by Aliyah Burke
One brow rose. “Unless it’s—”
“Yes, I have a woman here, so just keep your voice down. She’s still sleeping.” Shit, now he had to feed him.
Lizard had a smirk on his face. “Well, I guess this woman was good.”
He frowned, not appreciating the attempt at a joke. Lizard shook his head.
“You okay, man? You seem relaxed and yet like you’re ready to bite my head off at the least bit of provocation.”
“Sorry, man. Just cancel the jokes about women, okay?”
He stepped back and his fellow pilot stepped through into the house. Please stay asleep, Jaydee.
They went to the kitchen and he began fixing a meal for himself and Lizard. It had been a thing they’d been doing since he and Mike had moved in to the house. They’d always had a meal, just them, and shot the breeze. It was different with Mike gone, but this was kind of their own way of keeping him around. His memory alive.
Not much later, they were eating omelettes and drinking coffee.
“Have you ever met someone who made you willing to do anything to keep them happy, Lizard?”
Jason’s blue eyes widened before he rested his elbows on the table.
“This have anything to do with the woman sleeping in your bed?” His tone was completely serious. “Or are you talking about the hottie who’s joined our squad, no matter how temporary?”
He’d got his proof that Lizard didn’t think Jaydee was sleeping in his bed, since he’d posed it the way he had. Or so he hoped.
“I guess just in general. Have you met someone like that?”
“No.” He ate his final bite of breakfast and quietly laid his fork down. “You are talking about Jaydee, aren’t you?”
He ran his finger under his nose. “Why do you think that?”
“Because I see how you watch her, especially when you think no one is any the wiser. I’ve seen the rage when another man talks to her, even Keel—who we both know is a blissfully married man. And I’ve seen the fear for her when we fly.” A light shrug. “But perhaps I’m all wrong and it’s just some hot-assed babe with big tits.”
Gio nodded, because his assessment was just too damn close to the God-awful truth. Unfortunately for him, his friend knew him better than that.
“Don’t bother trying to lie, Giovanni. We both know the truth, just like we both know if I were to go down to your room I would find Jaydee there.” Jason held up one hand. “I don’t care, Casanova. I don’t. I’m happy for you. Jealous too, but mostly happy. She’s done something to you which I never thought I’d see.”
“Which is?” he asked. No point in trying to hide it from him, he’d given his word. Besides, if he couldn’t trust Lizard, who could he trust?
“Made you unsure of yourself with a woman. She doesn’t fall prey to your considerable charms. She makes you question all the smooth lines and swagger you’ve used before. Basically, she’s put Casanova in training.”
He narrowed his gaze at his soon-to-be-murdered best friend. “Excuse me?” he growled.
“Calm down, Superman. I just mean this woman has you having to relearn your skills with women. Jaydee is…well, let’s face it…smokin’ hot.”
A dangerous rumble rose up from his chest. Lizard just continued, undaunted.
“I don’t blame you for your actions. I’d be breaking all kinds of regs for her if I thought I had—”
“You don’t,” he bit off.
Lizard shook his head and smiled. “I said if, man. If.” He laughed. “She’s an amazing woman, Casanova. Brilliant and sexy as hell. And, from what I’ve seen, she’s not a fan of your caveman attitude. And, with a woman like her, sex—no matter how great—won’t keep her around.”
Those words sobered him and created a knot of worry in the pit of his stomach. Was Lizard right? Yes, the sex between them was phenomenal. He knew there was more to be explored between them, but would she not only acknowledge it, but accept it as well?
“I won’t give her up, Jason.”
“She’s only here temporarily. Surely you remember that bit of information?”
Yeah, he recalled that. “I don’t care. There’s just something about her…” He trailed off, unsure of how to put it in words.
“I’m happy for you, Giovanni. Truly I am, but you need to be careful. Fentress has been asking about your cut and the doc’s black eye. Not to mention, with it only being us four in the ready room, he’s able to watch you a hell of a lot closer.” He leaned nearer. “Do you get what I’m saying?”
He nodded. Bottom line, he had to watch his behaviour towards her. Jason stood and carried his dish to the sink then he turned his body to face him.
“Good. Now I’ll make myself scarce. You”—he winked—“have a wonderful weekend.”
“We will.”
“Lucky bastard,” Lizard said with good humour.
Gio rose and walked him to the door. They shook hands and he stated with complete honesty, “Thank you, Lizard. For everything.”
“We’re best buds, man. You know I’ve always got your back. But, on the off-chance you find another like her, remember my number, would ya?”
He laughed. “Sorry, man. Jaydee’s one of a kind.”
“I know. Damn, do I know.” He jogged down the steps and headed to his truck. Lizard waved and drove away.
With a sigh, Gio entered his house and closed the door. It was oh-eight-hundred and he went back to his kitchen where he cleaned up. Once the room was spotless, he ambled down the hall to his room. He cracked the door and peeked in.
She lay on her belly, arms akimbo. Her head was pretty much buried under one of the pillows on his bed. The cream sheet bunched up at her ass and Iridessa played peek-a-boo with him.
Her whipped-chocolate skin reminded him of satin or silk. Damn, she’s beautiful.
He approached slowly and sat on the mattress edge. One hand reached out and trailed down her spine. The ridges were present and he took a deep breath. Here and now, she seemed so delicate, fragile even. Not the woman who was his equal in the air. No, correction, his superior. Yes, he might have combat experience, but her skills were unbeatable. And on the ground, she was brilliant to his average.
He could make out her ribs and he just longed to pull her into his arms and protect her. He traced his fingers over the circle of freckles. She moaned and shifted. The sheet slid off her ass and he muttered his approval.
“Gio.” His name left her lips on a barely audible breath.
Lightning sparked through him. Lowering his head, he pressed kisses up along her spine. Jaydee groaned and arched more into his touch.
“Right here, sweets,” he whispered in her ear.
“Mmm. You never answered my question of what you and Dr Thompson talked about.”
He stroked her spine and wondered about how odd it was for her to call her father Dr Thompson. “I haven’t?”
She grunted and rolled on to her back, the sheet somehow covering her enticing body. “No. Now tell me.”
He sighed and stood up. “Okay. Over breakfast?”
Jaydee lay there and watched him, her hair around her like a cloud of black silk. A whole slew of things hit him as he stared at her. Like how much he wanted to…
“Why are you attempting the removal of the sheet?” she questioned.
He grinned. “Why do you think?”
“Classic avoidance technique.”
With a groan, he positioned himself over her. His hands rested on either side of her hips.
“Do you know,” he said brushing his lips along hers, “you taste like fresh, pure mint.”
She coolly arched a brow. “Dropping chaff.”
He laughed at her use of the phrase. Dropping chaff was a way to try to get missiles off your ass by giving them other targets to focus on. “Only you, sweets. Only you can make that sound sexy.”
“Tell me.”
He could hear the need in her voice.
“Dr Thompson wanted to know about my histor
y as a pilot. We talked about you and my position on your flying with us.”
She stiffened but her expression remained impassive. He leaned close and sniffed her hair. Peace flowed through him.
“I told him I hated it when you first arrived because you were yet another reminder of how Michael wouldn’t be coming back. Ever.” Her breath hitched and he kissed her jaw. “I don’t blame you, sweets. Not now.”
When she wriggled free and left the bed, he knew the words weren’t believed. She tugged on a shirt, hiding her amazing body from his lustful gaze. The sorrow in her eyes prompted him into action.
“Jaydee.”
She paused in the act of gathering her hair into a ponytail. “What?”
He prowled towards her, grabbed her hand, and led her to the bed. “Sit,” he ordered.
He noticed her hesitation but she followed his directive. Once she had, he joined her. Her entire body was rigid and he stretched a hand out to cup her cheek. The eyes that met his were tormented.
“Jaydee, believe me, please. If not about anything else, believe I don’t blame you for his death. Do you believe me?”
Her nod was slight and he expected her agreement to lift a weight from him. It didn’t happen. And when he looked—really looked—into her eyes, he realised why. She might believe he didn’t blame her, but it didn’t matter because she blamed herself. And that bothered him, more than he could even begin to fathom.
“This wasn’t your fault, Jaydee.”
“It was.” Her voice sounded so tired and lost. So unlike the confident one he was used to—a bit haughty and almost, not quite, but almost condescending.
“No, sweets, it wasn’t.”
She stared at him, her large tortoiseshell eyes shimmering with unshed tears. They tore a hole in his gut. Christ! She truly believes it was her fault. It explained so much. Why she’d been busting her ass going over everything.
“Yes, it was. Something went wrong with the EG.” She ground her jaw. “That’s my area, mine! So, since the system malfunctioned, the blame falls upon me.”
Rage filled him. “Is that what your father told you? Is it? Because, if so, he’s full of shit, Jaydee.” He longed to slug the man again.
“I know where the fault lies, Gio. I’m the expert and I failed.” She shifted and sighed. “I have attempted to discern what went wrong.”
Something else was going on here. He slid closer so that their thighs touched. “What is it, Jaydee?” He witnessed her hesitation. “Trust me.”
“I based my report findings on the information I’d been given. But, after I’d finished, I found out what I had been told wasn’t accurate.”
“How so?” He frowned.
“Everything I did, all the tests I ran were based on the belief Commander Walker and Wicked had flown that day.”
Silence reigned and he scowled as anger grew in the pit of his belly. Anger that the death of his best friend possibly hadn’t been an accident and was being covered up. But for whom? He’d been the one scheduled to take the test flight and would have been there if not for his shoulder. Was it Lizard? Could he have set Sidewinder up? Surely not. Then who?
He shoved to his feet and swore a blue streak as he paced the hardwood floor of his bedroom in a meagre attempt to work off his excess energy.
“So…someone is lying about what happened.” He didn’t make it a question.
Gio went to his window and stared out into his backyard. He squeezed his eyes shut and Mike’s face flashed before him. His friend had always been upbeat and positive. And now…all that easy-going attitude and smooth charm was gone. Forever. Possibly snuffed out on purpose.
“God damn it!”
He punched the wall to his right, fist sinking into the drywall. The pain was welcomed. He struggled with the need to do it again. And again. Until all that remained was his own pain. Gio rested his head on the wall and took a deep breath. Eyes open, he stared out into the sunny morning. In the window’s reflection, he made out the woman sitting on the foot of his bed. Jaydee.
She made no noise and he couldn’t read her expression. He wiped the drywall dust off his hand and rotated towards her. Unsure of what he’d read in her eyes when he faced her, he was a bit hesitant. This was his second display of violence in front of her and he hated it. However, her gaze was guileless and straightforward.
“Do you realise what—” he broke off and shoved a hand over his short hair.
“I’m well aware of the implications.”
“Who’ve you told?” he demanded.
“About what?”
“Damn it! Don’t play games with me.”
“Playing games isn’t something I participate in.” Her chest rose and fell enticingly as she breathed. “I asked for clarification to ensure I didn’t give you the wrong information.”
“About your report.” He tried to calm himself, but it was an uphill battle all the way.
“Dr Thompson and Captain Fentress. I, however, finished that report based on the belief there’d been two pilots up there. I only acquired this new bit of news recently.”
“How?”
She did a quick scan of his room. “I asked Keel about where the other pilot was. He said Commander Walker had gone up alone.”
“Sidewinder,” he said without thought.
“I’m sorry?”
“Mike or Sidewinder. He wouldn’t want you calling him Commander.”
Dawning filled her eyes. “He was your friend.”
Pain lanced through him. “He was my best friend. We rented this place together. Christ, what if he died in my place? What if whatever happened was meant for me?” He made his way to his black chair and sank in it. Eyes closed, he fought for some composure.
Hands on his thighs brought his eyes open. Jaydee crouched before him. “I didn’t say this to make you feel worse, and I am sorry. This is on me.”
He could feel her personal devastation and taste her absolute belief in what she spoke.
“Come here, sweets.”
She pushed to her feet then settled across his lap, her head tucked beneath his chin. He held her tight against his chest.
“This isn’t your fault.”
“Nor is it yours.”
Since Mike’s death, Gio knew he’d blamed himself. If only he’d not injured his shoulder. If only… He sighed and closed his eyes, brushing his lips along the top of her head.
“Help me. Help me to discover the truth, Jaydee.”
“I will do what I can. I won’t be around much longer.”
He didn’t want to hear such things from her. Her presence had become so familiar to him, he loathed the thought of losing it.
“I have to know the truth.”
“Okay.”
Face to face, he gave her a sad yet grateful smile. When their lips met he realised, yet again, how lost he truly was. And how this woman seemed to turn his ‘lost’ status into ‘found’.
Chapter Eleven
Jaydee smoothed her hands down the yellow knee-length skirt and ensured her cobalt-blue shirt hadn’t got messed up on the ride over. With one final deep breath, she walked across the parking lot towards the entrance to the restaurant.
She glanced at her watch as she nodded to the man who held the door for her. One minute before the hour. She was on time. Amazing, really, considering Gio had not wanted to let her out of bed. Not that she’d minded all that much.
All day they’d spent in bed, reminiscent of the twenty-four hours she’d spent with him when they’d first met. He’d cooked for her and held her tight when she’d slept. However, when she’d told him she had to leave he’d not been exactly happy.
“You can’t possibly be jealous,” she said.
“Why not?”
“Because he is my father.”
Gio put his face close to hers and replied, “He can be seen in public with you. I can’t. You’re damn right I’m jealous.”
Unsure of how to respond, she’d showered, dressed, and left him.
After promising to return.
So, now, she was meeting a man, who might technically be her flesh and blood, but with whom she’d never felt that familial bond. He sat at the bar and rose when he spied her. Apparently, he’d been watching the door.
“Good evening, Dr Thompson.” He wore loafers, slacks, and a nice dress shirt. His coat hung over his arm—as always, he was impeccable.
He placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her to a table, after the hostess had walked off. Once they were seated, she stared at him, waiting for why he had wanted to see her.
“I read your report.” She waited. “Very thorough.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. Why no conclusion aside from the one you gave? Which we both know is a long-winded and fancy way of saying you don’t truly know.”
“I regret that that is true.”
The waitress arrived to take their order and talk ceased until she’d left them alone.
Dr Thompson placed his elbows on the table—a shock all on its own—and set his chin atop laced fingers. She watched him cautiously, but she truly ‘looked’ at him, assessing him. It had never been a secret he was her father, yet he’d always kept her at a bit of a distance. He treated her like anyone else who worked in his lab, demanding results. Perfection.
They weren’t a family who had meals together or shared holidays. In fact, her first celebrated Christmas, when she’d actually got a gift, had been the one she’d spent with Lexy and her family. Still, she’d had a roof over her head and food to eat, so she harboured no grudges against Dr Thompson.
Sitting here now, though, she was a bit suspicious. He’d never wanted to do two dinners with her before when she’d been on loan to Uncle Sam. His eyes appeared older. One side of his mouth twitched and he shook his head.
“You need to stop blaming yourself.”
She blinked. “It—”
“No. It was not your fault.” His tone was absolute and she nodded. “You need to remember how to separate personal feelings from fact. You can, you just need to.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Now, tell me about your two incidents.”