Red Wine and Roses

by SJ McCoy

  “I would like. I’d like that a lot.”

  He grinned. “Me too. Can we make it official? Can we tell everyone when we go back that we’re together?”

  “Yes, please. Hopefully, it’ll save me a lot of hassle with the likes of Connor and Lyle.”

  He pursed his lips. “And with Larissa and Mel?”

  She nodded. “I hope I won’t have to see much of them. Do they fly much?”

  He shook his head. “Not often, no. And I guess when they do, they could be the flights that Cole or one of the other guys take.”

  “No. I don’t want to do that. I can handle it.” She jutted her chin out. “They’re going to have to get used to me—and to the fact that we’re together.”

  He smiled. “They sure are.”

  “I need you to understand something, though. I don’t want to use Smoke’s offer as just a way for me to work for you without working for you. I like it here. I like it at the airport. I’m going to take some flights here and be here sometimes.”

  “I know. I understand that, and I’m hoping that when you’re here, you’ll still invite me over sometimes?”

  She smiled. “Of course, I will.”

  “Cole and Laura manage it well. They both work away so much, but they’re very much together when they can be. I’d like to think we can have something like that.”

  “Me too.”

  They ate out on the deck again, and later Piper packed a bag. Mary Ellen had been so good about buying clothes and everything she’d needed for the last week, but she wanted to have her own things with her from now on. This wasn’t her zooming off to help in an emergency; this was her starting another new chapter—one in which she’d learn to live in two places at once.

  Once she had everything ready, they settled in the living room in the armchairs by the fire.

  “Do you want a glass of wine?” asked Cam.

  “Yes, please.”

  When he came back with two glasses, she frowned. “Is that the Special Reserve you sent?”

  “Yeah. Laura must have brought the case in and put it in the pantry.”

  Piper nodded.

  “What is it? What’s the matter?”

  She made a face. “I’m just being silly, but can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Is that like, your trademark or something?”

  “What?”

  “Sending wine and red roses to women you sleep with?”

  He dropped his gaze, and she knew the answer.

  She put her glass down and walked to the window where she stood with her back to him, staring out at the lake. “It made me feel so special.”

  “You are.” He came to stand beside her.

  “I hope so. But you sending me roses, no one had ever done that. It meant so much.” He didn’t say anything. What could he say? She knew she was being silly, but it all felt tainted somehow. She turned around and cupped his face between her hands. “I’m sorry.” She planted a kiss on his lips.

  He shook his head. “I’m sorry. I need you to know that sending those to you, it wasn’t like it’s ever been before. It was special because you are.”

  She nodded, wanting to change the subject. “It’s okay. Let’s just leave it.”

  His eyes were troubled. “I hate this. I need you to know that you’re different. That the way I feel about you is different. I love you, Piper. I can’t change my past, but I have changed since I met you. I want you, I only want you. For the rest of my life.”

  She snapped her head up to look into his eyes. He looked so earnest. She shook her head and stepped away from him. He didn’t need to go saying things like that just to make her feel better. “I want you, too, Cam.” She smiled. “Let’s go to bed?”

  He nodded and took her hand as they went up the stairs. In the bedroom, they each undressed and slid into bed. He curled his arm around her and drew her to him. “I meant it, Piper.”

  She nodded and snuggled into his side. “I love you, too.”

  He propped himself up on one elbow and looked down into her eyes. “You’re it for me.”

  She smiled. She didn’t want him to keep talking about forever just to make up for the whole stupid wine and roses thing. She knew how she could distract him from it, though. “Show me.”

  He covered her body with his own and slid a hand down between them. She moaned as his mouth came down on her neck at the same time as his fingers found their way between her legs. “I want to spend the rest of my life loving you, learning your body and what you enjoy.”

  “I’m enjoying this,” she murmured, still trying to steer him away from talk of forever. She closed her fingers around him and smiled at the sigh that escaped from his lips. “I’d like to enjoy this, too.”

  He positioned himself above her, and she spread her legs wider. His hot, hard shaft was pushing at her entrance, and she needed to feel him inside her. She cupped his ass in her hands and gasped as he thrust his hips.

  Their bodies moved together as though they were two halves of the same whole. She’d told him earlier she was starting to feel that she belonged with him. Their lovemaking only reinforced that. They weren’t having sex; she understood that. No matter how much she’d tried to avoid what he was saying about wanting forever, she couldn’t avoid the fact that he was now telling her the same thing with his body—or that hers was answering him with a resounding yes.

  As they moved together, he took her closer and closer to the point of no return, and her answer spilled out of her as she moaned “Yes, yes, yes. Yes!” She screamed it as her orgasm tore through her, and he continued to thrust deeper and harder until she felt him tense and he found his release deep inside her. “I love you, Piper,” he gasped as they soared away together.

  When he slumped down on her chest, he tangled his fingers in her hair. “I love you.”

  “And I love you.” She stared up at the ceiling, hoping that it really could be forever.

  Chapter Twenty

  Piper was nervous as she made her way through the offices toward the conference room. She’d only flown a short hop on Monday to take a couple of the execs down to LA for the day. They’d been easy passengers. They’d prepped for the meeting on the way there and made the most of the minibar on the way back. They weren’t the kind who were interested in her or her personal life. She was the pilot, and they’d treated her as such.

  This afternoon, she was due to take one of the sales teams up to Seattle. Larissa was a member of that team, and Cam had wanted to hold a meeting before they went. He’d said he wanted to make clear to everyone that she was a new member of the team—and that they were together.

  Piper still wasn’t sure that was such a good idea, but he’d insisted. Mary Ellen met her outside the conference room. “Hey, girlfriend. Smile, would you? You’ll be better off if you can go in there looking like the confident pilot, rather than the lamb off to slaughter.”

  Piper laughed. “I’m not that bad, am I?”

  “Not quite, no, but come on. Don’t be the cowering little thing. That’s not who you are, and it’s who some of them would like you to be.”

  Piper pursed her lips, remembering her conversation with Larissa the other night. She nodded. “Do you know that woman guaranteed me Cam would be back in her bed before long?”

  Mary Ellen shook her head. “We both know that’s not true, but you could take a leaf out of her book when it comes to confidence.”

  Piper smiled. “I’ll try. Are you coming in?”

  Mary Ellen laughed. “Yes, but I’m not going to hold your hand. You stride in there and hold your head high. I’ll come in after you.”

  Piper took a deep breath as she reached for the door handle. As she entered the room, she lifted her chin and pushed her shoulders back.

  Cam caught her eye and smiled. People were standing around the big conference table in little groups chatting. She spotted Larissa and gave her a curt nod. She went straight to Cam and offered him her cheek.


  He leaned down and pecked it. “Damn! Even I’m scared,” he whispered.

  She chuckled. “I’m not trying to be scary. I was going more for a don’t mess with me vibe.”

  “It’s working.”

  He looked around at everyone and cleared his throat. People made their way back to their seats, and he gestured for Piper to take the one beside him.

  “Okay folks. We’re nearly done with business for today. There’s just this one last item on the agenda. As you all know, Gene is recovering well, but we don’t know when, or at this point if, he’s going to be able to fly for us again. In the meantime, we’ve contracted out flight services. Most of you know my brother, Cole. He’ll be taking over aircraft management and also providing pilot services. Some of you met Piper last week.”

  Piper smiled as Connor gave her a little wave, and Larissa made a sour face.

  “She’s going to be with us for a while, covering most of our flights. I’d like you all to give her a warm welcome to the team.”

  She smiled around as a round of polite applause broke out, and some people muttered welcomes.

  “Since Piper won’t have control over scheduling, I’ll be managing all flight requests myself until we work out a new system. For now, you can bring your requests to Mary Ellen.”

  Piper wasn’t sure why there was so much unrest at that news.

  Cameron seemed oblivious to it. He turned toward Connor and Lyle and then met Larissa’s gaze. “I know that may seem unusual, but this is an unusual situation. I think it’s only fair that you should all know why I’m taking a personal interest in the matter.”

  Piper turned toward him wondering what he was about to say. She was shocked when he took hold of her hand and smiled. “It’s because Piper and I are living together. So, her schedule will affect mine.” He looked around the room, almost daring them to question him.

  No one did. They all seemed to be in shock.

  Connor was the first to recover. He grinned at them both. “Then I guess apologies are in order from Lyle and me?”

  Cameron laughed. “No need. You didn’t know.”

  “Thanks, boss.”

  “Just don’t try it again.” He was still smiling, but Piper could hear the difference in his voice. It seemed Connor could too.

  “So, you’re saying that company business is going to be have to be arranged around her?”

  Piper held her breath, wondering how Cam would respond to that one. In all fairness, it did seem like that was what he was saying, and that didn’t seem right.

  “No. I’m saying that company flights are to be approved by me. That’s all.”

  Larissa huffed and turned away.

  Cam squeezed Piper’s hand. “She won’t give you any problems.”

  Piper shook her head. “I know.”

  It took a while for the conference room to empty. Most of them wanted to stop and congratulate Cam and Piper on their way out. Some of them seemed keen for more information—or gossip—about the two of them, but Cam fended them off like an expert. He gave nothing away, but they left smiling.

  Eventually, they and Mary Ellen were the only ones left.

  “That went well,” said Mary Ellen.

  Cam nodded. “I think so.”

  “You don’t think that Larissa is going to cause any problems?”

  Cam shook his head. “No, she’s not all bad. She likes to fight for something when she thinks she can win, but she cuts her losses when she knows she can’t. That’s why she makes a good negotiator.”

  Piper caught Mary Ellen’s eye. It seemed the two of them were a little warier of Larissa than he was.

  He checked his watch. “I’m sorry, but I have to run. I’ve got a conference call with the New York office in ten minutes.”

  He bent to peck Piper’s cheek, making her smile. She’d thought he was only doing it for effect when she came in.

  “I guess I’ll be at the hangar if anyone needs me.”

  Mary Ellen took her arm. “No, you won’t. I need you right now. I have a bunch of stuff we need to go through to figure out this guy’s schedule for next month. I need flight times and all kinds of info. You’re going to have to get used to this. I hope you’re going to be more patient with me than Gene is. I’m hopeless at geography.”

  Cameron smiled at them. “Have fun, ladies. I’ll see you at home, Piper.”

  ~ ~ ~

  Cameron spent the rest of the morning in conference with the New York office. He was due a visit out there soon. He smiled when he finally hung up. He’d talk to Piper about it tonight. Maybe they could work it so they got to spend a weekend in the city. He’d like that.

  Mary Ellen stuck her head around his door. “I brought you coffee. I thought you could use some after that.”

  “Thanks. How did you get on with Piper?”

  “Great. She’s easy to work with and has much more patience than Gene, but don’t tell him I said that.”

  Cameron laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t. I am going to call him later, though. See how he’s doing.”

  “Yeah. What will happen to him if he can’t fly anymore?”

  “That’s what I want to work out. It’s going to be hard on him if he has to give up doing what he loves, but I want to see if there’s another job we could fit him into. He’s not ready to retire.”

  Mary Ellen smiled. “I love that you take such good care of everyone.”

  Cameron shrugged. “We’re not just a company; we’re a family.”

  “I know. That’s why I love it so much. I’ll tell you what, though. I think there might be some bad blood in the family after today.”

  “What makes you say that?” Cameron hoped she was wrong.

  “Apparently, Larissa’s been bitching about what you said this morning. Trying to make out that you’re putting your love life before the company.”

  “She can think what she likes, but I don’t want her going around putting a bad spin on it.”

  Mary Ellen raised her eyebrows. “I don’t see how you can stop her, though.”

  “I’m going to have to do something. I’ll have to have a word with her—make her options clear.”

  He didn’t get chance to do that, though. At three o’clock that afternoon he looked up in surprise when his dad came into his office.

  “Dad! This is a nice surprise.”

  His dad took a seat and gave him a stern look. “It isn’t a social visit, Cameron.”

  Cameron pushed his chair away from his desk and sat back. “What’s up?”

  “I hear you had a meeting this morning.”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you want to tell me about it?”

  Cameron frowned. His dad had stepped down from the board four years ago. He’d never, until today, come into the office to talk about company business since. “Why?”

  “Because I heard a disturbing report about what went on in that meeting.”

  Cameron narrowed his eyes. He had a feeling he knew what this was about.

  “From whom?”

  His dad’s lips twitched. It could have been a smirk, but Cam wasn’t sure.

  “I think you can guess.”

  “Larissa.”

  His dad nodded. “I did warn you a long time ago about keeping work and your private life separate.”

  Cameron nodded.

  “But you never did listen.”

  Cameron shrugged. “And it’s never been a problem.”

  “Until now.”

  “It’s not a problem now. Larissa’s just jealous about Piper. I had to let everyone know that Piper and I are together.”

  “Son. A jealous woman is always a problem. God help you if you don’t understand that.”

  Cam sighed. His dad was right, of course.

  “What I don’t understand is why you’ve stuck your neck out over this one. It would have been much simpler if you’d have kept your involvement with Piper quiet.”

  “I don’t want to keep it quiet.”

 
; To his surprise, his dad smiled. “And why’s that?”

  “Because I’m love with her, Dad.”

  His dad grinned. “That’s what I was hoping to hear.”

  “You were?”

  “Yes. She’s a great girl, and you’ve been different since you met her. She’s not just another one. She’s the one, isn’t she?”

  “I hope so.”

  “You doubt it?”

  “Not for me, but I’m not sure if she sees us as being permanent.”

  “You haven’t asked her?”

  “Not in so many words, no.”

  “What are you waiting for?”

  “I don’t know. The right time.”

  “You mean the right moment? There’ll never be one of those. You just have to pick a moment and make it right.”

  Cameron smiled. He loved the way his dad thought. “I don’t mean that. I mean, it’s kind of soon. We haven’t been together long.”

  “I told your mom on our first date that I was going to marry her. When it’s right, it’s right, and no amount of time will change that.”

  “So, you think I should ask her?”

  “I do. I think you should get on with it. Ask her to marry you. Then you’ll be able to get on with the rest of your lives and …” He looked over his shoulder. “You’ll be able to put a stop to anything Larissa might be hoping to start. She’s trouble, that one.”

  Cameron grinned. “Thanks, Dad. I’m going to do it.”

  ~ ~ ~

  On Friday night Piper sat on the sofa waiting for Cameron to come downstairs. It was strange for him to be the one taking so long.

  “Are you nearly ready?” she called. “I don’t want us to be late. I’m nervous enough.”

  He came down the stairs and came to kiss her. “There’s no need. I’m the one who’s nervous.”

  “Why? We’re having dinner with your family. What have you got to be nervous about?”

  He laughed. “I’m not. That was a dumb thing to say.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “Are you up to something?”

  “Me?” He gave her an innocent look. “No. Come on. Let’s get going.”

  She laughed. “Because I’m the one who’s been holding us up?”