“We’ve also got a small, grass strip out behind the barns that I keep mowed, although I don’t know why.” Guy scratched his head.
Oh, yes, hewasgoing there.
“You have an airstrip?” Jett responded incredulously while studiously avoiding Trask’s gaze.
“Uh, uh. Once upon a time, a long time ago, our son Julian was obsessed with flying. He earned his pilot’s license at the age of fifteen, and bought an old tail-dragger with money he squirreled away, and with some generous help from my parents. We couldn’t keep him out of the air.” Guy chuckled. “And now look at him. Fifteen years in the Air Force.”
Trask knew that Jett could relate as Guy continued.
“If you want to keep your plane here, it won’t be a hardship, because Julian’s old aircraft is long gone. And I’m sure we canget your baby indoors during bad weather if we move the ultra-lights he hasn’t used in years out of the big shed.”
Jett’s face was wreathed in smiles, while panic seized Trask’s chest.
How was he going to deal with this? He’d thought that he and Jett would have one night of unencumbered sex, then he’d see her on her way. He’d had no idea the little schemer had been contemplating squatting in his territory, and he didn’t like it one bit.
His voice came out in a growl. “I’m sure I heard Spence say that we’re at capacity for employees right now,” he stated, trying hard not to let his anger show. “Especially since we haven’t officially opened for business yet.”
Trask glared at Jett. “But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get paid for the rescue we did today, even though the budget doesn’t allow us to take on any more…burdensuntil we’ve been up and running for a while.”
Her eyes sparkled and he knew she was about to take up the gauntlet, as if thiswasn’tacontentious interchange she’d just fomented.
“Oh, I wouldn’t need a salary,” she assured him smartly. “I actually have a very generous pension since retiring from the Air Force, and my father has assured me that part of the proceeds from the sale of the house will go into my account as well. So…” She beamed at him. “…I could work for you on a job-to-job basis, doing things like what we accomplished today.”
“I—”
She cut him off.
“Don’t tell me your brothers wouldn’t relish having a versatile aircraft on hand?” she continued, a confident smirk on her lips. “Like today, when time is of the essence for a job that pops up miles from here. I can get you most anyplace, quickly, with all the options I can provide, land or sea. If there’s noplace to put down on solid ground, I can bring us in on a body of water. If neither of those is possible, you and your team can always jump,” she offered. “Youdoknow how to use a parachute, right?” Butter would melt in her mouth, and it burned Trask’s ass.
“I’ve done my share of HALO and LALO jumps,” he practically snarled. And dammit, she had him. Not only that, but he was quickly looking like a dour idiot in front of his parents.
He tried to think things through reasonably, and drew in a deep, calming breath.
An airplanewouldgive Diver Downeast a lot of versatility. Especially since their sub, although up and running, was still in need of a lot of repairs and upgrades to various systems. At least now they had a line on parts for the underwater vessel, thanks to new family friend Tex. When Tabitha had been unable to procure the necessary items to repair the new-to-them sub, due to its age, with Mason’s advice she’d reached out to magic-man Tex. The wily vet and master-of-everything had scoffed at Tabbi’s concerns, and ever since, replacement parts had been arriving by UPS nearly every day.
But having a plane? Being able to travel inland to things like lake rescues? Well… Jett had a point.
Still…did it have to be her?
“Spence might already have someone in mind who has a plane,” Trask continued to argue in a milder tone, not quite ready to concede.
“Why don’t you call him and find out?” his mother interjected, looking pleased as punch at the prospect. “He and Tabitha will be home from their class by now, and there’s no time like the present to take advantage of an opportunity.”
Maybe one of his brothers or their wives would be the voice of reason.
Trask would not only call Spence, he’d ring up Buck as well, and have them all on a conference call.
“Fine. I’ll contact Spence and Buck to get their input,” Trask clipped.
Taking his phone out of his pocket, he hit Spence’s number first.
“Hey, bro. What’s up?” Spencer asked. “I heard all about your adventure today from Sheila. A lucky thing you were so close, and that the person who flew that stuff up for Randal had the right gear.”
“Yeah. That would be Jett,” Trask informed him stiffly.
“Jett? I love that handle for a pilot. Is he any good?”
“She,” Trask corrected with a suppressed groan.
