Page 10 of Falling for the Playboy Pilot

JANNA

I pulled Laser out of the bar and relished the fresh air after the stuffy heat inside. And things had gotten a lot hotter in there when Dalton decided to take up space at our table. How could a man be so hot and so infuriating at the same time?

Laser was fuming. I didn’t blame her. I didn’t know the guy who came up barking at her, but it was pretty clear there was a relationship there. I’d only known the dude for thirty seconds but I didn’t think I liked him. He was rude. And poor Pickle had not done a damn thing.

“You okay?” I asked, slowing my pace as we started to walk back toward the airfield.

The bar was on the outskirts of town and the airfield was only a mile or so away.

Since we both knew we were going to be drinking and neither of us was willing to drive drunk, we walked.

I was happy to stretch my legs after the long day of traveling.

And I loved that it wasn’t too cold to walk.

I loved walking at night. It was one of the things I missed when I was in Alaska.

“Just another Tuesday with Bill,” Laser said. “He’s always been like this. He’s jealous, possessive, and completely delusional. He doesn’t want me, but he doesn’t want anyone else to have me.”

I glanced back at the bar, half-expecting him to come storming out after us, but the door stayed shut. “He’s not going to follow us, is he?”

“Not if Herc has anything to say about it,” she muttered, then sighed. “Thanks for getting me out of there.”

“Anytime,” I said, squeezing her hand before letting go. “You want to head back?”

She nodded, but then her eyes landed on the small market next door. “Actually let’s grab something first. I’m not interested in the night being over so early.”

We walked into the market, and while I picked up some junk food, candy bars, and energy drinks, Laser was scanning the row of liquor. As soon as we were outside, Laser opened the bottle and took a drink before passing it to me.

Okay . It wasn’t anything I was used to, but it was relationship drama and I had talked a few girlfriends through similar situations. Whiskey and chocolate were necessary.

When we got back to the airfield, we didn’t go to the dorm. Instead, we climbed a small hill and sat down on the ground.

“I love coming up here,” Laser said. “It’s so peaceful.”

“It’s beautiful,” I said.

She had not said anything more about the man I learned was Wild Bill and I didn’t ask. I figured she would tell me if she wanted to.

“So, how did you get the name Laser?” I asked after taking a swig from the bottle. My eyes burned a bit but the whiskey had stopped burning its way down my throat.

She sighed. “You can call me Cheryl,” she said. “I would like it if you did. Spending six months out of the year with these men all calling me Laser makes me feel… I don’t know. Not me. Like just one of the guys, which is great and I like that, but call me Cheryl.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “I can do that.”

“They call me Laser because a few years ago I was sick. I struggled to get out of bed. Laser is a spin on ‘lays her’ ass down on the job. It was a dick nickname, but I kind of like it. I don’t think of it as laying down but more like I have laser vision.

I’m a damn good spotter and all those assholes love it when I’m the one in the air with them. ”

I laughed. “I have a feeling I’m going to be dubbed Princess.”

She groaned. “I have a feeling you’re right. But own it. Don’t let them make it an insult. You’re a pretty princess. You carry yourself with grace. Own it.”

I looked out over Reddington Rescue. From where we were seated, the base looked small.

My tour earlier had not covered the full expanse of the property.

Now, I could see a basketball court highlighted by a single floodlight.

There were some picnic tables near the court.

It made me look forward to the next few months.

I could imagine the flyboys shirtless and sweaty on the court.

The second the thought entered my mind, I felt ridiculous.

What the hell was wrong with me? I was a little old to be boy crazy.

“I’m so done with these arrogant assholes,” Cheryl said.

Her words snapped me out of my own lustful thoughts and back to the present.

“Guys who think just because they can land a plane on a matchbox, they’re God’s gift to women.

Fly fast, fuck around, and you’ll always take them back.

And you know what’s worse? You do . A few times. ”

She took a long drink from the bottle, shuddered, and swallowed before passing the bottle to me. I took my own drink and waited for her to get it off her chest.

“We never even put a label on it,” she said. “That’s the part that really screws with you. He was always telling me he didn’t want to put a label on things. I was fine with that… for a while. I thought maybe if I gave him space, he’d catch up.”

I passed the bottle back.

“And when I finally laid out what I wanted, he pretended to be onbiard. He led me on and made me think he wanted something more. And then he went and put his dick where it didn’t belong again .”

“God,” I muttered. “What a piece of?—”

“I know,” she said, bitter laughter bubbling up. “I know. And the cherry on top? Now I have to fly with the bastard. Sit two feet away from him in a spotter plane while pretending I don’t want to stab him with a pen.”

“That’s brutal.”

“Too much friction,” she said. “And not the good kind.”

I winced in sympathy. Bill was an attractive guy. Not as hot as Dalton, but I could see the appeal.

“But you know what’s messed up?” Cheryl continued almost like she was talking more to herself than to me.

“He’s not all bad. He’s got charm, you know?

When he wants to, he can be sweet. Funny.

He would show up with my favorite coffee or remember some random thing I mentioned weeks ago.

And for a second, I would think that maybe it was real.

Maybe he was finally ready. But then…” She trailed off, shaking her head.

“Then he does something stupid. He would flirt with some random woman at the bar or bail on plans because he forgot. I think that’s when I realized he was never going to change. He is never going to settle down.”

I nodded, taking the bottle from her and sipping slowly. The whiskey was starting to warm me from the inside out. “Sounds like he’s got commitment issues,” I said carefully, not wanting to overstep.

“Commitment issues?” She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “That’s putting it mildly. Bill’s allergic to commitment. He’s the kind of guy who thinks settling down means giving up his freedom. Like I’m going to clip his wings.”

“I’m sorry.” I didn’t know what else to say.

“You want some advice?” she asked finally, tilting her head toward me.

“Sure.”

“Don’t fall in love here.”

“Yeah?” I asked through lips that were a little numb.

“These boys are good for one thing. You want to blow off some steam? Fine. Ride ‘em like you’re at the rodeo and leave before the sun comes up. But don’t you dare go catching feelings.

These flyboys are not looking for anything real.

They will take your heart for a season and then stomp all over it when they’re finished with you. ”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said.

“I’m the cautionary tale. Don’t be me.” She flopped back onto the ground and stared up at the stars. “Dalton ever give you those eyes?”

“What eyes?” I was playing dumb because I knew exactly what eyes she was talking about. And yes, I had seen those eyes earlier and they had left me all hot and bothered.

“The ones that beg you to get naked with them.”

I choked. “No.”

“He’s the worst one,” she said. “Hot, haunted, and dangerous. The holy trifecta of heartbreak.”

“I’m not—” I started, but she cut me off.

“You’re not interested, I know. None of us ever are. Until we are. Then we’re up at midnight drinking on a hill talking about how much men suck.”

We burst out laughing. We were both feeling the buzz. “We should probably go home,” she said.

“I’m not sure I can walk.” I giggled.

“Me either.”

We laughed again. We managed to stand, stumbling into each other and laughing so hard I was worried I might actually pee my pants.

I was pretty sure my legs were made of Jello.

We stumbled back down the hill like drunk deer.

Between the two of us leaning heavily against each other, we managed to stay upright.

It wasn’t pretty, but we made it back to the dorms without any bruises or sprained ankles.

We barely managed to get our shoes off as we each collapsed onto our beds. Cheryl went down face-first. The world spun, then faded into blackness.

BANG BANG BANG.

I jolted awake and sat up. “What the hell?”

My mouth was dry. My skull was full of cotton and fog. I squinted at the door and then looked over to see Cheryl was still passed out, face down but her chest was rising and falling, telling me she wasn’t dead.

BANG BANG BANG.

I groaned, stood up, and attempted to take a step but tripped over my shoes.

“What the hell…” I croaked.

Another bang , followed by a voice I absolutely did not want to hear first thing in the morning.

“Get up,” Dalton barked. “Time to hit the simulator.”

Shit.

I cracked the door open. “Are you kidding me?”

He stood there looking way too smug. He had the look of a man who definitely went to bed at a responsible hour. His arms were crossed. His shirt was tight. His expression said he was enjoying making my life a living hell.

“We’re scheduled for eight,” he said.

“I was sleeping .”

“Then you should’ve gotten drunk earlier last night.”

I groaned and pressed my hand to my head. “You’re the worst person alive.”

“Just wait until I’m done with you.”

He turned and walked away. I knew he was gloating.

“Fucker.” I closed the door and leaned my head against it.

“Tell that bastard I said he can eat a cactus,” Cheryl mumbled.

“I think I’d prefer to stick it up his ass.”