“Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, does anyone have any aspirin?”
“Yes,” the little girl’s mother instantly replied, and a moment later she appeared. “It’s baby aspirin.”
“That’s fine,” Mitch said, keeping his voice low and calm. “Could you please place one in Harry’s mouth?”
The woman’s gaze shot straight to the older man, while her hand flew to her face. “Oh my goodness. Is he…?”
“Possibly, so if you could keep calm and put the pill in his mouth, it may help.”
“Okay.” She quickly did as told, then added. “I read where it’s best to chew it.”
Harry managed a nod while he chewed.
“Great, thanks, Nancy,” Mitch said, remembering her name from the roster. “We’re only six minutes out now. Listen, before you go back and sit down, could you do one more thing for Harry?”
She blinked and drew in a breath. “Yes. What?”
“Could you hook the oxygen and put the mask on him?” He motioned to the setup in the wall next to the pilot’s seat.
She nodded. “O-of course..”
A half a minute later, Harry was receiving oxygen, and Nancy’s anxious blue gaze settled on Mitch. “Y-y-you’ve landed one of these before, right?”
“Don’t worry. I’m a Marine pilot. I’ve landed many planes.”
Just not in this century.
She looked only slightly relieved. He couldn’t blame her.
“You’d better go sit down and buckle up. We’re going to be landing in a few minutes.”
As she hurried back to her seat, Mitch instructed the other passengers to put their seatbelts on, then relayed everything to Ed, who informed him the ambulance had just arrived.
The adrenaline rushing through Mitch’s veins kicked up a notch when the airport came into view. He spared a quick glance at the pilot, noting the man was drifting in and out of consciousness.
“Hang in there, Harry,” he said. “I’ll have you down soon.”
Chapter 15
Home.
Sam had never been so glad to be home.
All day yesterday and today, she’d been plagued with an uneasy feeling something wasn’t right. As soon as she and Maria had left the base that morning, she’d immediately called Mitch, insatiably relieved when he’d answered on the first ring.
Now, as she taxied to a stop and powered down, adrenaline of a different kind raced through her body. Mitch was in one of those hangars.
Smiling, she reached for her gear and met Maria’s gaze.
“Oh, girlfriend, you’ve got the I’m going to get me some look on your face.” Her friend’s dark eyes were full of envy. “Bitch.”
Laughing, gear in hand, they disembarked and headed for the hangar. Sam’s heart skipped a beat. Mitch was leaning against the building, arms crossed, leg bent, watching their approach.
“Damn. I want one,” Maria muttered next to her. “Or two.”
Sam laughed, but didn’t reply, too busy watching the sexy captain push away from the building. The man was hot. So friggin’ hot…and hers. Long strides emphasized his lean form, and she vowed to replace the denim hugging his lower body after she rid his magnificent chest of the gray T-shirt stretched to its limits.
Ah, to hell with this.
Rushing forward, she met him halfway, dropping her bag to throw herself into his arms. He caught her close, one hand around her back, the other in her hair, holding her tight as he kissed her with a hunger she felt to her toes.
She could barely feel her toes. Okay, she could. They tingled. Hell, her whole body tingled.
“Okay, yeah…great. Rub it in.” Maria’s voice hit her ears. “You’d think Captain Charming here would’ve brought a friend along…you know, for your friend.”
“You’re wasting your breath.” She heard Jensen remark. “They’re in their own zone.”
“Zone? What zone? You can do that?” Maria asked. “I want my own zone. Hey, Jensen, maybe you and I can find our own zone.”
The mechanic chuckled. “And risk our friendship? Not a chance.”
Breaking apart, not because of their friends, but because they needed air, Sam rested her forehead on Mitch’s chin, and breathed in deep.
Woodsy. Male. Mitch.
“Mmm…” She kissed his jaw. “I missed you. I missed this.”
He dropped both hands to her hips and squeezed tight. “Me, too.”
“Oh my God. Would you two get a room already?” Maria groaned.
Sam laughed, but her focused remained on Mitch. “Don’t mind her. She’s just jealous.”
“Damn right I’m jealous,” her friend replied. “All my relationships seem to fizzle after the first week. I’m beginning to think there’s something defective with the men of this century. No offense to you Jensen.”
“None taken,” the mechanic said as the hangar door flew open and her nephew came bolting out.
“Aunt Sammie!” Carson ran to her as fast as his little legs could take him, her father and Jenny not far behind.
She released Mitch to pick up her nephew and spin him around. “Hey, Carson. What are you doing here today?”
It was a Tuesday. Her brother and Jenny had the day off.
“We came to pick up Todd,” Jenny answered as her father leaned in around his grandson to kiss Sam’s cheek.
“Hi, sweetheart,” he said before turning to hug Maria. “It’s good to have you both back home.”
Sam glanced at her sister-in-law. “Why is Todd here?”
“Daddy had to fly because Uncle Harry’s in the hop-sital,” Carson informed, shocking a gasp out of Sam.
“What?” Maria’s voice echoed off the building.
Sam’s gaze played round-robin with the adults. “What happened? Is he okay?”
“Yeah, thanks to Mitch,” Jenny said, taking Carson from her. “Harry had a heart attack while flying back from Aspen yesterday.”
She could feel the blood drain from her face. My God. Every pilot’s nightmare. A heart attack mid flight.
“Thank God Mitch was with him. He was able to land the plane and no one was hurt,” her father said, cupping Mitch’s shoulder. “You did real good, son. I wish I could use you right now.”
The blood that drained south reversed and rushed north to pound through Sam’s temples. Now she understood what the horrible feeling was about she’d had since yesterday. She didn’t even want to think about what could’ve happened to the passengers if Mitch hadn’t been on board. And she especially didn’t want to think what would’ve happened to him if he hadn’t been a pilot.
No. She wasn’t going there.
His strong arm came around her, and she leaned into him, happy for the support, her legs were ready to buckle. “You said Harry is going to be okay?”
“Yes. He’ll be in the hospital till Friday,” her father replied. “But his flying days are over.”
Maria drew closer. “What a shame. Harry was a good pilot.”
Her father looked from her to Maria an apologetic expression on his face. “I’d really appreciate if the two of you could split Harry’s runs until I hire a new one. Might not be for too long. One of the passengers recommended their brother. He’s a former Air Force pilot. He’s flying in this weekend.”
“Of course.”
“Absolutely.”
“Thank you. Harry’s schedule is up on the board. You two can work things out and let me know who’s taking what flights,” her father said before leaving to visit Harry.
Jenny turned to them, Carson in her arms. “Well, Todd’s not due in for another half hour yet. I’ve got some paperwork I can work on in the meantime. It’s good to have the two of you back.” She twisted around and headed for the main building.
Sam turned to Maria. “Why don’t you go pick out the flights you want and I’ll take the rest.”
“Sure thing, but don’t think I don’t know what you’re doing, Sams.” Her friend slung her bag on her shoulder and winked. “You’re
just trying to get rid of me so you can be alone with Mitch.”
“Absolutely.”
“Bitch,” Maria muttered with a smile then pivoted around, calling to Jenny to wait up.
Jensen had already disappeared somewhere, leaving her alone with Mitch. He bent down and grabbed her bag before she could, slung his arm around her shoulder and led her toward the hangar.
Emotions churned and bubbled, keeping her quiet as they walked around a six-seater, belly opened, mechanical guts spewed on the floor in an obvious overhaul. All the while they ascended the stairs to the loft, her mind replayed Jenny’s words over and over again.
Harry had a heart attack mid flight.
…mid flight.
Mitch had been on the flight.
She’d barely gotten inside the door when her bag hit the floor with a thunk, and Mitch had her up against the wall, mouth-to-mouth, hard body pressed deliciously into hers, sending her pulse into orbit while liquid fire replaced her blood.
Every dire thought disappeared under the weight of his kiss. The heat of his kiss. The promise of what she knew he could deliver. And boy was she ready to collect.
“God, I missed you,” he said, nuzzling her neck when they broke for air.
Before she’d fully recovered, his mouth was on hers again, needy and hungry, devouring any strength she had left. She leaned against him and met Mitch’s demands, making several of her own.
Demands he took all afternoon to meet.
***
The sky was clear, air was unseasonably warm and Sam had the best company by her side. It was two o’clock Monday afternoon and she and Mitch just finished their last flight for the day. Maria had covered all of Harry’s flights over the weekend, giving them two uninterrupted days of bliss. They never left the house.
Today, they’d rejoined reality…whatever that was.
She smothered a laugh. Cripes. Some days, she could hardly wrap her mind around the events of the past few weeks. Crazy…insane. Perfect.
“You’re awful chipper,” Mitch observed, drawing her close after they logged out and left the office, a lop-sided grin tugging that oh so kissable mouth of his.
She leaned into him and did just that. Kissed him. Then kissed him again, tapping his chin as she drew back. “You only have yourself to blame.”
“Is that right?”
Pulling her close, he took her mouth, stoking embers lying in wait for his touch. She gave herself over to the heat of him. His taste. God…his taste. Hot and erotic in a slow, lazy burn.
“Mmm…this is right,” she said against his lips.
Their bodies were plastered together, his hands tight around her, her insides coiled and quivering. “Yes, so very right.”
She contemplated racing to the loft and picking up where they’d just left off, but she had something to show him. Needed to show him. First, though, she had to change the focus, because the hand he’d snaked under her jacket just slipped beneath her waist band to lightly stroke her birthmark.
Change the focus.
She drew back and grasped at the first thing that came to mind. “I enjoyed flying with you today. You have a good grasp of things.”
Boy does he ever. His hand had shifted and his thumb now stroked low on her hip bone. He chuckled and slowly removed his touch.
“Me, too.” He smiled down at her and winked. “You’re much prettier to look at than Harry.”
Loosely looping his hands around her waist, he pressed his forehead to hers, gaze way too hot for her thudding pulse.
“So, Captain, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?”
You!
Of course, she refrained from speaking it out loud. She had that surprise to show him. “Well, Captain, I have several ideas…but they’re going to have to wait.”
She grabbed his hand, ignoring the part of her brain urging her to head in the opposite direction toward the loft, and pulled him across the lot toward the farthest storage hangar instead. Each of the four units in the building was rented out to store planes. Except for the last one. The large one. That had belonged to her grandfather. And now it belonged to Sam.
He was chuckling by the time they reached the last door. “You know, if you wanted to be alone with me, we could’ve just gone up to the loft.”
Oh, she knew. She knew.
“As much as I love being alone with you, Mitch, this isn’t about that,” she said. “I have a surprise to show you.”
Smile fading, his gaze grew weary. “What kind of surprise? I’m not too keen on them just yet.”
“I know.” She squeezed his hand then let go to unlock the door nestled inside what resembled a large metal garage door. “I’ve been holding off, but I think you’ll like this one. At least I hope so.”
“Okay, now you’ve got me worried.” His blue-green gaze studied her closely.
After flicking on the lights, she turned back and held her hand out to him. “Come on in,” she said, pulling him inside.
Mitch stepped over the threshold and inhaled long and deep. “My God…it’s…Lullabelle,” he breathed, moving closer to her grandfather’s restored Corsair. “The one from your photo.”
“Yes,” she said, releasing him, standing back to watch as he slowly lifted a hand to caress the craft’s nose.
He glanced back at her, eyes bright with so much life her throat closed to the point of choking.
“She’s a beauty.”
Sam watched, barely breathing while Mitch walked around the Corsair, constantly touching as if afraid the plane would disappear in a puff of smoke should he let go. That his connection to the past would fade from existence. She’d never seen him so alive, so overjoyed and unburdened. It was as if two tons had lifted from his shoulders. Hot tears filled her eyes and spilled down her face. His soft expression and warm blue-green gaze transformed him from displaced pilot to contented man.
In a swift move, he climbed into the cockpit and settled in. He looked so happy, so completely at peace. Fierce emotions swirled inside Sam, and she reached out to the wing for support. The reason her heart both ached for the man and floated on a cloud at his joy hit her with the force of a Mach 1 acceleration.
She was in love with the relocated captain.
Somehow, between the cabin and now, just a few short weeks, Sam had fallen in love with Mitch. Seeing him so happy, she never, ever wanted that look on his face to go away, and she’d do whatever it took to keep the joy there.
“Samantha? Hey…what is it? What’s wrong?” Frowning down at her, he held out his hand for her to join him.
Should she tell him what she’d just realized? Would he be ready? The last thing she wanted was to scare him with a profession of love. He still had so much adjusting to do.
She wiped her face instead and said, “Nothing,” then climbed onto the wing, took his hand and carefully sat across his lap in the cockpit.
“Liar,” he said softly, wiping a stray tear.
She smiled and covered his hand. “I just…I’ve never seen you look so happy before.”
His gaze turned serious. “Then you obviously have your eyes closed when I’m inside you, Samantha. Otherwise, you’d know you make me this happy.” Both of his hands were on her face now, his gaze dark and charged with the emotions swirling through her heart. Very slowly he drew near. “You are my world. Don’t you ever doubt that,” he exclaimed, before claiming her lips in a kiss so excruciatingly tender her thumping heart swelled to capacity in her chest.
Slow and sweet, the kiss was fueled not by passion, but by emotions they had yet to profess. Sam loved him and he loved her. She could feel it, taste it, along with salt from her tears that continued to flow. When they pulled apart, he gently kissed away each tear then looked her in the eyes.
“I love you, Samantha. I hope I made that clear.”
He said it. He actually said it.
Fresh tears spilled down her cheeks, and she swallowed a few times until her throat opened enough for her to respond.
“I love you, too, Mitch. So very much.”
The unmitigated joy she’d witnessed before had nothing on the fierce happiness glittering in his eyes now. Her distended heart inflated further, swelling so big it mimicked the cliché and burst from her chest.
“Really?”
“Yes, really,” she replied, then leaned in to reign soft kisses across his jaw before covering his lips, kissing him slow, long and deep. Not having to hide her feelings, she funneled her true emotions into the kiss, and although the plane was on the ground, Sam soared without boundaries.
Unwilling to release him, yet knowing they were somewhat crunched for time, she reluctantly drew back. “Mmm…I could stay here forever, but we’re losing the light.”
His lips brushed a path to her neck. “I don’t follow.”
The low rumble of his voice so close to her ear did strange things to her insides. And the thumb drawing circles on her outer thigh had heat surging straight to her core, making her yearn.
“You can’t fly in Colorado after sunset.”
He stilled, then his lips left her skin as he drew back. “Fly?”
“Yes.” She smiled at the anticipation in his voice. “You do want to fly Lullabelle, don’t you?”
“You mean she’s not grounded?”
“No. She gets routine servicing and flights,” she said. “My grandfather taught me.”
He laughed. “I’m not surprised.”
“You’re welcomed to check her out before you take her up.”
“That won’t be necessary,” he said, shaking his head. “Let’s go.”
Twenty minutes later, Lullabelle was fueled and ready on runway two. Sam had cleared the flight with the tower, which was Todd. Her brother was watching the boards for the afternoon and told her nothing was due in or out for the rest of the day.
“Okay.” She nodded to Mitch who stood next to the plane, wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses she kept in the cockpit. “You’re good to go. Tim said the air was clear within a two mile radius of the airport.”
“Good, then we should get going.”
She blinked. “We?”
“Yes,” he replied. “You’re going with me.”
“But…there’s only one seat,” she needlessly reminded.
10 Timeless Heroes; A Time Travel Romance Boxed Set Page 221
