Her Secret Wish (16 page)

Rachel felt a spasm of anxiety as Jack positioned the chopper to land, but he was so competent that they touched down with barely a whisper. Any tension she’d felt evaporated as he turned to her with a rakish grin. Rachel put her fist out with an answering smile and he bumped her knuckles as he started to shut down the chopper.

Rachel hopped down out of the cockpit, grinning. Chad gave her considering look and a good slap on the back, then they turned to the paver path leading to the house. They could celebrate her victory later.

‡

M
isti Cokes didn’t
come running out of the house screaming for rescue. No, she just stomped. She slammed the front door behind her and marched away from the house; before they’d made it down the path to the house she was halfway to them. It was easy to identify her from the photos they’d been given but she now sported a shiner and a split lip, still freshly bleeding.

“I need you to fly me out of here. I don’t know who you are, but the man that lives here is a jackass and I plan on filing charges against him. If you don’t take me out of here I’ll file charges against you, too for not helping me.”

Her big blue eyes filled with tears and she crossed her arms over her breasts, quivering with equal parts fury and fright.

Chad held his palm up. “There’s no need for that, Ms. Cokes. We’ve been looking for you.”

The petite woman broke into sobs then, and let Chad wrap an arm around her shoulders to walk away from the house.

A tall man in ragged jeans and a gray Pink Floyd t-shirt jogged out of the house. “Misti, wait, honey.”

Was
this
Peter Wattman? An overgrown kid?

Chad glanced back but continued up the path to the helicopter. He made a spinning motion in the air and Jack began to wind the engine.

Wattman started to jog after Misti, but Rachel stepped into his path. “Back off, Mr. Wattman.”

“I don’t know who you people are but you’re trespassing. My girlfriend and I were just getting ready to sit down to lunch.”

“I’m not your fucking girlfriend, you damn whack job,” Misti screamed. Then she clambered into the passenger compartment of the 427.

Wattman tried to follow her but Rachel blocked his way, holding her palms up. Wattman’s bloodshot eyes turned mean and he reared his right hand over his left shoulder for a backhand swing, but Rachel saw it coming a mile away. She blocked the slap then stepped into his space, ramming a hard palm up under his chin. His teeth snapped shut and he staggered back and fell on his ass, looking stunned.

Rachel turned and jogged to the helicopter. She climbed into the cockpit and strapped in. As Jack lifted them up and away, she took pictures of Wattman and the house with her cellphone. She didn’t know if she would need them or not, but better to be safe than sorry.

*     *     *

Rachel gained a
little more respect for Misti after they flew her away. The woman broke down a little bit but controlled it by the time they landed. It was obvious she was listening to Chad as he explained who they were and who had hired them.

There was very little anxiety landing this time, Rachel noted. Jack had been as good as his word and put them down softer than she could have imagined. As she was unstrapping he pulled a business card from a central cubby and handed it to her.

“I’m not staying—I have to get to another charter—but if you need anything let me know.” His kind eyes flicked to Chad and Misti walking toward the terminal. “If that little girl wants to press charges I can do up a witness statement that she was fine when I flew her out there two days ago.”

Rachel took the card and nodded. “Thanks, Jack. I’ll let you know.”

She started to move again but he put a hand on her arm. “And if you ever want to go up again, or maybe get your hand on the stick, you let me know. I own this company and I’m in Denver fairly frequently. Or you can come out here if you’re more comfortable in the desert. I have a few toys you can pick from.”

Rachel’s chest tightened at the incredible gift he was offering and it took her a moment to speak. “Thank you, sir. That would be an honor.”

Impulsively she reached across the console and hugged him. And as she stood beneath the desert sun, basking in the stinging rotor wash as he lifted off, she had a very strong feeling she would be coming back here.

*     *     *

They drove the
Tahoe to the hotel to collect Carter and grab their bags. They also called the police so that the assault on her could be documented.

Rachel stood against the wall as Misti talked to the cops. Basically, she’d gotten cold feet. With her wedding fast approaching, she’d felt like a noose was tightening around her neck. Grabbing her two best friends they’d bolted for Las Vegas. Peter Wattman had approached them at a show, lavished money on them and made life exciting again. He had told Misti how amazing she was and that he could take care of her better than the guy in Colorado. Misti had fallen for it. Wattman had paid for the girlfriends to go home and Misti had flown away to his exotic desert hideaway…which had no cell phone service and a password protected wifi. Misti had been at his mercy.

“He changed as soon as we were alone. Promised he would take care of me but refused to let me do anything. But then he would turn on the charm and things would be easy again. I slept with him once consensually, but then he tried to force himself on me and I fought. I heard the helicopter outside and I bashed him on the head with a salad bowl. Then these guys came.”

She smiled up at Rachel and Rachel smiled back. Damn the kid was young. Rachel was glad she hadn’t spent any more time on the tarmac when they left though. It could have turned out much worse for Misti.

Vegas PD documented her injuries, took Jack’s information down and promised that charges would proceed.

“Let’s go home, kids,” Chad told them, grabbing his duffle. “Maybe I can still read my little girl a bedtime story.”

They piled into the Tahoe and hustled to catch the flight Carter had booked out of McCarran International Airport.

Her phone buzzed.

You’re killing me. What happened?

All is good. Running to catch flight home. Meet me at my house at 10?

YES!!!

‡

R
achel made it
home with a half hour to spare but Dean was already there waiting for her.

Pulling the bike into the garage, she removed her helmet and hung it from the throttle. Then she turned and stepped into his open arms.

Dean smelled of laundry softener and good, clean man. Rachel couldn’t get enough of him.

Pulling back he grinned down at her. “You look so good to me. I see you and my heart melts.”

Chuckling, she shook her head at him. “Whatever…”

He cocked his head, giving her a severe look and she rolled her eyes.

“Fine, even though I haven’t showered or brushed my helmet head, I’m beautiful to you.”

“You are,” he whispered, bending to press a kiss to her lips.

Rachel sank into him, loving the feel of being cradled in his arms. It had only been a few days but it seemed longer. Already her body was readying for him. And it was obvious that he was ready for her.

“Let’s move this inside.”

Dean peered beneath her hair. “You still have the earrings on.”

“Of course. I love them. Nobody has ever given me anything like them before.”

Dean grinned. “And nobody better now, either,” he growled. “But me.”

Rachel shut the garage door and led the way into the house. Grunt met them at the door, howling furiously for more food. Rachel threw a handful of food in the bowl, but it was a little difficult because Dean was reaching for the button of her pants. He’d already tugged up her t-shirt and unfastened her bra.

She giggled as she navigated her way to the bedroom, swatting at his hands. It didn’t matter. She was as bare as she could be without stopping to shed her boots. Collapsing to the mattress she ripped at her laces, desperate to have them off. Dean was shucking his own clothes and only had to kick off his tennis shoes. Then, as she struggled with the damned laces, he was fondling her breasts and ran a line of kisses up her back.

Finally, she was free of everything and turned to him. He immediately fell back on the bed with her sprawled across him. Rachel spread her thighs across his hips and sat up.

“Oh,” he sighed, his bright gaze running over her. “You’re going to get tired of hearing this but you are stunning. I love your breasts. I love your strength. I could look at you forever.”

Rachel leaned down to press a kiss to his lips. “Thank you.”

Dean wrapped his arms around her, sitting up easily in spite of their combined weight. He looked her in the eye and cradled her head in his hands. “I’m completely in love with you, Rachel. Not just one thing but everything about you. My heart recognizes you as its other half. I knew when I stopped at that crash that something big was happening when I talked to you. You showed such courage sitting in that mangled mess. And you show courage in so many ways every day. I wish I had been there to see you climb in that helicopter.”

Rachel laughed, but it came out more as a sob. “It was amazing,” she whispered, her throat tight. “This entire day has been amazing. You know I love you, too. I don’t have the words like you do but I will forever be there for you. I am so amazed at what has happened between us. I never expected to find anything like it.”

Dean pulled her close, his arms secure around her. “Then I’m going to tell you how much I love you five hundred times a day, until you believe it.”

She laughed lightly, her head nestled against his chest. “I’m going to hold you to that.”

Then she began nibbling his skin. She rocked her hips against the erection she could feel between them. Doing a little maneuvering, she guided him inside her, sank down and wrapped her legs around his hips. Then they rocked together, mouths fused, hearts beating in time. Rachel bore down, loving the feel of the orgasm rolling toward her. Dean held her hips in his hands, forcing her down against his body. Rachel panted and cried out, convulsing in his arms. His own orgasm struck suddenly and he cried out, burrowing his face in her hair. Then, unable to hold them up any longer, he rocked to his back with her on top of him.