by Michele Hauf
She’d never imagined such luxury and doubted she would’ve believed it possible if she hadn’t seen it for herself. She was Alice, and she’d fallen down the rabbit hole. Sam flipped a switch and the tarmac beneath them appeared on the screen.
“There are cameras mounted below that let you see exactly what’s under you. I think you’ll enjoy them, especially when we go down into the canyon.”
He turned away from her and busied himself with the picnic basket he’d placed beside the bar.
“Wow. Who travels like this?” She ran her hand along the smooth leather.
“Company executives, oil barons, movie stars—the rich and famous. The company acquired it three years ago. It provides the CEO with an office in the air for hard-to-reach places. It’s been used in rescue situations, too. Like it?”
“Like it? What’s not to like? The only things it needs are a bathroom and bedroom, and someone could easily live in it. It’s more luxurious than my own living room.”
He chuckled. “Ask and ye shall receive. There’s a chemical toilet behind you in the baggage compartment. The boss occasionally has to fly into some fairly remote, desolate areas. Since maximum flying time is five hours, it’s rarely used. As for beds …” He flipped a switch on the side of her chair, and the recliner flattened out. “It’s quite comfy. I’ve managed to grab a couple of hours of shut-eye myself. Maybe we can test it out later. We can work on our own version of the Mile High Club.”
Cleo looked away. She knew the Mile High Club referred to those who managed to have sex in airplanes, although how such a thing was possible on commercial flights boggled the mind. In her mind’s eye, she saw him naked over a woman, and desire filled her. She wanted to be that woman more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life.
Need must have shown on her face because Sam released her seat belt and pulled her into his arms. His mouth captured hers and desire flamed within her. Unlike last night’s kisses, there was a hungry urgency to this one. His tongue moved along her lips, seeking admission to her mouth, and when she willingly opened to him, it was as if a starving man were being fed for the first time. The long kiss was intoxicating, and in their need he dragged wave after wave of emotion from her, leaving her weak and wanting everything he promised. She moaned, and the sound of the cabin phone ringing startled them apart.
Sam reluctantly released her and picked up the handset.
“Yes, Matt?”
Like hers, Sam’s breathing was ragged and there was frustration in his voice. He listened for a moment. “Whenever you’re ready.” He hung up the phone and turned to her.
He seemed to have pulled himself together, while she was still a quivering mass of overstimulated nerve endings. He restored the chair to a sitting position, and smiled at her, his eyes promising that what had just happened between them wasn’t over.
“Sit here. You’ll have the best view as we fly over the city and approach the dam. You can change places once we’re in the air. The ride is amazingly smooth.”
Cleo fought a losing battle to return to normal. Her heart pounded so hard, it must surely show. Last night’s first kiss had stunned her, the second had left her confused, but this one clearly spoke of his need and desire for her. What she couldn’t understand was how he could sit there and behave as if nothing had happened.
He’d run his fingers through his hair, messing it, and reminding her of an adorable little boy. Her fingers itched to do the same. She’d heard the irritation in his voice when he’d answered the phone, but now he seemed cool, calm, and collected. Was this the way the rich and famous behaved? As if the fact that the Earth had changed orbits made no difference at all?
“Who owns this? Are you sure it’s okay for us to use it like this?” She strived for a normal tone of voice, trying to be blasé, but knew she’d failed miserably.
Not daring to mention the incredible kiss since she wasn’t sure her heart could take it if he said anything to shatter her perception of how wonderful it had been, she avoided commenting on the Mile High Club idea, but if he suggested it again, she’d be out of her clothes in a second.
“The chopper belongs to LJS Enterprises. It’s a real estate development company with interests all over the world. The owner’s a friend of the family. Do you like it?”
“Is he the one who owns the car, too?”
Sam nodded, and Cleo was grateful that he didn’t seem aware of how aroused she still was.
“I’m glad he’s letting us use it today. You’re really lucky to have a friend like that. Not many people do. Mitch and I have been friends since kindergarten. She’d do anything for me, just as I would for her.”
She refastened her seat belt while Sam busied himself at the bar in front of her.
“Will we be able to speak while we’re in the air or will it be too noisy?”
“You can talk normally. If you have a question I can’t answer, you can ask Matt, using the phone on the wall beside you. The cabin is soundproof, so you won’t hear any engine sounds. The rotors are spinning now, see?”
He indicated the shadow outside the window.
“How fast does this travel?” She was as full of questions as her class had been on their fieldtrip last month.
“It can maintain a speed of one hundred and ninety-three miles an hour for about five hours. We’ve got a full tank of gas, but we’ll gas up at least once. Consider this your magic carpet for the day. I want to be the genie who grants your every wish.”
She saw the heat smoldering in his eyes. He turned back to the bar, and she heard the pop of a cork. A few moments later, Sam handed her a mimosa.
“Here’s to a magical day, princess.”
He clinked his glass against hers and sat down in the lounger beside her. He sipped his drink, never taking his heated gaze off of her.
“To a memorable day.” And night, she added silently and sipped her drink. She was so excited, she tingled. There was no way she could act as if what was happening didn’t thrill her. This was her once-upon-a-time moment. There was no going back now.
Sam observed the wonder and excitement on Cleo’s face as she peered out the window at the earth below. How many times had he sat in this chair and not cared what was happening around him? Seeing her joy brought back the pleasure he’d had when he’d first bought this fourteen million dollar aircraft. It had been an extravagant purchase, but he’d needed a flying office, one capable of landing almost anywhere, and this fit the bill. Today was the first time he was using the craft for pleasure, and he realized he’d get as much fun out of it as she would.
Cleo turned from the window and watched the screen. Her tawny eyes glowed with delight, and he warmed to know he was the one making her happy. He’d been a selfish bastard lately, putting his wants and needs above others. He hadn’t taken time to realize how his single-minded work schedule—seven days a week, month after month—affected his staff, the people he’d come to rely on. Matt had been so grateful for the next couple of days off, Sam had been embarrassed. How could he have forgotten the man had a new baby at home? Of course he’d want to spend time with his family. Sam had forgotten how to be nice to others—he’d forgotten how good it felt to do the right thing. Regardless of what came after this weekend, he’d do his best not to forget that again. He thought of Liz’s comment on the phone. Lena had hurt him, but the damage shouldn’t be permanent. “Well, what do you think?”
She’d turned back to the window, her nose pressed against the glass like a child, and he chuckled.
“It’s amazing. Thank you so much, Sam, for giving me this experience. Look! That’s our hotel over there.”
Her enthusiasm was infectious. Sam flipped up the arm on her chair, unbuckled her seat belt, and nudged her to move over a bit so he could sit in the same chair with her.
“It’s behind us now. You’re missing an incredible view.” Her voice was animated and she turned away from the window to smile at him.
“From where I sit, the view is just grea
t.”
He put his arm around her, snuggled her into him and unlocked the swivel mechanism on the chair, turning it to face the window. “How’s this?”
“It’s great. Look, I can see Hoover Dam.” She pointed into the distance. “I thought it was much farther away.”
“It’s thirty-two miles by car, about forty minutes, but because we can go cross-country, it’s only ten minutes away at this speed. Matt’s going to land over near the dam. He radioed for permission earlier this morning, so you should be able to see everything and take all the pictures your heart desires. We can’t stay long though.”
“Okay. I’ve read a lot about the dam, and I’ve seen pictures, but it’s not the same. Did you see Vegas Vacation? Do you remember the scene where they visited this place?”
“I did, and I do.” He laughed. “Let me guess. You want to take some dam pictures. Honey, you can take all the dam pictures you want, and you don’t need a tour guide’s permission either.”
They laughed at the shared joke, and Sam let out a contented sigh. How could he let her walk away from him on Monday? He didn’t want to give this up. She’d made him remember there was still magic in the everyday moments. The helicopter settled on the ground once more.
“You can get out any time.” Matt had opened the door between the cockpit and the cabin. “We have an hour landing clearance before the next heli-tour comes in. Will that be enough time?”
“That should be fine, Matt. We’ll be back in fifty minutes.”
Sam offered his hand to Cleo, who still sat in the chair.
“I didn’t even feel us land.” She giggled. “I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this.”
Cleo finished the last of her mimosa and stood. Sam held out his hand and escorted her to the cabin door. He stepped out and put his hands on her waist to lift her down.
“You didn’t have to do that. I could have jumped. It’s barely a foot and a half.”
“I know, but then I wouldn’t have had the chance to do this.”
He bent his head and kissed her again, just a sweet, tender brush of his lips against hers but enough to enflame him. When he made love to her for the first time, he hoped it would be in a bed with all the time in the world, but if she continued to look as delectable as she did, it might well be in a helicopter recliner flying over the canyon. He put her down and pulled away from her.
“Come on. Time’s ticking. Let’s go see everything there is to see about the world-famous Hoover Dam,” she said, taking his hand in hers.
Sam followed for the next half hour while she roamed the area, her camera firmly in hand. Occasionally, he’d fill in a fact or two about something that caught her interest. “Do you want to go and see the visitor center? There are lots of pictures and things, or do you want to wait for another time when we can drive over?” he asked.
She didn’t answer right away, and he wondered what he’d said that had upset her. “We can stay longer if you like, I don’t want to rush you.”
Cleo turned to look at him. For the first time, her smile looked false. “No, like you say, let’s save that for another day.” Her voice was husky, and he frowned.
“Just as well—since 9 11, it takes forever to get inside because of security. Matt managed to get us landing clearance because he comes here frequently.”
Of course, he couldn’t mention that he was working on the solar farm in conjunction with the Hoover Dam Authorities, or that some of his engineers were looking at ways to access underground aquifers to increase the volume of Lake Mead. Chippendale dancers didn’t moonlight as CEOs, and he wasn’t ready to tell her the truth just yet. He would have to soon, but he was afraid his hasty lie last night might cause a rift between them. Could he keep this secret until he returned from Wales?
She moved away from him to take more pictures. An elderly couple approached her, and when she took their camera, he realized they’d asked her to snap their photo. He watched her take a few shots of the two. What would it be like to grow old with her? When she finished her quick conversation with the strangers, she walked back to him, a wistful smile on her beautiful face. Even in sunglasses, she’d make a lousy poker player. Her emotions were always on the surface where anyone could see them.
“This is their second honeymoon. They’ve been together fifty years.”
There was a longing in her voice almost as if she never expected to find a long-lasting love like that. She turned and stared out at Lake Mead. Sam put his arms around her and pulled her close. He went back into his tour guide mode, as she’d called it, hoping to diffuse the melancholy he sensed in her.
“You know, Lake Mead isn’t anywhere near as full as it should be. The lower water level affects the amount of power the plant can produce. A couple of years ago, they had to move some of the marinas because the water was so low, the boats were sitting on the sand. Do you see that white rim? They call it the bathtub ring. It shouldn’t be visible. Some days, the water’s so low you can see what appear to be islands in the reservoir.”
“That’s awful. What’s going to happen?”
“LJS Enterprises is working with the state government to find a solution. As much as I’d love to show you more, we’ve got to go. We’ll come back in the fall when the weather’s cooler. We can bring a lunch and picnic on the lakeshore.”
She smiled, still a little sadly he thought, and nodded. “You’re the boss. But can I just get another picture of you?”
“No.” Sam stopped the man walking beside him.
“Can you take a picture of us?” He handed him the camera and walked over to Cleo, removed her hat and sunglasses, bent down, and kissed her nose. “Smile pretty.”
He removed his own glasses. “Take three or four in case one doesn’t turn out.” As if any pictures of her wouldn’t be perfect.
As soon as the man had taken the photographs, Sam handed him his cellphone. “Can you take one with this? I want a picture right away.”
The stranger laughed. “If she were mine, buddy, I would want a picture, too.”
Cleo blushed again and he thanked the man.
“Come on. Time’s up, and there are still all kinds of things I want to show you today.”
He led her back to the chopper where Matt stood talking to one of the other pilots who’d landed.
“How did you like that?” Matt asked as they approached.
“It’s fascinating. I didn’t get to see everything I’d hoped to see, but I’ll definitely come back again.”
Her answer struck a nerve. It sounded to him as if she were planning to come back alone, although he’d mentioned returning later in the year. Was that why she was subdued? Did she believe the weekend was all they’d ever have? He couldn’t let that happen, especially when he desperately wanted to get to know her and give this attraction between them a chance to grow. But unless he was willing to tell her the truth, that might be impossible. If he told her too soon, he might never know whether it was himself or his money that had kept her by his side.
The helicopter rose into the air once more and Cleo sat back to admire the scenery all around her. For a moment back at the dam, she’d played what-if, but impossible dreams were for children. Sam had suggested coming back in the fall, and it had been hard to keep the sadness off her face to answer him. He’d been quiet since they’d gotten back in the air, as if something was bothering him. She was a lousy liar, so maybe he’d seen through her false smile. She sipped the ice-filled champagne spritzer he’d just given her and was searching for something to say to lighten his mood when the phone rang.
“Yeah, Matt.” Sam answered. “What’s up?”
Cleo observed the play of emotions on his handsome face. Whatever news he was getting concerned him. Maybe this was what had him so preoccupied.
“Keep an ear open. Let me know when you get an update … Yeah, I know. Thanks.” He hung up.
“Is something wrong?” she asked when he joined her in the chair.
“Not really, at least I
hope not. When we got back, Matt mentioned some of the other chopper pilots at the dam had heard there was bad weather brewing. I asked him to check with the weather service. There are severe storm cells building in the mountains to the west, but we’ll be fine. We’re flying east to Hualapai Reservation and the Skywalk. We might have to adjust our plans for later. Desert storms can be deadly. We’ll see.” He put his arm around her. “Now, I want to know everything there is to know about Cleopatra Jones. How about a game of Twenty Questions?”
Cleo laughed softly, trying to keep her concern hidden and praying she was relaxed enough to keep the adrenaline rush that colored her skin at bay. She blushed when she was embarrassed, when she lied, when she was aroused—maybe that surgery wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Okay, but for every question you ask, I get to ask one too.”
“That’s only fair. Let’s start with the easy ones. Favorite color?”
“Yellow. It reminds me of the sun. You?”
“As of yesterday, green. Before that I would’ve said orange, but I didn’t really have a reason. I just liked it, but green—especially a particular green skinned Orion woman is my favorite.” He winked. My tune. “Favorite food?”
“Just about everything, but cheesecake—any flavor—has always been my weakness. Last night’s was superb and has probably ruined me for any other. Your turn.”
“Steak, rare, cooked on the grill. What won’t you eat?”
“That’s easy—raw oysters. Let’s just say the texture gets in the way of my enjoyment. What won’t you order?”
Sam made a face, a look of absolute horror that made Cleo giggle. “Liver and other organ meats. There’s just something about them.”
