Chapter Four
Wow. He wasn’t afraid to put it all out there.
Coming from a family with military men herself, she’d known a heck of a lot of service men over her years, and none of them had acted so carefree and seductive. They’d been harsh. Serious. Not like Cooper. He was so delightful that she wanted nothing more than to let him have his way with her.
He was so handsome. She couldn’t resist thinking how explosive they could be together. Numerous times. Numerous ways. On the bed, kneeling in front of the couch, bent over the kitchen table, maybe even on the airplane…
No. She was not joining the mile-high club.
Giving herself a slight shake, she picked up her drink and gulped it down. “So you want me to use you, huh?”
He eyed her as he took a sip of his cocktail. As he moved the cup away from his mouth, he licked the moisture off his lips. She couldn’t look away. He said, “Are you talking about asking me questions, or using me in a different way? Either way, the answer is yes.”
She was tempted to do both. This had short-term written all over it, and that’s how she liked her relationships. Short and sweet. “I think we’ll start with questions for now.”
He shrugged a shoulder. “Suit yourself.”
She studied him. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine. I graduated college from University of Maine and then a few years later joined the Marines at my father’s urging. You?”
“Twenty-seven.” She pointed a finger at him. “But this is about you. Not me. Are your parents still married?”
“Yes, very happily so.”
“Was your father in the military, too?”
“Yes, he was a career officer, and he hasn’t stopped reminding me of that since I decided not to reenlist.” Twisting his lips sardonically, he raised his glass to her. “The captain didn’t approve of his only son deciding the military wasn’t for him. After being under his thumb all my life, the military wasn’t much of a challenge.”
She nodded. “Why did you decide to get out of the Marines?”
He tensed. “I don’t want to talk about that. Anything but that.”
“Okay.” She might be dying to know what brought the hardness to his voice, but she knew when to back off. “What does your father think of your new job?”
He scoffed. “He thinks I’m wasting my time. He owns a company for former military operatives. A private security detail. And he wanted me—”
“To run it.” The puzzle that was Cooper rapidly came together. He didn’t seem like the type to accept things being handed to him. And he didn’t strike her as kind of guy who would take the easy way out. She appreciated that in a man. “I’m guessing you’re not interested?”
“Nope.” He tossed back the remains of his drink and set the glass down. Clearly he didn’t like the topic. “I’m not taking the position because I’m his son and a shoo-in. That’s not fair to anyone. If I take a job, it’s because I’ve proven myself to be the best candidate. No other reason.”
So, she’d been right. Kayla took a sip of her drink and sat back. “What’s your biggest fear?”
“Failure.” He tightened his fists and looked down at his lap. “In particular, failure that will result in a loss of life.”
She studied his lowered head, reached out and rested her hand on his knee. “Did you lose someone in the war that was close to you? A squad member, perhaps?”
He chuckled and tugged on a piece of her hair, making her stomach tighten. Such a simple gesture, but its effects were staggering. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. But this topic is closed, sweetheart.”
“Fine.” She withdrew her hand. “Then give me the biggest fear besides the one I’m not allowed to ask about?”
He leaned in closer. “It’s a good fear. Humiliating, even. But it’ll cost you.”
“What’s the price?”
“A kiss,” he whispered.
Ha. She would’ve done that for nothing. “People will see.”
“It’s not like we haven’t done that already. Besides, no one’s watching us.” He gestured at the other passengers. He was right. Most of them were sleeping or reading. No one was even remotely interested in the two of them. “Just one little kiss…”
Reaching out, she touched his hair. It was as soft as it looked, even though she’d first thought he had to use a whole can of hairspray to get it to fall so perfectly into place. No, he seemed to be naturally lucky with his hair. His face. His body. Everything, really.
She sighed, as if he was asking a lot of her. Let him stew on that. “Fine.”
Grabbing on to his shoulders, she melded her lips against his, kissing him with all of the pent up frustration and need coursing through her veins.
For the next few days, she’d have to be the Kayla Moriarity that her whole family thought she was. The girl they all thought hadn’t grown up yet. Tonight, on the plane with Cooper, would be all about her. The real her.
He trailed his fingers lightly over her shoulder. When his hands closed around her sides, his grip so close to her breasts, she arched her back in invitation. He seemed to get the hint. He lifted the blanket up over their shoulders and then closed his palms over her completely.
They broke apart when someone coughed. He slid his hands away from her, and the blanket fell back to their laps. Kayla scanned the passengers, looking for any signs that they knew the two people in the back row were this close to getting it on.
No one was watching. Unbelievable.
She took a shaky breath and met his eyes. The way they blazed back at her almost broke her resolve to not strip naked here and now. “I think I more than earned your secret, didn’t I?”
“Hot damn.” He dropped his head back against the plane seat. Dragging his hand down his face, he shot her a disgruntled look and adjusted his position on the seat. She totally wanted to peek under the blanket and see how hard he was right now. “My secret is I’m terrified of public speaking. When I get up in front of a crowd of people, or someone hands me a microphone, I panic. And I’m not talking about babbling like a fool or anything. I just stand there. Not moving. Not talking. Nothing.”
She hadn’t expected that. To think he was scared of anything seemed ludicrous, but of speaking? The man had a natural charm that drew her in—certainly it worked on other people. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “One time at a Marine Corps Ball, they decided I should give a speech for the commander. I have a feeling my buddies had something to do with that, though they denied it.” He twisted his lips, his cheeks turning a little bit red. “One second, I’m sipping my drink and flirting with my date, the next they’re announcing my name and calling me up to the stage. I didn’t make a single intelligible peep, and I might have trembled under the spotlight, too. It was horrible. Needless to say, I went home alone that night.”
“Oh, man.” She covered her mouth with her hands to hide her grin. “That’s just wrong. I would’ve still gone home with you.”
He looked at her in surprise. “You would have?”
She nodded. “Totally. I like seeing weakness in men. It makes them more approachable.”
He gently ran his fingers through her curls, and tingles shot through her body. He seemed to like touching her hair, and she liked him playing with it. “I also suck at dancing. I tend to avoid it with a cold, bad-boy demeanor, but the truth is I’m horrible at it. Sometimes, I wish I could dance.”
“If there was room on this plane, I could help you with that. I happen to be an excellent dancer. My mom enrolled us in classes as kids.”
“Too bad we won’t see each other again. I’d take you up on that offer.”
She frowned and looked out the window. “Maybe I could show you after the flight lands? A quickie in the parking lot?”
His lips curved upwards and he dropped her hair. “I think your definition of quickie differs from mine.”
She met his eyes. “Are you so sure about that?”
“Kayla…” The smile faded away, and he cupped her cheek. “We could keep this easy or.” His hand tightened on her. “We can make this a night to remember. Your choice.”
Her heart sped up, and she looked away from him. “How long have you been single?”
“I refuse to be in a relationship when I deploy, and I’ve been deploying every year. So, suffice it to say I’ve been single for some time now. What about you?”
“I haven’t had, or wanted, a boyfriend in a ridiculously long time.”
“How long?
“Since college.” She fidgeted with her skirt some more, not looking up at him. “I’ve had a few meaningless encounters—friends with benefits—but no real relationships. But it’s by choice.”
“Why is that?”
“I really don’t believe in the institute of marriage being the thing that makes a woman whole. My old-fashioned family seems to think the only way I can be happy is if I have a man holding me up. Why should I encourage their limited views of the world by settling down with a guy who fits the part? You know, I saw so many childhood friends marry the first guy who came along just to have that ‘special day.’ But every day is my special day. I’m happy on my own.” She looked out the window. There was another reason she wasn’t being honest about. She might as well give him the whole answer since she’d told him everything else about herself minus her freaking bra size. “Plus, there’s the whole issue of love.”
He shifted his weight. “Meaning?”
“Well, I haven’t fallen in love yet—not like everyone else I know has. Not even close.” She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin defiantly. “I’m beginning to wonder if I ever will, thus the reason I’m focusing more on myself at this point in my life. I don’t think I’m a good fit with the emotion. It requires too much blind trust and warm gushy feelings, while I prefer logic and cold calculations.”
“Yeah, that much is true. It’s hard to let go like that.” He snorted. “But you don’t actually not believe in love, right? I mean, you know it’s real.”
“It’s not that I don’t believe in it, per se. It’s just that I haven’t been given a reason to think it’ll happen to me, is all.” She shrugged and tried to come up with a way to express exactly what she meant. “I’ve seen people fall in love, and I’ve seen people change for love. But I haven’t done it. I haven’t felt it. Maybe it’s real, but it’s just not real for me.”
He shook his head. “I find it hard to believe a woman like you will never find love. You’re kind, funny, and charming. Basically, you’re the perfect catch.” He reached out and covered her hand with his, squeezing gently. “If there’s no hope for you, then how do the rest of us stand a chance in hell at a happy ending?”
“Who said I’m not happy now? It’s not like I’m on a one-way ride to miserable Spinsterville.” Her lips quirked at the corners.
He laughed. “Touché. Besides, I doubt a woman as amazing as you could ever find a man who deserved you. He doesn’t exist.”
“Oh really?”
“Really.” His dimple flashed and Kayla melted. “You’re incomparable.”
While she wasn’t unhappy with her life, she was certainly happier now that she’d met him. Without thinking, she wrapped her hands around the back of his neck and brought his mouth to hers, kissing him gently. That was such a sweet thing to say that she couldn’t resist him anymore. Yeah, it pretty much sealed the deal in her eyes.
She was going home with him tonight.