Casanova In Training (17 page)

“I know where the fault lies, Gio. I’m the expert and I failed.” She shifted and sighed. “I have attempted to discern what went wrong.”

Something else was going on here. He slid closer so that their thighs touched. “What is it, Jaydee?” He witnessed her hesitation. “Trust me.”

“I based my report findings on the information I’d been given. But, after I’d finished, I found out what I had been told wasn’t accurate.”

“How so?” He frowned.

“Everything I did, all the tests I ran were based on the belief Commander Walker and Wicked had flown that day.”

Silence reigned and he scowled as anger grew in the pit of his belly. Anger that the death of his best friend possibly hadn’t been an accident and was being covered up. But for whom? He’d been the one scheduled to take the test flight and would have been there if not for his shoulder. Was it Lizard? Could he have set Sidewinder up? Surely not. Then who?

He shoved to his feet and swore a blue streak as he paced the hardwood floor of his bedroom in a meagre attempt to work off his excess energy.

“So…someone is lying about what happened.” He didn’t make it a question.

Gio went to his window and stared out into his backyard. He squeezed his eyes shut and Mike’s face flashed before him. His friend had always been upbeat and positive. And now…all that easy-going attitude and smooth charm was gone. Forever. Possibly snuffed out on purpose.

“God damn it!”

He punched the wall to his right, fist sinking into the drywall. The pain was welcomed. He struggled with the need to do it again. And again. Until all that remained was his own pain. Gio rested his head on the wall and took a deep breath. Eyes open, he stared out into the sunny morning. In the window’s reflection, he made out the woman sitting on the foot of his bed. Jaydee.

She made no noise and he couldn’t read her expression. He wiped the drywall dust off his hand and rotated towards her. Unsure of what he’d read in her eyes when he faced her, he was a bit hesitant. This was his second display of violence in front of her and he hated it. However, her gaze was guileless and straightforward.

“Do you realise what—” he broke off and shoved a hand over his short hair.

“I’m well aware of the implications.”

“Who’ve you told?” he demanded.

“About what?”

“Damn it! Don’t play games with me.”

“Playing games isn’t something I participate in.” Her chest rose and fell enticingly as she breathed. “I asked for clarification to ensure I didn’t give you the wrong information.”

“About your report.” He tried to calm himself, but it was an uphill battle all the way.

“Dr Thompson and Captain Fentress. I, however, finished that report based on the belief there’d been two pilots up there. I only acquired this new bit of news recently.”

“How?”

She did a quick scan of his room. “I asked Keel about where the other pilot was. He said Commander Walker had gone up alone.”

“Sidewinder,” he said without thought.

“I’m sorry?”

“Mike or Sidewinder. He wouldn’t want you calling him Commander.”

Dawning filled her eyes. “He was your friend.”

Pain lanced through him. “He was my best friend. We rented this place together. Christ, what if he died in my place? What if whatever happened was meant for me?” He made his way to his black chair and sank in it. Eyes closed, he fought for some composure.

Hands on his thighs brought his eyes open. Jaydee crouched before him. “I didn’t say this to make you feel worse, and I am sorry. This is on me.”

He could feel her personal devastation and taste her absolute belief in what she spoke.

“Come here, sweets.”

She pushed to her feet then settled across his lap, her head tucked beneath his chin. He held her tight against his chest.

“This isn’t your fault.”

“Nor is it yours.”

Since Mike’s death, Gio knew he’d blamed himself. If only he’d not injured his shoulder. If only… He sighed and closed his eyes, brushing his lips along the top of her head.

“Help me. Help me to discover the truth, Jaydee.”

“I will do what I can. I won’t be around much longer.”

He didn’t want to hear such things from her. Her presence had become so familiar to him, he loathed the thought of losing it.

“I have to know the truth.”

“Okay.”

Face to face, he gave her a sad yet grateful smile. When their lips met he realised, yet again, how lost he truly was. And how this woman seemed to turn his ‘lost’ status into ‘found’.

Chapter Eleven

Jaydee smoothed her hands down the yellow knee-length skirt and ensured her cobalt-blue shirt hadn’t got messed up on the ride over. With one final deep breath, she walked across the parking lot towards the entrance to the restaurant.

She glanced at her watch as she nodded to the man who held the door for her. One minute before the hour. She was on time. Amazing, really, considering Gio had not wanted to let her out of bed. Not that she’d minded all that much.

All day they’d spent in bed, reminiscent of the twenty-four hours she’d spent with him when they’d first met. He’d cooked for her and held her tight when she’d slept. However, when she’d told him she had to leave he’d not been exactly happy.

“You can’t possibly be jealous,” she said.

“Why not?”

“Because he is my father.”

Gio put his face close to hers and replied, “He can be seen in public with you. I can’t. You’re damn right I’m jealous.”

Unsure of how to respond, she’d showered, dressed, and left him. After promising to return.

So, now, she was meeting a man, who might technically be her flesh and blood, but with whom she’d never felt that familial bond. He sat at the bar and rose when he spied her. Apparently, he’d been watching the door.

“Good evening, Dr Thompson.” He wore loafers, slacks, and a nice dress shirt. His coat hung over his arm—as always, he was impeccable.

He placed a hand at the small of her back and guided her to a table, after the hostess had walked off. Once they were seated, she stared at him, waiting for why he had wanted to see her.

“I read your report.” She waited. “Very thorough.”

“Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet. Why no conclusion aside from the one you gave? Which we both know is a long-winded and fancy way of saying you don’t truly know.”

“I regret that that is true.”

The waitress arrived to take their order and talk ceased until she’d left them alone.

Dr Thompson placed his elbows on the table—a shock all on its own—and set his chin atop laced fingers. She watched him cautiously, but she truly ‘looked’ at him, assessing him. It had never been a secret he was her father, yet he’d always kept her at a bit of a distance. He treated her like anyone else who worked in his lab, demanding results. Perfection.

They weren’t a family who had meals together or shared holidays. In fact, her first celebrated Christmas, when she’d actually got a gift, had been the one she’d spent with Lexy and her family. Still, she’d had a roof over her head and food to eat, so she harboured no grudges against Dr Thompson.

Sitting here now, though, she was a bit suspicious. He’d never wanted to do two dinners with her before when she’d been on loan to Uncle Sam. His eyes appeared older. One side of his mouth twitched and he shook his head.

“You need to stop blaming yourself.”

She blinked. “It—”

“No. It was not your fault.” His tone was absolute and she nodded. “You need to remember how to separate personal feelings from fact. You can, you just need to.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, tell me about
your
two incidents.”

That knot in her belly formed again as she relived her fear of almost certain death. None of it showed on her face and she began with the most recent.

By the time the meal had finished, she felt emotionally overwhelmed. Lethargy seeped into her and her breathing became uneven. She took a deep inhalation in an attempt to calm herself.

Yes, she was thrilled to still be alive but she would be lying if she said she wasn’t worried. If…
if
there was someone out to kill or maim Gio she wanted to do whatever to save him. If it was just purely circumstantial about Mike’s plane, she needed to do her best to guarantee it never happened again. Not only for the lives of the pilots and their loved ones but also for the money. Each aircraft cost over two billion dollars to procure. Wouldn’t do for them to fall out of the sky like raindrops.

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked as he finished his final bit of pecan pie.

“Nothing,” she lied without remorse or inflection. “I was thinking about something Lexy said.”

Black brows converged as he scowled. “Humph.” He’d never liked Lexy. Considered her to be a waste of his time. But he’d never forbidden them from seeing each other. He just didn’t approve.

She and Lexy were like night and day. Lexy was exuberant and sexy, a consummate joker. A woman who rarely took anything seriously outside of her job. She loved life and it showed in everything she did. While, personally, Jaydee was far on the other end of the spectrum.

“Still associating with her.” It wasn’t a question. No, it was a statement, one laced with disappointment.

“She’s my friend.”

Her only female one. Even though she got along with Lexy’s brothers and she called them friends—brothers—they weren’t in the same vein as Lexy. There was no one else who didn’t seem to mind her odd behaviours, or the fact that she asked what others might perceive as rude questions. Lexy didn’t care.

What about Gio?

That thought made her heart go pitter-patter.

Dr Thompson grunted and gave his card to the waitress. Truth of the matter, Jaydee figured he didn’t actually mind so much. There had been some things he’d disapproved of and she no longer did them, or associated with those people. So the fact that all he did was grumble about Lexy, she took it as his approval. Or as much as she’d receive from him.

After returning his card to his wallet, he gave her a look that said, without actually saying a word, the time for them to leave had arrived. Without hesitation, she got to her feet while he did the same. Coat in his hand, he waited for her before ushering her to the door. As they trekked into the parking lot, he whispered a question to her.

“I’m not going to be assaulted again, am I?”

Startled, she jerked her head towards him. Did he jest? There was no way for her to know. “Assaulted?”

“By your Commander Cassano.”

She heard his wording. “He is not my commander, and I cannot believe he would strike at you again, even should he happen to show up.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” He walked her to her bike. “Then again, perhaps I am. And he is yours. Goodnight, Jaydee.” A simple nod and he went on his way.

The breath she took helped calm her wayward nerves. She felt a bit uneasy after his comment. If he suspected something between her and Gio, then perhaps so did Captain Fentress. That would not be good.

Helmet and vest on, she sat on her motorcycle for a short time before leaving the parking lot. She rode around for a while, unsure of what she should do. Getting Gio in trouble was the last thing she wished to do. She slowed down at the corner and realised where she’d gone. Gio’s. Turning on to his street, she drove slowly to his drive.

He sat out on the porch, feet propped up on the railing. The garage door sat open and she saw him rise and walk down the steps to meet her.

With familiar actions, she backed in carefully to park beside his car. Gio stepped in and strode towards her. His face was an unreadable mask. Uncertainty grew within her. He hit the light and pressed the button to lower the door. As it closed, she removed her helmet. She watched him, rolling her shoulders a bit to loosen them.

The sound of the door hitting the cement spurred him into action. In a second, she’d been drawn tight against him. His strong arms embraced her. Then he pulled back and covered her mouth with his in a passionate and possessive kiss.

She moaned and pressed closer. Her body aflame for him. There were no more thoughts of anything other than him. She twined her arms about his neck, arching into him. His large hands drifted down and cupped her cotton-covered ass, fingers lifting the skirt until he had skin on skin.

He thrust against her, his hard length rubbing teasingly against her needy core. Slickness coated her and she whimpered, sucking hard on his invading tongue.

She cursed mentally when he set her away from him. His eyes were liquid fire.

“How was dinner?” he asked in a gravelled tone.

She cocked her head to the side and bit back her instinctive retaliatory question. Surely, he hadn’t just kissed her like that only to talk. What would Lexy do? Strip and jump him. She, on the other hand, wasn’t that brave or forward.

“Fine, thank you.” She watched him from beneath lowered lids. “Did you eat?”

“Yes.”

Good. That was out of the way. She swayed towards him, noting how his nostrils flared and fists clenched. “Wonderful.”

Halting before him, she reached out and placed a hand on his chest. He backed away, only she pursued until the wall prevented him from further movement.

“We…we should talk,” he said, closing his eyes as her second hand joined the first.

“Can’t you multi-task?” She untucked his shirt and stared at his Adam’s apple as it bobbed. “I was positive you could.”

“Sweets,” he groaned.

She moved on to the button for his jeans. He grabbed her hand when she began lowering the zipper. Dragging her tongue along her lower lip, she met his gaze. Time to channel her inner Lexy.

“I’m horny, wearing a thong under this skirt, and I really want your cock buried fully in me.” A slight, disappointed sigh. “But you want to talk. Fine, let’s talk.” She stepped away from him, tugged her skirt back down so it covered her completely, and turned to the door leading to the kitchen.

She never made it. Gio had her back against the cool wall, panties ripped off, and his mouth hungrily devouring hers while he pounded fast and deep inside her. They barely left the bed for the remainder of their weekend.