The Littlest Stowaway

by Gina Wilkins

  “Yes, I know.” But he remained where he was.

  She slid her suddenly damp palms down her sides. “Steve?”

  “Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to have you here like this and not touch you?” His tone was casual, almost conversational, in contrast to the words he’d spoken.

  Casey’s breath quivered. “Don’t say that.”

  “Why not? It’s true. Do you know how long I’ve fantasized about seeing you here, in my bedroom? How many months it’s been since I’ve been out to dinner with another woman, because no one else fascinates me the way you do?”

  She couldn’t believe the things he was saying to her. He had flirted with her for months, but she’d always thought he was teasing her, baiting her. Was she supposed to believe that he had been seriously interested in her—and only in her?

  “Steve, we—”

  “Do you remember the first time we met?”

  She remembered. It had been her first day on the job at JCS. Her father had just gotten out of the hospital and they had known even then that his time was limited. Already grounded from the flying he’d loved so much, he’d intended to teach Casey the business, preparing her to keep his cherished operation intact He’d made no pretense of optimism.

  “You’ll probably have to declare bankruptcy within the first year,” blunt-spoken Louis Jansen had muttered. “And there’s the guy who’ll put you under,” he’d added, nodding toward the good-looking man who’d approached them from across the parking lot.

  “Who is he?” Casey had asked, holding on to her strained patience with her father by reminding herself repeatedly that he was gravely ill.

  “His name is Lockhart. He opened a cut-rate charter operation last year—you’ve probably heard me mention it.”

  She had, of course—in terms she couldn’t have repeated in polite company.

  “He’s gunning for us,” Louis had warned. “He wants to put us out of business. Smart-ass young punk has no respect for tradition.”

  Because it had been obvious that Steve Lockhart had been causing her father concern, Casey had been prepared from the start to dislike him. When he’d flashed her a brazen smile and given her an obviously approving once-over, she had reacted with a quiver of purely feminine response that had only infuriated her.

  “New employee, Mr. Jansen?” Steve had asked her father, his courteous tone sounding a bit mocking to Casey’s biased ears.

  “My daughter, Casey,” Louis had growled in response. “She’s taking over my company while I take some time off later this year. And she’s one damned sharp cookie, so don’t think you’ll make any more headway against her than you have against me, you hear?”

  Even though she knew her father’s words were mostly bravado, that he probably didn’t even believe them, himself, Casey had treasured them. Compliments from her father had been so rare that she’d been willing to take them, regardless of the motivation behind them.

  Steve had looked again at Casey, smiled in a way that had made her toes curl, and murmured, “I’ll certainly look forward to trying.”

  “He’ll win,” Louis had predicted when Steve sauntered away. “He’s hungry and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. It’ll be because of him that there will be no Jansen Charter Service at the airport for the first time in three generations. I always hoped I’d have a son to carry on the name. If I’d had a son like Steve Lockhart...”

  Realizing that he’d been rambling aloud, he’d had the grace to look somewhat apologetically at Casey. “Not that you haven’t been a good daughter,” he’d assured her gruffly. “Never caused me any trouble. Not your fault that flying isn’t in your blood the way it was in mine and your grandfather’s.”

  It hadn’t been the words he’d used that had caused Casey the most pain. It had been the reluctant admiration in his voice when he’d talked about the man he expected to put his daughter out of business. Knowing that her father would rather have his competitor for a son than Casey for a daughter had only made her more inclined to dislike Steve.

  “Maybe flying isn’t my thing, but business is,” Casey had reminded Louis firmly. “JCS isn’t dead, Dad. And Steve Lockhart is going to find that it takes more than a cocky grin and a pilot’s license to outwit me.”

  The very faint gleam of approval in her father’s eyes had been all the incentive she’d needed.

  Later that day, she’d gotten her first look at the JCS financial records. And she’d realized that her father’s failing health had affected him more than physically. She had never let him know how close he had come to destroying the company to which he had devoted so much of his life, how disastrous the decisions were that he’d made during the months before his illness had been diagnosed. He’d never understood what it had taken for her to put the company back on somewhat secure footing.

  It hadn’t helped that Lockhart Air had continued to flourish during the eighteen months since her first day on the job. The day her father had introduced her to Steve Lockhart.

  “I remember the day we met,” she murmured, forcing her thoughts back to the present.

  “I wanted you then,” Steve told her. “I took one look at you, standing there so overwhelmed, yet so determined, and I felt my knees go weak. Seeing you here, tonight, in my bedroom—it’s all I can do to stand upright,” he confessed with a slightly sheepish smile.

  Her own legs trembled. She put out a hand to steady herself against one corner of his dresser. “You said you wouldn’t do this.”

  “I haven’t touched you. And I won’t—unless you want me to. I just couldn’t keep quiet any longer about the way I feel when I’m with you. I’m sorry if it makes you uncomfortable.”

  Uncomfortable? She might have laughed if she hadn’t been so painfully close to panic. “Uncomfortable” was such an innocuous term compared to the tumultuous feelings he had evoked in her. “We should get some sleep,” she blurted, seeking escape.

  As if she would be able to sleep a wink now.

  Steve nodded and moved aside, clearing the doorway so she could step through.

  She was very careful not to look at him, not to touch him when she passed by. She wasn’t tempted to stay, she assured herself, aware that he watched her as she walked rather stiffly toward the spare bedroom. Physical desire wasn’t enough justification to throw away months of single-minded hard work.

  She paused outside the door to the other bedroom, her gaze meeting Steve’s over her shoulder. His eyes were steady as they met hers, his expression warm, sincere. She swallowed, feeling the need to say something. “Steve?”

  “Yes?”

  “I don’t think I can deal with this now. Not with everything else that’s going on.”

  “I won’t press you. I’ve said my piece. The next move is yours, Casey.”

  There was only one logical move she could make, of course. She stepped into the spare bedroom and closed the door behind her. And then she sat on the side of the bed and buried her face in her trembling hands, wondering if her life would ever be the same again.

  ANNIE SLEPT THE REST of the night. She was probably the only one of them who did, Casey thought wearily as she climbed out from her tangled bedcovers.

  It was just after 6:00 a.m. She’d been awakened by the sound of Annie crying in Steve’s room. As he’d done the night before, Steve carried the baby past Casey’s door toward the kitchen, talking in the low, soothing voice he always used with Annie.

  There was no question of trying to sleep any longer, of course. As tired as she was, Casey knew she would only lie in bed—as she had for the past three hours or so—hearing the echo of Steve’s voice in her head. Do you know how long I’ve fantasized about seeing you here, in my bedroom?

  Coffee, she thought, running both hands through her hair. She needed coffee. Gallons of it Craving the caffeine more than she dreaded facing Steve again, she headed for the kitchen.

  “Good morning.” Sitting in the same chair she’d found him in during the night, Steve
looked up from the baby in his arms. His easy smile didn’t quite dispel the flare of heat in his eyes when he saw her.

  “Good morning.” She turned her own gaze quickly toward the coffeemaker on the counter. “I was going to make coffee, but I see you’ve already taken care of that.”

  “I set the timer last night. I figured Annie would be up by six. Looks like it’s about ready.”

  Casey was already reaching into a cabinet for mugs. “Black, no sugar, right?”

  “Right.”

  She poured two cups and set his in front of him, a safe distance away from the baby. “Would you like some breakfast?”

  “Thanks, but I’m not really hungry yet. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you want, though.”

  She shook her head and sipped her coffee. “I don’t usually eat this early, either.”

  “Something else we have in common.”

  She lifted her mug to her lips again for a careful sip that gave her an excuse not to respond.

  For the next few minutes, the only sounds in the kitchen were the ones Annie made with her bottle, punctuated by the occasional burp Steve coaxed out of her. He was getting very good at this, Casey mused, noting how confident he’d become at handling the baby. More confident than Casey felt.

  “What’s our plan for today?” she asked, needing to distract herself from the way she felt watching him hold the baby so tenderly.

  “I’m going to put in a few more calls to Blake. And I’m hoping Janice will call again to check on Annie. Maybe she’ll give me a chance to convince her to come here and let us help her.”

  “And if she doesn’t call today?”

  A flash of frustration crossed Steve’s face. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “Obviously, we can’t keep on this way. We both have to get back to work. And every day that goes by is another day of uncertainty for Annie. She’s starting to bond with us. She needs to be settled in a permanent home—preferably with her mother.”

  Casey nodded. “Surely Janice will call today. She has to know what she’s asked of us—of you,” she corrected herself. “She has to understand how difficult this has been for you.”

  “You’re the one who has really been inconvenienced. You spent all day yesterday baby-sitting while I worked and then you couldn’t even feel comfortable going home last night because some jerk tried to follow you.”

  “Do you think he believed I might lead him to Janice?”

  “I can’t imagine why else he would have followed you.” Steve’s dark frown let her know he hadn’t taken the disturbing incident lightly.

  Casey dragged both hands through her tousled hair. “I wish we knew what’s going on. Why Janice is hiding. Why someone is so anxious to find her that he’s been watching us. Whether we’re making a terrible mistake by not calling the authorities.”

  From Steve’s shoulder, Annie squeaked as if in protest. Steve’s faint smile was ironic. “I guess she made her feelings clear about that.”

  Casey couldn’t return the smile. She was too overwhelmed with everything that had happened during the past two days. Including the tension that was building between her and Steve.

  Do you know how long I’ve fantasized about seeing you here, in my bedroom?

  She set her empty coffee mug down with a thud. “I’d like to take a shower now, if you don’t mind.”

  “Of course I don’t mind,” he chided her. “I’m only sorry you don’t have any of your own things here.”

  She nodded. “I should probably go to my apartment after I’ve showered and dressed. Whoever followed me last night probably won’t be as bold in the daytime.”

  “I’m still not comfortable with you going home alone yet.”

  “We shouldn’t take the baby out We don’t want whoever is looking for Janice to know we have her baby here.”

  Steve nodded. “I thought I’d call B.J. He’s useless as a baby-sitter, but I bet he’d be happy to escort you to your place to get some of your things. I can’t imagine anyone would bother you with B.J. at your side.”

  Thinking of B.J.’s massive proportions, Casey tended to agree. Still, she didn’t like the implication that she needed a man beside her. She’d spent the past year learning to stand on her own feet, to emerge from behind her father’s forceful shadow for the first time in her life.

  “I don’t think it will be necessary to call B.J.,” she said firmly. “I let myself get rattled last night, but I’m fine now. If Park, or Claybrook, or whoever it was that followed me thinks he can intimidate me into telling him where Janice is—even if I knew—he’s going to find himself in for a surprise. I’d love the chance to tell him exactly what I think about the sleazy, cowardly way he operates.”

  Steve chuckled. “I’m sure you would. And I bet his hair would be singed by the time you finish with him. But I’d still like to call B.J. Until we know exactly what we’ve gotten ourselves into, I’d rather not take any chances.”

  Annoyed by his paternalistic tone, she shook her head. “It’s my chance to take. And I’ll decide whether I want an escort or not. I don’t need you to make arrangements for me.”

  Before he could argue further, she stood abruptly. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  Steve didn’t try to stop her.

  8

  FORTY MINUTES LATER, Casey had cooled down enough to regret the sharp tone she had taken with Steve. He had only been concerned about her safety, she reminded herself. After the way she’d practically fallen apart last night, she could hardly blame him for thinking she needed his protection today. He’d only been concerned about her safety and peace of mind, and she’d reacted to his consideration by throwing the gesture back in his face.

  She’d been prickly and defensive and belligerent toward him since the first day they’d met, she thought, chewing her lower lip. How could he be attracted to her?

  Having toweled her long hair as dry as she could, she wrapped herself in the oversized terry cloth robe Steve had provided for her use—yet another thoughtful gesture on his part, she thought guiltily—and reached for the bathroom doorknob. She would have to wear the same clothes she’d had on yesterday, of course. She didn’t like this feeling of being without her own things around her. She didn’t like feeling so totally out of control.

  Opening the bathroom doorway, she stepped into the hall and nearly plowed right into Steve.

  He reached out to steady her when she would have stumbled. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, fine. Where’s Annie?”

  “Sound asleep. I moved the bassinet into the living room to give her a change of scenery while I cleaned the kitchen, and she dropped right off. I guess now that we’re both wide awake, she decided to take a little nap,” he added with a smile.

  Casey realized suddenly that his hands were still resting on her shoulders. She was aware again that he wore nothing but a pair of jeans and that she wore only his bathrobe. That her skin was still flushed and moist from the shower and almost painfully sensitized to his touch. “I, um—I’d better get dressed.”

  “Don’t go to all that trouble on my account,” he murmured, brushing a strand of damp hair from her cheek with his thumb.

  She shivered a little in response to the tender gesture. “Steve...”

  . “Are you cold?”

  “No.” Just the opposite, in fact. Heat was swirling through her in bone-melting waves, centering somewhere deep inside her. “But...”

  His mouth was only inches from hers. “How can you look so beautiful this morning when you’ve barely slept a wink? Don’t you know how unfair that is?”

  Did he really think she was beautiful? She gave in to a moment of pleasure at the compliment before making another attempt to be strong. “Steve, this—”

  “I know my timing is lousy,” he cut in ruefully. “And I know you wish I would just shut up and leave you alone. But, damn it, Casey, I’m only human. And I’ve dreamed of this for so very long.”

  He smothered her mouth beneath his before sh
e could tell him that she did not want him to kiss her. And the lie evaporated from her mind, leaving only the stark truth behind. She wanted this kiss more than she wanted her next breath. She had been deluding herself, trying to believe otherwise.

  Apparently she hadn’t fooled Steve.

  With a little moan of mingled misgiving, desire and surrender, she lifted her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with a hunger that equaled his. She wasn’t kissing her business competitor this time, she thought dimly. Not the man who had taunted her and teased her and boldly stolen her customers. This kiss was for the man whose loyalty to his friends and employees surpassed his concern for his own well-being. The bachelor who had walked his floors with a tiny homeless baby. A man who was willing to risk so much just because a frightened young woman had asked for his help.

  It had been hard enough to resist Steve when she’d convinced herself that she didn’t like him. But now, after spending two days taking care of Annie with him, she could no longer pretend that she was immune.

  He wasn’t the only one who’d had fantasies since they’d met.

  Emboldened by her response, he pulled her closer, his hands sliding from her shoulders down her back to settle at her hips. His mouth softened and the kiss changed from challenging to enticing.

  Her lips parted, implicitly inviting him deeper. If she was going to throw away all caution, she might as well make it worth the risk, she figured. And when Steve claimed her mouth with a thoroughness that sent shock waves rippling all the way to her toes, she knew it was well worth whatever chance she was taking.

  He lifted his hands, thrust his fingers into her hair and cupped her face between his palms. “Casey,” he murmured, nibbling at her lips. “You’d better tell me to stop.”

  His hands weren’t quite steady, she realized in wonder. He wanted her so badly it made him tremble. Could he possibly seduce her more completely?

  “I don’t think I can,” she whispered.

  He kissed her again—lightly, then more lingeringly, then almost roughly. “Casey,” he muttered between kisses. “Darlin’, if you want me to go away, now’s the time to say so.”