“There’s a service at his church on Saturday afternoon. I hope you can join us,” Joe said.
“That’s Daisy’s church too. We wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Joe put out his hand to shake Sky’s. “It would have meant a lot to him. It means a lot to us.”
He pushed open the door and indicated his brothers and sisters and their children, George’s contribution to the world. They came forward and thanked him again for befriending “Grandpa,” for sharing his stories, and for helping him find peace.
Wait a second. They were thanking him for imparting words of wisdom to an already wise man? This wise old man who hadn’t even felt the need to share with Sky that he’d actually gone and done it? Married his dead co-pilot’s wife. And raised his son as his own.
And lived happily ever after.
All George had told him was: “When you fall in love with someone, you make a decision to love her forever. And then you do just that.” And he’d made that decision about his dead co-pilot’s wife. And it had worked. Well, for the most part. He’d obviously continued to beat himself up for not saving Joe or he wouldn’t have suffered from nightmares all those years. But there was no question he was in love with his wife until the day he died. Sky could see it in his blind eyes every time he talked about her.
And George’s descendants were giving Sky credit for helping the old man. When he had the secret to survivor guilt all along: You’ve been given a second chance at life. Make the world a better place. Like marrying a woman you might not have loved in the beginning, but came to love a great deal. Raise her fatherless child as if it were your own and then bring four more children into the world, raise them right, and send them out to make the world a better place.
Sky guessed George had the secret all along. He just didn’t know it. And if Sky was able to bring it to his attention, that was a fair trade for the secret to relationships and fewer bad dreams. Sky bade George’s children and grandchildren farewell and promised he’d see them at the memorial service. He’d wear his dress blue uniform. George would have liked that, Sky thought as he headed down the hall to find Daisy and share the news.
Chapter 24
“That was an amazing story about how George lost his co-pilot, then married the widow, wasn’t it?” Daisy asked as she added dressing and tossed the salad. “And when his son stood up and gave the eulogy, I had goose bumps. It was so lovely to hear Joe sing his praises.”
“Yeah. How do you want your steak?” Sky replied from the patio.
“The usual. Make sure it’s still a little pink on the inside.” Daisy carried the salad bowl to the table. “Don’t you think that was a beautiful love story? How George survived the accident, married Joe’s wife, and they lived happily ever after?”
A bead of sweat trickled down Sky’s back. If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Maybe the grill was too hot. That was it. But what if you’re already outside? And it’s November? “Yeah, it’s a nice story, Daisy. Dinner in five,” he called through the open sliding glass door.
He didn’t want to talk about George any more. Just the thought of him brought on the tears. Sky had no idea how he’d held it together at the service. Well, actually, he hadn’t held it together. He barely made it through the service and then lost it in the men’s room. Had to hide in a stall while he sobbed. Christ, what was wrong with him? It was like he had no control over his emotions anymore. And the whole taking care of the dead pilot’s wife hit a little too close to home for Sky. Thank God he had Daisy Mae on board the few times Daniel had threatened to return to his dreams.
After dinner, they watched a movie and prepared to turn in early.
“Hey,” Daisy said as she wrapped her arms around Sky’s neck and hugged him. “Thanks for today.”
“What? What did I do?”
“You went to George’s service with me. And you wore your dress blues, which make you look even more handsome than usual.” She kissed him lightly and continued. “I know George was smiling down on us when you showed up in your dress uniform. And I wanted to thank you again for being such a special friend to him. It’s not always easy to be around old people. Thank you.”
“No problem. I liked the guy.”
“I still can’t get over that story about his co-pilot and his wife and son, though. Can you?”
Sky gently pushed her away. Raised his hands for emphasis. “Look, Daisy, would you let it go already? I liked George a lot. Apparently he did a good deed by marrying Sarah and raising her son as his own. He was a good man. He’s gone. I miss him. End of story.”
“Well, aren’t you the grumpy one tonight?”
“Look, I don’t want to talk about it, okay.” Why couldn’t she drop the whole George and Sarah and Baby Joe situation? He stripped down to his briefs and headed into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
Daisy followed him and hugged his back. “Bet I know what would make you feel better.”
Sky glanced up at the mirror. All he saw was a pair of arms embracing his chest, stroking his stomach, his... “Come on, Daisy. I’m not in the mood.” He tried to peel her hands from his body.
Daisy peeked around him into the mirror. “Stop the presses. The Skylark’s not in the mood? That doesn’t sound like the Cap’n Crawford I know.” Her eyes sparkled as she sidled around and boosted herself onto the bathroom counter, pulling him between her knees. “Come here, Romeo.” She slid her hands down and cupped him again. “Hmmm. You may not be in the mood, but I don’t think your Hellfire missile got the message. It sure seems to be in the mood.”
“Dammit, Daisy, leave me alone.” But he was rapidly losing the battle. There was no question that his missile was locked and loaded and a round of hot sex might be just what he needed to forget about George because...
Oh, God. First she took his hands and placed them on her breasts and he was all thumbs—which in this case was a good thing. And then she slipped his briefs down and stroked him and kissed his chest and moaned all at the same time and when he looked in the mirror, he saw nothing but pleasure on his face. All his grumpiness was a thing of the past.
Sky kicked off his briefs. Then he pulled her to her feet. Slowly, he slid her panties down before lifting her back up onto the counter. He reached down and stroked her, finding her already wet and ready. When he rubbed her with his thumb, she tipped her head back against the mirror, eyes closed, mouth open, moaning.
Okay, I’ll play your game, sweetheart. This was like starring in his very own porn film, getting to see it all in the mirror. He’d never watched himself get it on with Daisy before—and without a doubt—Sky gave himself star billing.
He slid her bottom to the edge of the counter, then knelt and kissed her deeply, sliding his tongue over her most sensitive spot and beyond. He licked until Daisy cried out with her little-high-pitched-love-making sounds as she came. Sky grabbed a condom from the drawer, then slid himself into her as her orgasm continued to ebb and flow. Grabbing hold of her bottom, he pumped and pumped and pumped, bringing her close to the edge again. Daisy cried out, clawing at his back with her fingernails, wrapping her legs around his waist, and pulling him as tightly to her as possible. Digging her heels into his ass.
Sky watched it all through slitted eyes. Her legs disappearing around his waist. Her ass peeking out from under her T-shirt, butt muscles flexing to receive his every push. Her face buried under his chin as she kissed his neck, all the while moaning and building up to another climax. He couldn’t reach her mouth with his own, and was actually glad, because it allowed him to watch everything unfold in the mirror. As if on cue, her high-pitched squeaks came again.
And so did Daisy.
That was Sky’s cue. He was a goner when Daisy made those noises.
He scooped her off the counter so he could straighten his knees and finish the race. No longer fixated on he
r sweet ass, he looked up to witness what looked like agony—but what was pure ecstasy—on his face, as he came and came and came inside her.
Minutes passed where they stroked and kissed and murmured. He sat her back on the counter, bending his knees so he could find her mouth with his own, giving her kisses that he knew tasted of the sweet essence of her—with a side of Crest, since she’d accosted him in mid-brush.
“Feel better now?” she asked. “I know I do, and I wasn’t even grumpy.”
“Oh, baby, that was so good for me. You are so good for me. God, I love you, Daze.” He saw a flash of something in her eyes. Fear? Uncertainty? The need to respond, I love you too?
Sky pulled away and cleaned himself up. He raised a hand to quiet her. “I’m sorry. I promised I wouldn’t pressure you, but God, honey. It all feels so right. The very idea of you warms my soul all day long and making love with you is so sweet, so good, so fine, and I can’t contain myself.”
And I don’t ever want to let you go.
“But I promise not to say it again, unless you want me to. And then I’m, like, all there.”
“Sky…”
He handed Daisy her panties and reached for a washcloth. “I know. I know. You think you already had your one love, but that’s bull—”
“No.” Daisy hopped off the counter, grabbed his arm, and locked eyes with him. “I love you too.”
Something slammed in his chest. “What?”
A smile lit Daisy’s face. “I love you. Too.” She started laughing. Not funny laughing. Like she couldn’t-believe-it-laughing. She grinned. She hugged him. She laughed again. “Oh, my God. I just figured it out. I love you.”
Sky danced her around the bathroom in their bare feet and skivvies, each lost in the other’s laughter. Then he stood there grinning like a fool.
The happiest fool in the world.
“Maybe it was hearing the story of George and Sarah today. I don’t know. Her husband died in the line of duty and she found love again. She wasn’t afraid to take a risk. They went on to have four children together. And, they lived happily ever after for forty-three years.”
Was she talking about—?
Daisy raised her hand in a stop sign. “No, I’m not discussing happily ever afters with you just yet. Let me wallow in the fact that I love you for a little while first. Okay?”
The fool went back to grinning. “Whatever you want, sweetheart, you got it.” Sky’s heart sang. It wouldn’t be long now before they’d be in the market for bedroom furniture, rings, and white picket fences. And what scared the crap out of him was that it didn’t scare the crap out of him. He really and truly wanted this. He had found The One and she loved him.
“Sky, you are not the man I met a month ago.” Daisy playfully batted at his bare chest. “Hitting on me in the clinic. Keeping the cat just so you could get me to go out with you.” Daisy laughed and swiped at him again. “Tricking me into going kayaking. You know, that was pretty darn smart.”
Sky laughed right along with her, leaning down and stealing kisses between her accusations. They danced around, lost in the moment. And in love.
Daisy turned serious. “You’ve shown me…” She cupped his cheek. “You’ve shown me you’re honorable and trustworthy. And I’ve learned what a caring, and loving man you are.” And then, as if she just remembered, she grinned again and said, “And I love you.” Daisy stood on her tiptoes and kissed him soundly.
Sky swept his arm behind her knees and lifted her off the floor, carrying her to the bed. “I love you too, sunshine. And I’m about to show you just how much.”
Her declaration of love had him at the ready and he found himself smiling through another amazing round of lovemaking. Sky finally, truly, got why they called this making love. Many women had told him they’d loved him before, but it had never been a good thing. But this was the real deal. And he loved her right back atcha’.
Sky Crawford was the luckiest guy in the world.
He kissed her temple, then grinned in the dark. “Good night, sweetheart. I love you.”
Daisy turned and snuggled into his embrace. “I love you too, Sky. Sweet dreams.”
Sky couldn’t breathe. Water poured into his mouth as he gasped for air. The buckle on his harness was stuck again. He was going to die. He knew it for a fact this time. Certainly he couldn’t save himself, but maybe he could save Daniel.
He reached over and unbuckled Daniel’s harness and slipped the straps off his shoulders. Daniel slumped forward and slid down over the cyclic stick.
Then came the pounding on his window. He turned, expecting Jill with her hair waving in the water—and please God, let her have left the baby at home. But it was the woman from the pictures on George’s bookshelf. She yanked open the door and hit him, pummeled him in the chest, and screamed: “Save Joe!”
Sky tried to explain it was Daniel and not Joe, but she wouldn’t listen. She kept yelling for him to pull Joe to safety. And when he turned to look at his co-pilot again, he saw it wasn’t Daniel. This man was on fire. How could a man burn under water?
Now he understood the woman was Sarah and she expected him to save Joe. How could he save Joe when he couldn’t even save himself? Wait a second. Hadn’t Joe died before Sky was even born? This had to be Daniel. But why was he on fire? Suddenly the pilot’s harness was gone. Had someone cut it off? He was trying to unravel the puzzle when he realized the woman had morphed into Daisy.
“Follow me.” She tapped on his nose twice. “Just follow me.”
“Leave me the hell alone, Daisy! I don’t know what happened to Daniel! I can’t find him! I have to save Daniel!
“It’s okay. Come on, Sky. Wake up.”
“Go away! I can’t leave without Daniel! He’ll die! I can’t live with myself if he dies!”
“You have to wake up, Sky. You’re dreaming. Wake. Up.”
Sky followed her reluctantly. He struggled up from the murky depths and sucked in air, precious air.
And then he opened his eyes.
There was no sunshine. No ocean. No helicopter. No Sarah. No Joe. No Daniel.
Only Daisy. Staring at him in horror.
“Who’s Daniel?” she asked quietly.
Sky glanced wildly around the bedroom, then back at her. He wiped his brow and realized he was soaked in sweat and had drenched the bed.
He rolled onto his knees, defensive, terrified.
“Daisy, I’m sorry. I guess I had a bad dream or something?”
“Who’s Daniel?” she asked again.
“Daniel?”
“Yes. You were screaming about not being able to save Daniel.”
“Are you sure I didn’t say ‘Joe’? Maybe I was dreaming about George trying to save Joe or something? You know, after that story we heard today.”
Daisy simply looked at him. Didn’t say a word. Just looked at him. Grim.
She knew.
“Look, I’m all sweaty. Can I just go—?”
“Who is Daniel?” She reached for her T-shirt and panties, slipped them on, waited. But he didn’t answer. “You know, Sky. I’m not stupid. I’ve been here before. Now tell me. Who. Is. Daniel?”
Sky rose from the bed and walked to the bathroom. He shut the door and turned on the shower. He had to clear his mind and think before he talked. Oh, he was going to come clean with her. Because she knew. Like she’d said, she’d been there before.
Although it was three o’clock in the morning, he went ahead and dressed. Then he sat at the foot of the bed. Daisy hadn’t moved. She was still propped up in bed, sheets wrapped around her, patiently waiting for an explanation.
Sky stared at the opposite wall, inhaled deeply, let it out, and jumped in.
“Daniel Meyers was my HAC when I was a lieutenant j.g. We were on a training
mission out of San Diego. Everything was going smoothly and then we had a tail rotor malfunction. The fact that we weren’t killed on impact with the Pacific was a miracle. I survived.” He paused and rubbed his head. “Daniel didn’t.”
Daisy pulled back the covers and slid to the end of the bed. She put her arms around him and held him. “Oh, Sky. I’m so sorry. My God, that must have been horrible.”
He didn’t give in to her embrace. Just stared at the wall until he realized his fingernails needed immediate attention. “All the training I learned in the dunk tank came to fruition. I didn’t know if we were upside-down or right side up. I mean, we’re taught a helo is top heavy because of the rotor head, so nine times out of ten it’s going to flip over, but when you’re in the situation, you don’t know which way is up.
“I managed to get my harness off but I couldn’t get Daniel’s free. I tried to find his pulse and I couldn’t really tell, but I’d swear on my life he was already dead. I grabbed my emergency air, but didn’t know how to hook him up to his air—or if he was breathing. I had about a minute to make a decision because water was coming in pretty fast. I knew if I unstrapped him and attempted to carry him up to the surface, I’d probably die trying.” Sky turned and looked at her. “Sometimes I wish I had, so I wouldn’t have to live with the guilt.”
Daisy uttered a soft sound of sympathy and laid her head on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Sky.”
“I finally decided to do what I’d been trained to do. It had been drilled into me since the first day of flight school. Do not go back. For anything. Or anybody. Save yourself first and then, only if it’s safe, save your buddy.”
Sky went back to wall staring, while Daisy stroked his back with her fingertips.
“It was inconclusive exactly how he died, although he did have a head trauma. Probably from impact. We hit the water pretty damn hard.” Sky shut his eyes, inhaled deeply, and let the breath out before continuing. “The board of inquiry said both Daniel and I had done everything we could and neither of us was found at fault. It was ruled a mechanical error.” He turned to her again. “But I always felt I could have done more. You know, saved him.” He shrugged. “Or something.”
Forget Me Not (Love in the Fleet) Page 23