story, but my tongue swelled on the taste of deception. “I met him on our first flight.”

His eyebrows rose. “And you know him well enough to dance like that?”

Crap, how long had he been watching?

“It’s different with dancers. I’ve done Salsa for a few years, so has Nikolai. We bumped into each other in Sydney and got along.” I hated to see the pang of insecurity in his eyes.  My heart deflated as I rushed to add, “It doesn’t mean anything.”

A surge of hope flittered over his face, and I couldn’t ignore the answering shiver dancing a jig over my spleen. Why did he affect me so much?

I licked my lips. “How do
you
know Nikolai?” They didn’t look all that happy to see each other. Or was it just because they were waving their cocks around trying to establish who knew me best? If that was the case, were they both interested in me?

Liam sighed. “Nik and I go back a few years. Long story.”

“We’re stuck on an island. I have time to listen.”

He grinned wryly. “Something happened between us, but it’s not worth mentioning. Should we grab some food before Joslyn hoovers it all up?”

I eyed him, trying to decipher his reluctance to talk about Nikolai. Giving up, I shrugged. “Sure. Food sounds amazing.”

* * * * *

 After inhaling a plate loaded with hashbrowns, roasted tomatoes, and bacon, I tucked into my chocolate croissant just as Anderson made an appearance.

If it was possible, he looked even worse this morning. His grey-streaked hair was lank, his body sagging like stretched material.

Liam swallowed his mouthful of scrambled eggs and stood. “Shit, Anderson. Are you alright?” He guided the captain to a seat then passed him a glass of water.

A tremor of fear dashed over me. Samantha and the captain both looked… faded. As if their vibrant souls were doused with clouds and chill. 

“Yes. Stop fussing, Mikin. I’m fine,” he muttered and took a bite of pastry from Joslyn’s plate. His moustache gathered a stack of croissant crumbs as he munched away.

Liam and I shared a look. I hoped my eyes told him both Anderson and Samantha needed to go home.

He gave me an infinitesimal nod.

Sharing rapport across the table in silent language added to my confusion. Every moment I spent in Liam’s company, I was interwoven with him. It was as if I had no control—no choice but to allow the current to guide me closer to him.

Joslyn broke our connection. “Boss you ain’t looking so good. Neither is Samantha. Liam was just saying he booked Sam on a flight home this afternoon. I think you should go, too.”

Anderson growled, “I’m not abandoning my crew, Joslyn. I’m staying.” Taking a sip of water, he added, “I’ve heard from operations. I have more info. Do you want the bad news, or the not so bad news?”

Watching him drink, signalled an overwhelming desire for one. It was as if all the liquid in my stomach evaporated and left me a dry husk.

I stuck my hand up. A waitress with a hibiscus flower behind her ear and Samoan skin gleaming a honey brown appeared. “Can I get you something?”

“Yes, please. A fresh juice. Watermelon if you can?” Fruit in liquid form had never sounded so good. A sharp twinge in my neck made me wince. I rubbed it, frustrated the pain didn’t show signs of abating.

“No problem. Straight away. Anyone else?”

Liam nodded. “I’d love a pineapple juice, please.” He looked at me. “I suddenly have this staggering need to drink something sugary.”

Tingles of strangeness tip-toed down my spine. That was weird. I eyed Joslyn to see if she had an unexplained need for juice, but she was busy tending to Samantha. Poor girl looked as if a fever had broiled to an inferno—her skin sheened with redness.

Anderson raised an eyebrow. “Was juice so much more important than hearing what operations has to say?” He shot us an amused smirk, but it didn’t have his usual pizzazz.

“Sorry, Captain. Go ahead. Give us the not so good news,” I said while Liam chuckled.

Anderson wiped his moustache. “All doom and gloom, huh, Nina?”

I shrugged. “Not really. I’d rather save the not so bad for the salve after hearing the worst of it. Then again, if you’re stalling, it must be pretty terrible.” Why did I get an ominous feeling? As if the world inched closer to impending demise?

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “Well. I’m sure this isn’t news to anyone, but the plane has to be investigated and airline authorities will get involved. It will remain here for however long it takes Nikolai Rivers and the team to assess and report.”

I nodded. “So we’ll travel home on the next scheduled flight?” I didn’t fancy paying to go on another airline when I could stay and travel home for free.

He tensed, wrapping an arm around his stomach. In front of my eyes he deflated a little. “Yes. In six days. Operations have already arranged for us to pax home. That’s the not so bad news. A paid vacation, if you want to look at it that way.”

Joslyn piped up. “Pax—you mean, we don’t have to work the service?”

Liam took over, eyeing Anderson with concern. “At least you won’t have to serve us coffee, Jos. We’ll be the ones pressing the attendant button.” He put his hands on the table, announcing, “However, as second in command I’m ordering Captain Anderson and Samantha to return today.”

Anderson opened his mouth to disagree, but then shut it when he winced. “Fair enough. I won’t be stupid and say I’m not in a bit of pain.”

Samantha’s face relaxed. “Me, too. I need to go home. I just want to be in my own home and see a doctor I trust.”

I agreed they needed to go, but were they safe to fly?

Liam stood. “I’ll call the carrier and arrange Kiwi Air to take care of the booking. Anyone else want off this island? Speak now or hold your peace for the next six days.”

Anxiousness for Anderson and Sam threatened to tug me under, but at the same time a small glow of happiness brightened. I tried to keep my face straight and serious, but come on. I was on island arrest for a full week! With free accommodation and money to boot. Why the hell would I go?

Joslyn nudged my leg under the table. I shot her a look. She reverberated with eagerness. In fact, Joslyn seemed the happiest out of all of us. She struggled to keep a smile from creeping over her lips.

Unable to help myself, I grinned. “I’m staying.”

“Me, too,” Joslyn said straight way. “I’m gonna do some serious tanning and become as brown as these gorgeous natives.” Her eyes followed a delicious young man carrying a platter of honeydew melons cut into flowers.

Liam rolled his eyes, tension weighting his shoulders. He was now in control, and I doubted he liked the thought of his stepsister lolling around the pool for six days. Who knew what mischief she’d find? And she’d find some, no doubt about that.

Liam straightened. “Alright. I’ll make the arrangements. Sam, Anderson, I’ll come help you pack and hire a car to take you to the airport.” Looking at me, he added, “I’ll see you later.”

“Do you want some help?” My stomach clenched, thinking how proficient he was—how caring.

“Nope. I’ll come find you. Just stay safe.”

A
fter arranging transport for all three of us to the airport, I helped Anderson and Samantha get organised. I tried to focus on what I was doing, but all I could think about was Nina in a bikini by the pool. The moment Jos mentioned that was their intention, I swear I drooled a little.

I wanted to lather sunscreen over Nina’s pearly skin. To hold an umbrella to cast shade so she wouldn’t burn. To be there to grant drinks of icy juice and to lick away the droplets left behind on her lips. 

My cock stirred in my pants.
Stop it!
My overactive imagination where Nina was concerned needed to calm down. 

The first day Nina flew with us and came into the cockpit to collect our coffee order, I’d almost dropped dead out of the sky when she nailed my preference first shot. I tried to act nonchalant, but it really affected me. She probably guessed it for all I knew, however, it was nice to think she knew something as intimate about me as how I took my coffee in the morning. I wanted to share that ritual with her. To wake beside her and go about normal boring things like making breakfast together.

Still thinking about the past, I recalled what Anderson said when Nina left the cockpit. “I’m suffering a major case of deja vu.”

Of course, I had to ask. “Huh?”

Anderson grinned as if it made perfect sense. “My wife guessed my coffee order on her first flight, too. In fact, Nina reminds me a little of her. Determined. Fierce. Gorgeous.” He laughed, adding, “I give you six months before you’re head over heels and proposing like I did.”

My heartbeat accelerated to bolt around the cockpit. Was there such a case as predestined attraction? Was I drawn to Nina on a deeper level than I thought? The head over heels part wasn’t hard to agree with, I was already unsteady on my feet.

“All set,” Anderson broke into my reverie dumping me back into the present, heaving his bag onto a shoulder.

I blinked, the madness of the small island airport swamped me. We stood in the centre of a swirling pond of tourists. Being here again was surreal after yesterday. A totally different vibe surrounded the terminal. A carefree and vibrant holiday spirit was prevalent, chasing the moans and groans of bruised passengers into dusty corners, never to be mentioned again.

“Mikin, thank you. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be going home to my wife. She’ll make me feel much better with one of her amazing lamb stews.” He tried to look stern. “I expect you to keep an eye on that report. I want to know exactly what caused us to crash. You have my number. Use it.”

I grinned. It was a long running joke that I didn’t like technology. Give me a plane with mind-boggling instruments, and I understood on a modular level how to work it. Give me a cell phone, and I’d most likely put in through the rinse cycle with my dirty washing. And I had, with three phones previously.

“You just rest. I’ll see you when we pax home in a week.” I patted him on the back.

Anderson nodded, offering Sam his arm. She gave me a weary smile, relief in her eyes to be going home.

I waved as they disappeared into the thicket of babbling tourists and squawking children.

Free to find Nina, I paused outside the terminal doors. Responsibility nagged, turning my anticipation of spending the day in her company, to the non-enjoyable knowledge I should spend the day overseeing a broken plane.

Grumbling, I headed back inside. I couldn’t dash to the hotel—I was the commanding officer now Anderson was gone. It was up to me to keep an eye on our wreckage.

The ground staff eyed me as I flashed my identification and gained access to the back corridors of the airport. Weaving my way around the chaos of the baggage dock, I narrowly dodged a careening golf cart, dragging a train of overstuffed bags in every colour.

I stopped a worker in bright orange high-vis overalls. “Can you tell me which aircraft hangar the Kiwi Air Boeing was towed to, please?”

The guy’s eyes never met mine, watching a colleague backing up way too fast and missing the baggage belt by a millimetre. “Which hangar? That’s a laugh. We only have one. Go outside and to the left. Can’t miss it.” He didn’t hang around for a thanks. I rolled my eyes as he screamed at the guy not to drive so maniacally.