Coffee and Cockpits (14 page)

“Nina?” Liam appeared behind Nikolai’s shoulder with Captain Anderson. They were both in casual gear: t-shirts and shorts, and looked ready for a beer.

Oh crap on holy fire.

“Liam,” I stuttered.

He gave me a tight smile, but his eyes zeroed in on Nikolai. “Nik. I thought you were working tonight.”

They
knew
each other?

Nikolai gave me a look. His eyebrows knitted together as he tensed. “I was going to, but Mack advised it would take longer than they thought to move the wreck. So, I caught a cab.” He smiled, tipping his head. “Evening, Anderson.”

The Captain grunted. His skin was taut and green eyes wish-washy. “Glad to see the engineering department is already on it. I’ll be interested in reading the report.” He focused his attention back to his co-pilot. “We gonna get that beer, Mikin?”

I swear Anderson wobbled a little. My eyes narrowed. Should I call the hotel doctor?

Liam had trouble wrenching his gaze off mine. “Uh, yes.” Life came back into his face and he nodded hard. “Definitely. Dying for a beer.” Shaking Nikolai’s hand, he added, “See ya around, Nik. Have to have that drink another time, seeing as you’ve got company.”

Nikolai didn’t have the grace to look embarrassed, but I sure did. Heat scorched my cheeks as Nikolai muttered, “Sure, another time.”

Liam frowned. “Yeah, fine.” His eyes fluttered to mine, but he spoke to Nikolai. “Just out of curiosity, how do you know Nina?”

I gulped. Wonderful. I’d come across like a slut if Nikolai told him we’d only met twice, and half of that we’d been bumping and grinding.
Stop blushing.

When Nikolai just shrugged, Liam looked hard at me. “Nina. Can I have a word with you, please?” There was sweet sincerity all over his face. The only problem was, I could see past his ruse. He was anything but serene; his jaw clenched, hands curled.

I didn’t know what to do. I retaliated, “Should you be having a beer with your head injury?”

Anderson’s gaze whipped to Liam. “You didn’t tell me you were hurt.” His voice wasn’t the usual firm pilot I knew. There was something definitely not right with him.

Liam shot me an angry scowl. “It’s nothing. A bump. That’s all.”

I stood, unable to stand the tension between Liam and Nikolai. I refused to be in the middle of a man sandwich, believing they had a claim on me. Plus, I couldn’t fathom dancing in front of Liam. “Right, well, I’m tired. I’m leaving.”

Nikolai raised his eyebrow; disappointment clouded his eyes. “You sure you have to go?”

Liam straightened, sucking all my awareness into his vicinity. How did he do that? How did every part of my body turn into crackles of lightning, full of electric tingles and jagged white power when he was near?

I sighed, forcing myself not to look at Liam. “Yes. It’s been a long day. Sorry.”

Nikolai swiped a hand through his hair, sending musky body spray my way. “I understand. Shall I meet you here, same time tomorrow?”

Before I had time to filter my answer, which I really should’ve done with the way Liam glared at me, I said, “Absolutely.”

A
bsolutely?    

She said
absolutely
to his request to dance? And not just any dance, but sex-on-legs Salsa stuff. Just the thought of her in Nikolai’s arms threatened my temper, and all those hours pumping weights would come in handy when I slugged him in the jaw.

Shit, perhaps all my feelings for her would die a fiery death and never need to be voiced. Had she been dating Nik? How did I not know that? It wasn’t like the airline industry was gossip-free. Joslyn would’ve told me if she was with someone, wouldn’t she?

My eyes shot wide as Nina gave us both a tight smile and disappeared into the lantern lit night.

I glared after her. I only looked away because Anderson’s hand connected with my shoulder. “Beer then?”

Drowning my confusion sounded like a hell of a good idea. Today was a day I’d like to forget. First crash landing, then finding out the girl I’d been crushing after was interested in another guy. A guy who was good looking, intelligent. A guy who’d shattered my reason for living ten years ago. An irrational amount of insecurity weakened me around Nikolai.

All reason and common sense flew out of my dinged up head. All I knew was I hoped she was happy; as I couldn’t compete with him. She deserved someone who made her laugh and shared her life completely. Nik was one step closer than me with his fancy feet ‘cause Nina obviously enjoyed dancing with him.

And she was good.

Watching her in his arms had been like watching a butterfly flicker and dip between flowers. Effortless, weightless—perfect. She deserved perfect and I had two left feet. Music and me—people got hurt by my bad rhythm and dance moves.

Nikolai watched me with unreadable eyes as Anderson guided me to a table across the dance floor. His searing gaze and silent male possessiveness chased me with every step. I looked over my shoulder. Nik gave me a nod, drank some water, and left in the same direction as Nina.

Dammit.

My hands clenched. All manner of suspicions ran rampant. Was he chasing after her? Which fale was he staying in? It better not be next to Nina. So help me, I’d camp out on her balcony to keep him away.

I sighed. I didn’t really have the right to be territorial. Nina had no inkling of what I felt. And that was my own stupid fault.
But you could tell her…
A plan unravelled at supersonic speed in my head:
Nina doesn’t know.
Even though I wanted to keep my stalkerish behaviour in the dimmest corner of my ‘not to mention’ lockbox, if I told her—it might help her make a decision—if she wasn’t already with Nikolai.

Anderson’s raspy voice dragged me from my thoughts. “You know what you want?” He motioned to the busboy who’d come to wait on us.

“Can I take your order?” The waiter smiled, his tanned skin glowing in the restaurant lights.

I knew what I wanted, but I doubted Nina was on the menu.

Anderson nodded, requesting a pizza to share and two cold ones. The thought of beer was a welcome relief after the hot and sweaty few hours we’d endured. Who’d of thought landing in such a blissful climate with sparkling turquoise oceans and twenty-four carat gold sand would be so traumatic.

The busboy jotted our order down and returned five minutes later with our sweating pints of local brew, placing them along with some nut mix on the table.

Anderson stared into the amber liquid, before raising it in a toast. “Here’s to surviving.”

We clinked glasses. Life was a worthwhile cause to toast to. I wasn’t going to let anything or anyone get in the way of what I wanted anymore. The crash was the alarm clock beeping annoyingly in my ear. Life was too short not to chase my dreams. And I’d waited long enough.

“What do you think caused us to malfunction?” I asked, after taking a long pull of delicious nectar.

Anderson didn’t answer. He remained mesmerized by the alcoholic liquid.

Okay… perhaps he didn’t want to talk about it. I was over it, too. New subject.

“Do you think the War Birds over Wanaka will have any new WWII aircraft this year?” The aero show was hosted every year, and never failed to start heated discussions over which plane we thought was best. Anderson preferred the Mustang. I favoured the Spitfire.

Still no response.

Anderson sat swaying a little, gazing into his half-drunk beer. He slouched over, looking like a deflated blow-up doll. 

“Hey, you okay, John?” I never used his first name. But my veins grew sluggish with anxiety. I reached out and touched the top of his freckle-dusted hand. “Captain?”

He looked up, eyes flaring wide, startled out of whatever daydream he was in. “Yes, sure. Fine. Just tired is all.”

I didn’t argue, but it didn’t mean I believed him. If Samantha suffered PTSD, I might have to get Anderson checked too. I didn’t like the thought of them travelling on their own. Maybe someone should chaperone? But then that meant either myself, Nina, or Joslyn had to leave. There was no way I wanted Nina to go, and I wanted Jos to stay as she deserved the break.

I scowled. Pity I couldn’t order Nikolai to take them home. That would solve both my problems: the crew who suffered shock would be cared for, and it would get him the hell off this island and away from the girl I wanted.

Our pizza arrived and we munched in silence. I couldn’t keep up with the pace Anderson devoured. His half was demolished in the time it took me to savour two slices. I didn’t want to inhale my food. My taste buds fired with higher sensitivity than normal, and I relished in the saltiness of salami and tang of tomato. I’d never stopped to appreciate the little things, but after the brush today, well, I was going to start paying more attention.

 Anderson wasn’t in the mood to chinwag through dinner, so I let him be. My thoughts turned inward again as I mentally prepared the things I’d have to do tomorrow. After I’d taken care of the flight home for Sam and the captain, I’d go on the hunt for Nina. Hopefully there was another airline operating and Kiwi Air would reimburse them the fare.

I cringed a little at my stupidity for using supercalifragilisticexpialidocious this afternoon. I’m sure she must’ve thought I was an idiot. It was nice to make her laugh, though. To see her eyes sparkle after the trauma we’d all been through.

My heart swelled when she’d taken my handkerchief. Knowing she cared enough to worry about my bloody head was the cinch in the armour I’d been looking for. The same armour she wore from the beginning. Every day since I’d seen her clambering out of the Tomahawk aircraft after her flying lesson with Theo six months ago, I’d been waiting for a fracture in her aloofness. She’d been so beautiful that day. Glowing with life, the sun framing her bronze hair, and an old bomber jacket slung over her shoulders. In that snapshot of residual happiness from flying, I saw the woman I wanted to be with.

I hadn’t glimpsed that look again—the bubbling joy untethering her from whatever rules she lived by—till today with my stupid comment.

If I viewed the crash as a second chance at life, maybe she thought the same way.

“You did good today, Mikin. I’m proud of you.” Anderson spoke, his eyes clear and sharp instead of the muddy, glassy look throughout dinner.

“That means a lot, thanks.” I smiled, slapping him on his shoulder. “You sure you okay? Do you want to talk about it?” Wasn’t that what doctors recommended? To talk it out?

He shook his head. “Nope. I’m good. Just happy to be alive.”

“Isn’t that the truth.”

Tomorrow a whole new world would unravel for me—starting with being truthful with Nina and making my second chance at life absolutely perfect.

I
was first at the breakfast table and fidgeted with nerves at the thought of seeing Liam after the uncomfortable run-in last night. I had no clue how he and Nikolai knew each other. Not that Liam had any right to look at me as if he had some sort of claim over me.

It was a recipe for complication—two men and a paradisiacal island. I wanted to stay true to my promise of living life to its fullest, but not if it meant looking like a skank. Flirting with Liam and dancing with Nikolai. It wasn’t right. It didn’t
feel
right. Which was stupid since I’d made no declarations—to either of them. 

“Morning, Nina.” Joslyn arrived first. Her make-up was non-existent, her eyes bright enough to be mistaken for emeralds.

“How are you?” I asked, scooting down the booth to give her room to wiggle in.

“Okay. I popped one of those natural sleeping remedy thingies and was out like a light. I guess the trauma of almost dying was enough to make me sleep like a corpse.”

I rolled my eyes. “We didn’t almost die, Jos. We skidded down some tarmac and slid down a slide. No biggie.” I still had trouble with how lucky we were. It could’ve been so much worse.

Her mouth dropped open in mock horror. “How can you say that,
Miss
Poppins? We very narrowly escaped a catastrophe. I might’ve broken my neck and never flown again.” She held up her wrists with a few skin-coloured bandaids. She looked like a patchwork doll who’d decided to try and commit sloppy suicide. “All I have to show for being in a crash is scraped skin and a few bruised ribs.”