Turbulent Intentions (21 page)

“Let him go. He knows what he’s doing,” Nick radioed back through the mic on his flight helmet. “If we get busted for letting him off here, I’ll let him take the heat, but I somehow doubt anyone will say anything to the captain that pulled off an ocean landing at sunset in a Boeing 757 with zero casualties.”

Cooper ran into the terminal, his uniform still damp with seawater, his body aching from the crash. He pushed past the concourse and kept on going. Cooper was now suffering from fatigue as his body shook and his damp uniform clung to his body.

It seemed to take forever, but finally he made it to the ticket counter and was thrilled to see familiar fingernails clicking on a keyboard.

“My heavens! Cooper, what are you doing here? You should be at a hospital!” Meredith chastised.

“Stormy?” Cooper began as he leaned against the counter.

“Stormy?”

“Yes, is she here? I need to see her . . .”

“No, she’s been taken to the hospital.”

Panic flooded him more than when he’d been crash landing in an ocean that wanted to swallow him and his crew whole. What had happened? “Which one?”

Meredith told him, and then he stopped listening. He ran through the terminal. He had to find her.

CHAPTER FORTY-ONE

Her eyes opened and Stormy was startled by the monitor on her finger and the machine echoing her heartbeat.

“What’s happening?” she croaked.

“You’re being monitored in the hospital,” Sherman said. She turned to see his ashen face by her side.

“Sherman?” She didn’t have to finish the sentence.

“Coop’s okay,” he told her. “He’s on his way here now.”

“I can’t sit here!” She yanked at the device on her finger and began sitting up, the monitors instantly screaming. A nurse ran in.

“You have to stop,” the nurse ordered.

“No!” Stormy surged from the bed, her head a little light as she stood up. The nurse tried to keep her back, but Stormy needed to find Cooper. She couldn’t do that lying in a bed.

She leapt for the door, nearly knocking over Nick, who was just coming inside to tell Sherman that Cooper would be there any minute.

Rushing to the stairs, she made it to the overhang that looked out at the lobby, her gaze scanning the crowd of people reuniting. She couldn’t find Cooper anywhere. At the bottom of the stairs, she was swallowed up in the crowd before she finally saw him.

Her heart racing, she pushed past the people in her way and flew across the room, grabbing his arm.

“I’ve been so scared. I really thought I lost you,” she whispered. “I need to tell you that I . . . I love you.” Tears were streaming down her face and she didn’t care.

The man turned around and to Stormy’s horror, it wasn’t Cooper.

“Why, thank you. It’s not every day a beautiful woman throws herself at me. In fact, it’s usually every other. So . . . do you come here often?” The man smiled and she couldn’t tell if he was serious or not, but she was mortified.

“I’m . . . I’m sorry. I thought you were . . . I thought you were someone else.”

The man really did look like Cooper, though. His height, skin tone, and hair were nearly if not completely identical, but now that she was closer, it was obvious that they had different builds. And the guy was wearing a very expensive designer suit. Through all of this, though, Stormy was struck most by his eyes.

Unlike the piercing green of Cooper’s, this man had gray slanted eyes, which captured Stormy’s gaze in a seemingly endless moment. She felt as if she were crossing paths with a lone wolf in a frozen wasteland.

“Have we met before?” Stormy finally asked.

The man, appearing a bit worried, suddenly straightened his tie and cleared his throat.

“Yeah. I meant to call you back, but I lost your number. It’s so great to see you again.”

“Again? Have we met?”

He seemed to hear her this time, and the man let out a relieved breath while unsuccessfully trying to pass off his previous comment as misplaced humor. “I would certainly remember you, darling. Why
haven’t
we met before now?”

She gasped. “Oh my gosh, you’re Ace, Cooper’s brother.” How had she not figured that out instantly?

“Yep, the old man’s my brother,” Ace finally admitted.

“I’m your brother’s . . . friend.” Stormy stopped short of declaring herself his girlfriend, considering what had taken place the last time she’d seen him. But did any of that really matter now? She corrected herself. “Girlfriend, I’m his girlfriend.”

“Well, which is it? Do I have a shot or not?”

“No, not a chance,” she said. Her heart belonged to only one Armstrong. “I
am
Cooper’s girlfriend. Or at least I hope I still am.”

“Where is my brother dearest? I hear he narrowly escaped death.”

Damn, this man was hardened. But Stormy wasn’t one to judge someone at first glance. And there was something in his eyes that had her wondering if Sherman was right, if he did want to come back home. She didn’t know if she’d get the chance to ask him or not.

“I haven’t found him yet.” Stormy began looking around the lobby again for Cooper, who was perhaps sitting down somewhere. He had to be exhausted.

“Well, we can take different directions and see what we come up with,” Ace said, and he slipped away.

Stormy decided to retrace her steps and go back upstairs to her hospital room. Maybe he was searching for her, too.

And then he was there.

The room full of people fell away as her eyes locked with his. And right then, in that moment, she knew everything would be okay. He broke away from his uncle and Nick, and though he had to be exhausted, he ran to her.

No words were spoken as he lifted her, his lips connecting with hers as she sobbed against him, so grateful to be in his arms again.

It was too soon when he pulled back, but Stormy knew words had to be said. Tears slid down her cheeks as she touched his face. The past hours had been miserable thinking she might never get to do so again. It put things into perspective.

“I’m sorry, Cooper. I should have trusted you. It all seems so petty now,” she cried.

He held his hand up and cupped her cheek.

“No. I was the one who should have told you everything. I understand why you reacted like you did.”

“It doesn’t matter. I promise you it doesn’t matter. All that I care about right now is the fact that you’re okay,” she said.

“I haven’t been honest with you, Stormy. I’ve withheld a lot of information,” he began.

“I don’t care,” she told him.

“I don’t just fly for Trans Pacific Airlines. I own it,” he told her in a hushed tone.

That made her stop for a minute. “Wow.”

“I love flying and I could never settle for working for someone else. I have a lot of money, Stormy, and I’m sorry if I’ve hidden things from you. It’s taken me a long time to earn my trust back in all people, but you, I trust with my entire heart,” he told her.

“Oh, Cooper. I don’t care what you have. I just want to be a part of your life,” she said with tears streaming down her face.

“I love you, Stormy. I was planning on telling you this sooner, but things got messed up,” he said, a sparkle in his eyes. “By the grace of God, the sea refused to bury me in its depths; instead, it brought me back to you.”

“I love you so much,” she replied. “I’m sorry I left—that I ran away. I won’t run again.”

“It doesn’t matter,” he said, repeating her words.

Suddenly, he let her go as he dropped to one knee, pulling from his coat pocket a very mushy black ring box. There before her, a brightly polished gold ring was shining like the sun, set with three diamonds, the center stone larger than the surrounding accents.

“Stormy, marry me and I’ll cherish you for as long as I have left on this earth. I’ll give the entire inheritance to whatever charity you want. I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I want you, only you.”

With her left hand still in his, Stormy placed her right on his check, gently caressing his jaw. Never breaking eye contact, she knelt down on both knees, lightly kissed him on his lips, and nodded her head.

“Yes, Cooper, yes. I want to be yours for the rest of my life. And I do trust you. Even if I forgot that for a few days.” Tears of tender joy streamed down her face as she smiled and kissed the corners of his mouth. Cooper removed the diamond ring from the crumpled velvet box and slipped it on her finger.

As Cooper and Stormy embraced, the lobby erupted into applause and the sound of cameras clicking as the crowd of passengers, friends, and family all hugged and congratulated each other and the new couple. Something that could have been a great tragedy was ending so beautifully.

Sherman looked down from his vantage point, and he caught a glimpse of someone he hadn’t seen for too long. When the man looked up, their eyes connected.

As the two locked gazes, for a fleeting moment Ace smiled, perhaps out of gladness for seeing his uncle, Sherman hoped. But quickly, his nephew regained his composure, his eyes again became ice, and the lone wolf walked out the doors, to wander and lust after the desires of his soul.

And Sherman’s heart broke.

CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

Cooper stood face-to-face with his reflection, smartly dressed in his uniform. Over the harbor, the frosty January morning had left the world blanketed in a white lace of frozen dew. Cooper’s mother lightly knocked at his door and entered the bedroom.

“Today is your big day. Your bride looks splendid, absolutely angelic. Your father would be . . .
is
. Your father
is
very proud of you. I
am
proud of you, too, and I love you.” Resting her face against his shoulder while lightly rubbing the small of his back, Evelyn embraced her son.

“I know. I know he’s proud of me. It’s a funny thing, but I understand now why he chose to do things as he did. I have so much peace inside me, and it’s all because I fell in love.”

“Yes, love keeps us sane,” his mother said with a sad smile.

“I’m sorry you’ve been without him for so long,” Cooper told her.

“Thank you, son. That means more than you could ever imagine.”

Peering back out the window as he reined his emotions in, he decided he liked the cold and ice. It was clean, crisp, and beautiful.

“We better go. I don’t want to keep my bride waiting.”

“Yes, let’s not keep my new daughter waiting.” Evelyn smiled at her son as she took his hand and led him from the room and downstairs to a waiting limousine, where Sherman and his brothers were already sitting.

“Are you ready to be tied down for time and all eternity?” Nick asked with a punch to his arm.

“Yeah, I am,” Cooper said, not even embarrassed.

“What in the world has happened to you?” Maverick asked with a laugh.

“I fell in love. You should try it sometime,” he told his brother.

“No thank you. I prefer to hold on to my balls,” Mav said with a wink.

“Yeah, without a wife, I’m sure you’re doing that a lot,” Cooper told him.

“Hey!” Mav scowled. “I have no problem finding women to warm my bed.”

“Yeah, but at the end of it all, you’re still left with an empty bed,” Cooper said.

“This is a conversation a mother shouldn’t be hearing,” Evelyn told her sons, reminding them she was there.

“Sorry, Mom,” Mav quickly muttered.

“Let’s just focus on your brother since this is his day,” Evelyn suggested.

“I think that sounds like a plan,” Nick said, happy for once not to be the one getting in trouble. “Besides, you’re a national hero who’s marrying a beautiful girl. Plus, I’m going to be an uncle. And since I helped so much in the relationship, I think you should name my nephew after me.”

“Stormy and I were thinking of naming him William Sherman . . . or Will.” Scanning their faces for reactions to the name of the little boy that would be coming in the spring, Cooper fondly smiled at his mother.

“That’s a wonderful name, son. Baby Will is a wonderful name and this grandma can’t wait to meet him.”

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

“Lindsey, my hair is beautiful.” Stormy gazed in the mirror at her best friend, who’d been fussing with the do all morning.

“I know, but I’m so nervous,” Lindsey replied.

“Isn’t that supposed to be my line?” Stormy questioned with a laugh. Though, she didn’t feel nervous at all. She just felt excitement.

“Yes, it is. How are you feeling?”

“I was sort of afraid that Cooper would snap out of the shock of the crash and run away when he realized he was engaged, but I know he loves me,” Stormy said with a secret smile.

Placing both hands on Stormy’s arms, Lindsey replied, “Of course he does. I’ve seen the way he looks at you . . . and it’s true love. There’s no mistaking it.”

Stormy smiled at her best friend as she thanked her for always being there. But soon they were interrupted as a knock sounded at the door.

The door creaked open and a soft voice broke the silence.

“Hello, dear. I wanted to see my beautiful daughter-in-law before the big moment.”

“Please, come in.” Stormy gave her a smile. Evelyn had been so kind to her from the moment they’d first met.

“You are absolutely stunning, darling,” Evelyn said.

“Thank you,” Stormy replied quietly.

She turned and gazed at her image in the mirror. She’d chosen simple and comfortable, but the dress was indeed stunning. It was white, but unique in style. The bodice of the dress was adorned with lacy designs of silky, white, gilded ivy and jasmine flowers. The waist flowed into a billowing gown with ornate accents surrounded by small gems that made it look as if she were walking through a field of flowers.

At the waist, pure silk encircled the front, ending in a diamond-studded pendant of her own making that was affixed to the dress. Evelyn had been so impressed with Stormy’s designs that she was backing her in a jewelry shop where she could create custom jewelry and finally pursue her dream. Her world kept getting better and bigger each and every day.

“It’s time.” Sherman stood in the doorway now, tears in his eyes.

“Oh, Sherman.” She moved to him and kissed his cheek. “Meeting you has changed my entire life. There aren’t words to express how much you mean to me. Thank you for walking me down the aisle. I miss my dad so much, but I know he sent me you. He brought you into my life when I was at my most vulnerable and you’ve lifted me back up when all I wanted to do was lie on the ground and cry.”

Sherman’s eyes shone as he gazed at her, and that made her cry all the more.

“I’ve only known a beautiful, strong, confident woman from the moment I met you,” he said. “Yes, you might have thought you were broken, but you never have been. I’m the one who is so grateful our paths crossed, and I do believe it was your father. He gave us to each other when we both needed someone so desperately.”

“Thank you.” His words meant more to her than she could ever explain.

And then it was time. Now her stomach tensed just the littlest bit. The ceremony she could do without. But knowing at the end of it that she and Cooper would belong to each other, well, that made her having to be in the spotlight worth it.

She’d finally found what she wanted from life. It was funny how everything could go from so chaotic to nearly perfect in such a short amount of time. All she’d had to do was stop fretting about the small and big stuff, and then life had managed to come around.

Now she was walking to the man she loved. And they were going to have a very happy ever after.

Their family and friends gathered together in a quaint chapel that early January afternoon. Both sides of the aisle were bathed in color from the light that shown through the stained glass windows lining both sides of the sanctuary.

The room was adorned in sheer white fabric, draped from the ceiling and woven down the pillars that lined the sanctuary. The swaths of fabric swept around large porcelain vases containing brilliant yellow and red roses.

Stormy, dressed in her wedding gown, appearing like a queen fit for coronation, stealthily peered through a cracked side door at the sanctuary altar. It was all so dreamlike, all too perfect, and yet it was also all for her. A tan and calloused hand reached for hers.

“It’s time,” Sherman said. “But if you’re having second thoughts, you know I’ll sneak you out of here right now.”

“Oh, Sherman, that’s why I want to marry Cooper. Because I know I don’t have to.” Stormy smiled as she took her place next to Sherman, who looked so suave in his black tuxedo.

Cooper stood silent at the altar. That was all she needed to know.

In unison, a quartet of violinists and cellists placed their bows on their strings to play the first prolonged note of Pachelbel’s Canon. As the tempo of the soothing rhythm picked up, the wedding procession began their stoic march down the aisle.

Sherman escorted Stormy in perfect step to the music, preceded by the groomsmen and bridesmaids. The petal-covered aisle glowed in the afternoon sun still beaming brightly through the windows. Each row of guests turned to admire the bride as she passed by.

As the bridesmaids and groomsmen took their places at the altar, the string quartet ended their piece. Cooper and Stormy exchanged their vows before family and friends. The wedding went without incident, the scene both tender and elegant.

Upon their final
I dos
and the ceremonial kissing of the bride, the string quartet once again struck their chords to the tune of the wedding march. Those gathered in witness amongst the pews stood and clapped in praise of the union between two souls destined for each other as the happy couple made their way down the aisle, hand in hand—man and wife. Cinderella had found her prince.