“Valuable?” Cole stopped and rounded on him, getting in his face. “As what? They need me to sit behind a desk and push papers? I’d rather take a discharge and sell pencils on a street corner.”
“You have twelve years of outstanding service, Major,” Grady barked. “You want to throw away a good career feeling sorry for yourself, or are you going to suck it up and do whatever it takes to retire with honor?”
Cole drew in a deep breath. Grady was right. He was losing it. He’d wanted to spend a week partying hard to forget everything for a while. But instead of sin city, this town, surrounded by nothing but desert, seemed like some Twilight Zone limbo land. A kind of weird purgatory where he could only wait around for someone else to decide his future.
With a quick nod, he met Grady’s gaze. “I’m going to sleep it off.”
“You do that. Come out to the base tomorrow. Hughes has cooked up something brutal to pay McCabe back for her birthday stripper. You gotta see it.”
Hughes and McCabe and their practical jokes brought back memories of good times. Cole tried to smile. “I’ll be there.” He shook hands with Grady and headed up to his room.
Sleep was out, so he showered, and then sat leaning against the headboard and stared at the silent images on the TV, his mind haunted with thoughts of driving out to Nellis tomorrow.
Like a coward, he’d been avoiding the base. Avoiding the smell of jet fuel, the sleek fuselage of an F-22, the beauty of a Raptor taking off into the blue. All the things that reminded him he’d never fly again. Never feel the thrill of a rocket firing at his back and the pull of G-forces on his body. Of flying faster than the speed of sound and taking his jet so high he could almost see outer space.
But Grady was right. He needed to suck it up and get over it. As his eyes closed, his last thought was of Jordan, how she’d looked when she emerged from the bedroom and seen him playing Gin with her mom. Something in that look had nagged at him.
In the middle of the night, Cole awoke with a painful hard-on and the remnants of an X-rated dream swirling around in his mind. He’d been dreaming of Jordan, clasped tight in his arms in this bed, the sheets rumpled around him as he pumped into her. How was he going to get over this fixation he had for her?
He shoved out of bed, took an ice-cold shower and then shaved. As he stared at the scars on his lower jaw and neck, the first part of his dream clicked into his memory. The part before it turned sexual.
He’d been in Jordan’s apartment, cooking for her. She’d been sitting on the counter beside him, more rested than he’d last seen her. And he’d felt…good being able to help. He’d told her he admired her strength to endure her mom’s illness, and her determination to better her situation.
And she’d smiled and cupped his face and kissed down his scarred neck.
It hit him all of a sudden: last night was the first night in months that he hadn’t woken in a cold sweat from his usual nightmare.
AN HOUR LATER, Cole rolled to a stop at the gate to Nellis and showed the guard his ID. He noticed a red convertible with two women pull up behind him. Dark curls blowing behind the wheel and silky blond hair as long as your arm blowing on the other side. The guard saluted and waved Cole through.
As he watched in his rearview mirror, a female officer stepped out of the guardhouse and spoke with the ladies in the convertible, pointing in the direction of the air combat command buildings. What was that all about?
Shrugging it off, Cole drove around base housing, past the commissary and officers’ quarters out to the aircraft hangars. Nellis Air Force Base. Home of the Thunderbirds and the Air Base Defense School. They’d had some good times in Vegas on the weekends back then, and Cole suddenly longed for those uncomplicated days when he’d believed a world of thrills and adventure awaited him after graduation.
With the exception of the newer F-22, everything looked the same as when he’d trained here. C-17s and C-130s sat next to Raptors on the airstrip, and a couple of F-15s screamed overhead as he parked in front of the instructors’ buildings.
Hard to believe McCabe and Hughes were air combat instructors here.
Would he have been happy instructing rookie pilots in air combat? He’d never know. Instructors had to be able to fly.
As he kicked the bike stand down and swung his leg over, Colonel Hogue, 99th Air Base Wing Vice Commander, stepped over to greet him.
Cole stood at attention and saluted.
The colonel returned the salute. “Good morning, Major.”
“Good morning, sir.” He hadn’t expected to be met by the commander. Maybe he should have worn his uniform.
Assessing eyes searched Cole’s. “How have you been feeling, Major?”
“Good. Thank you, sir.” Was this an official meeting? “I’m more than ready to return to duty, sir.”
Just as the colonel nodded, the convertible with the two knockouts pulled up behind Cole’s bike, and one lady passenger called out, “Which way to Captain McCabe’s office please?”
The colonel scowled, and Cole raised his brows. He was beginning to have an idea about Hughes’s prank.
Colonel Hogue answered, “The next building over, down the hall, third door on the right.”
“Okay, thanks.” The women smiled and blew kisses as they pulled away and parked their car in front of the next building.
“I’d like to know what the hell is going on around here,” the colonel grumbled.
Cole kept his mouth strategically shut.
“Well, as you were, Major.”
They saluted and Cole strode to the next building and followed the women to McCabe’s office. Both were long-legged beauties, the blonde in tight jeans and a cropped shirt with a tattoo on the small of her back. The brunette wore a miniskirt and a halter top with no bra. And those tanned legs didn’t stop. Oh, this was going to be fun to watch.
At McCabe’s door, a tall, sleek redhead was just leaving as the other two went in. She eyed Cole up and down with a Mona Lisa smile as she sauntered past him.
McCabe’s door was open, so Cole stayed in the doorway, leaned against the frame and folded his arms. Then he grinned.
The two women stood on either side of McCabe, who sat in his chair behind his desk. Pinned in. The poor guy wore a strained smile, his gaze locked on the leggy brunette. The other lady—the one in the miniskirt—hopped up onto the desk next to him, crossed her legs and leaned sideways until her chest was at McCabe’s eye level. His gaze shifted to the magnificent cleavage in front of him. His mouth tightened and he swallowed.
“But Mitch,” miniskirt said. “I brought Meagan all the way out here to meet you. I was hoping you two might hit it off. Maybe we’d make it a threesome tonight.”
A low groan sounded from Mitch’s throat. “Baby, make that offer again in a few weeks.”
Cole jumped at a hard slap to his back. “How’s it going, Jackson?” Hughes stood behind his right shoulder, a wide grin on her face and a sparkle of mischief in her eyes as she stared at McCabe.
McCabe looked up and caught sight of Cole and Hughes. Immediately the misery in his expression changed to wicked amusement. “Ladies, here’s someone who’s available and looking for companionship. Major Colton Jackson, war hero, just back from Iraq.”
THE LADIES turned to look at Cole, their makeup flawless, their lips pouty. Captain Alexandria Hughes had never figured out that whole pout-and-sulk thing that most women used to wrap a man around their finger. It always seemed so artificial. But guys fell for it every time. Most guys anyway. It never seemed to faze Mitch McCabe. But this prank had him on edge. Satisfaction welled in her chest.
Until now, Alex had been enjoying Mitch’s misery from afar, listening to reports from the women who’d been streaming in since yesterday afternoon. She must have called almost two dozen of Mitch’s ex-lovers yesterday morning. Many still stationed here at Nellis had willingly gone all-in on the prank, and called more women they knew Mitch had slept with.
These two made six who�
�d shown up so far.
“No hero, just doing my job.” Cole gave the women a lazy salute from the doorway.
“Jackson, this is Cynthia and…” McCabe’s voice trailed off.
“Meagan,” the other woman supplied with a tinge of irritation in her voice.
Cole pushed off the door frame and extended his right hand. “Nice to meet you, ladies.”
The women shook his hand, and then glanced at Alex as if asking her permission to take Mitch’s offer of Cole.
Alex shrugged. What did she care? Their work was done here.
They each bent over to give McCabe long, sultry kisses on the mouth, and then the brunette grabbed a pen off the desk. “I have to be at work in half an hour, but I’ll be home tonight.” She took Cole’s hand and wrote a phone number on his palm. With a wink to him, she followed her friend out.
While Cole’s attention was on the departing women, McCabe scowled and ran a hand through his hair. He probably thought no one was watching him, but Alex saw it.
“What’s the matter, McCabe?” she asked as she sauntered into his office. “Not up for a threesome tonight?”
McCabe raised a brow and leaned back in his chair, locking his hands behind his head. “Why? You wanted to watch?”
Alex scrunched up her face in disgust. “Rather watch training vids.” The truth was, and a tinge of pain sliced through her at the acknowledgment, she was sick of knowing about McCabe’s escapades with women.
“You still need training vids on sex?”
“You offering to let me borrow yours?”
McCabe’s grin widened and he rocked forward in his chair. “You need them to get off?”
“Oh, I think you’re going to need them more than me for the next twenty-eight days.”
“At least I have a reason. What’s your excuse?”
Alex folded her arms and shrugged. “It’s hard getting a date when I hang out with you all the time.”
McCabe nodded his understanding. “Guys do tend to feel inadequate around me.”
“Hey,” Jackson cut in. He’d taken a seat, his gaze shifting back and forth between Mitch and her as if he were watching a tennis match.
“Present company excluded.” McCabe glanced at Jackson, then his attention went right back to Alex. “But are you sure I’m the reason you can’t get a date?”
If only he knew…Hughes raised one brow. “I did just fine in D.C.”
“Those boys in Washington are a bunch of pussies. Every damn one of them has a screw loose.”
Alex forced a contented smile. “Some screw loose, and others do it nice and tight.” Wasn’t that a joke? Though she’d come close to getting some a couple of times, she hadn’t had a man in her bed in years. How sad was that?
McCabe sighed. “How many more are going to show up? And I need my cell phone back, by the way.”
“All I can say for sure is—” Alex grabbed his phone out of her pocket and tossed it to him “—I had no idea you’d pissed off so many women, McCabe.”
He caught the phone, slid it open, and started pressing buttons. “Should’ve put a lock on this thing,” he mumbled.
“Yeah, maybe you should put a lock on your zipper while you’re at it.”
7
JORDAN PRACTICALLY ran to the employees’ dressing room Friday night. Ten o’clock already. The casino floor was so busy she’d barely been able to get away for this quick personal break.
She’d taken her last final exam Thursday morning and the professors were supposed to have posted grades on the university’s Web site sometime today. She’d asked a classmate to send a text message to her cell phone when the results were up.
Her nerves a scattered mess, Jordan shifted her weight from one heel to the other, bouncing in impatience as she messed up the combination on her locker three times. Finally she yanked the door open, grabbed her cell out of her purse and checked her messages. Mrs. S had sent her usual mother-sleeping-all’s-well note.
“Where’s the fire, hon?” Sherri asked, sauntering into the dressing room.
“I’m checking my text messages. I was hoping—”
“Oh, that’s right. Your finals.”
Jordan nodded as the next message appeared on her screen. “Here it is.”
Sherri leaned in to peer over her shoulder. “You aced them all, girl!” She put an arm around Jordan. “I knew you were worrying for nothing.”
Sherri’s words sounded far away. Jordan dragged in a ragged breath. The text message blurred as reality sank in.
It was over. Jordan went back to work in an endorphin-induced euphoria. It was over. The past few years of burning the candle at both ends had finally paid off. Her thoughts flashed from walking across the stage next weekend and accepting her diploma, to hoping Mom was lucid when she told her, to wanting to celebrate with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s.
The ice cream made her think of Cole. She’d caught herself thinking about him way too much since he’d left Tuesday evening.
“Girl, I’m outta here.” Sherri dropped her tray of unsold cards at the Keno window. “My babysitter called. The kid just threw up.” Bending close, she pecked Jordan’s cheek. “Congrats, again, Ms. Brainiac. Go celebrate those grades!” She darted out the door before Jordan could respond.
Jordan slowly made her way to the dressing room and changed out of her uniform. She wrapped her arms around herself and looked around. Employees were coming and going as they did every night at shift change. It seemed weird to think she might not be working here soon. This job had been her savior after Ian left her with no money and behind in the rent. But she’d always planned for it to be temporary. And yet, now she felt nervous. What if she’d spent all these years earning this degree and still couldn’t find a job? Or what if she found a job and couldn’t cut it?
Come on, Jordan. You did it! She should celebrate. But it was hard to have fun alone. Her mom would be proud—that is, if she remembered who her daughter was.
A hollow sense of loneliness rolled over her.
She wondered…No, Cole had probably already left town. He’d said he was just here for a week, and she hadn’t seen him around the casino since she’d returned from her days off. She should have thanked him. Should have told him how much he’d helped her Tuesday. He’d gone above and beyond, and she’d been too proud to appreciate it.
Instead of leaving the back way, Jordan wandered into the casino. She wasn’t ready to go home yet. Maybe she’d have one of those huge frozen drinks with an umbrella in it. Why not? She wasn’t driving. And Mom usually slept through the night if Mrs. Simco remembered to give her the bedtime meds.
Decided, Jordan headed for the Centrifuge. As she approached the counter she froze in her tracks.
Cole.
He sat three stools down, his head turned away from her. Alone. His fingers tipped a tumbler of light gold liquid back and forth, and he rubbed the knuckles of his other hand across his mouth.
She closed her eyes.
When she opened them, he was staring at her.
His gaze seemed to echo the loneliness and need inside her.
She slid onto the stool beside him. “I—I thought you’d left town.”
He blinked and dropped his gaze to her mouth, then returned to her eyes. “Checking out tomorrow.”
His voice was raspy. His posture tense. Did he want to be left alone? But he was leaving in the morning. She’d never see him again after tonight. “I wanted to celebrate. Maybe I could buy you a drink?”
Idiot. He already had a drink.
“Celebrate?”
She swallowed, clenched her fists around her backpack strap. “I aced my finals, and I wanted to thank—”
“I never doubted you could do whatever you set your mind to.” He lifted his hand and softly touched her cheek. “Be with me tonight, Jordan.”
Her stomach contracted. Every cell in her body yearned for him. Common sense, caution, none of that mattered now. He’d be gone tomorrow.
She to
ok his hand and headed for the bar’s exit, tugging him after her. He hesitated only long enough to toss a couple of bills next to his drink.
The bank of elevators seemed miles away, and the wait for one eternal. Eventually a ding announced the arrival of the elevator, but it took forever for it to open. Cole’s fingers entwined with hers and tightened.
The doors had barely swooshed shut before she turned and covered his lips with hers, shoving him against the wall. He clutched her waist and took control of the kiss, taking her desire and returning it. As his hands moved up to the sides of her breasts, he moaned into her mouth. “I haven’t stopped thinking about you all week.”
“I’ve been thinking about you, too.” She kissed each corner of his mouth.
“I needed to be with you again,” he said, pressing his open mouth to her neck. “I never thought I’d need someone, never expected to feel this way.”
A bittersweet joy ramped up the emotions bombarding her. She hitched a leg around his hip and pressed herself against the rigid length in his jeans.
A soft bell chimed and the door slid open. Still moving his mouth sensually over hers, Cole grasped her bottom and lifted her against him. She tightened her legs around his hip and he staggered out of the elevator and down the hall.
At the door to his hotel room, he had to set her down to fish for his key card, but his mouth still moved over hers, hot and demanding. He’d unleashed the dangerous current of emotions she’d sensed lay just beneath his surface.
After the third try getting the door open, he pulled back to watch what he was doing and Jordan blinked away the haze of lust. How had this happened? In an instant he’d convinced her to be with him again.
No. She’d wanted this. Had hoped for this even before she’d seen him in the bar. Before she knew he’d be checking out in the morning. Her mouth laid claim to his neck, inhaling his cologne as he tried to swipe his card. Tomorrow, she’d return to her sensible self and her lonely life. But tonight, she’d abandon responsibility for just a little while. For one last time.
Let It Ride Page 7
