Cockpit

by Joanna Blake

  "I'm sorry. It just... didn't seem like a good idea."

  "What exactly didn't seem like a good idea?"

  She sighed as if I was the most exasperating human on Earth. Hell, maybe I was. Didn't mean I wasn't going to win this argument.

  "You know."

  I stepped closer, lowering my voice to an intimate level.

  "You mean kissing? Making out? Touching each other?"

  Her mouth opened and her eyes lowered to my lips. I was inches from kissing her in the middle of the damn grocery store! But I didn't care. I was under her spell, just like she was under mine.

  Then the baby she was looking after let out a soft squeal, breaking the spell. I looked down and smiled at the little cutie. She had soft round cheeks and adorable dimples.

  "Aren't you a cutie?"

  Jenny made an odd sound, like she was swallowing a curse. I gave her a look and bent down to the adorable baby. A chubby little hand reached out and patted my face.

  "And what's your name, sweetheart?"

  Jenny

  ✈

  This could not be happening.

  THIS COULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

  I stared as the arrogant, muscle bound, too-handsome-for-his-own-good fixed-wing fighter pilot leaned down over my baby. Our baby. And she cooed up at him, seeming to adore him on sight.

  Jagger was meeting his daughter in the middle of the damned produce aisle!

  Breathe Jenny. In and out. Easy does it. He doesn't know. She doesn't know. Nobody knows the truth but you.

  I felt the world start to tilt.

  "Hey, you okay?"

  He was looking at me with concern. I nodded curtly, hoping he would change the damn subject. Move on. Hit on someone else.

  "Wow, Jenny that is one cute kid. Makes me wish I had one of my own."

  Jagger was smiling at me warmly. Did he mean... He licked his lips.

  "Course, I need a woman for that."

  My jaw dropped. Was he implying that he wanted a woman, just to... to breed?

  "Maybe even a wife."

  My jaw dropped a little farther. I didn't know what his game was, but I felt like I was being bamboozled. At the same time, his strategy was working.

  I'd felt a leap of hope inside me. Jagger and me. For real. Together.

  It sounded kind of awesome.

  I mentally shook myself. I needed a slap in the face. I knew the reality. It was all an act. He was a player. Everyone said it. I knew it. I would not be fooled.

  I grabbed a grapefruit without looking and put it in my cart. And then another. And then another.

  "You know you can't just pick out a wife like you're picking out a- a-"

  He smiled at me, his gorgeous eyes crinkling.

  "A grapefruit?"

  "Yes! Women are not fruit, just waiting around to be plucked by- by you! They have their own plans, and dreams, and ideas!"

  He had a tender look on his face. Like he was seeing me. Really seeing me.

  "I know that. You are a whole lot of woman, Jenny. I do wish I knew your last name though."

  I stopped loading the cart with grapefruit and stared at him.

  "What? Why?"

  "So I know what it is before I ask you to change it."

  My jaw was open again. He was basically saying he wanted to marry me. That was what he was saying right?

  That was insane. He barely knew me. And he had no way of knowing about... what had happened while he was gone.

  Who had happened.

  Again, it was an act. Most women probably fell into his bed. Hell, they probably crawled up to the foot of it begging. So this was his... sneaky attempt at getting the one woman on Earth who wasn't falling for him and his bedroom eyes!

  "You must really think highly of yourself, don't you?"

  He shrugged.

  "I think pretty highly of you. I'll show you how much. If you let me."

  He reached out and took my hand.

  "I don't think you need anymore grapefruit, Red."

  I looked at my hand and then at my cart. I had about twenty grapefruit in there. I didn't even really like grapefruit. I just got them for my dad's cholesterol.

  I coughed and put a few back. Jagger helped me. I wanted to swat his hand away.

  "Can I walk you home? I have about twenty minutes before class starts again."

  I shook my head, knowing my voice would be thick with emotion. I didn't want him to know what he was doing to me. Basically twisting me around and turning me inside out.

  "Come on sweetheart. Can't we at least be friends?"

  He held out his hand and I stared at it. Then I heard Crystal clearing her throat from behind me. I took his hand, looking at him as if he were an alien from another planet.

  "Okay Jagger. We can be friends. But that's it."

  He smiled and lifted my hand to kiss it. I shivered at the feel of those impossibly soft lips on my skin. He noticed too.

  I hoped he didn't notice how hard my nipples were.

  His smile was smug as he lowered my hand and gently let go of it.

  I crossed my arms over my chest and his grin widened. Oh yes, he'd noticed. Arghhh!

  "That's alright, sweet Jenny. I'm willing to wait."

  I scowled at him and turned away. But not before he nodded at Crystal and winked at me.

  "See you later."

  Chapter Seven

  Jagger

  ✈

  Twenty-two hundred hours. That's what time I showed up. That gave me three hours to wait. Wait, eat ribs, and watch Jenny work.

  And watching her work was a thing of beauty. She was poetry in motion. Hell on wheels. Sex on rollerskates.

  I grinned and bit into another sweet barbeque rib. Hmm.. they were good. Not as good as what I had in mind for dessert though.

  I'd wanted to come earlier but I thought that might make me look pathetic. I didn't want Jenny to think I was desperate. Besides, I needed to get my house in order.

  In case I had company later.

  Female company.

  Red headed company.

  Jenny company.

  She walked past, carrying a tray of empty beer bottles. I leaned my chin on my fist and made eyes at her. She gave me a suspicious look but stopped and put her tray down.

  "Do you need something, Jagger?"

  "Yes."

  She pulled out her pad and waited expectantly.

  "You want to try the cheesecake?"

  "I want you."

  "Jagger..."

  I changed my tactics. As tempting as it was to try and get her into bed tonight, that didn't seem to be flying. I wanted to do this right anyway.

  "I want to take you on a date."

  She raised an eyebrow.

  "I don't have time to go on a date-"

  "I'm not finished. I want to take you out someplace special. Get you real dolled up and drink champagne. Then afterwards, I want to take you home and do things that would make a gynecologist blush."

  Her mouth opened.

  "I want to lick you. Every inch. And then I want to lick you again. You tasted so good, Jenny. I never forgot the way you tasted. Or looked. Or felt."

  I smiled at her, knowing I had her under my spell. She blinked and her lips opened. I was hoping to see a little bit of drool.

  "I wonder if you taste as good as I remember. I can't wait to find out."

  She just stared at me, a dazed look on her face. I saw her throat move as she gulped. I sat back and took a long swig of my beer. But the whole time, I was looking at her.

  And her lady parts.

  She had such nice lady parts.

  I set the beer down and leaned forward.

  "And after I've had you six ways from Sunday- after you've had all you can take- I want to hold you in my arms all damn night. Every night Jenny. What do you think of that?"

  Jenny was as still as a statue.

  "Hell, I'll even make you breakfast."

  She blinked at that. I smiled tenderly. The woman looke
d like no man had ever tried to seduce her before. It was adorable.

  "Waitress!"

  "Jenny, you got customers!"

  Slowly, she reached down to pick up her tray. I watched as she walked across the room to the bar and set it down. She looked like she'd been hypnotized. I wasn't surprised.

  I had that effect on women sometimes.

  It was almost midnight when she came back with a small plate and set it down in front of me.

  "What's this?"

  "Cheesecake. It's on the house."

  I grinned at her, feeling very pleased with the turn of events.

  "You shouldn't have, darlin'."

  "I didn't. Marge did. Said you were a good customer."

  She shrugged self-consciously.

  "She said you kept the fights to a minimum."

  "I do?"

  "You look sort of intimidating sitting over here by yourself you know."

  I smiled at her sensuously.

  "Oh."

  She started to turn away and then stopped. When she looked back at me, there was a vulnerable look on her face. As if what she was about to say wasn't easy. I waited, utterly focused on her.

  "Are you going to follow me home again tonight, Jagger?"

  I nodded slowly.

  "What about the night after that?"

  I nodded again.

  "Why?"

  "Because I want to keep you safe. Because I can't get you out of my mind. I thought about you the whole time I was over there, Jenny."

  "No lie?"

  I shook my head.

  "No lie, Red."

  She closed her eyes, apparently coming to some sort of decision.

  "Alright, Jagger. You win."

  "I do?"

  She nodded.

  "I'll go out with you. And... you can walk me home if you want."

  She shrugged slightly.

  "You just might not like what you find."

  I studied her.

  "Try me, sweetheart. I can handle it."

  She looked at me, her eyes dark with feeling.

  "Just remember you said that."

  Jenny

  ✈

  I stared straight ahead, wondering if I was crazy. I was weak. I knew that. I had given in, unable to continue resisting him. Jagger was more than charismatic and charming. He was magnetic.

  And I was like a moth drawn to his flame.

  I just hoped he was telling the truth. It sounded crazy after everything I'd learned about him when he was gone. But in my gut, somehow, I believed him.

  And even if he was lying... well, at least I'd get to scratch the itch that I seemed to have for him and him alone. The fact of the matter was, Jagger made me horny.

  Really, really horny.

  He was walking beside me, close enough to take my hand. The back of his hand was warm as it brushed against mine. Once. Twice.

  On the third time, his fingers snaked around mine, and squeezed.

  And just like that, I was holding hands with Derek Jagger.

  It was hard to describe the thrill that went through me at that simple gesture. It was so sweet and natural. I felt the ice around my heart start to melt. Just a little, but it melted all the same.

  We walked like that until we got to the officer's housing. Jagger gave me a look and stopped. I looked at the incredulous look on his face with a soft smile.

  "You live in here?"

  I nodded and led the way towards the biggest house on the complex. I led him up the steps to the front porch. Now Jagger stopped and tugged my hand. His eyes were bright as he stared at me with an inquisitive look on his face.

  "Wait- Jenny- are you a nanny for someone important?"

  I shook my head.

  "No."

  "But-"

  I stepped towards him and ran my fingertip down his chest.

  "Do you want to talk? Or do you want to kiss me?"

  He stared at me in the darkness.

  "Kiss. Definitely kiss."

  I slid both of my hands up his chest to his shoulders and smiled.

  "Good."

  He stared at my lips hungrily as he came closer... closer... with a moan he pulled me against him. I sighed as we came together. Our lips and tongues were seeking, stroking, twisting against each other. He held me by the waist, molding my body against his.

  I'd said it before but it bore repeating.

  Jagger was one hell of a kisser.

  This was different than any kiss he'd given me before though. Tender. Caring. Possessive.

  Devoted.

  I was clutching his shoulders for dear life after just a few minutes. Then he froze. Jagger jumped back and I stared at him, wondering why he'd stopped so abruptly.

  The front door of the house had opened.

  "Niffer? Who's this?"

  I opened my eyes and saw my father standing in the open doorway with a very, very unhappy look on his face.

  Uh oh.

  Jagger was about to meet the General.

  Maybe I should have warned him after all.

  Chapter Eight

  Jagger

  ✈

  I stared at General Reeds where he filled the doorway with his broad shoulders. He didn't just fill the space either. He ate it up. He loomed.

  I did the only thing I could do.

  I saluted.

  Everyone knew General Reeds was the toughest motherfucker to set foot on American soil. Or Middle Eastern soil. Or anywhere there had been a conflict in the last thirty years or so.

  The man was a fucking legend.

  "'Niffer? Care to explain what you are doing with this young man?"

  "Dad, this is Sergeant Derek Jagger. Jagger, this is... my dad."

  I looked at her and back at the General. Then back again. I nodded to myself, as if something had just fallen into place.

  Of course, she was the daughter of the guy who ran the entire damn show. Naturally that was the particular pile of shit I would land in. He was looking at me like something he'd scraped off his damn boots. After he'd stomped on it.

  This wasn't going to be easy.

  But it was worth it.

  She was worth it.

  "At ease, Sergeant."

  Now he was giving me a piercing stare. Like he was a farmer and I was the weasel in his henhouse. And he wasn't far off. I had been kissing the beejesus out of his daughter. Hell, I'd been ready to toss her over my shoulder and take her back to my lair, caveman style.

  This was it. Time to man up. It was now or never, Jagger. I stood up straight, my eyes clear and my voice strong.

  "Sir, I would like to call on you at a more convenient time and state my intentions toward your daughter."

  He looked at me. Then he nodded.

  "I hoped to take her to dinner tomorrow night."

  "Tomorrow evening then. Be here at eighteen hundred hours. Then we'll see about you taking my daughter out. Come inside, Jennifer."

  "Honestly, you two-"

  "Come inside 'Niffer. Now."

  Jenny gave me an exasperated look. She looked irritated by the exchange. I wanted to kiss her until she was melting against me again.

  But I restrained myself for obvious reasons.

  "Tomorrow night, Sergeant."

  "Yes, sir."

  "Don't be late."

  "No, sir."

  He pulled Jenny inside and shut the door in my face.

  All the same I was whistling as I walked down the walkway to the sidewalk. I glanced back at the imposing house and shook my head.

  After all this time, all this wondering, all this waiting, I finally had her last name. I had her number now. There was no more chasing my own damn tail.

  Her name was Jenny Reeds.

  Jenny

  ✈

  "Dating? Don't you have other things to worry about, young lady?"

  I sighed, closing Hallie's door behind me. I'd gone in to check on her before dealing with my dad. I gestured for him to follow me to the kitchen, where I put a kett
le on for tea. Then I turned to face him, bracing my arms against the counter behind me.

  "Yes dad. But it's complicated."

  He gave me a hard look.

  "Does he know about the child?"

  I stiffened. My dad had no idea that Jagger was the father. But if he did know, he would never give Jagger a chance.

  "No. And I don't want to tell him yet."

  My father looked at me with a look of dawning understanding.

  "You already care for this young man."

  I sighed.

  "I do. More than I want to."

  He said nothing, just stared at the table in front of him. The kettle went off and I poured us each a mug of chamomile tea. Lord knows, I could have used something stronger.

  "Jenny... This is hard for me. I'm trying to think of what your mother would say."

  "I know dad. Me too."

  "I'd like to take that boy out back and tar his hide."

  I stiffled a laugh. Jagger brought that out in people apparently. But he also brought out... other things.

  Tingly skin, butterflies in the tummy sorts of things.

  If I wanted us to have a chance to be something real, or even just to have a little fun before he went on his merry way, I had to keep my dad from murdering him.

  If nothing else, I had to keep him breathing for Hallie.

  "Please don't do that, dad."

  "I won't. But if he hurts you..."

  "I know, I know. The firing squad, right?"

  My dad's stern face cracked the teensiest bit of a smile. I put my hand over his. We were both thinking the same thing... how my mother used to tease him when he got too worked up. She'd softened him.

  She'd softened us both.

  I could almost imagine that she was here, stirring something on the stove behind me. She'd listen to use argue with a wistful smile, only stepping in when one of us wasn't fighting fair. Her two mules, she'd call us. But always with a kiss or gentle hand on my shoulder.

  "Well, I guess you are old enough to know your own mind."

  He seemed to shake off the memories and come back to the present. Not that I wanted to. I could have lived in those memories forever.

  But that wasn't life, was it? I had to deal with what was happening. With the here and now.