“I love my nephew, and I think having my own children would be great, but finding the right woman is more important. Kids would be a bonus, but I’m not exactly getting younger.”
Her chest tightened at the wistful look on his face. He’d be a great dad. Solid, steady, playful, fair. Present. “What are you talking about? You have plenty oftime. Men can make babies into their seventies. Just look at that actor…James whatever. The one in that new movie about World War II.”
“Rockaway?”
“Right.”
“Sure, it’s possible, but if I have kids, I don’t want to be too old to play with them. Obviously, there are no guarantees, but I’d like to be around to see them grow up, maybe to be a grandpa.”
Her heart twisted. Even if she let herselfbe with Kurt, she couldn’t give him the family he really wanted. “I can see it now, Papa Steele. You’d spoil those kids rotten.”
“Absolutely.” He laughed. “It’s in the job description.”
For his sake, she hoped he got the job.
For the first time since his crash, flying wasn’t so bad. Being stuck next to Caitlyn in close quarters helped. She smelled fresh as sunshine and rain, and shone brightas a jewel in a green dress that showcased her athletic shoulders and shapely legs. And an endless landscape of fascinating freckles.
He hadn’t meant for things to go as far as they had this afternoon. He was trying to move slowly, trying not to scare her away. He’d thought maybe a few caresses, maybe a gentle kiss, would remind her how good they were together. Get her thinking about the possibilities.Andbe more comfortable for their mission. But holy combustion, she had lit him up. He’d had to pull away before he let things go too far and sent her running for the hills.
Now, Caitlyn had stopped talking as she prepared for landing, and Kurt turned his attention to the beautyoutsidehis window. The plane turned away from the evening sun and descended toward St. Isidore, where Dan and Mickhad once spent three weeks providing medical care and aid to earthquake victims. Where Dan had first met his wife Alyssa, a nurse for a non-profit, six years ago, and reconnected with her again three years later.
At least now Kurt could put a place to their stories.
He managed not to bruise the armrests as Caitlyn brought the plane in low along a wide valley nestled in the foothills of the mountainthat towered over the lush island.
She took a long arc around a sprawling home ringed by grass, thick bushes, and palms. Rows of banana plants and trees with fat leaves filled several acres surrounding the paved runway that seemed to appear at the last minute.
The touchdown was so smooth, they might as well have been riding a feather onto a pillow. A perfect, three-point landing. “Wow. Dan wasn’tkidding.”
“About what?” she asked, slowing the plane on the short runway.
“Your skills as a pilot.”
“Thanks.” She grinned. “Why do you think I get the big bucks?” Her pink cheeks belied her flippant response, but he didn’t doubt that clients appreciated her expertise. Or her smile.
Once the plane stopped and she had shut down the engines, several men approached the plane, armed with AKs.
“We’re expected, right?”
She unfastened her harness and removed her headset, shaking out her silky hair. “Yes. And I know these guys.”
God, she was even more of a distraction than usual. Not good now that he needed to keep his wits about him. “I know you said they’d check for weapons, but I don’t like going unarmed.” The only “insurance” they’d brought was a wad of cash. He freed himself fromhis seat and ran a hand through his hair to remove any marks left by the headset.
“It’ll be fine. Trust me.” Easing her way to the back, she opened the hatch.
“It’s not you I have issues with.”
“Hey, guys,” she said to the guards with a wave. “Would you mind putting the chocks down? I don’t want to get anything on my dress.”
“Yes, ma’am.” A thick arm reached for the blocks and disappeared.
Caitlyn kicked off the running shoes and socks she’d worn for flying and slipped on short, strappy, black heels that would bring her nearly eye-to-eye with him. “Ready?” she asked, waving him closer.
“As I’ll ever be.” He descended the narrow stairs slowly, following her into the soft air.
“We need to check the plane, Ms. Brevard,” said a barrel-chested white man with a permanently sunburnednose and an Aussie accent.
“Standard procedure,” she murmured to Kurt as she waved the man inside. “Go ahead, Jack.”
