Breaking Emily's Rules

by Heatherly Bell

  No, best to keep quiet and do what she wanted anyway.

  If she’d learned nothing else from Molly, she’d certainly learned that.

  CHAPTER NINE

  EMILY WAS GRATEFUL for flying lessons. Dad had been home for a week now, and she hadn’t had any trouble sneaking around yet, even if Molly did seem to suspect. Every afternoon Molly drilled Emily on where she was going then followed her out the door, where she’d stand, arms folded, shaking her head.

  Molly was usually at her best when Dad was home, but lately she seemed jumpier than normal. She’d been back to the Silver Saddle many times now, without Emily, and even though Molly had said she missed Sierra, it certainly didn’t look that way. It seemed lately that Molly’s biggest concern was finding the party.

  Sooner or later, Emily would have to talk to her again. She’d never seen Molly so afraid, but it seemed as if fear of failing again with Sierra had rooted her into a bad pattern.

  In a bit of a contrast, this time it was Emily who had no fear. She was too busy making history to be afraid.

  Flying lessons also involved sitting close to Mr. Studley, while listening to the deep sexy timbre of his voice in her earpiece. So it was no coincidence that coming to the small airport three times a week was the highlight of her week. It also didn’t hurt that he seemed to feel guilty about his attitude, even though he hadn’t officially apologized. He also hadn’t mentioned the date again.

  For now, they had a silent agreement. He would teach; she would listen.

  She wanted to ace this test and get on with the rest of her day in a hurry. She still had a full day ahead of her. Trish had already phoned twice with changes. This wedding was going to consume Emily’s days and evenings even if it was a whole year away. She also had Ashley and Billy’s wedding coming up, and already several more brides had called about the wedding packages.

  “Are you listening?” He was always doing that—convinced she wasn’t paying attention, like she was somehow going to break his precious plane.

  And even though he made it hard to focus, she’d studied for the test today and thought she was ready. She saluted. “Yes, sir.”

  “Cut it out.”

  He didn’t like it when she saluted him; pretty much why she did it.

  “Okay, Miss Earhart. You know what to do. Pretend I’m not here.”

  “That’s hard to do when you keep talking.” She stared at the cleft in his chin, which she swore deepened when he was serious.

  Today she was taking a quiz. In order to get her license, she’d eventually have to pass a test with her certified instructor, the hunk sitting next to her, and even though she was still several flight hours away from that point, she’d convinced Stone to give her a quiz. Just to make sure she was on track.

  Besides, a quiz would only boost her self-confidence. She’d never had less than an A on a test she’d studied for.

  “Here are my last words. The test begins...” He looked at his wristwatch. “Now.”

  I can do this. I’m the descendant of one of the first female pilots. A mover and a shaker. It’s just taken me a while to find that out, but from now on, the sky’s the limit. Ha. Quite literally.

  While she couldn’t help but shoot occasional glances in Stone’s direction, she went through the flight-check procedures on her own and began taxiing down the runway. Even though he wouldn’t literally grade her, this was a test in every sense of the word. A test to prove she’d been listening and not staring at his hard body. A test that would prove she was the new, bold Emily.

  And then she was taking off. Just like he’d taught her, flying, on her own. Stone wasn’t saying a word, his facial expression so unreadable she couldn’t actually be sure he wasn’t resting his baby blues underneath those Top Gun shades. He had the logbook on his lap, but he hadn’t so much as lifted his pencil. Maybe she bored him. She had half a mind to entertain him with an unexpected turn instead of the precise directions he’d outlined beforehand.

  Then again, that was Stone: cool as a cucumber. And she was mushy like a ripe banana. Good for banana nut bread but not much else. Oh, come on, I can do this. I will not let this plane, this vast expanse of sky, intimidate me. Hands down, taking flying lessons was the wildest thing she’d ever done. Mission accomplished.

  One look at Stone and her nerves steadied a bit, like he’d loaned her some of his steel. Maybe, with any luck, it would rub off on her. She landed the way he’d taught her, the way she’d seen him do. And even if her heart beat in her eardrums, they were all in one piece.

  Stone finally lifted his pencil and started to jot down some notes. “I’m impressed. You didn’t ask me one question.”

  “You mean I could have? I thought I wasn’t supposed to ask.” That was what she got for following someone else’s rules.

  “That doesn’t usually stop people. The point is, you didn’t need to ask.” He looked up from his notes, his eyes peeking out from over his sunglasses.

  “How did I do?”

  “You taxied too fast. Again.”

  “Oh, right. I’m sorry. I just get so excited.” Or deathly afraid.

  “And you missed a couple of steps on your preflight check.”

  Damn it all. “So—if you were grading me, what would you give me?”

  “I told you, there’s no grade. And this isn’t the real test. You do remember that.”

  “But you could give me one. You know you could. If you wanted. I won’t stop you.”

  He grinned. “So you want a grade?”

  “Yep. What can I say? I’ve always been the teacher’s pet.” So far she’d been nothing but the consummate professional student, and now she was flirting. She blamed it on the flying. It had turned out to be some kind of aphrodisiac.

  “Okay, you asked for it. You get a C plus.” He continued to write down notes as if he hadn’t just metaphorically slapped her face.

  “A C? You’re kidding, right?” She’d had one C in school and cried about it for a week. “I am not a C student.”

  “I said a C plus.”

  “C, C plus, what’s the difference?”

  “You’re an average pilot right now. You’ll get better.”

  “I’m in a hurry.”

  “Yeah, and I want to know why.”

  There was the matter of the alumni’s newsletter, and she’d hoped to get in the next issue. It would be so impressive to be able to report she’d become a licensed pilot, and the tie-in to her namesake would make a nice little human-interest story. But she didn’t think Stone would like that answer. “I’m not getting any younger.”

  Now he stared at her as if she had two heads. He was forever giving her that look, as if she confounded him down to the depths of his blue eyes. “Right.”

  “Why do you always look at me like that?”

  “How am I looking at you?”

  “Like I’m some odd human species you can’t quite figure out. Like you don’t understand a word I’m saying.”

  “Hmm. That isn’t too far from the truth.”

  She slapped his shoulder. “Oh, c’mon. You know I’m your favorite female student.”

  “You’re my only female student.”

  “Look at that. I guess that makes me the favorite.”

  “Don’t push it, Parker.”

  She climbed out of the plane and followed him into the hangar, but only steps before the door she stopped in her tracks. She’d passed the test today. Unofficially, yes, and with a C. Her least favorite way of passing. But still, she’d passed. She was going to get her pilot’s license. Soon, if she kept this up.

  “Are you going to pass out again?” He opened the hangar door and paused, searching her eyes, his brow furrowed.

  No fainting today. Not at all. This was a banner day for Emily Parker. �
�I passed.”

  “It wasn’t a test. But yeah, if it had been. I passed you.”

  “But I’m going to be a pilot! Soon!” She shouted and ran toward him, almost surprising herself by grabbing his neck and planting a kiss on his lips. Apparently flying also gave her courage, because she’d wanted to do that for a while, too.

  Good Lord, he smelled so good. Like a combination of leather and musk. Stone made her forget from time to time that she’d given up men. His surly gazes and hard body could make a girl forget all kinds of things.

  In the next moment, Stone’s arms came around her waist to pull her closer. “That was nice, but an apple would have been fine.”

  “An apple?” she stammered.

  “Teacher, apple?” He held her practically pinned against him, arms tight around her waist, hands lingering a bit lower.

  Okay, so she’d just forgotten a simple connection between apple and teacher. Her brain was officially on hiatus. “I lost my head for a minute. I’ll bring you an apple tomorrow.”

  He looked like he would kiss her then, but the hot look in his eyes told her it would be nothing simple. She could almost taste his breath as he leaned in close, and she reviewed the reasons why she should forget about her plan to give up men. Molly was right. It wouldn’t have lasted anyway.

  Then his lips were on hers, and she nearly lost her footing when he deepened the kiss. His arms remained tight around her like he was claiming her for his own. And then it was over.

  “Sorry,” he said, pulling away. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

  Emily tried to regain her balance because he’d nearly kissed the breath right out of her. Wow, was all she could think. Wow. Similar to the one-word thought she’d had the first night she’d seen him, only now he’d proved he could do a lot more than dance and enhance a wall. He could also kiss a girl like his life depended on it.

  How exactly did one fall on another person’s lips like that? She wasn’t the picture of grace, but she’d never done it. “What did you do? Fall on my lips?”

  He gave her “the look” again. “No, but that’s something you might do.”

  “My kiss wasn’t an accident. I might be a klutz, but even I’m not that bad.”

  “That wasn’t a kiss. It was a peck. Mine was a kiss.”

  She couldn’t argue that fact, or the indignation she felt coming on front and center. He didn’t want her. Fine, she could accept that. He’d changed his mind, like most men. The same way she’d temporarily forgotten her vow to be done with men. But if anything, that smug look on Stone’s face was a good reminder.

  CHAPTER TEN

  IN THE PAST two weeks, Stone had come to realize Emily Parker, despite her stripper-like body and Cupid’s bow lips, was a nice girl. Possibly too nice, at least for him. He’d heard all about the family ranch, converted to an events place when her father decided to buy cheaper land in Texas for his new cattle ranch. Heard all about her grandmother, who’d raised Emily and her sister. Molly, who had a baby and put the T in Trouble. Mostly he’d become aware of her life history because Emily liked to talk. She was also quite obviously the force in her family, holding everyone together.

  She wasn’t any man’s temporary girl, not by a long shot. Which was why he hadn’t brought up the date again. Seemed a little too dangerous, even for a guy who courted danger. He missed his daily adrenaline fix, sure, but this wouldn’t so much be an adrenaline rush as it would be sheer insanity. And although some of his air force buddies would disagree, he wasn’t a fan of insanity.

  He was a big fan of hot sex with equally hot and willing women. Dirty, hard and fast. Temporary worked. Temporary filled a need. Once in a while he’d been unfortunate enough to hook up with a woman who didn’t understand the temporary nature of anything he could offer. Those goodbyes had been bitter, verging on hostile, and had never sat well with him. He’d been called heartless. Cruel. Cold-blooded. Unable to love and be loved.

  That last one, at least, was a hundred percent false. His first love was the air force and always would be. And he’d loved his father, his AF friends. He of course loved his mother, and possibly Sarah if she’d stop being a pain in the ass. But women? He had no use for them for the most part. He understood that made him an asshole.

  But while here in Fortune, he’d kept a low profile on the dating scene. As in nonexistent. And man, it had been so long, but it wasn’t like he had much free time. This was best, anyway. No women who would later talk all over this small town about James Mcallister’s heartless son. He hadn’t been laid in eight solid months, which killed him. Emily wasn’t going to break that streak.

  And, he’d like to think, he could at least be a better man than someone who would follow through on that kiss. On that date. Yeah, he hadn’t forgotten.

  She’d given as good as she got in that kiss, reminding him of all the things he’d wanted to do to her since the first night he’d laid eyes on her. Thoughts he hadn’t allowed himself to have since he started teaching her. But now, the look on her face. This was bad, because it mattered that her eyes were turning several shades of green, filled with hurt and something that looked a bit like shame. He had to fix this.

  He followed her through the hangar, enjoying the view. Her hips were swinging in a particularly enticing way, probably because she was pissed.

  “Hey, Emily. How was your flight today?” Jedd asked as they walked past him.

  “Great, but Stone had an accident,” Emily said with a bite in her words.

  “Emily—” Stone warned.

  “What happened to the plane?” Jedd ran outside, presumably to check for damage.

  Stone would have stopped him, but he had his own kind of damage control. He followed Emily’s stomps in the direction of his office, where she always kept her purse. She couldn’t leave here without that. So she’d have to deal with him.

  She passed by Cassie’s desk, straight into his office, where she slammed the door. He was only a step behind her, but Cassie took the opportunity to throw him a pointed look. “What did you do now?”

  He ignored the comment, let himself in his office and shut the door again. Emily had found her purse and was rifling through its compartments.

  Her cheeks were flushed when she turned to him. “Look, it’s okay. You changed your mind. I get it.”

  She continued to struggle with that blasted purse, and now it annoyed him since she used it like a shield to keep her distance from him.

  He took the purse out of her hands and set it down on his desk. “I didn’t make a mistake. I wanted to kiss you. I’m sorry because I may have gotten a bit carried away. My fault.” He put a hand on his chest to demonstrate he meant it. Hormones not listening again.

  She lifted a shoulder. “It’s all right. You can kiss me like that again.”

  “Yeah?” He wanted to, right here and now.

  And so much more. Something about her made him forget for a minute that he was a stranger in this town. She reminded him of his former overwhelming need not to hesitate. To plunge headfirst into dangerous territory. She, most unfortunately for him, seemed to serve as a reminder of who he was at the core. Not his father’s son, but his own man.

  But for right here, right now, he had to remember that first and foremost he was his father’s son for all practical purposes. Mr. Good Guy, in the flesh. And Mr. Good Guy didn’t seduce women like Emily.

  “I mean, but only if you want to.” She stared at his lips and set his groin on fire.

  Mr. Good Guy was about to go on hiatus.

  He didn’t need another invitation as he drew her into his arms. She sighed as she leaned into his kiss and threaded her fingers through his hair, sucking the marrow right out of him. After several minutes, he pulled away because if he didn’t stop now, they’d both be in trouble.

  “I think we’ve establis
hed we both like to kiss each other.” He sat behind his desk where she, and the rest of his staff, would be spared from witnessing the bulge in his pants.

  Her lips looked bruised, her cheeks a flushed pink color that made him want her even more. “But this is probably not a good idea, right?”

  He thought about the fact he had no real plans to stay in this town after he’d taken care of his father’s affairs. He didn’t do permanent or white picket fences, and Emily wouldn’t want a fling.

  No, this wasn’t a good idea, but the hell with it. “What are you doing tonight?”

  “I was beginning to think you forgot about our deal.”

  “Not a chance.”

  “Where are you taking me?”

  “It’s a surprise.”

  “I don’t like surprises. We never established parameters for our one date, you know.”

  “Parameters?”

  “Guidelines.”

  “You want guidelines?”

  “Sure. Is this a coffeehouse date or a dinner date? Is it denim or silk? Should I—” At this, for some reason, she blushed. “I mean, throw me a bone. Where are we going and what will we be doing?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  “I would.”

  “I’ve got nothing. You’ll have to wait and see. I’ll pick you up around five.”

  “You don’t know where I live.”

  “Your address is on all the forms you filled out. Remember?”

  “Okay. But it’s complicated. You need to go up the road and when you see the red barn, turn right. You’ll see a large Victorian house. That’s not where I live. I have the loft, which is a few yards away above the garage.”

  “I’ve flown an F-16. I think I can find you.”

  She nodded a little uncertainly but then smiled, turned and walked right into his dad’s metal filing cabinet.