Coffee and Cockpits

by Jade Hart

  My heart sank. Why was I so stupid? This was the most important day of my career and I was screwing it up by joking and tickling a colleague. Might as well jump out the door without a parachute.

  Standing straighter, I tugged my blazer down and sucked in a deep breath. “It won’t happen again.”

  Ms. Klein titled her head. “Make sure it doesn’t. Go take the pilots their drinks, then report to me down the back.” Scowling at Joslyn and Samantha, she ordered, “Start the service. We’re already five minutes behind as it is. We’ll be in Sydney before passengers get their snack.”

  With the coffee in hand, I slunk out of the galley and knocked on the cockpit door. I waited like a naughty child for admittance. God, this was a nightmare. I was so moronic to think I could have fun and let my guard down a little. No more. The fun was over, and I was all business from here on in.

  “Enter,” a voice ordered through the door.

  Rolling my eyes, I did as commanded and turned the doorknob in the special way that unlocks it. Every year the security measures increased. Soon there’d be fingerprint scans and eye retina probes. It was such a hassle, but it didn’t stop the pilots from demanding their coffee. Oh no, they had to have their caffeine.

  I frowned as I entered, closing the door behind me. What the hell?

  Captain Anderson had the local paper spread out in front of him, completely obscuring the window and the endless blue yonder, and Co-pilot Mikin had one foot thrown over his knee, rubbing his calf.

  I knew we were on auto-pilot, but surely some sort of readiness was required if something failed?

  Hiding my exasperated look, I said, “Two coffees?”

  Liam Mikin turned to face me, silver aviators hiding his eyes. Confidence shimmered around him, setting my teeth on edge. I’d seen him around the airport and occasionally at the training facility but hadn’t spoken to him. I didn’t need to speak to him to know the type of man he was. Slut came to mind.

  “Do you know how I like it?” His lips quirked; they were full and shapely. His jaw was well-defined, and his Adam’s apple drew my eyes to his tanned throat.

  My heart fluttered, and I was instantly pissed at myself for such a feminine reaction to a good looking man who’s panty score eclipsed mine one hundred to one.

  Captain Anderson guffawed. “Don’t they all, Mikin?”

  Yep – there it was—admission to being a player.

  My mouth pursed. “Black with two sugars?”

  “Yep. You got it.” Liam smiled, removing his glasses with a suave flourish. He turned the full force of his pupils—blue as the sky and as icy as the cubes I envisioned him rubbing over my body—on me.

  I had no idea how I knew his coffee preference, but I’d sure heard the stories about him. One rather elaborate tale about him getting a hosty fired for stealing her blouse after a tryst in an airport bathroom on a layover. She had to do service with only her blazer and bra.

  Ignoring his blue-eyed gaze, I asked, “And you, Captain?”

  “Milk and one sugar, sweetie.”

  I shuddered at the endearment. However, he smiled a fatherly smile. He wasn’t so bad; even if he did have a giant ‘I’m a pilot’ moustache.

  Guess I was always destined to be in the travel industry. My dad was a chopper pilot for the Royal Air Force, and boy he never let me forget it. I suffered his disbelief that I didn’t go into service every day, but the upbringing around other air force brats, moustaches, and aeronautical speak ruined me for any other career. Wings fluttered around my heart and jet fuel surged in my veins. It wouldn’t be long until I was the one flying the damn thing, not a trolley-dolly. And I took perverse happiness in keeping my ultimate dreams from my father.

  Handing over the steaming cups, I pulled sachets of sugar and containers of milk from my skirt pocket.

  “So you’re all set?” I didn’t look at the men; instead, my gaze locked hungrily onto the flickering lights, dials, and controls of the plane’s driving system. The glittering display called to me like a jewellery store called to a gem thief. Soon, my pretty. Soon I’ll be the one touching your joystick. I smiled at my own joke.

  Liam Mikin noticed. “What’s so funny?” He smirked as his eyes evaluated me with a shrewd expression.

  Pasting a blank look on my face, I asked, “Excuse me?”

  He shifted in his chair, taking a hesitant sip of hot coffee. “Just now. You smiled.” His head swivelled to the control panel with a frown. The sun, unobstructed by clouds this high above the earth, glinted off his blue-black hair. It reminded me of a raven’s wing: glossy, deep, endless.

  Oh my God, where had that thought come from? Raven’s wing? The cockpit did odd things to me.

  Liam’s blue eyes met mine. “You going to share the joke?”

  Shaking my head, I muttered, “No joke. I better get back to work. Enjoy your coffee, gentlemen.”

  Spinning on my heel, I escaped and locked the door behind me. Pilots were dangerous. I was single, twenty-two, and hadn’t been laid since I started my travel and tourism diploma.

  I blinked. Crap, had it really been two years since I’d had a boyfriend? I’d been so focused on flying lessons, and then getting this job that romantic trysts were far down my agenda. Perhaps that was a bad move? No one should go through a dry spell and look into Liam Mikin’s quartz-blue eyes. It should be illegal.

  “Ah ha! So you aren’t immune!” Joslyn appeared with two pots in her hands. One coffee. One tea.

  Stiffening, I shot back, “Whatever. It was just really hot in there.” Dang namit, I forgot to tell them to turn up the air-con. But I wasn’t going back in. Even if we were crashing, I would avoid that cockpit at all costs.

  Remembering Ms. Klein asked me to go to the back once I’d finished, I gave Jos a scowl and bustled down the aisle.

  The brown-haired man in 24B looked up as I stalked past in my stiletto heels. His face was strained, eyes begging for help. His t-shirt was grubby on one shoulder from where the snot-nosed brat had clambered on him, and he was being used as a pillow by an old man on the other side. Both humans were drooling as much as the other, even though there was an eighty year difference between them.

  I stopped. His look of pure helplessness undid me, and I smiled. “Sir, can you come with me, please? Bring your belongings.”

  His eyes expanded until they glowed with thanks, and his face melted into relief.

  He had a nice face: straight nose, sculptured lips, and his eyebrows were well groomed, framing his hazel eyes in an almost dreamy, romantic way. Nina, is your libido on overdrive today? Stop it!

  I’d never seen anyone move so fast. I thought he’d have to wake up the old codger to untangle himself. Nope. He grabbed the two headrests and brought both legs up and over the sleeping form like a gymnast.

  “You have no idea how grateful I am right now.” He wiped down his t-shirt, sighing contentedly.

  I fought the genuine smile on my face. “No problem. You would’ve been dripping in saliva by the time we landed. It’s the least I can do.”

  I waited as he retrieved his bag, appreciating the flash of skin once again and swallowing when I glimpsed the dusting of hair on his abs disappearing into his jeans.

  “Follow me.” I half-smiled and guided him to the front where an emergency exit row was vacant. We liked to keep these rows free, even though passengers thought they were the first to go.

  The hairs on my arms tingled with his presence behind me. The cabin was way too small for the intensity he emitted.

  Plastering my professional face on, I asked, “Do you know the rules of sitting here?”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “There are rules?”

  I nodded. “Yes. You have to alert the crew if you see smoke or anything suspicious, and if there’s an emergency you have to help with opening the doors, guiding passengers down to the life rafts, and generally providing assistance. Can you do that?”

  He ran a hand through his hair and a whiff of body spray hit me. It was m
usky… bedroomy, and should’ve been banned for the amount of pheromones he kicked in my body.

  24B nodded. “No worries. I can do that.”

  “Great. Thanks.” I turned to go. Ms. Klein would be furious at me for taking so long. I hoped she’d grant me leniency seeing as I was nice to a passenger. I didn’t have to move him, but how could anyone refuse those sad, pleading eyes?

  Any minute now the blasted exam would start. I had to be in the right frame of mind.

  A strong hand lassoed onto my arm. “Hey. What’s your name?”

  His eyes were so close to mine and I was buffeted by his scent again.

  Shaking myself out of the musk-induced stupor, I pointed to my boob.

  He squinted, taking his sweet time looking. “Nina.” The way he drew out the ‘A’ did funny things to my insides.

  I titled my head, hating how my stomach turned into a rumpled mess of nerves. If I didn’t know any better, I’d of sworn my breakfast had come alive and was determined on making me suffer. “You have a problem with my name?”

  He chuckled. “No, not at all. I like that your name starts with an N. Mine does, too.”

  I knew he was setting me up to ask, but I did anyway. “And what’s your name?”

  “Nikolai. Nice to meet you.” He held his hand out to shake.

  I didn’t take it as a loud beeping of the phone in the rear galley sounded. Crap. The exam had started. “Sorry, I have to go.”

  Leaving him, I dashed down the aisle in my tight uniform skirt, very aware he was probably staring at my ass. I steadied my breathing before picking up the phone. “Yes?”

  “We have a situation 1583.”

  My brain whizzed with all the code speak we’d been drilled to remember. The correct answer came to me in a flash. Thank God I could think well under pressure. “Can you confirm you want one thousand sugars?”

  “Affirmative.”

  I hung up and made my way stealthily to Joslyn who was finishing up a drink run. “We have a 1583 situation.”

  Her honey skin paled. “Shit. I don’t remember what that one is!”

  I helped her stow the drinks cart and turned to head back up the aisle. The rules of the exam were we weren’t allowed to share details. You either knew it or you didn’t. No second chances. My heart went out for Jos, but, really, she should’ve studied. I could’ve spouted the in-flight handbook four times over with the amount of hours I spent huddled over the text.

  Instead of getting hickeys and having fun like Joslyn, I made out with text books, an annoying inner voice taunted.

  I found Ms. Klein exiting one of the bathroom cubicles. “The Captain has requested one thousand sugars. I’m on my way to complete the order.”

  She gave me her first genuine smile. “Well done. You passed the hijacking test.”

  Heading briskly to the galley, she grabbed her clipboard and chewed on her pen. “What does the code one thousand sugars mean?”

  “It’s confirmation of the 1583 problem. It’s ambiguous so it can be inserted into a normal conversation and not tip off the hijackers.” Whoever came up with that was a moron. How was I supposed to insert one thousand sugars into conversation? Unless I was a serious diabetic about to keel over.

  She nodded. “Fill me in on the rest of the protocol.”

  My eyes unfocused as I tried to recall step one-oh-one of dealing with a hijacker. “Remain calm, try to identify the culprits. Alert ground staff if possible. Keep hijackers away from cockpit door with whatever force necessary.”

  She nodded. “And by necessary?”

  “By negotiation and calmness.”

  “And if they have a hostage?”

  “Remain calm and don’t try to be heroic. Agree to all demands.”

  Ms. Klein smiled. “Great, Ms. Poppins, you’ve passed your first test. Run along and let’s see how the others do, shall we?”

  I bumped into Nikolai from 24B the minute I stepped into the aisle. The intercom buzzed indicating the pilots wanted something. Holy crap, I was in hot demand.

  “Hey. Do you have time to chat? I want to ask you a question.” He leaned against a headrest, earning himself a sharp look from an elderly woman when he caught her hair. He straightened, shooting her an apologetic look. “So, Nina—”

  Holding up my hand, I cut him off. “Sorry.” I smiled, even though I was annoyed at being summoned by paper-reading, sleazy pilots. “I’ve got to work. Take a seat, and if I have time, I’ll come by. Alright?”

  Nikolai nodded. “Sure thing. Cheers.” Throwing me another grin, showing a dimple on one cheek, he obediently returned to his row.

  Trying not to run up the aisle, I did the fancy unlock thing and stuck my head in the cockpit. “Yes?” My eyes glued onto the glowing panels and buttons. Each dial summoned me to touch and decipher. I wanted to be a kid and press every single button all at once. Pretty sure that would make us crash though. What I wouldn’t give to sit in those chairs. Fiddle with those instruments—to fly this metal beast.

  Unbeknownst to the crew, I held my PPL: my Private Pilot’s License. I loved the freedom of flying; of being so far above the earth you held your life in your hands. I got a job as an air hostess to while away the years it’d take me to get my commercial license.

  I sighed. It was going to be a long journey to get where I wanted to be. Long and expensive.

  Liam Mikin wore an intoxicating smile, and his silver aviators were now tucked into his shirt. Damn his cool pilot chic.

  Captain Anderson spoke. “We just wanted to say good work on the correct wording for the hijacker. What was your name again?” His moustache bristled as he pursed his lips, waiting for me.

  “Nina, sir.”

  “Well, Nina, I’m impressed. First line exam, and so far you’re doing great.” He turned in his chair and his newspaper scattered on the floor. “That’s all.”

  I brightened. “That’s it? No coffee or snacks?”

  Liam Mikin chuckled and his arctic eyes sparkled with the sun’s rays bouncing off the whiteness of the plane. All around us little specks of light danced like fairy dust. “Now that you mention it, can I have a cold one?”

  Captain Anderson punched him. “Don’t even kid about drinking on the job. You never know who’s listening.”

  Liam rubbed his arm. “Whatever you say, boss.” He winked at me.

  A tiny quiver of interest made my heart pitter-patter in my chest. Do not do a Joslyn. The thought of Liam sucking on my neck, branding me with a hickey, caught me by surprise. Instant infatuation didn’t happen to me. I didn’t like it. I thought with my brain, not my girly bits.

  I left before I could make an idiot of myself by giggling or some other such rot.

  Stupid sexy pilot and his stupid sexy grin.

  A few more tests later, including a bunch more codes and a surprise choreographed fake heart-attack, we landed in Sydney. My nerves were shot after giving mouth-to-mouth and performing CPR on a lady who had nothing wrong with her. The awkwardness of sharing spit was made easier by her joking that I was the best newbie flight attendant as far as resuscitation techniques went. I think she meant she liked my blowing skills. Wouldn’t the pilots be happy to know.

  Samantha, didn’t participate in the exam as she was already qualified, and she was her usual quiet self. Joslyn on the other hand was chipper and cheerful, smiling in anticipation of our first overnight.

  Joslyn and I stood by the door, demure smiles pasted on our faces as we parroted ‘thank you’ over and over to the disembarking passengers.

  I was on autopilot—already thinking of the fat envelope of cash we received on overnights and the four-and-a-half star hotels I’d heard so much about.

  “Nina?”

  I looked up from my daze right into hazel eyes and a smirk.

  “Thanks for moving me,” Nikolai said. He held up the queue of passengers behind him and Joslyn shot me a questioning look.

  I ignored her. I could talk to a strange man if I wanted. After all, I wa
sn’t the one with a hickey on my neck. “No problem.”

  He inclined his head pretending fifty people weren’t waiting and eye-ball stabbing him. “I’ll look forward to seeing you again sometime?”

  I smiled. Like that would ever happen. “Sure. Have a safe trip home.”

  He shook my hand. “See ya.” Smiling, he pulled away and disappeared off the plane. I glanced down at what he’d forced into my palm. A phone number was scrawled onto a napkin. Oh, wasn’t that sweet. My first pick-up and it happened on my first flight. Must be my killer new heels.

  Joslyn giggled. “Hey, you beat me.” She pouted but perked right up when Co-pilot Mikin excited the cockpit. “Hey, Liam, everyone’s off. Wanna share a cab?”

  I rolled my eyes and headed down to retrieve my satchel and overnight bag. The plane looked as if a hurricane twirled through and deposited empty wrappers and scrunched tissues everywhere. I half-expected to find a cow and broken barn lodged in a seat. How did people throw food into every nook and cranny on a three hour flight?

  I shuddered at the thought of sticking my hands in the seat pockets to find nasty half-chewed biscuits or snot-filled tissues. An inkling that perhaps I wasn’t cut out for this air hostess stuff freaked me out. How would I handle three to four years of this? I didn’t want to be in the cabin. I wanted to be at the front, driving the damn thing.

  Joslyn and Liam were still talking when I returned. Liam stopped mid-sentence, watching me with wary eyes. Joslyn bit her lip, smirking. Oh God, now what was she up to? Hickey on the other side of her neck? How about on her boob? At least she could ditch the scarves.

  I smiled reservedly and lugged my heavy satchel off the plane and onto the air-bridge. Whatever they were talking about, Liam looked guilty and Joslyn looked up to something. I didn’t want to get in the middle it.

  Liam dashed to my side and touched my forearm, abandoning Joslyn. She didn’t look put out though, more like gleeful. Oh please, don’t let this be a set up.

  I shot her a sniper look then glowered at Liam’s touch. Even though his fingertips were on layers of my uniform, my skin grew warm. As if sun radiated from his touch, seeping into night-chilled earth. Tingling also happened, but I pretended it didn’t. “Yes?”