Heart of Steele

by Randi Alexander

  He cocked a brow at her. He loved how she blushed. “You can get whatever you want done. It’s my private plane, and it won’t leave without me.”

  “Ohhhh.” She dropped her head back on the seat. “This is going to be heaven.”

  To him, heaven had been the last three days in Big Bear.

  ****

  They boarded his plane at five-thirty, only a half hour late, and she looked spectacular. She’d had some highlights added to her hair and a fresh cut, her nails were blood red now instead of the light pink she’d worn before. And a makeup application made her eyes pop and her lips look ripe and sweet.

  He couldn’t wait to mess it all up on their flight.

  She’d chosen a few new things at the resort’s boutique and wore a green logoed polo shirt, white slacks, and jeweled sandals. The other outfits he’d picked out for her—despite her objections to his spending so much on her—were in the bags he hauled onto the plane.

  He’d cancelled the flight attendant, but insisted on his usual two pilots. Safety first, and it had paid off over the years.

  “My suitcase arrived.” Tracy pointed to her red carryon size bag in the closet, and set her big red tote bag next to it. She stepped into the body of the plane. “I still can’t believe this.” She practically danced along the aisle, her hands brushing over the ten reclining seats in soft tan leather and the couch in the back that folded out into a bed.

  He’d begun to take it all for granted. Flying seemed more like a chore than a convenience. Seeing it all through her eyes made it new again. He leaned on a seat as the co-pilot closed the hatch.

  “Ready, sir?” the man asked.

  “Ready, Tracy?”

  She came out of the decent sized bathroom, pointing into it. “There’s a shower in here.”

  He grinned. “Yes there is. Once we’re airborne, you can spend the whole flight in there.”

  She gave him a sly smile. “And ruin my makeup? Uh uh.” She looked at the seats. “Where do you want me?”

  He lifted an eyebrow.

  Her cheeks turned pink.

  Steele turned to the pilot. “We’re ready. Thank you.”

  After the pilot closed the cockpit door, Steele escorted Tracy along the narrow aisle past the first set of seats, which faced backward, to the seats facing forward. “Whichever you’d like, sugar.”

  She sat and crossed her legs, looking so perfect there that he was tempted to take out his phone and snap a photo of her. He hadn’t taken any all weekend, but neither had she. He plopped down in the seat next to her. He probably didn’t need a picture since she’d be with him in person from now on. He blinked. When did his future plans change to “from now on” from his original “for a while?”

  They fastened their seatbelts and the jet taxied toward the runway.

  Two bongs sounded.

  “We’re next.” He set his hand on her armrest, palm up. “Are you a nervous flier?”

  She set her hand in his. “No. I don’t get to do it much. I usually drive home. To Montana, I mean.”

  “That’s a long way.” He didn’t like the idea of her doing that trip alone.

  Looking out the window, she leaned closer to get a better view. “I can do it in two days.”

  “When was the last time you were back there?”

  The jet turned then the engines revved. “This summer.” She didn’t look at him.

  “When are you going next?” He’d offer her his jet both ways. Hell, he’d go with her, if she’d let him. He’d like to see firsthand what made her sink into herself whenever she spoke of her family.

  She shrugged and shook her head. “I don’t know.”

  He wasn’t a slow leak. He could tell she didn’t want the conversation to continue.

  They raced down the runway and were wheels-up in seconds, and climbing quickly. Tracy kept her face nearly pressed to the window. “So cool up here. Like we’re floating through time.”

  His mouth curved in a smile. She had the cutest sayings.

  After a few minutes, three bongs sounded and he unfastened his seatbelt. “Hungry?”

  She nodded, then slid her face into a frown. “Is this the ‘peanuts or pretzels’ question?”

  He chuckled as he stood and walked to the galley at the front of the plane. “No. The airport has a gourmet service. They stocked us up pretty good.” He pulled two plates from the small refrigerator, read the directions, and popped them in the microwave.

  “Today we have an appetizer assortment.” He dug in the fridge for a bottle of champagne. “I thought we’d eat somewhere nice once we get to Tulsa.”

  “Need any help?” She was still staring out the window.

  “Nope. I got it.” He checked the label on the champagne. Seven years ago, he wouldn’t have known real French champagne from carbonated wine, but years of learning to impress the ladies had changed that country boy into a connoisseur of finer things. Except when he went home to Texas. Then he was all cowboy, just the way he liked it.

  Grabbing two tall champagne flutes, he carried them and the bottle to the seat facing Tracy’s.

  Her face lit up when she saw the label. “Wow, fancy.”

  He set the bottle down and pulled out the small wood table from its cubby in the wall, and placed the glasses on it.

  After popping the cork, he poured full glasses for each of them. Lifting his toward her, he took the plunge. “Here’s to whatever comes next for us.”

  She met his gaze with a blank stare. Tapping her glass to his, she looked away before taking a sip.

  This wasn’t going the way he’d planned. The microwave beeped and he jumped up to get their food.

  Placing silverware wrapped in a cloth napkin at each of their places at the table, he cleared his throat.

  She stared at her hands, clenched in her lap.

  Steele sat on the armrest of the chair across the aisle from her. “Tracy, when we got to the cabin, I don’t think either of us could have guessed how intense it would be for us. Making love to you was amazing.” His groin heated just thinking about it.

  She nodded and looked up at him with wide eyes.

  “Sugar, I don’t know where it’ll go or what will—”

  “Steele. I think you may have misunderstood what happened between us the last few days.” She reached out and took his hand. “It was wonderful at Big Bear, but we both know it’s over.”

  His jaw dropped. That was the exact opposite of what he was trying to tell her.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Tracy held Steele’s hand, trying to keep hers from shaking. Having him loom over her the way he was, sitting on the arm of his airplane seat, didn’t help.

  It killed her to cut him off the way she had, but she’d planned for this moment. Although, she thought it wouldn’t come until after the concert the next night.

  He wanted their relationship to continue. God knew she did too, but it wasn’t what was best for her right now.

  The hum of the jet engines droned on in the silence between them.

  “What do you mean?” Steele released her hand and slumped off the arm and into his seat. “Over?”

  She released her seatbelt and turned to face him. “We knew, going in, that this was just a convenient release for both of us. Stuck up there in your cabin together gave us the perfect chance to work out all the sexual tension between us.”

  “So it was just sex for you?” His jaw tightened and his eyes turned more gray than green.

  She couldn’t lie. “It was more than that. It became more than just sex. But I don’t have room in my life for this right now.”

  “Room for ‘this.’ If it’s more than just sex, why—”

  “Let me explain.” She took a deep breath. “I have goals for my life, and I want to achieve them. Soon. I’m getting older in a business that worships youth. I need to focus all my efforts there. Dating you would be a distraction I can’t afford.” She would love it, though. She’d discovered that she craved his company, but
she needed to cut herself off from it before more of her heart became involved.

  “I can help you.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his legs. “I have connections.” He said it softly, as if he knew she wouldn’t want to hear it.

  She shook her head. “You know I don’t want that. I don’t want to be hired because I’m the actress who’s dating Steele McLairn.” Touching her fingers to her lips, she breathed deeply to hold back her emotion. “Just look what happened at the movie studio. Our lives became a circus when that video went online.”

  The scent of something delicious wafted from the front of the plane. She stood and walked to the galley, opened the microwave door, and carried the plates to the table. Tracy stood in front of Steele. When he didn’t look up, she sat on the chair facing him.

  “I’ve wanted to be an actress since I was a little thing. I’d always pretend...” Pretend she had a perfect family, and wasn’t pushed around by her brother.

  He lifted his head. His eyes showed his confusion.

  “I want to be noticed for my own talent, not for being attached to someone who can make things happen for me. You understand, right?”

  He nodded. “What if we kept it secret? And met once in a while?” He got to his feet and helped her to stand. His beautiful eyes stared into hers. “Don’t end this just when things are starting to get good.”

  For such a proud man to ask that of her—it made her rethink everything she’d just said. She needed time to think. “Food’s getting cold. Let’s eat while we talk.” She sat and gulped a swallow of champagne as Steele took his seat across the table, facing her.

  He watched her as he picked at an appetizer. “You have more to say. Get it out, sugar.”

  At least he was talking to her. “Don’t you think this all happened too fast?” She bit into something creamy with artichokes and garlic.

  He set down his food. “You’re saying that the newness is wearing off?”

  “No, I’m saying that it’s all been wonderful, but it wasn’t real life. Up there at the cabin, we had our own world.” Their own slice of heaven. “It’ll be different once we get back to real life in LA.”

  “It doesn’t have to be.” He sat back, his champagne flute in his hand. “How will you know if you don’t give it a try?”

  Selecting another morsel, she popped it into her mouth to give her a moment. The champagne wasn’t helping her keep a clear head. He made a good point. What would it hurt to meet him secretly, only when her busy life, and his, permitted?

  But then, there was the anger issue. When he’d been on the phone with his PR people and his agent, he’d been a different person. The sheer violence she’d felt pouring from him had startled her. Was that how he was in his work life? Once they returned to the city, would that be his normal demeanor?

  He refilled their glasses then sat patiently, waiting for her answer. Why wouldn’t she give it a try?

  What if the man she’d fallen for in Big Bear wasn’t the real Steele, though? It might just kill her. “I don’t want to make a decision right this second.” She looked out the window.

  “I’ll give you all the time you want, all the space you want, Tracy.” He set his glass on the table. “I feel something.” His brow furrowed. “I’ve never known anyone like you before, and I want to spend more time with you.”

  His words cocooned her heart in tenderness, and it hurt, physically, to think of a life without him.

  He stood and held out his hand to her.

  She took it and let him pull her up. “Steele. Let’s keep things as they are for a little while longer. Until I can think this through.”

  “Anything you want, Tracy.” He ran his hand over her hair and down her arm. “We’ll take this at your pace.”

  The relief of not having to say goodbye right here, of having the option to see him in the future, loosened the ache in her chest. She wrapped her arms around him and pressed her face into his neck, nibbling on the corded muscles there. “You said...anything I want, right?”

  He kissed her temple. “Anything, sugarbeet.” His voice was soft and slow.

  “That couch back there?” She tipped her head back and gave him a naughty smile. “Can I submit my membership to the Mile High Club with you?”

  He tossed his head back on a laugh, turned her to face the back of the plane, and with his hands on her shoulders, walked her in the direction she wanted to go.

  “We’re taking new membership applications today, Ms. Hartman. Please get completely naked and lay on the couch.” He closed the door to the small room, cocooning them in their own little world.

  She giggled as she unbuttoned her pants. It was a temporary fix for her confusion, but a nice way to ease her heartache.

  ****

  Late the next morning, Tracy stepped on stage in front of the empty arena. Steele was there already doing a sound check with his band. Three large film cameras sat at different spots, pointing to a big blue screen to the far side of the stage. It looked like the one they’d been filming in front of in LA.

  The high-heeled red cowgirl boots Steele had swiped for her carried her across the carpeted stage as she tied her T-shirt under her breasts the way the costume department had done for her back in LA. Her Daisy Duke shorts felt a little tight. Too much good food and wine the last few days.

  When they’d arrived in Tulsa the night before, there were two limos to bring them separately to the hotel. She had her own room, but Steele invited her to his suite for supper and a long night of wrestling in bed. And on the couch. And in the shower.

  They’d taken separate limos to the arena today, too. Steele’s manager, Jeff, had worked it all out so they wouldn’t be seen together anywhere but on stage.

  Tracy waved to Steele, who was singing one of his hits into a microphone while playing intricate notes on his guitar. He winked at her. She stopped and listened, amazed at his talent. His band consisted of the top musicians in country music today.

  He ended the song abruptly. “Sound good to everyone?”

  “Good out here,” a voice came over the speakers.

  Steele turned and waited until all his band members gave a thumbs-up. “We’re done. See you back here tonight.” He pulled his guitar strap over his head as he walked backstage.

  It took a few minutes for everyone to clear out and the camera crew to take their spots. The director from the video shoot in LA walked out onto the stage, giving directions and looking into one of the cameras. “Miss Hartman. Will you please stand in front of the screen so we can get some lighting levels?”

  “Of course.” She hustled to the spot and stood perfectly still while a young man she didn’t recognize held a little gadget in the air around her. “Are you from Tulsa?”

  He stopped and looked at her. “Yes, ma’am. I’m Body. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  “Thank you. I’m Tracy. It’s my first time in Oklahoma.”

  “I recognize you, ma’am.” He stepped a little closer. “If you need someone to show you around town, I’d be glad to oblige.”

  She looked at him. Kind of cute, blond, about her height but very young. “Thank you, but I’ll be leaving tonight.”

  “If you change your mind...” He pulled out his phone. “Want to give me your number, I’ll call and leave a message, and you can get me if you need me?”

  She laughed. “You’re very creative, but I really can’t. Thank you.”

  He pointed his gadget a few more times. “I can get us into one of the hottest clubs in town. My cousin works the door.”

  He was persistent. “Thanks, but no. I’m not available.”

  “Just for dancing. A couple drinks. A night out.”

  “I really—”

  “If you two are finished setting up your date...” The producer’s voice carried across the stage. “Can we finish the lighting check?”

  Blond guy’s cheeks turned red but he winked at her. “Think about it.” He walked away.

  “He almost had you
there.” Steele’s voice came from behind her.

  She swung around, her heart thudding as she searched for the words to explain.

  He grinned and adjusted his black cowboy hat. “Tempting, wasn’t it? Drinks, dancing, and his cousin could get you into the club.”

  Relief flowed through her. He wasn’t jealous. Hadn’t stepped in and told the light tech to get the hell away from her. Didn’t seem upset at all. If Steele did have anger issues, wouldn’t they surface at a time like this?

  “I’ll admit, it was very tempting, but I doubt he’s old enough to get into a club without a fake ID.”

  Steele stood next to her as the soundtrack from his single blasted from the speakers. “Looks like we’re ready.”

  “So, when do I get to punch you again?” She batted her eyes at him.

  “Probably not soon enough, huh?”

  She sighed. “It still kills me every time I think about—”

  “No.” He lifted a hand as if to touch her then let it drop. “Don’t let it bother you. I look at it as the luckiest accident that ever happened to me.” He blinked a few times. “If it hadn’t, we never would have had Big Bear.”

  Her heart filled with a sweet ache. Nothing he could have said would have affected her the way those words did. She was falling for him, and God help her, she didn’t have the strength to fight it.

  “Steele.” The director stepped up to them. “You have the phone?”

  He pulled it out of his pocket. It looked the same as his, but was obviously a prop.

  “Before we let the media in and give a statement, we’re going to rehearse and film. The filming we do while the masses are in the audience will be purely for exhibition.”

  “How many of them showed up?” Steele didn’t sound nervous at all, but Tracy had some major stage fright happening.

  “There are dozens, national and local. Television crews, tabloids, and bloggers. It will be our finest hour.”

  He had a way of calming his actors by overacting himself.

  “Ms. Hartman.” He turned his dark gaze on her. “We’re going to recreate our infamous punch scene first.”

  Tracy felt her neck and face turning red. Thank heaven for the stage makeup they’d caked on her.