Turbulent Intentions (15 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Cooper was at the controls of his jet, descending over Seattle. Wolf was busy calling out checklist items as Cooper responded with either
set
or
check
. Cooper, turning the control yoke to the left, began a sweeping turn.

On a clear and picturesque afternoon, the view from the flight deck windows was breathtaking. Below, in full view, Cooper could see the Space Needle and waterfront. As he gazed out the window his thoughts were of Stormy, wondering what she was doing.

After spending time with his brothers the other day, he’d come home and she was nowhere to be found. Then he’d been away for a couple days. But now, he had time off, and he was going to make good use of it.

“Wolf, what’s the time?”

“Quarter ’til two. Pre-landing checklist complete.”

Cooper was done with his anger. Now he wanted her back in his bed. Since pushing her wasn’t doing it, he was dead set on seduction.

If he rushed, he could make it to the café and maybe talk her into going for a ride. Well, at least a car ride, maybe not the ride he wanted to take her on . . . Though that was a definite possibility as well.

Thoughts like that made his uniform far too uncomfortable.

“All right, checklist complete, gear down, and we’re cleared to land. Listen, once we pull into the gate, I want to take off as soon as that door opens. You think you can wrap everything up without me?”

“You got it. Hot date?” Wolf smirked, peering over his sunglasses at Cooper.

“Hot date? I’m hoping so,” Cooper said with a laugh.

“You hope so? What’s that supposed to mean?” Wolf asked. “You never did call my cousin, so I know it’s not with her,” he accused.

“There’s another girl so I didn’t want to do that to your cousin. This woman is . . . I don’t know how to describe her. She makes me go a little bit crazy,” Cooper admitted.

That made Wolf laugh. “Have you actually met a woman who’s your match?” Wolf said, uncontrollable laughter making him shake.

“No!” Cooper thundered. “I just really like to . . . uh . . . spend time with her,” he said. For some reason he didn’t want to dishonor her by talking about how good she was in his bed.

“This is too awesome. CEO of Trans Pacific Airlines and captain of the big, bad Boeing 757 and you have lost your game and are all fluttery over a mere woman. I have to say I worry about you, man,” Wolf said between guffaws. “A hella rich and single guy with a giant-ass house and no one to spend your money on.”

“I’d rather be single than divorced. And I definitely don’t want a woman all over me for what’s in my bank account,” Cooper said with a glare. “You should also remember that I know your secrets, too, Wolf, and just how much is in your bank account.”

“
Shh
. We don’t spill each other’s secrets,” Wolf said, actually looking around, though they were locked up in the flight deck. “And, yeah, divorce sucks. Beth took off, said she couldn’t stand me being gone anymore. I don’t think she could stand me, period. Last thing she said was that she had met someone new. I guess there’s always flight attendants, right?” Wolf murmured a curse under his breath about his soon-to-be ex-wife.

“Sorry, man. That was a low blow,” Cooper said.

“It’s all good. We did meet in Vegas and got married drunk,” Wolf told him with a shrug.

Though Wolf was making a joke of the situation, Cooper wasn’t a fool. He knew his friend was hurting. But men didn’t talk about that sort of stuff—well, not unless the friend actually said they wanted to talk about it, and then it was just awkward.

“Well, you never know. It might work out for you,” Cooper said.

“I don’t want it to work out. Not when there’s a sea of beauties every single stop I make on this plane,” Wolf told him.

Cooper wasn’t buying it. But instead of saying something serious, he decided to make a joke. It was what was expected after all. “Flight attendants?” Coop scoffed. “No, bad news, never. Stay away from the sky mattresses, they leave you with more than back problems.”

“Not all of them, buddy,” Wolf laughed. “Did you see that hot little number, Tori? Dang, I wouldn’t mind taking her out on the town.”

“Who?” Coop asked, going through his mental checklist.

“She’s new here, but damn she has sass,” Wolf said with another laugh.

“I’ll have to check her out,” Coop said.

“As long as you realize she’s already taken,” Wolf told him.

“Ha. Okay then,” Cooper said. “But if she’s that good, she won’t look twice at you,”

“We’ll see . . .”

They left it at that. If only conversations were this easy with the opposite sex, Coop thought.

Maybe tonight was the night he was going to get Stormy back into his bed. He hardened to a rock with just the thought.

It was a good thing Wolf didn’t look down or Cooper would never live down the mocking. Trying to concentrate, he flew the plane, wishing he could land it right in Gig Harbor just to get him there faster.

Soon, he thought. Very, very soon . . .

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Nearing the end of her shift, Stormy wiped down tables and glanced at the clock every thirty seconds, which made the time drag ever slower. Business was ridiculously lagging today, making her want to cut out. Only a few more minutes left, though.

When the clock finally signaled quitting time, she sighed with relief and told her co-workers good-bye before going to the back and gathering her things. It was only a fifteen-minute walk home, but her feet were aching a bit today and she wasn’t looking forward to it.

When she stepped out to the curb, a flashy Porsche pulled up and she hated the anticipation she couldn’t help but feel when Cooper stepped from it, looking positively delectable with his captain’s hat on and his tie loosened around his neck. Their eyes connected as he moved toward her.

Maybe she wasn’t over her fascination of pilots as much as she’d thought. No matter how she tried to fight her attraction to Cooper, her body had other ideas. Just the sight of him caused a stirring in her stomach and made her bones feel like rubber. She was in trouble and there wasn’t anything she could do to stop it.

“Hi, Cooper. What are you doing here?” she asked when he was standing before her.

“My schedule changed and I hopped an early flight back from New York. I’m home for three days. I thought I’d give you a ride.” He paused and butterflies fluttered in her stomach at the look in his eyes. She was about to respond when he continued. “We could let the top down and enjoy the sun and wind in our hair. We’ll pretend we don’t want to rip each other’s clothes off for a couple of hours.”

Heat settled between her thighs and she pressed them together. What she should say was
no
,
and start walking, maybe burn off some of the sexual energy. Those weren’t the words that came out of her mouth, though.

“Sounds like fun.” She followed him to the car and couldn’t help but be charmed when he opened her door.

“How was your day?” he asked while putting the top down.

“It was long and boring. I prefer having lots of customers, not only for the tips but because time flies.”

“Yeah, I like keeping busy, too,” he told her. “And I like speed,” he added with a waggle of his brows. She was a little nervous being in the Porsche after that comment.

“How was New York?” she asked. “I think it would be pretty exciting to go there.”

“Trust me, it’s not as fancy as people think. I got into JFK from Los Angeles at about six last night and got to the hotel at eight. Then back to Seattle today and here I am, a true miracle of modern science and ingenuity,” he responded.

“Well, it would be a thrill to see all the cities. I’ve traveled a lot, just not from the front seat, and not to anyplace people would choose to vacation.”

“I’m not going to downplay the front seat. You have a view from there unlike anything you could imagine. Maybe I’ll sneak you up there with me on one of these flights. You can ride shotgun.”

Stormy’s heart thundered at the statement. The ride in the front seat that immediately came to mind wasn’t exactly PG either, dang it.

Cooper hit the freeway and then Stormy’s breath was taken away for a whole other reason. The wind whipped through her hair, and she quickly reached into her bag for a rubber band. She tied her hair up and laughed with glee as they shot down the road, going well above the speed limit.

Passing cars on the left and the right, she couldn’t help but notice that Cooper handled the car like a race car driver, not slipping across the lines a single bit as they sailed down the highway. When he pulled off at an exit about thirty minutes south of Seattle, she missed the speed as they crawled through a small town.

“This is a small restaurant, but one of my favorites,” he told her, pulling up to a building she wouldn’t expect someone like him to frequent. “Don’t judge it by the looks. This has the best food in all of Washington.”

He put the top of the car back up, then told her to wait while he came around and opened her door. She wasn’t in a hurry to get out because she wanted to put her hair back into place and add a dash of lipstick.

“Do I look completely windblown?” she asked. She hadn’t been expecting to go out in public.

“You look stunning.”

The way his eyes darkened as he looked at her made the flutters reappear, and Stormy wondered why she was pushing this man away. She had to be insane.

It was a little early for dinner so the place wasn’t crowded, but the older hostess greeted Cooper with a smile and hug before turning her eyes on Stormy, making her feel like she was coming up short.

“Table for two?” the woman said.

“Yes, Sally, out back,” he said.

“Ah, looking for some romance are we?” she said with a cackle.

“Of course,” Cooper said, then turned to Stormy with a wink.

She, of course, blushed and looked to the floor. What was she doing?

They were led through a small dining hall where the wooden tables were decorated beautifully with cloth and exquisite settings, fresh flowers in the middle, and a lit candle, the atmosphere romantic.

They were taken outside, where patio lights and heaters were strategically placed around the deck, though they didn’t need them quite yet.

“We’ll have some appetizers and drinks, and then eat dinner while the sun is setting,” Cooper told her.

She wasn’t even handed a menu. For a moment that offended her, but then she was impressed when he placed an order. Most of what he asked for sounded delicious.

When the Escargot Royal with a toasted bagel came out, though, she passed. Cooper laughed at her as he took a bite. She sipped on her red wine, surprised when she enjoyed the smooth flavor. Normally, she was a white wine sort of girl.

“Sometimes it’s important to try new things. I learned that long ago,” he told her, offering a bite of the escargot.

“I don’t mind stretching the boundaries, but I’m not eating snails,” she insisted. Instead she picked up a coconut-encrusted tiger prawn and dipped it in Thai chili sauce. That was much better.

They talked and slowly the wine relaxed Stormy as she gazed out at the stream trickling by and ate her roasted beet and baby spinach salad, the tangy raspberry vinaigrette dressing delicious.

“You must really enjoy living in this area and finding places like this,” she said.

“I grew up in Gig Harbor and spent my entire life there. My dad worked in the city, but didn’t want to live stacked on top of people, and my mom fell in love with the small harbor early in their marriage.”

“Are both your parents still alive?” she asked. She’d only heard him make one comment about his mother.

“My dad passed several years ago, but my mom is still here, thankfully. She’s amazing. I can’t believe you haven’t actually met her yet. She comes to visit quite often,” he said with a laugh.

“You enjoy her visits?” she asked.

“Of course I do. It’s my mom,” he said.

She laughed at that. “You would be surprised how many people forget they have parents who love them. I adored my parents, but I have so many friends who never visit, never call, don’t even know what their parents are up to,” she said. “I would give anything to have them back for even five minutes.”

“I’m so sorry you’ve lost them, Stormy,” he told her while reaching out for her hand. “Family is who we can count on when the rest of the world fades away. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for mine,” he told her.

Her admiration for the man jumped up a few more notches. She didn’t need to keep looking for reasons
not
to fall for this man.

“Yeah, I agree. I wanted to get out on my own and prove I could do it, but there are so many times I want to just run home and cry on my mother’s shoulder before I remember she’s not here anymore,” she admitted.

“I wish there was something I could say to make your pain go away.” His fingers continued rubbing her hand, which made her fidget with the silver bracelet she was wearing so she wouldn’t reach out for him. “That’s beautiful. I see you wear it a lot,” he pointed out.

“I love it,” she said with a smile. “My mom and I went to a class and made the bracelet then designed a few of the charms. Then every new place we would go, we’d add a
new
charm to it. It really was the thing that started my love of jewelry design.”

“It looks like there’s room for another one,” he said as he ran his finger over her wrist, making her pulse jump.

“Yep, a few more spots,” she answered with a gulp as she tugged on her hand. “It’s too bad they aren’t here to help me finish it.”

He didn’t release her right away. The longer he touched her, the more nervous she became. This wasn’t supposed to be as romantic as it was turning out to be. It was just supposed to be friends sharing a meal.

“Just remember the good times you had. And you can complete the bracelet in their honor,” he pointed out.

“When I think about making the charms, I get scared, like if I do that, then I’m really trying to go for my dream, and failing at it horribly,” she said shyly.

“I think you should go for it. Why don’t you?”

“Because school isn’t cheap and it seems like there’s never time to do it,” she told him. Yes, it was an excuse, but she didn’t believe in herself enough to make a career out of creating art.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way. I think you should pursue your dream,” he said as he leaned across the small table to be closer.

She was very quiet as she tried to decide if she was going to allow him to kiss her or not. But she pulled back at the last minute. It was just too intense.

Their dinner was served and it was as delicious as he’d promised. She had butternut squash ravioli with wild Maine lobster. He had the New York steak and potatoes. When they finished, both were comfortably full.

“Let’s watch the sun set,” he said.

He didn’t give her a chance to tell him no. Instead, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her over to a fire pit with benches around it. She was afraid to even breathe as they watched the sunlight dim over the creek.

“I’m glad you picked me up from work,” she told him, enjoying the feel of his arm around her. “Thanks, Cooper. The night has been perfect.”

“It doesn’t have to end now,” he said.

Something about the darkness gave her a bit of boldness. Turning to see his silhouette in the soft light from the fire, she struggled with how much she wanted to lean into him, accept the kiss he wanted to give her.

He didn’t give her any more of a choice.

He took her mouth without giving her a chance to rethink it and the kiss overwhelmed her with how right it felt, how familiar. She took pleasure in his arms, heat warming her within as his lips caressed hers, growing more and more hungry with each passing of his tongue.

Finally, she pulled back before she got to the point of no return.

“Yes, it does have to end,” she finally said.

He looked as if he was about to argue, and then he surprised her instead when he stood and helped her stand.

“Thank you for accompanying me. Now, let’s head home.”

Cooper paid the bill, hugged the hostess good-bye, and then escorted her back to his car. He played the radio on an oldies country station on the way back, both surprising and delighting her.

When they got back to the house, he walked her to the bottom of the stairs and kissed her cheek. “Thank you again.”

He turned and walked away.

She couldn’t tell how he was feeling by his tone. She almost wanted to rush back to him. But she knew that wasn’t a wise idea. So instead, she made her way up to her bedroom—alone.

When she finally lay down, she wondered why she was fighting this so badly. There wasn’t a reason to.

Maybe because she knew if she slept with him again, he was going to own her heart. And she didn’t think he would want to keep it for very long. It might just be worth a little pain now in order to avoid a hell of a lot of pain later.