“What do you mean?”
“Simply that we fly like this all the time. It’s hard, constant work, Erin. We all get fatigued. The only thing that keeps us going is the fact that the crew bands together like a family and supports each other through it. We catch up on sleep when we’re out on alert for seven days.”
“Alert?”
“Yes. SAC crews have to stand alert ten days out of every month. We’re sequestered in a special area with Buffs that are armed and ready to fight a nuclear war, if it ever comes. Which—” he sighed “—nobody wants to happen.” He shook his head. “If the alert klaxon ever goes off, we’ll be heading for the Buffs knowing it’s the real thing.”
“You mean if the alert goes off, that means someone has attacked us?”
“Either that or a dangerous situation has escalated. We’re trained to get those Buffs airborne in less than fifteen minutes. We’d be off the ground by the time any nuclear strike hit the U.S.”
Erin shivered. “You live in a strange world, Ty,” she murmured. “I can’t imagine living with that daily. The stress must be terrible.”
“Well, maybe now you can begin to appreciate just a little bit when we say, tough enough to fly the Buff. The SAC crews are highly trained, motivated and intelligent people. But I think you’ll see that in the next five days.” He shared a smile with her. “I’m upsetting you, I can tell. Let’s get onto lighter subjects, shall we?” “No, I mean—”
“It’s all right,” he murmured. “Welcome to my world, Erin Quinlan. You’re going to find it almost alien at times, frightening at others, and fantastic at still others. You’ll find that we play as hard as we work.” A smile curved her lips. “Is that a threat or a promise?”
“Both, darlin’.”
Minutes later, Ty ushered her into the distinguished visitors’ quarters, which were located a short distance from the officers’ club. Erin halted in the foyer of her suite and glanced around. “It’s like a very plush home!” she said, turning to Ty as he brought her luggage into the dining area.
He pursed his lips. “This is really something,” he agreed. “I’ve never seen it before.” He ambled across the carpeted living room, which was tastefully decorated with black leather furniture. “Take a look at this,” he said, motioning to a fully stocked liquor cabinet. “If you want to have a party, this is the place to throw it.” He laughed.
“I guess,” she answered, walking through the living room to a kitchen and four bedrooms. Standing at the entrance to the kitchen, she murmured, “Why don’t you go get cleaned up? That will give me time to unpack and get adjusted to this penthouse.”
Ty shook his head ruefully as he took one more look around. “Now I know why I have to make colonel. I could get used to a place like this.”
“Do colonels and higher-ranking officers have the privilege of staying here?”
“Yes. The rest of us poor Buff drivers stay at either the bachelor officers’ quarters or own a home on or off base.”
“And you live off base.”
He flashed her a smile. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Knowing your taste,” Erin said, “your home is probably just as richly appointed.”
He raised an eyebrow, amusement in his blue eyes. “Oh? How can you tell?”
“When you sent me that lovely bird-of-paradise bouquet, practically everyone who came in to see it commented on how much it must have cost you.”
He stood languidly, hands on hips. “I don’t care what anyone else thought. What did you think?” he probed.
Erin’s lips parted. “I was surprised,” she admitted. “No one has ever given me such lovely flowers. I just wish there was some way I could have pressed one of them and kept it forever.”
His expression grew more tender as he regarded her in silence. “So you’re an old-fashioned gal at heart,” he murmured, as if realizing a new and fascinating part of her. “Pressing flowers and keeping mementos reveals a decidedly romantic streak, you know.”
She warmed beneath his gaze. “Just because I don’t go around wearing long wool skirts and lace blouses doesn’t mean anything,” she challenged.
He raised his hand in farewell. “I like you just the way you are,” he reassured her. “I’ll be back in about forty-five minutes with the public-affairs officer. More than likely he’ll want to spend some time explaining the itinerary he’s drawn up for you.”
“Over dinner?” she hinted.
Ty grinned. “Absolutely.”
6
Erin traded her traveling attire for a blue-gray pantsuit of light wool. She added an ivory raw-silk blouse with a bow at her neck. A touch of burgundy lipstick highlighted her flushed cheeks and sparkling blue eyes. Normally, she wore her long hair in a chignon, but she knew Ty liked it loose and free about her shoulders. She ran a brush briskly through the dark strands, which formed a silken frame about her oval face.
A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She opened it to find Ty standing there with another officer. She smiled in welcome.
“Come on in,” she invited.
“No, let’s make introductions on our way to the club,” Ty suggested.
She nodded, remembering how hungry he was. “Fair enough.” Ty’s eyes narrowed briefly, and she blushed beneath his intense inspection.
“Erin Quinlan, meet Lieutenant David Campbell. He’s the PA for Sawyer. Dave, meet Erin.”
She shook the younger man’s hand. He was about twenty-four, with dark hair and brown eyes. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lieutenant Campbell,” she murmured.
“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” He exuded a quiet air of confidence she’d rarely found in men that young. She wondered if the same was true for most younger SAC officers.
Ty walked at her right side and Lieutenant Campbell on her left as they escorted her to a single-story building half a block away. As her right arm swung freely, Ty inconspicuously caught her fingers for just a moment and gave them a warm squeeze. Erin looked up at him, surprised. He released her hand, but shared an intimate, welcoming smile with her. Her heart swelled with joy.
The officers’ club had white stucco walls, thick wine-colored carpeting and a tasteful arrangement of lamps that simulated flickering candlelight along the walls. Ty placed his hand at the small of her back and guided her to the entrance of the dining area. As they paused there, several people looked up. Erin moved closer to Ty, uncomfortable beneath their perusal.
“Hey,” one officer in a green flight uniform called to them. “Do you think we oughta let a bomber puke eat here?”
Erin grimaced at the rude name-calling, but an irrepressible grin lurked at the corners of Ty’s mouth. “Just be thankful we let you tanker toads come in here at all,” he kidded the officer.
“Hey, who’s the good-lookin’ woman, Phillips? Did you tell her if you kiss a tanker toad he turns into a handsome prince?”
She blushed fiercely and felt Ty’s hand sliding more protectively around her waist.
“That isn’t how the story goes, Tom.” Ty laughed. “If I remember right, if you kiss a tanker toad, you turn into a frog. Besides, nothing’s going to help your face, with or without a kiss.”
The men at the table broke into hilarious and ribald laughter. Ty grinned and glanced down at Erin. “Don’t take any offense—they’re always like this,” he told her. “Those are the guys who refuel us in the air. They wear red scarves I around their necks. Look around here and you’ll see some of the guys wearing white ones, or white ones with red bulls on them. That’s our way of identifying what outfit they’re flying with.”
Erin murmured her thanks as he pulled out her chair for her and she sat down, relieved to be less visible to the curious crowd. Glancing over at the PA, she noticed that he appeared to be a bit upset. Maybe distinguished visitors weren’t supposed to get the full treatment. She gave him a reassuring smile. Ty was standing near her talking to the tanker crew.
“Are they like this all the time?” Eri
n asked Dave Campbell.
“Pretty much. It’s their way of letting off tension after a grueling mission.”
“I know. Ty was telling me that he just came in from one himself.”
Lieutenant Campbell grimaced. “I’m sorry no one was there to meet you, Miss Quinlan. That’s not our standard policy.”
“It’s quite all right. It gave me a chance to get a glimpse of Marquette.”
“Phillips! Where’s that broad we heard was coming on base?” a woman asked, her husky voice carrying halfway across the dining area.
Erin blinked. Lieutenant Campbell frowned. Ty made a half turn, a grin edging his mouth. “Right here, Linda,” he said, gesturing toward Erin.
There was a moment of stunned silence as the woman officer stared at her. The woman was clearly embarrassed. Her eyes grew wide, and she gave Ty a disgruntled look, as if blaming him for her blunder. She rose from the table and hurried over to Erin.
“Hi,” she greeted her nervously. “I’m Linda and I want you to let me know if these guys don’t treat you right. I’m the exec over at the squadron, and I can get them in all kinds of trouble if they misbehave.”
Erin smiled warmly, hoping to put Linda at ease. “You’ll be the first to know if they don’t,” she promised.
Linda turned, planting her hands on her hips and glaring up at Ty. “Why didn’t you tell me she was here?” she demanded.
He laughed and shrugged. “She was right here all the time, Linda. You could have looked up and seen her come in.” He gave the woman an affectionate pat on the shoulder and returned to the table, sitting down. He winked at Erin and chuckled. “She feels terrible. I hope you didn’t take any offense at her comment.”
Erin had trouble concealing a smile. “No. If she hadn’t looked so upset, I would have burst out laughing.” She glanced over at a distraught Lieutenant Campbell. “Relax. I haven’t had my feelings hurt,” she assured him.
After they’d eaten and Lieutenant Campbell had explained Erin’s itinerary, Ty escorted her back to her quarters. He held the screen open for her as she unlocked the inner door. She looked over her shoulder at him. “You must be exhausted,” she murmured, stepping inside.
He nodded. “I was until I saw you. How about you?”
She shrugged. “I’m not too tired. Why don’t you come in? I’d like to discuss some of the details of this itinerary.
His face brightened. “Good. I didn’t want to leave yet, anyway. We have a lot to catch up on.”
Feeling suddenly lightheaded, she nodded. “I know what you mean.”
Ty made himself comfortable in the living room while she changed into brown slacks and a pink sweater. When she returned quietly in her bare feet, he raised his head, admiration shining in his eyes.
“Now you look at home,” he observed warmly.
Erin felt heat stealing into her face as she sat down on the couch near him, tucking her legs beneath her. Leaning back against the black leather, she finally felt fully relaxed.
Ty looked incredibly handsome in his dark blue uniform. It matched his eyes and Erin enjoyed the feeling of intimacy that ebbed and flowed between them.
He placed the magazine he had been perusing on the coffee table and rested his arms against his long, well-muscled thighs. “I thought Campbell was going to faint from Linda’s gaffe.” He chuckled. “Did you see him turn chalk-white?”
Erin giggled, putting her hands to her lips. “Yes, and I felt so sorry for her! I thought it was kind of funny.”
“So did I, but I couldn’t admit it with Campbell there. He does things by the book and probably wouldn’t have appreciated the comeback I wanted to give Linda. She doesn’t know it yet, but she got off lucky this time. Wait until I see her back at the squadron.”
Erin joined in his laughter. “You have such a good sense of humor,” she observed.
“You need it to take the pressures SAC puts you under, darlin’. We all develop a sense of fun as a necessary release of tension. One of these days I’ll tell you about some of the practical jokes we’ve pulled on each other.”
Erin felt relaxed and at home with Ty. Allowing her imagination to run free, she pictured them sitting before a fireplace with glasses of wine. A shiver coursed through her and she longed to be held in his arms. She stared at his mouth, remembering the only kiss he had given her. Sighing softly, she tucked that lovely memory away.
“You’re daydreaming,” he interrupted softly, watching her with a curious expression.
She roused herself, caught up in the mood. “I was just wondering why I feel as if I’ve known you for a long time. After our terrible fight in the airport and then spending only two days together, I shouldn’t feel this comfortable,” she mused.
A curious smile played on Ty’s mouth, a dark gleam coming to his eyes. “Oh? Why not?” he inquired softly.
Erin didn’t resist the temptation to indulge her fantasies and melt beneath his gaze. Alone with Ty, she felt as if the rest of the world had disappeared. All her attention became focused on him alone. She almost forgot she was at an SAC base. The man inches away from her made her feel vital and alive in ways she never had before. Time and space simply ceased to exist for her. She seemed to be magically connected to him in some special way. At these thoughts, her brows drew together in a troubled look.
Ty reached out, his strong fingers caressing her arm. “What’s wrong?”
She raised her eyes, meeting his blue gaze. “I feel like I’m home,” she whispered, the question “Why?” conveyed in her tone.
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze. “Sometimes, Erin,” he said huskily, “we don’t know we’re going home until we’re there.”
Her pulse raced. “It’s all so crazy….”
“Life is crazy, darlin’. The trick is to learn to flow with it.”
“Do you flow with it?” she asked.
“I try to. I’m not always successful, but I give it my best shot.”
Erin watched as he entwined her slender fingers with his. A tingle of pleasure raced up her arm. His reassurance steadied her and calmed her inner turmoil. “Ever since you told me about your husband and the hell you went through, Erin, I’ve done a lot of thinking,” he admitted huskily.
“About me?” she asked, her voice suddenly hoarse.
He met and held her eyes. “About us,” he corrected. A wry smile pulled at his mouth. “I may have worked my tail off this past month, but I still left room for you in my thoughts. Matter of fact, my crew’s been ribbing me, claiming I’ve turned into a daydreamer.” He shook his head. “And it’s all your fault, darlin’.”
Her heart beat faster as she held his gaze. She felt herself opening up to him as easily as a flower responding to the sun’s warming rays. “I don’t understand…”
“You must have loved your husband very much to carry the anger you felt toward the air force all this time,” he said slowly, watching her every expression. “You’re a one-man woman, Erin. After he was torn from your side, I think you were left with an emotional void in your life that you’re still working to fill.”
Erin felt uncomfortable at his probing words and took an unsteady breath. His fingers remained firmly entwined with hers, giving her a sense of security. “You’ve been doing a lot of thinking,” she said softly.
“Darlin’, I’m not trying to hurt you.” His mouth flattened into a thin line when she remained silent. “Damn it,” he swore. “I’m trying to tell you something and it’s not coming out right.” He pulled her into his arms and tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his troubled eyes. “Do you know how many times I’ve dreamed of kissing you again?” he whispered against her cheek.
Erin’s lips parted, and she melted into his arms without resistance. “Oh, Ty,” she whispered, straining to meet his descending mouth. A sweet fire uncoiled deep within her as his lips erased the loneliness that had haunted her since she’d left him. He caressed her lips gently, tasting them, lingering sweetly. She slipped her arm around his shou
lder and drew him against her. He groaned and whispered her name like a reverent prayer. His mouth grew more insistent, parting her lips. She trembled within his embrace as his tongue invaded the depths of her mouth, melting the core of her being. He pressed her into the couch, his hands capturing her face and drawing her inexorably more deeply into him.
Erin was wildly aware of his lean, male body pressing against her pliant curves, of her shallow breathing and his clean, masculine scent. His fingers framed her face as he gently kissed her again and again. Her heart hammered without relief as she responded to his strong mouth, wanting, longing to keep touching him.
But finally he drew away, his eyes flecked with the gold of passion. She felt a deep, hungry emptiness that she yearned for him to fill. It weakened her, causing her to tremble. Sensing it, he traced the curve of her jaw, a wistful look in his eyes.
“You taste like a fine, sweet wine,” he murmured, his warm breath fanning her face. He leaned down, caressing her lips once more, imprinting upon them evidence of his need. He drew his fingers through her loose hair. “And such lovely hair,” he whispered. “God, how I’ve dreamed of doing this, Erin,” he confessed hoarsely.
She closed her eyes, resting against his shoulder, unable to speak. He had aroused needs she had thought forever dead. No man had ever brought to life the embers of her passion. She felt breathless and stunned. Only his continued touch upon her face gave her a sense of reality. She felt as if she were floating in a heady euphoria, and she couldn’t cope with the range of emotions Ty had so easily evoked in her.
“I haven’t slept very well since leaving you,” Ty admitted, a hint of wry amusement in his voice. “I lay awake at night remembering your face, your expressions. Erin, do you realize how much you speak with your eyes and lovely mouth?”
She was cradled within his lambent gaze. “No,” she admitted, her voice wispy, unsteady.
A tender smile curved his mouth. “When you’re happy, your eyes are turquoise with flecks of gold. When you’re angry, they’re almost black, like thunderclouds on the horizon. Your eyes turn blue-gray when I kiss you.” He leaned over, kissing each eyelid. “Like right now. I’d swear they’re almost gray.” He chuckled softly.
On Wings of Passion Page 8