Crashing Into Jake

by Sara Blackard

  Jake stomped up to where she huddled behind Rafe. “We’re good.”

  His firm hand around her waist did little to lessen the fear lodged between her lungs. How had the creep found them? Dear Lord, what if he hurt Ellie?

  She tried to turn back to the house. “The Smithtons.”

  “We’ll take care of it.” Jake tightened his grip, his face as hard as his tone.

  After guiding her into the back seat, Jake snatched the note and slammed his door shut. He tossed the paper to Rafe and sped out of the neighborhood. Piper scooted to the middle seat and grabbed Chloe’s shaking hands from her lap.

  “What does it say?” Chloe hated how her voice trembled, how one person could affect her so much.

  Rafe scanned the note. His jaw clenched, and he glanced over at Jake. That wasn’t a good sign. Chloe’s stomach twisted.

  “Rafe?” Piper pushed.

  Rafe cleared his throat and read. “‘I’ve seen the way he holds you. Keep it up, and you’ll regret it.’”

  Chloe’s eyes swung to Jake, who tightened his grip on the steering wheel. That made little sense. Sure, Jake had held her, but only to keep her from slipping. Was her stalker talking about how she’d kissed Jake’s cheek earlier? Whoever this guy was, he’d upped the ante in this note.

  “We’re getting out of here.” Jake’s low tone sliced through the silence that had blanketed the vehicle’s interior.

  “Wait. I can’t skip this concert.” Chloe leaned forward, gripping her hand around Jake’s seat.

  “We can fly you back in for the concert, bring more protection with us, but we need to get you to the ranch where this guy can’t get to you.” Jake turned at the sign that pointed to the airport.

  “What about all our stuff? I have appearances scheduled this week. All that information is at the house.” Chloe’s throat felt like it would close on her.

  “Chlo, this guy isn’t playing games.” Rafe turned in the seat.

  “What if I go back to the house and gather up our stuff?” Piper’s soft voice turned everyone’s attention to her. “I can start calling our contacts and figuring out what we can do virtually from the ranch.”

  Chloe shook her head as her anxiety built. “Piper, no—”

  “Listen. It makes sense. I’m your manager. It’s my job to take care of things.” Piper hugged her close. “Rafe and I will gather everything up here, then drive down to this ranch of theirs.”

  “But what if he follows you guys, or what if he gets mad and hurts you?”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll be quick, and Rafe will keep me safe.” Piper gazed at Rafe.

  Rafe swallowed as he nodded. “Always.”

  Chloe should’ve been celebrating the look that passed between her two friends, but the terror of the moment squashed any delightful feelings. She didn’t know what to do. Leaving Piper behind didn’t seem right. She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and bit so hard she winced.

  Rafe placed his hand on her knee. “Chloe, this will work. I can spot a tail a mile away. We’ll take back roads and be to the ranch later tonight.” He squeezed her knee. “I won’t let anything happen to our Piper, I promise.”

  Jake pulled his phone out and dialed. “Yes, I need to schedule an emergency flight at the earliest available time, please.”

  His tense voice dumped ice down her back. How was this happening? She wasn’t anyone special. Hadn’t even really made it yet. She stared out the window as Steamboat whizzed by. Clouds darkened the sky over the mountains like how terror turned the perfect day to gloom.

  Jake tossed his phone into the cup holder. “The next hour is wide open. We can taxi as soon as I get everything checked. Rafe, you and Piper will want to get out of here quick. There’s a storm blowing in.”

  “Is it safe to fly?” Chloe eyed the menacing clouds again, wishing they could go back to the house and bunker down.

  “It’ll probably be a bumpier ride than normal, but it should be all right.” Jake confidently glanced in the rearview mirror at her. “Chloe, I’ve been flying since I was fourteen. We’ll be fine, I promise.”

  She nodded and took a fortifying breath. Just because panic pounded in her chest, didn’t mean she had to give in to it. Hadn’t she learned that with all she’d been through. Jake stopped next to a tiny, sleek airplane that looked like little more than a tin can. Her palms turned slick with sweat.

  “Wait in here while I get the plane prepped.” Jake didn’t pause for an answer.

  A gust of frigid air blew into the vehicle before the door slammed. Chloe shivered and pulled out her phone. She wanted to call and talk to the band herself.

  “Chloe! How’s the starlet doing today?” Chet’s friendly voice answered.

  While he’d just joined the band three months before when her other guitarist got a better gig, he had great vision. She’d enjoyed working on new songs with him.

  “Hey, Chet. We have a bit of an issue.”

  “You didn’t crash your computer again, did you?” Of course he had to bring up the time she’d destroyed her computer and lost all the songs they’d been working on.

  “No, nothing like that.” She cleared her throat, embarrassed by the entire situation. “I’m having some issues with a guy. He started leaving messages on the phone back home. Anyway, he followed us here.”

  “Really? Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, but the messages have escalated. I’m flying out in a few minutes with my security. Piper will be driving down with our stuff and a friend.”

  “Wow, what about the concert?”

  “The security firm is based out of Glenwood Springs, so we’ll fly up on Friday for practice and the concert. I know it’s not ideal, but …”

  “No, your safety is the most important thing.” His voice sounded tight. “You said Piper’s leaving, too?”

  Chloe cringed. The poor guy had a little crush on Piper, had even gotten up the nerve to ask her on a date. He wasn’t Piper’s type. Only one man had ever filled that description. Chloe peeked at Rafe, who talked in low tones on his phone.

  “Yeah, I have some interviews and stuff she’s going to try to coordinate from Glenwood. Plus, her brother would flip if we left her here alone.”

  Piper elbowed Chloe in the side and stuck out her tongue.

  “Oh, okay.” Chet’s dejected voice made Chloe feel sorry for him, but Piper had been honest with him from the start.

  Chloe wanted off the phone. “Listen, Chet, I gotta go. Could you let the others know that we’ll call later to work out Friday?”

  “Sure thing. Keep safe.”

  Chloe tapped the end icon and smiled at Piper. “It seems your admirer is upset you’re leaving town.”

  Piper groaned and rolled her eyes. “I feel bad. Maybe I should’ve said yes.”

  “What’s this?” Rafe turned in the seat and looked between the two of them.

  Chloe stifled a smile as a plan formed. “My guitarist, Chet, has been wanting Piper to go out to dinner. She’s sparked his fancy, some would say.”

  “You told him no?” Rafe’s eyes narrowed at Piper.

  “Yeah, but I keep wondering if I should go ahead and go. We’ve spent a fair amount of time with him lately, working on songs and such.” Piper shrugged. “He’s nice.”

  “But you’re not attracted to him?” Rafe asked.

  “It’s not that.” Piper rubbed her collar as her cheeks pinked.

  “So, you are attracted?” he pushed.

  “He’s hot.” Chloe smiled and nudged Piper. “Smoking hot.”

  Rafe’s muscles tightened. “Why not go out with him then?”

  Piper’s cheeks turned bright red. “Because, I’m not going to get attached to someone who will realize sooner rather than later that he’d rather date someone else, especially with the amount of gorgeous groupies always storming him at the shows.”

  Chloe’s heart sank. She should’ve kept her big mouth shut.

  Rafe growled low. “What is that supposed to mean
?”

  Piper crossed her arms. “I’m done talking about this.”

  “Piper.” Rafe pursed his lips together.

  Thankfully, Jake opened Chloe’s door at that moment, cutting off the awkward conversation. Jake had pulled winter gear over his clothes, making Chloe wonder if the plane had heaters.

  He lifted snow pants to her. “These will be big, but why don’t you pull them on.”

  She nodded and worked to get into them while Piper got out of the vehicle. Rafe flinched when the door slammed. He flexed his fingers, then turned to Chloe.

  “Does she like this guy?” His voice sounded strained.

  “He’s nice, always seeks her out and jokes with her.” Chloe paused when Rafe glanced at Piper out the back window where she leaned against the SUV. His jaw clenched.

  Should Chloe push this? Piper would kill her. But then again, Piper would never believe in herself enough to see Rafe’s attraction.

  Chloe prayed Piper would forgive her. “I think she should go for it, personally. Chet sees what a beautiful person she is on the inside and out.” Her words snapped Rafe’s eyes to her. “But she’s still hung up on her first love. Too bad the idiot never saw her as anything but his friend’s little sister.”

  Chloe gave Rafe a pointed look before stepping out the door. She reached in for her purse. It was adorable how Rafe sat blinking like he couldn’t process what she’d just told him. He’d always been a smart kid. He could figure it out.

  “But—” He was cut off by Jake.

  “We need to go.” Jake stalked to the SUV.

  Dread washed through Chloe as she straightened from the doorway.

  Piper threw her arms around Chloe’s neck. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Don’t you think you should come with?” Chloe’s throat didn’t seem to want to work.

  “No, I need that information from the house.” Piper squeezed Chloe and stepped back. “Besides, we’ll be right behind you. I say ice cream and chick flicks tonight.”

  Chloe laughed. “That sounds perfect.”

  Chloe gave Piper one last hug and followed Jake to the front passenger door of the plane. He helped her climb into the seat next to the pilot’s and shut the door with a snap. She turned and surveyed the interior. The sparse cabin was little more than a coffin with wings. The back had four seats facing each other in rows of two. They’d strapped gear behind the back two seats with a criss-crossing cargo net. The smooth walls curved up in a cylinder, making Chloe feel like they were closing in on her. She wiggled her numb fingers and clenched her hands together.

  Jake climbed in on the pilot’s side and gave her a tight smile. “Ready?”

  “No.”

  His smile broadened, and he clicked buttons and knobs. He pointed to the headset hung next to her as he talked to air traffic control. She nodded and took one last look at Piper. She stood with her arms tight against her. Her teeth worried her thumb nail. Chloe forced a smile and waved out the window. Piper’s shoulders curved forward as she returned the wave. Would Chloe ever stop causing her cousin pain?

  Rafe put his arm around Piper, waved at the plane, then led her around the SUV. Chloe held her breath as Piper grabbed his arm when he tried to get her in the vehicle and asked him something. His expression softened. He lifted his hand and tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear, leaning closer as he replied. She nodded, and he kissed her on the forehead before guiding her into the SUV. Chloe sighed with happiness. Maybe something good would come out of this mess.

  She shook her head and reached for the headset. Laughter bubbled out as she wondered what the large earphones looked like extending miles past her tiny head. She turned to Jake and made a face.

  “They’re a little big for you.” Jake’s voice coming out of the headset made her jump.

  His laugh slid down her spine and settled in her toes. Jake in concentrated form caused all kinds of jumblies in her insides. She might just keep these on forever.

  Jake drove the plane toward the runway. Every bump bounced her stomach into her throat. She gripped the door in a death grip.

  “We’d like to thank you for choosing to fly Stryker Airlines today.” Jake’s voice had a cheery tone that pulled her attention to him. “Please be sure your seat is in the upright position and that your tray table is up.”

  He peeked over at her and winked. His joking relaxed her. Where had that sense of humor been the last few days?

  “Will snacks be passed out? I could use a ginger ale.” Chloe wrapped her hands around her seatbelt to keep them from clenching.

  “All I have is water, ma’am. But you’ll have to fly so I can get it.”

  “I think I’ll live.”

  “Chloe, this isn’t going to be the smoothest flight you’ve ever had.” Jake reached over her and pointed to the door. “There are bags in the door if you get sick.”

  “Okay.” The thought of her chili lunch making a second appearance made her cringe.

  “I’m going to try to skirt the storm, but it’s moving in fast. Thankfully, it’s a quick flight, only about thirty minutes.”

  Maybe they all should’ve just driven. Jake squared up with the runway and throttled up. She tightened her hands on the belt, willing her eyes to stay open. The plane lifted into the air and swooped as a gust of wind hit the wing. Jake pointed the plane south over the mountains. The higher they climbed, the colder it got. She’d have been a Popsicle if Jake hadn’t made her put on the snow pants. The plane dipped, and Chloe stifled a gasp.

  “So you’ve been flying since you were fourteen?” If she didn’t get him talking, she’d lose it.

  “My dad taught me in his Cub.”

  “Cub?”

  “It’s a smaller plane, only a two seater.”

  “Is it always this cold in these small planes?” Chloe pulled her hands into her coat, wishing she had worried more about the weather and not how cute she looked when they had left the house that morning.

  Jake’s eyebrows furrowed before he reached back and plopped a pack in her lap. “There should be gloves and a hat in there. It can be colder in these small planes, though usually not this cold. The temp is plummeting too fast for the plane to compensate.”

  The plane jerked again, and Chloe almost dropped the glove she had found. Jake’s hands gripped on the steering mechanism. His lips flattened as he flipped some switches and checked gauges.

  “Everything all right?” She wished she knew something about flying, though maybe it was a blessing she didn’t.

  “Yeah, it’ll be okay. See how the windshield is frosting?” He pointed to the bottom of the windshield where ice crept up like every ice princess movie ever made.

  She swallowed and nodded. “Yeah.”

  “The moisture from the storm and the falling temperature isn’t working in our favor right now.”

  “Should we turn back?”

  He paused, his cheek muscle ticking, before he shook his head. “We’re almost halfway there. I’m going to adjust our flight path east a little to try to put some distance between us and the head of the storm.”

  The plane dropped from turbulence, and a squeak snuck out of her. She swallowed the fear and chili in her throat. Her stomach twisted as the ice spider-webbed farther up the windshield. She leaned forward, her eyes squinting as something black glided from the nose of the plane back, marring the pristine white paint.

  “Jake, is that supposed to happen?” She pointed at the liquid and watched his reaction.

  His eyes widened and nostrils flared before quickly masking to neutral. “Chloe, start looking for a place to land. We have to put this down.”

  Land? As in crash? She gulped down her breaths to stay quiet. They both scanned outside the windows. She cursed her short height, wishing she could get a higher angle to see more. Her body shook as her gaze landed on the insidious white clouds that rolled over the mountain like billowing waves of smoke.

  “Mayday, 6A-32 Cherokee 6 going down.” Jake’s clipped words
froze her gut.

  As he relayed their information, Chloe frantically scanned the terrain, not really knowing what to look for. She worried her attempt to stay calm and collected failed miserably. A smooth area between mountains looked open enough to land. She squinted as the outline of a cabin tucked in the woods beyond the opening came into view.

  “Jake.” She pointed to the area.

  Jake stretched in his seat, scrutinizing the terrain. “Perfect, Chloe. Hold on. This will be rough.”

  She clenched every muscle in her body and prayed like her life depended on it—which it probably did. The plane veered as a gust of wind pushed them off course. Chloe’s eyes opened wide as saucers as she pinged her gaze out the window and back to Jake. Jake grimaced, the strain in his muscles cording his neck as he fought against the weather.

  They lowered closer and closer to the ground. She wanted to squeeze her eyes tight, but fear kept them glued open. She clamped her teeth together as the plane bounced off the ground. If she died, at least it wasn’t stuck in a hospital bed.

  The plane bounced again, and she gripped her seatbelt to keep from grabbing the steering handles in front of her. They skidded across the snow, heading straight for a jumble of boulders. Maybe she hadn’t picked a perfect place after all. She slammed her eyes closed, no longer able to watch the end of her life unfold.

  Her heart thudded in her chest as the plane slammed to a stop and jerked her forward. She froze. Nothing but her choppy breaths and the gusting wind assaulting the outside of the plane hit her ears. She sucked in air and held it, waiting for the inevitable explosion like the movies always showed. She flinched when Jake’s hand slid along her neck and eased behind her head.

  “Chloe, are you all right?”

  No, she wasn’t. She couldn’t breathe. The air had bottled up in her chest, and though she panted, she felt like she couldn’t get enough. She shook her head, her hands fumbling with the buckle—needing to get out.

  Chloe snapped her eyes open to her hands, not wanting to see Jake’s disappointment in her spiral out of control. A sob tore from her chest, and she quickly swallowed the next one. Why wouldn’t this stupid buckle work?