Collateral Damage (26 page)

Her stomach was abuzz with nerves when his silver truck pulled into her driveway. She was out the door and halfway to the truck before he even got his door open. Him standing there in his jeans and a black, fitted button-down shirt was a sight to behold. The man was mouthwatering.

He pulled off his shades when he saw her, an appreciative gleam in his eyes and a sexy smile curving his mouth that set her heart pounding. “Hey.”

“Hi.” She strolled up to the passenger side while he strode around to open her door for her. He smelled like sin, clean and spicy. She fought the urge to lean in and press her nose against his neck to breathe him in.

“Thanks for coming today. You look beautiful.”

Her cheeks heated up, arousal flooding her body at his nearness. She mentally scolded her endocrine system. “Thanks. This okay for wherever we’re going?”

“It’s perfect.”

She climbed into the seat. “So, where are we headed?”

“You’ll see,” he said with a mysterious smile and shut her door.

No denying this was a little awkward. Being in the truck with him brought back so many memories, making her feel nostalgic, a little sad and a lot hopeful.

He took the I-5 south and then the turn-off to SeaTac Airport. She looked over at him and arched a brow. “Are we flying somewhere?”

“Maybe.”

Hiding a smile, she settled back against the seat and folded her hands in her lap. “You have to have me home by midnight, you know. I have to report in at oh-seven-hundred tomorrow morning. Some big VIP coming to base for the Fourth celebration. Tightened security means more briefings and more work for me.”

“Yeah, we were briefed about it yesterday. Doesn’t really affect us since we’ll be out on exercise for a couple days anyway. But I’ll do my best to get you back before midnight,” he added, glancing over at her as they waited at a stoplight. “What made you agree to come today? I wasn’t sure you would.”

After he’d left that night she’d crashed and woken up early, then mulled the idea over throughout the rest of the day in between tasks at work. “I thought a lot about what you said,” she admitted with a shrug. “About how we’d both made mistakes and hurt each other in the past, and you were right. We can’t go back and undo all that, so there’s no point in dwelling on it anymore and if we’re ever going to have a chance then we have to let it go and move forward.”

He was quiet a moment before answering. “Wow, that’s… That’s more than I was even hoping for.” He shook his head. “It took me two years and extenuating circumstances to get to that point, and it only took you a couple days.”

“Well, don’t feel bad. It’s a scientific fact that girls mature faster than boys. And then most never catch up to us.” It was true she had lingering doubts that he was at the same point she was emotionally, but she was willing to put them aside long enough to give him the benefit of the doubt and see where things went today.

His deep chuckle set off a tingle low in her belly. “No argument here.” He steered them to a quieter part of the airport and she saw private helicopters parked on the tarmac.

She shot him a glance. “Are we going on a tour?”

“Nope. Well, maybe a little one. Just be patient.”

Hard to be when she was still a little nervous about everything. She’d never done this before, didn’t know how to go about taking another stab at a relationship, let alone the most important one of her life.

All she knew was, she couldn’t simply dive back in and expect things to go back to the way they’d been before. They were different people now in some ways, even though the fundamentals were still the same. She’d fallen hard in love with him for those basic qualities, so why not again?

After parking near a hangar he came around to help her slide out of the truck. Just the feel of the hard muscles in his forearm flexing beneath her palm and the warmth of his hand on her waist as he helped her down made her heart beat erratically. She was careful to drop her hand as soon as possible and take a step back, needing distance. It would be too easy to let the physical part take over her common sense, but she had no illusions that she’d want to stop him if he did try to make a move.

If he noticed her retreat he didn’t comment, just went to the back of the truck and lowered the tailgate. He pulled out his ruck, which was packed to the top with something, and a duffel. She worked with military men day in and day out, but the sight of Liam with his ruck slung over one broad shoulder and the duffel in his other hand made her entire body tingle in awareness of his sheer masculinity. The muscles in his forearms flexed below the rolled-up cuffs of his black shirt with every movement, his thigh muscles flexing beneath his jeans with each step.

It was the rock-solid confidence in the way he held himself though, in the way he moved and spoke, that made her want to tackle him to the ground and rip his clothes off.

“Right this way,” he told her, and led the way to a red and gold chopper parked on a helipad.

“A 407,” she remarked, taking in the sleek lines. “Are you our pilot?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

More flutters. Some were nerves, but the majority were anticipation. She stayed put while he stowed his gear at the back of the bird, then he turned to her and arched a brow. “Help me with the pre-flight inspection?”

She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face. “Sure.”

They worked as a team inspecting the body of the aircraft and its rotors, then got inside the cockpit to check the instrumentation and go through the checklist. Picking up the headset on the passenger seat, she grinned at him. “How’d you manage this, anyway?”

“Friend of mine hooked me up.”

“Uh-huh. And does that friend happen to be a former Army pilot named Devon?”

The corner of his mouth tipped up as he slid on his own headset. “Maybe.”

She couldn’t even be mad at Devon. Her friend’s heart was in the right place.

Settling back against the plush leather seats, she watched as Liam went through the pre-flight list using the manual inside the cockpit. When he was done he glanced over at her, his eyes concealed by his dark shades but she knew they’d be gleaming with excitement. Hers must be too. “Ready?” he asked.

“Ready.”

He started the engine. Not nearly as loud as the helos she worked with, but the pulse of the rotors throbbed in time with her rapid heartbeat, muffled by the noise-canceling headset. Liam radioed the tower, got clearance and glanced over at her once more. “Here we go.”

He nosed them forward, gaining speed before pulling collective and raising them into the air. The familiar rush of adrenaline flowed through her as it always did when she flew, magnified because it was Liam at the controls.

She’d never flown with him except the day of the base attack, and then she hadn’t been able to see him much. Now she watched him at the controls, smoothly and expertly guiding them away from the airport and out toward Puget Sound. He was in his element here, totally confident of his skill, and with his training and experience he had every right to be.

Sexiest thing she’d ever seen in her life.

She waited until there was a lull between him and the control tower before speaking into her mic. “This is so much better than the last time I flew with you.”

At that he gave her a sexy grin. “I like the view up front much better this time too.” His tone made it clear that he didn’t mean the spectacular view of the green land and sparkling blue water below them.

Gorgeous as it was out there today, she’d much rather look at him as well. “Yeah, me too. I always wanted to fly with you. So where are you taking me?”

“Little spot I picked out a long time ago. I’d wanted to do this back when we were together and never got around to it. Another mistake I’m not making again—being lazy with you.”

Aww! Man, how was she supposed to keep her emotional distance from him when he said incredibly sweet, insightful things like that? “Liam, you were never lazy. You were busy and I understood. We spent time together when we could and made the best of it. I never felt neglected, I promise.”

“Yeah, and that’s another thing I took for granted and shouldn’t have. I was so damn lucky to have you, someone who understood and put up with my crazy schedule. Most guys in my regiment aren’t that lucky. I should have appreciated you more.”

Her protective walls had already fractured; now they were crumbling. He was literally dismantling them brick by brick with the things he was saying, because he truly meant them. It was clear he’d thought about their situation a lot and he was ready to act. She’d been hoping for that for so long, since she’d first reached out to him after the breakup. She could hardly believe he was ready and wanted back in her life again.

The tower contacted him again with an update on traffic in their area, effectively ending their conversation. Honor didn’t mind. Now that the most important things had been said aloud, she could just relax and enjoy the afternoon.

A little over thirty minutes later Liam landed on a helipad at what looked like a secluded resort set right on the water. The pad was set off behind a grand, log-style hotel that overlooked the water. He powered down the engine, waiting the two minutes until the fuel was flushed from the lines, and turned off the rotors.

She pulled off her headset when he did, and smiled at him. “It’s beautiful here.”

“Wait ‘til you see the view from the beach,” he said, and hopped out. He rushed around to help her out of the cockpit, his hands lingering at her waist for a moment as he stared down at her. Honor’s pulse sped up as sparks danced up her spine and spread out all over her body, tightening her nipples and sending a rush of warmth between her thighs. “I’ll get the bags,” he murmured, lowering his hands and stepping back.

Dragging in a lungful of air, Honor followed him. He took his ruck and the duffel out of the back then led the way to the edge of the manicured lawn where it gave way to rocks and boulders on the way down to the beach. “There’s a path just over here,” he said, heading to the left. “You should be okay in those shoes but if you’re not, I can carry you.”

Oh my God, she’d never survive it. She’d be all over him by the time they reached the beach. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

The narrow pathway wound down a fairly steep incline lined with Western Red Cedars and Douglas Firs. Two-thirds of the way down the rocks gave way to pebbles and sand, a band of dried seaweed and sun-bleached driftwood marking the high tide mark. The briny scent of the water was stronger now and gulls cried as they circled overhead, a bald eagle trilling from somewhere nearby.

At the bottom of the trail he turned right and headed up the beach, picking his path with care and glancing back every so often to make sure she wasn’t having trouble walking on the uneven surface. They walked around a point and came to a finger of land that stretched out into the water. Gentle waves lapped against the leeward side, adding a rhythmic pulse to the soothing atmosphere.

“This okay?” he asked, glancing at her over his shoulder.

“It’s gorgeous,” she answered, coming up alongside him. She stood back while he opened up his duffel and took out a heavy camo-pattern blanket.

He spread it out over a smooth spot on the ground. “Go ahead and sit down while I unpack the rest.”

She did, curling her legs beneath her and settling the folds of her dress. Liam took some containers and what looked like bakery or deli boxes out of his ruck. “A picnic?” she asked, grinning like an idiot. The whole date was ridiculously romantic and she was loving every second of it.

“Yeah. Thought we could sit here and eat while we talked for a bit.”

It was the perfect place for it on this deserted stretch of beach. She wasn’t nervous anymore, but looking forward to spending quality alone time with him here.

He sat down finally and handed her a paper plate with utensils. “There’s a spinach and strawberry salad, some cold cuts and cheese with fresh buns, chocolate dipped fruit for dessert, and this for you.” He pulled out a bottle of her favorite white wine and a crystal glass he’d wrapped up in one of his old T-shirts. “You still like this one?”

His thoughtfulness touched her so much. “I love it, thank you.” She accepted the glass, waited while he poured it for her. When he took out a bottle of water for himself, she raised her glass in a toast. “To new beginnings.”

His answering smile was like an arrow dead center to her heart. “I’ll definitely drink to that. Cheers.”

The afternoon passed quickly while they ate and talked about all kinds of things from work to current events, both being careful to stay away from the topic of
them
. Without giving away too much information about them, she described the situation with Ipman and Andrews, though Andrews had been almost pleasant to work with the past couple weeks.

After half a bottle of wine she began to feel pleasantly drowsy. Out over Puget Sound the sun was slowly sinking toward the sea, still casting warmth but the breeze coming off the water was chilly and her sweater wasn’t enough to keep her warm.

Liam must have noticed she was getting cold because he sat up and dug in his duffel for a second, coming up with a hoodie. “Here.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, draping it around her shoulders. It smelled like him and she couldn’t help burying her nose in the fabric and inhaling a deep breath. “It’s so peaceful here.” She felt so comfortable here with him. No pressure to do anything but enjoy his company. The past few hours had without a doubt reinforced why she’d fallen in love with him in the first place. “I feel like I could curl up and nap like a cat in a puddle of sunshine.”

“Then you should.” There was no disappointment in his voice that she wanted to sleep, no judgment.

She eyed him, taking in the way the muscles in his upper arms and chest stood out with him leaning his weight back on his hands. He looked sexy and strong and even a little dangerous sitting there not four feet away. Too far away, she thought, sliding closer. Liam watched her, unmoving as she came closer, his eyes still hidden by his shades but she could feel his gaze riveted to her.

She paused a foot from him, suddenly wanting to erase the distance between them. Maybe she wasn’t ready to jump back into a serious relationship with him, but she needed to touch him and feel his arms around her, even for just a little while. “Only if I can use you as a pillow. And a blanket,” she added, tugging his hoodie tighter around her. She’d missed him so damn much.