Page 33 of Falling for the Playboy Pilot

DALTON

J anna was gone. I knew it the second my eyes opened.

Not just gone from my bed, but the cabin.

How weird was it that I could sense her absence?

I didn’t want to think about what that meant.

I grabbed the pillow she had used and brought it to my face to breathe her in. It smelled of her citrus shampoo.

Am I pissed she left without saying goodbye? I don’t know. I’m not sure what I feel.

Yesterday had been so fucking weird. It was like I woke up in the wrong body. A body with feelings and emotions. It had taken me all day to try and get right with it. And I couldn’t say I was totally okay with it. Last night had been stranger than the day.

I held her. We actually slept together. Slept. No sex. Cuddled. Spooned.

Two months ago I would have shuddered at the thought. Now, I was thinking about how I could get her back in my bed for another cuddle session. I hadn’t slept that well in a long time and I could only assume it was her presence that did it.

I’m seriously fucked up.

And I had no idea what I was going to say to Chief. I knew I owed him an explanation. He wasn’t so old and out of it he couldn’t figure out what happened, but maybe I could feign innocence. I was pretty sure everyone else knew exactly what happened. I acted like a jealous boyfriend.

I reached for my phone and saw I had several messages. One from Pickle giving me shit. Another from Laser giving me more shit along with a meme of a silverback gorilla beating its chest. And then there was one from Tanya.

I groaned. I had to see her. I didn’t want to, but I had to. It was a promise I made, and I had to keep it. I was a man of my word.

I got up, showered, and brushed away the whiskey taste that still clung to my tongue.

I hadn’t gotten drunk last night, but before bed, I did have a couple more drinks.

My hand fucking throbbed. It was my own fault, but damn, I had to remember I wasn’t twenty-one anymore.

Fighting and drinking didn’t hit quite the same.

I texted Chief to let him know I would be in soon. I had an errand to run and since my pager never went off, I was going to assume there were no fires to deal with. He texted back right away without mentioning the fight.

Hopefully, I could avoid that little minefield.

I headed into town, going to the liquor store first. I bought the bottle of whiskey that cost too much but was definitely worth it. Then I walked across the street to the flower shop. I wasn’t picky about what I bought.

The last stop was at the little novelty shop that sold souvenirs, weird trinkets, and chocolate imported from all around the world.

I spent a little extra time choosing. I glanced around, taking in the shelves crammed with souvenirs and brightly packaged candies from around the world.

My eyes narrowed as I zeroed in on the chocolate section.

The shop owner, a petite woman with silver hair pulled into a loose bun, appeared from behind the counter. “Good morning, Dalton. Can I help you find something?”

“Yeah. I’m looking for something special. Chocolate. But the good stuff.”

“Ah, a man of taste! Come with me.”

She led me to the glass case filled with rows of chocolates, each packaged in elegant boxes. The labels boasted origins from Switzerland, Belgium, France, and beyond. My eyes scanned them, but none of them felt quite right.

“What’s your favorite?” I asked.

“Well, that depends. Are you looking for something rich? Smooth? Spicy? Sweet?”

“I don’t know. Something different. Unique. Something that would make a lady’s toes curl.”

She laughed and swatted at me. “Such a flirt.”

I followed her deeper into the shop. She gestured to a display of exotic chocolates, each box fancier than the last. My fingers hovered over a sleek black box labeled Dubai Gold . The packaging screamed luxury.

“Oh that one is good,” she said. “It’s infused with saffron and rosewater. A real treat.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Saffron? Isn’t that the stuff that costs more than gold?”

She nodded, her eyes twinkling. “Yes, but trust me, it’s worth it. Here, try a sample.”

She handed me a square of chocolate. I popped it into my mouth, letting it melt on my tongue. The flavors hit me in waves. It wasn’t just chocolate—it was an experience. It was unlike anything I’d ever tasted.

“Holy shit,” I muttered, savoring the last traces of it. “That’s incredible.”

She smiled, clearly pleased with my reaction. “I told you. It’s a favorite among my customers.”

I hesitated for a moment, my mind racing. Was this too much? Too extravagant?

“Alright, I’ll take a box.”

I sat in my truck for a few seconds before I texted Janna.

Me: Hey. Are you working tonight? Would like to see you.

I waited. Watched the bubbles come up and then disappear. Nothing. I waited a few more seconds and still nothing.

I assumed she was busy, so I tossed my phone in the cupholder and started out to the field. I put the chocolates and flowers in the fridge and left the whiskey in my truck. I didn’t trust the assholes around here not to drink my bottle.

Knowing I couldn’t put it off any longer, I walked to Chief’s office. I knocked on the door and waited. “Come in,” he said.

I pushed open the door and walked in. He looked up at me, then my hand. “Sit,” he ordered.

I sat down in the chair across from Chief’s desk, my aching hand resting on my thigh. Chief leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled under his chin as he studied me with that piercing gaze of his. It felt like he was peeling back layers, trying to get to the truth I wasn’t sure I wanted to admit.

Chief was like a father. Or a principal. I never really saw him as a boss. But I did respect him.

“So,” he finally said with a sigh. “You want to tell me what happened yesterday, or am I supposed to guess?”

I sighed. “It wasn’t planned, Chief. Things just escalated.”

He raised an eyebrow, his expression unimpressed. “Escalated? That’s your explanation? You’re a fire pilot, Dalton, not some bar brawler. You’re supposed to be setting an example for the crew, not starting fights over petty nonsense.”

I clenched my jaw. My hand throbbed as if to remind me of my stupidity. “It wasn’t petty. Those guys were?—”

“Flirting with Janna,” Chief interrupted, his tone sharp. “Yeah, I heard. And you decided to play the role of jealous boyfriend. Except you’re not her boyfriend, are you?”

I froze for a moment, caught off guard by the directness of his question. I opened my mouth to respond, but Chief held up a hand, stopping me before I could even start.

“Let me make something clear,” he said, leaning forward now, his elbows on the desk.

“I don’t care what’s going on between you and Janna.

That’s your business. But when it starts affecting the team, when it starts causing problems on the tarmac, then it becomes my business. And right now, it’s my business.”

I slumped back in the chair. “I didn’t mean for it to go that far. I just kind of lost it.”

Chief sighed again. The look on his face was more like a disappointed football coach than boss.

“You’re a damn good pilot, Dalton. One of the best I’ve ever worked with.

But you’ve got a temper, and it’s going to get you into trouble if you don’t learn to control it.

You can’t let personal feelings cloud your judgment. ”

I nodded, knowing he was right. “I’ll do better, Chief. I promise.”

“I know you will. But this isn’t just about you. It’s about the team. You’re part of something bigger than yourself, and you need to remember that.”

“I know,” I said quietly. “I’ll make it right.”

Chief leaned back in his chair again, nodding. “Good. Now, get out of here and get that hand looked at. You’re no use to me if you can’t fly.”

“Thanks, Chief. The hand is fine. I promise. I’m good. It’s a little stiff, but fine.”

I left his office and made my way out to the hangar to check on the maintenance of my plane and the other S-2s. I checked my phone to see if Janna texted me back.

Nothing.

I couldn’t help but scan the area in search of her. The chairs she and Laser had been sitting in yesterday were up against one of the buildings. No one was tanning today. I almost felt guilty about that. Almost.

I strolled into the hanger and spotted Gilbert working on one of the other planes.

He laughed when he saw me. “Rocky!”

I expected that. “Yeah, yeah.”

I knelt by the engine compartment of the S-2. My knuckles still ached from yesterday’s idiotic brawl, but I ignored it. Engine repair was straightforward. A problem arises, you diagnose it, fix it, and move on. No guessing games, no hidden meanings. Just pure mechanics.

No drama.

Women, on the other hand? That was a whole different beast. Janna’s face flashed in my mind. I’d fucked up, and I knew it. I’d let my temper get the better of me, and now she was avoiding me. Hell, I didn’t blame her. I’d acted like a possessive idiot, and now I was paying the price.

But last night had been different. I thought she and I had come to some kind of understanding. Maybe that could have been true if we actually talked instead of just sitting together. Yesterday, she didn’t seem to need words. She’d been cool just hanging out.

“Well, well, well,” Pickle drawled, leaning against the wing of the plane. “I thought you might stay away.”

“Why?” I asked.

He laughed. “Chief didn’t fire your ass?”

“Nope.”

“Seen your victims?”

I scoffed. “Victims? Yeah, right. If those guys can’t take a few hits, they have no business around fire.”

He chuckled again. “How’s the hand?”

“Fine.”

“I figured you might have broken a finger or two.”

I stopped what I was doing and looked up at him. “I know how to throw a punch to keep from breaking my damn hand.”

He snorted. “Janna didn’t come back to the dorms last night.”

I didn’t say anything. It wasn’t like he needed me to. He laughed and walked away.

I was going to be stuck listening to all the bullshit for at least a week. Maybe we’d get a call for a fire, and everyone would forget all about the incident.

I checked my phone again and there was still nothing. Maybe Janna was trying to forget about the incident and me.