by Casey Dawes
The airport director was giving a presentation when she slipped into a seat at the back. She listened idly. What did this guy think of Zach? She knew so little about where Zach worked, a tour probably wasn’t a bad idea—in case she ever saw him again.
“So let’s go into the back and take a look at the training room, squad room, and fire engine,” the director said. He opened the door and led them down a few corridors. They entered a darkened room with monitors and keyboards on several desks. Computers hummed in the corners of the room.
“This is our training room. Our security officers need to stay up to date on all the airport regulations and warnings from the FAA. It one of the ways we keep you and other travelers safe.”
The door at the back of the room opened.
“Ah, here’s Zach. He’s going to help to lead the tour and answer any questions you might have.”
Damn.
Their gazes met, and he looked away.
Double damn.
Time to imitate Mama when she’d been dumped. She turned to the girl next to her. “Isn’t this fun?” she said in her “cute” voice.
“Sure is. And he’s not too bad looking either.” The woman gestured at Zach with her water glass.
“No. He isn’t.” A sense of sadness washed over her. What had she done wrong?
Oh. Yeah. Disappeared after he kissed her.
It had been a wonderful kiss.
Too bad it didn’t look like there’d be any more or a chance to follow where kisses like that led. Probably just as well. He’s leaving, she reminded herself, and she needed to focus on her business. It was time to start acting on her expansion plans.
“What do you do all day?” Brittany’s voice had a determined breathy quality as she sidled closer to the man in uniform.
Sue Anne’s muscles tensed.
“A lot of what we do is routine,” Zach said, smiling at Brittany. “Patrols, maintenance on the vehicles, that kind of thing.”
“Have you ever had to rescue someone?” Brittany was inches from him.
“We did have a car rollover last month. The woman survived, but we had to use what everyone calls the Jaws of Life to get her out.”
“Wow. That’s fantastic.” Brittany put her hand on Zach’s arm.
Once again, the woman was confident and sure of her movements, while Sue Anne had never been that way with a guy, despite her mother’s training. Where Brittany looked like a leading lady, Sue Anne was cast as the humorous sidekick. But Zach had appeared to like Sue Anne anyway. What was he going to do with Brittany’s serious come on?
“Do you work out a lot?” Brittany continued.
Zach glanced at Sue Anne and then down to the hand on his arm. Gently, he disengaged her fingers before answering. “As much as necessary,” he said.
Guess that answered that question.
Undeterred, Brittany said, “Where do you work out?”
“At one of the local gyms.” Another look at Sue Anne.
“But where?” This time Brittany turned in the direction of Zach’s stare.
Sue Anne couldn’t help herself.
She smiled broadly.
Funny sidekick kicks ass of leading lady. Yes!
“I think it’s time to move along,” the airport director said. “Let’s take them through the squad room to the fire truck.”
The squad room turned out to be pretty much what she’d expected it to be: a large, square room with a kitchenette at one end, a few tables and chairs, as well as a large conference table in the center. Doors led to men’s and women’s changing and rest areas.
Zach hadn’t ever mentioned that twist.
“Excuse me.” She raised her hand. “Are there any female members of the team?”
The director’s smile dimmed. “Not at this time.” His voice was clipped, as if he expected a feminist attack. “We certainly welcome women.” His smile returned. “Are you thinking of applying?”
She felt the heat in her cheeks as everyone, including Zach, stared at her.
“I don’t think so. I make chocolates.”
“Ah.” The director’s smile grew more genuine. “You must be the one. I’ve had a few of your treats. Excellent.”
“Yes, they are,” Zach said.
They passed through a few more doors to a big garage. A gleaming, lime-green fire truck filled much of the space. As Zach led the tour around the vehicle, Sue Anne fell to the rear of the line. She did not need a further confrontation with Zach. Everyone needed to think of her as that nice lady who made chocolates, not someone attached to a hunky airport guy.
“Do you know him?” one of the other women asked.
“Uh, kind of. He helped me find my car after my last trip.” And he kissed me. Very, very well.
Maybe there was a way to fix it so they could resume the friendship they’d had. She knew he was leaving. She’d just have to make sure her heart stayed intact in the process.
“Let’s head up to the tower, now. Zach, could you bring up the rear so we don’t lose anyone?”
“Sure.”
To Sue Anne’s relief, Brittany had moved her focus to the airport director and was trotting along at the head of the line.
“I didn’t know you’d be here.” Zach’s breath tickled along the back of her neck.
“I joined so I could get the word out about my chocolates.”
“I see.”
“Look, I’m sorry.” She turned toward him.
“For what?”
“For ... um ... ditching you after our date.”
“Because you had to pee?”
“Shh!” So much for dignity.
He grinned at her.
“Got everyone, Zach?” The director’s voice echoed from the top of the stairway.
“Yep. Coming right up.” He caressed her arm. “Want to go out again sometime?”
Her skin blazed where he’d touched her. Keeping her heart intact wasn’t going to be as easy as she’d hoped.
“I thought you didn’t want to date—because you’re leaving.”
“As friends.” His smile lost a little of its luster. “That’s what I meant—let’s go out as friends.”
“Then we’re going to need to talk about this touching and kissing stuff.” She lowered her voice.
“You don’t like it?”
I like it too much.
“It’s not appropriate if all we’re going to be is friends.”
“Oh. Okay. I’ll give you a call.” The chill in his voice was back.
Chapter 9
Sue Anne stared out the back window, nursing her cup of coffee. The sky was a relentless steel gray, had been that way for weeks. Spring teased at Missoula with days so warm you could abandon your coat, only to be followed by frosty mornings that lasted way into the day.
This Friday was looking like it may be somewhere in between. According to the weather forecast, the weekend was supposed to be warm, perfect for getting out of town for a hike or a ride up to the Bison Range.
Too bad she had no one to enjoy it with.
Last night, Zach had started to ask her out, but he’d never followed up on it, avoiding her for the rest of the group’s time at the facility. Maybe he’d call, but she doubted it.
Where had she gone wrong? She replayed the conversation in her head. Again. Like Missoula’s weather, he’d teased her with a springtime thaw, only to follow it up with a frost.
She knew what the answer was, she just hated to admit it, even to herself.
He didn’t like it when she’d put limits on their physical contact. It wasn’t that she didn’t want sex, she did, and a nooner with a good-looking man would be perfect.
As long as that man wasn’t Zach. She could feel the tug of his personality—the strong, dependable type with a fatal flaw—he wasn’t in it for the long term.
But his kiss fulfilled every fantasy she’d ever had.
The man was trouble on two legs—two strong legs. Attached to a great-looking butt. Leadi
ng up to strong shoulders attached to arms that held her close...
Argh! She needed to stop thinking like this.
She wanted a guy who wanted all of her—the good and the bad—for the long term. Zach was fun to be with, he had stable employment, and his mother had taught him manners. Even the type of job he had said he was considerate of others.
Or was it the power he liked? Some men in uniform had quite a need for control.
That wasn’t what she wanted either.
The man twisted her in knots. The fingers of an ache dug into the edges of her skull.
Sugar scratched to go out. In spite of the variable temperatures, the little pug loved sniffing every new odor in the great outdoors, at least until she became chilled. Then she couldn’t get in fast enough.
Sue Anne smiled. The pug was more predictable than the male species. She should stick to her original plan, focus on the business, and put all thoughts of good-kissing men from her mind.
By the time she’d poured the next cup of coffee, Sugar was scratching at the door. She made sure the dog had enough food and water for the day. Then she went into the shop, locking the door behind her.
“Hey, Julie. All quiet?”
“Yes. We had the usual crowd in for breakfast. We’re becoming a regular stop for a lot of folks.”
“That’s great!”
Julie’s wide grin matched her own, reminding her of the easy friendship they’d once shared.
Men. They sure caused trouble.
“What needs doing?”
“I was about to start a second batch of huckleberry fudge. It’s our biggest seller.”
“I can get started with that,” Sue Anne said.
“Good, that way I can clean out the tempering machine and the molds.”
“Remember—”
“I know. Don’t use detergent. You sure are nervous about that.”
“I guess it was drummed into my head when I was learning to make chocolate.”
She pulled out the pots she needed to make fudge, as well as the high-grade cocoa, sugar, and milk. Soon the odor of sweet chocolate filled the small space, wrapping her in an imaginary childhood.
Her mother had never made fudge in her life, was always too concerned about her looks to let sweets tempt her. Every morning, she’d spend an hour on hair and makeup, whether or not she was going out. Sue Anne had unconsciously picked up her habits, so much so she’d kept it up her entire freshman year. But then she’d adopted the outdoor-focused town as her own and let a lot of things slide.
She glanced at her nails and grimaced. It was past time for a manicure.
The memory of Brittany’s perfectly sculpted nails on Zach’s arm made her wince. Definitely time to up her game.
“Why don’t we do something fun on Sunday?” she asked Julie. “Go for a mani and pedi like we used to do."
“I’m busy on Sunday,” Julie said.
“Oh. Okay. Another time maybe.”
“Sure.”
Sue Anne continued to stir as the mixture pulled together, trying to gather her thoughts in the same manner. Somehow she needed to sort out her feelings about Zach.
No she didn’t. She needed to forget about the man entirely.
The doorbell jangled.
“I’ll take over the fudge,” Julie said. “I’m a mess.”
Sue Anne handed over the spoon and went to the front of the store. A young man stood in front of the candy counter. From his erect posture, she figured he had to be in some kind of military unit.
“Can I help you?”
“Hi there! Someone in my squad bought some chocolates from here. I’m told they were really good.”
Zach.
“Didn’t you get any?” She gave him a big smile and started to slice a piece of fudge for a sample.
“Nuts. I’m allergic. Not deadly, but I get a really bad reaction that isn’t pleasant.”
She looked at the slice in her hand. Almost all the fudge she made had nuts. Something to think about.
“How about a truffle? We have some huckleberry truffles that are a big seller.”
“That’d be great. How much?”
“No charge. It’s a sample.”
“Great!” He took the sample and bit down into it. “Oh, man,” he said when he’d finished chewing. “This is amazing.”
“I’m glad you like it.” His bright cheerfulness was a nice change from Zach’s moodiness or Reed’s controlling ways. “You work with Zach?”
“He’s in my squad.” He held out his hand. “My name’s Pat.”
“Sue Anne.”
“Can you get me a couple of boxes of these? One with nuts and one without? The guys will like it.”
“Sure. Always glad to take care of the folks at the airport.”
“How’s business going?” he asked as she wrapped up the chocolates.
“Pretty well. We’re going to do our official grand opening at the beginning of May. That’s if I can get all the advertising in place in six weeks.”
“It’s a lot of work. My girlfriend owns a shop in Alaska. That’s where I’m from.”
“Must be hard to be separated.”
“Yeah. She’s trying to sell the business and move down here to be with me, but it was tough on her to give up something she owns.”
“She’d do that for you?”
He cocked his head as if she’d said something strange. “Of course. I tried to find work up there, but it was going to be the same situation no matter where I went because there weren’t jobs near her store.”
Sue Anne couldn’t imagine giving up her store to follow some guy.
“Say, do you ship?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Can you send an assorted box of candy to her in Alaska?”
“Sure can. She allergic to nuts?”
“Nope.” He grinned.
She took care of his payment, got the address, and watched him walk out the door, all the while wondering about a woman who would give up everything for a man in this day and age. He seemed nice enough, but still...
The jangle of the bell brought her back to reality.
• • •
The aroma of chocolate hit Zach’s nose the moment he walked into the squad room, bringing memories of his one date with the chocolate lady. No. Undate. It had been simply two friends going to a wildlife refuge.
Keep telling yourself that, Crippin.
He wished he could get her and her damned kissable lips out of his mind.
She was offering friendship, without benefits. It was only fair; he’d told her he was leaving. Still, she drew him like the North Pole called Santa Claus back home after Christmas.
God, he was beginning to think like her.
“You were right, buddy,” Pat said. “These are great chocolates. Even the ones without nuts.”
“Glad you like them.”
“Have some.”
“Sure.” Zach bit into a piece. A blast of cinnamon tore through his taste buds. All he could concentrate on was the experience. It drove all sense of self-preservation from his mind.
After he finished savoring the candy, he asked, “Did she say anything about me?”
Pat’s eyebrow lifted. “I thought you weren’t interested in dating. At least that’s what you said last week.”
“I’m not interested in dating. I was just curious, that’s all.”
“Right.” Pat shrugged. “Have it your way. But, no, she didn’t ask about you. Maybe she’s gotten over you.”
“Could be.” He should leave her alone then.
“What gym do you use?” Pat asked as he closed the chocolate boxes. “If I’m going to eat these chocolates, I need to start working out. I have a wedding in my future.”
“Oh? That’s fast work. You’ve only been here a few months.”
“Not really.” Pat grinned, one of those shit-eating grins that only guys in love get. “She’s from Alaska. I asked her to marry me before I left. And she said yes.” H
e gently punched Zach’s arm. “You should give it a try.”
“What—marriage?”
“Love, buddy, love.”
It was all he could do to keep from snorting.
A twinge of jealousy snuck into his heart.
“Tried it once. That’s what got me demoted.”
“Sorry to hear that. Want to talk about it?” Pat asked.
“Not really.” He checked his watch. “Shift’s over. Gotta go. Oh. I go to Gold’s on Reserve. In fact, I’m going there now.”
He walked to the door.
“Hey, man. I didn’t mean to pry,” Pat said. “No hard feelings?”
Zach shook his head. “No problem.”
• • •
Zach loaded another weight onto the bar. Pushing himself like this was the only way he knew to get past his current angst.
Women. Dealing with a fire was easier some days than figuring out the path of a woman’s mind.
He slammed the bar back into its holder. He’d been an ass with Sue Anne, but he didn’t know how to recover or if he even wanted to.
How could he possibly be in the same room with her and not keep his hands to himself?
He scanned the room before picking up the bar again. In the back of his mind, he’d hoped to run into her again. So far it hadn’t happened.
“Need a spotter?” A polished blonde in revealing workout clothes stood by the bars. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place her.
“Brittany,” she said. “I was at the social. You took us around, remember?”
All those women. The chief had called it an opportunity to get to know the community. He hadn’t realized the community was made up only of females.
“Oh. Yeah. Thanks, but I’m fine,” he said, wiping his brow with the lower part of his t-shirt. Maybe if he acted like a heathen, she’d go away.
“Okay. But I’ll be around if you change your mind.” Hips twitching, she walked off in the direction of the squat machine.
She had one fine butt.
Shaking off the image, he went back to work. He’d finished his upper-body work, and was contemplating cardio when he spotted the person he’d been waiting to see.
Sue Anne was toning her fine body on the Stairmaster. There was no question as to who had the better butt—Sue Anne won over Brittany hands down.