Cockpit

by Joanna Blake

  Jenny.

  Chapter One

  Jagger

  ✈

  Marines from all over the camp crowded around me as I dug into my trunk. My unit was going home, so I was giving my goodies away along with the rest of the guys. All the stuff that made living in the ass end of the world bearable.

  Skin mags. Smokes. Booze. A couple of dog-earred paperback novels. An unopened bag of socks my foster sister had sent. Dice.

  I even had a set of checkers.

  I was keeping my lucky deck of cards though.

  "And to you K-Dawg, I bequeath my prized possession. Racy redheads."

  I made a big show of handing Ken the magazine that had gotten me through a lot of lonely nights. I had a thing for redheads now. Ever since her.

  The fallen angel.

  Sweet Jenny, whatever her last name was.

  The picture I liked the best was one of a girl from the back. All you could see was her red hair and the curve of her ass. It almost looked like her. The one that had got away. It was a damn shame too.

  I'd thought about her the whole damn time I was overseas. I was tempted to go back to that base and try and track her down, even though it was two states away from my next assignment.

  I'd look like an idiot walking into a bar and asking about a girl with no last name that I'd met a year and a half ago.

  Fuck though, after the night we'd had it might be worth it.

  "Do I need gloves for this? Or maybe a hazmat suit?"

  "No K-Dawg. I jack off into a condom."

  "What the fuck for?"

  "Reminds me of the real thing dude."

  I reached into my trunk and pulled out a roll of rubbers.

  "Speaking of which."

  I tossed them into the crowd. The guys grabbed at them, acting like lunatics. Not that many of them were going to get laid over here. They'd probably end up making balloon animals out of them. But I knew they had to let off steam anyway they could.

  Hell, I did too.

  Gambling, running laps around the perimeter of the encampment, or just thinking about what I was going to do when I got back to the states.

  This time it was for good. My unit was being sent back. But I was going to be a pilot trainer for the duration of my service. For some reason, the powers that be had thought I would be good at it.

  It would be a big change, but I was ready for it.

  Truth be told, I was tired.

  "I'm going to miss you fuckers."

  It was true. That was the only hard thing about this. My unit was going home, but I had other friends here. Leaving these guys to face God knows what without me felt like I was cutting off a hand with a rusty saw.

  Still, not getting shot at was going to be a nice change of pace.

  Not that I was going to do what everybody else did. I'd seen it time and again. Single guys left and then the next thing you knew, they were popping out babies left and right. Even Joss had done it. The iceman himself had fallen in love with a pop star of all things, gotten hitched and started procreating.

  If he could crack under pressure, then the rest of these guys were toast. They might as well start picking out tablecloths. I, on the other hand, had things to do.

  Manly things. Things with women. With hard drinking. With my bike.

  I wanted to ride cross-country, hitting every juke joint I came across. I got a little misty eyed thinking about it.

  Hell, maybe I'd even find my little redhead.

  Jenny

  ✈

  "Oh GOD!"

  I shook my hand, staring at it. It was covered in poop. Hallie had the runs again. And she hadn't started to go until I had her diaper off.

  "Hallie!!!"

  She just looked up at me and cooed. I wanted to kiss her when she did that. All these feelings rushed into me. Love. Fear. Pride.

  Every damn time.

  Of course, I had to get the poop off both of us first.

  I lifted my daughter and held her up while I wiped down her chubby little legs and ass. I turned her slightly and sighed. Some poop had managed to get all the way up her back.

  "How'd you do that, you little poop machine?"

  She made a soft sound that sounded like a laugh. Babies weren't supposed to laugh but I would swear, mine did. She had a very sophisticated sense of humor too.

  Mostly, she liked laughing at her mama.

  I got her cleaned up and leaned her against me as I bundled the used diaper up and threw it away. Then I wiped down the changing table and put a fresh diaper down.

  I sniffed her neck, unable to resist the impulse. She smelled sweet, even after her loose stools. I had to hope she wouldn't have another explosive poop while I was gone. I needed to go out for a few hours and that meant having dad watch the baby.

  The General did not do well with poop.

  But since I didn't have money for a babysitter, he was going to have to do it. He never complained when I left Hallie with him, but I could feel his disapproval. He had been shocked when I'd canceled college because I was pregnant. He'd been hurt and angry and upset.

  But he never showed it in front of his granddaughter, who he adored.

  Just... not her poop.

  I sighed, setting her down in her bouncy chair. I had the basics to take care of her. I should be grateful. My Gran had sent an absurd amount of baby stuff. And dad gave me money to shop at the grocery store on base.

  We were covered.

  But it wasn't enough. I had plans. Big plans. I wanted my independence. I needed to move out if I was ever going to get my freedom.

  And I needed money to do it.

  Basically, what I needed was a job.

  And today, I was going to go get one.

  Chapter Two

  Jagger

  ✈

  I dropped my bags and checked out my housing. As a single man, I didn't qualify for a house. Instead it was more like a condo.

  A bare bones, boxy, condo that hadn't been renovated since the 90's from the looks of it.

  But it was mine.

  The housing was townhouse style, with two levels and a small patio out back. Even had a front porch with an ancient rocking chair someone had left behind. Looked like a good place to have a cigar and a cold one on a hot night.

  After camping out in the desert with a bunch of sweaty guys and communal showers, I definitely was not complaining.

  I grinned, opening some windows to air the place out.

  The fridge was empty. The cupboards were bare. The bed was unmade.

  I would have to buy everything, even silverware and dishes. But that was okay. That could wait. At the moment all I wanted a hot shower, a cold beer and a hot meal.

  And something to look at. A girl maybe. Though I doubted I'd find anyone to compare to her.

  I shook it off. Let it go, Jagger. She's gone.

  She clearly didn't want to be found either. It's not like she didn't know my name after all. There weren't too many fixed-wing pilots named Jagger.

  There weren't any other active service Marines with that name, period. As far as I knew anyway.

  It still stung man. It really did. She could have tracked me down. Lots of girls liked writing to guys stationed overseas, even if it didn't mean a damn thing in the long run.

  It was the patriotic thing to do.

  They knew how rough it was and they did it. Some of them even liked doing it. After a while though, lots of girls moved on. I was sure that was what had happened.

  Sexy little ex-virginal Jenny had moved on.

  I needed to stop thinking about her. About that night. Going out would be a step in the right direction. So without even unpacking, I stepped out in some clean civilian wear.

  I'd heard there was joint with the best ribs this side of the Mississippi.

  It was just off base, there almost exclusively for the military. There were some locals too of course, but like most bases, we were deliberately out in the middle of nowhere. So, the pickin's were slim in t
he women department.

  That was alright though. I wanted to eat and drink until I passed out. I pushed open the swinging wooden door and stopped cold in my tracks.

  I could not believe my eyes.

  My angel was behind the counter, wiping down the bar.

  I felt love whallopped, then and there. What were the chances? It was one in a million, if not more that I'd find her again. And on my first damn day back.

  It was a sign. It had to be.

  I stood there, counting every damn lucky star in the whole damn sky. And then a healthy dose of anger crept in. She'd blown me off and here she was, looking every bit as beautiful as I remembered.

  More beautiful, if that was even possible.

  Her face looked thinner now, as if she'd lost some of her baby fat. She'd been so young the last time I saw her. She straightened up and I inhaled sharply.

  She'd filled out too. And that was saying something, considering the God given gifts she'd had before. Damn straight, she'd been blessed in the curves department. And then some.

  The woman was stacked.

  Everywhere.

  I realized I was standing in the open doorway like an idiot and walked the rest of the way in. There was a spring in my step that hadn't been there in a long ass time. I found a table in the back, hoping she'd come and take my order. I had to figure out what I was going to say to her.

  Because I wanted that woman in my bed again.

  Tonight.

  Oh yeah, this was going to be one hell of a homecoming.

  Jenny

  ✈

  I wrung out the rag, shaking my hands to dry them. This job was hell on the fingernails. But I'd already made more money in tips than I'd seen in a lifetime full of strict allowance and babysitting on all the bases we'd lived on.

  Some of the guys knew who I was of course. That helped them open their wallets. But I think the rest were just starved for female company.

  I sighed.

  I was pretty starved for company myself.

  Too bad Jagger hadn't turned out to be the Prince Charming I'd thought he was. He'd shown me one hell of a good time that night. He'd impressed me and left me wanting more.

  But I'd asked around about him after he shipped out. Especially after I found out I was carrying his baby.

  What I found out kept me from trying to get in touch.

  I shouldn't have been surprised. But I was. The way he had treated me that night... he had been so tender and passionate.

  He hadn't seemed like a manwhore.

  According to rumour though, he was. The biggest player in the Marines apparently. Maybe the entire Armed Forces.

  That had stung a bit, knowing I was one of many. Many-many. Not just dozens of women.

  Hundreds of women.

  But I'd picked myself up. So what if my first time had been with a he-slut? At least he'd know what he was doing.

  Boy, had he ever.

  I spent a lot of time thinking about that night over the past year and a half. Lots of lonely nights, remembering the feel of his arms around me. Imagining I still was wrapped up inside them.

  It was weird, but I hadn't felt like he was seducing me. Even when he was taking advantage of my naivete, I had somehow felt safe.

  Cherished even.

  Maybe even loved a little.

  That sounded crazy in retrospect but there it was. It wasn't his fault I was the most gullible virgin alive. He hadn't made any promises to me that night.

  Not with words anyway. With his eyes... his lips... his hands. Well, that was on me for interpreting things as if I lived in a fairy tale. I lived in the real world, and things just didn't happen that way.

  And he'd given me Hallie. She'd changed everything of course. Put college plans on hold for the foreseeable future.

  But she was perfect and I loved her more than I could have imagined. It was like she was covered in some sort of magical pixie dust that made me turn into goo. I loved her more than my own life, and that was the truth.

  I laughed. It was a good thing too, considering how much poop she seemed to make. I wondered if it was all babies or just mine.

  It seemed like a whole lot of poop.

  "Hey Jenny. You got a table."

  I nodded at Margery, grabbing my tray and pad. I still wrote everything down, though she said I wouldn't have to forever. I was still green but I was learning. It was a good thing too.

  As an unwed mother without a degree of any sort, I had a feeling I'd be waiting tables for a long time. I didn't mind. It was honorable work, and Hallie was worth having sore feet.

  I made a note to get some more practical shoes with my first paycheck as I headed towards the back, absentmindedly looking around. There was a table in the back that had been empty last time I looked. I saw the guy at the table and froze.

  You have got to be fucking kidding me.

  It was him. He was here. Jagger himself.

  Speak of the ever lovin' devil.

  My heart started to pound as I forced my feet to go forward. I couldn't run and hide, even if that was what I wanted to do. I also had an absurd urge to adjust my skirt. Fix my hair. Put on some lipstick.

  But I didn't. I had a job to do and that was that. I stepped up to the table and tucked the tray under my arm, pulling out my pad and a pencil.

  "Good evening. Can I take your order?"

  He looked up at me and smiled. The slow, arrogant smile of a man who knows a woman intimately. Who knows what she looks like naked.

  "Hello there, sugarlips."

  I felt my palm twitch. I had a sudden desire to smack that knowing, sensual smile off his handsome face. And he was handsome. More than I remembered.

  No wonder Hallie was so gorgeous, damn him. I hadn't realized until that moment the extent of the resemblance. With her dark hair and tawny skin, she was a version of him in miniature.

  Our daughter looked just like him.

  Especially the eyes.

  "May I take your order?"

  "What, no hello? It's been a while, sweetheart, but I never forgot you."

  He leaned back in his seat, giving me a look up and down. He rubbed his lower lip, making an expression almost like he was in pain. He didn't even bother to hide it when he leisurely checked out my chest.

  "Hmmfff... Oh yeah, I thought about you a lot."

  I turned red, hoping it was too dark for him to see it.

  "Can I take your order?"

  He patted the seat next to him.

  "Come and take a load off. "

  "I can't. I'm working. And I wouldn't anyway."

  "Why not, Jenny?"

  He gave me a hurt look, his big blue eyes looking sad. Like a puppy who'd been deprived of a bone.

  "You used to like me, remember?"

  I looked around furtively, then leaned forward. I braced my hands on the table and hissed at him. I had just about had it with his bullshit, and he'd been here less than five freakin' minutes.

  "I need this job. Tell me what you want so I can do it."

  He held his hands up in surrender. Then he picked up the menu and perused it. But he kept stealing glances at my legs.

  Not just my legs.

  I could have sworn he was staring between them.

  I grit my teeth and waited.

  "Two shots. Tequila. One pitcher of beer. And one plate of ribs."

  "Sides?"

  He stared at my breasts and shook his head in awe.

  "Hmmfff... I'll take the biscuits."

  I wrote it down and tucked my pencil away. Then I cleared some empty beers off his table.

  "Margery will bring your drinks."

  He caught my arm, stopping me from leaving. He really was a caveman. Acting like he thought I was going to sleep with him again! After everything I found out about him? Even if he was oozing sex in every direction.

  Hell no.

  "Why not you?"

  I smiled at him sweetly.

  "I'm too young to serve the alcohol."

>   He blanched, his face so pale I thought I saw a smattering of freckles. I turned around, walking away with a definite spring in my step.

  Score: Jenny - One. Jagger - Zero.

  Chapter Three

  Jagger

  ✈

  I licked the sauce off my fingers, watching Jenny work. Feldon had been right. This place did have the best barbeque south of the Mississippi.

  But the amazing ribs were not half as good as the view.

  Sweet Jesus, Jenny was finer than what I'd conjured up in my imagination. Her legs were just as long as I remembered but the rest of her was... different. She'd filled out even more, keeping that hourglass shape that drove me nuts last time we'd met. And then some.

  She was a brick house.

  And I would love to have a visit inside. Hell, not a visit. I wanted to take up permanent residence.

  Too bad she wasn't as happy to see me as I was to see her.

  I frowned, rubbing my face. I had to wonder why that was. Maybe she'd asked around about me... Yeah, that would do it.

  I had quite a reputation amongst the Marines.

  But I was a reformed man now. Or I would be, if she gave me another shot. I tilted my head, wondering why she was here. Again. Off another base.

  My eyes got wide. I must be an idiot. She was either a military groupie or had a family member in the service. Just... which one? Husband? No. She wasn't wearing a ring and she didn't strike me as the cheating type. Parent? She wasn't that young.

  It wasn't falling into place for me. Sweet little Jenny was a mystery. I would figure it out though. And I would make her mine. Or at least soften her up enough to take another crack at it.

  If she was a groupie, I didn't care. There were women who had a thing for soldiers, officers in particular. I'd convert her to a one man woman. Just like she'd done to me, the first time I saw those emerald eyes of hers. Hell, if she let me, I'd stick to her like glue.

  If she was... related to someone... or an Army brat... well, I might be in bigger trouble than I realized.