Page 28 of Flyboy

She entered with a hand on his arm. Dressed in their work clothes, she looked military. He didn’t know how else to describe it. Plain clothes, straight skirt, practical. He wore a white t-shirt, stretched across his chest. It fit best under the flight suit.

But she pulled at her hair, and soon it was falling down around her shoulders in waves.

“You know, you have fantastic hair.” He itched to touch it, to let the silky strands fall through his fingers.

“Thank you.” Her smile grew even bigger. “I’m regretting my outfit, but everyone here seems to be wearing whatever they want.”

The restaurant was only about half full, and she was right. Some were overly fancy, and others were even more casual than he was.

“You look beautiful.” He didn’t watch to see her reaction. He just sent his compliment out there. He would have told any girl if she was beautiful. He felt like there wasn’t a woman alive who wasn’t. But when he told Ivy, he meant the very specific kind of beautiful that quickened his blood and made him want to pull her closer to his side, the kind of beautiful that simmered from the inside out.

“Thank you.” Her small-sounding response drew his attention back to her face. Her eyes were lifted to his and glistened a little.

“I’m sorry for misunderstanding you.”

“Hey now, I thought we talked about this. I’ve got another chance to prove myself.”

“But you shouldn’t have to prove yourself.” She shook her head. “But never mind me. Let’s eat.”

The maître d’ showed them to their table.

They were given a card at their right. On one side was a green dot, on the other side a red dot. “If you want more, just leave it at green.”

Ivy flipped the green side up. “It’s all green, baby.” She stood. “But I’m also going to fill my plate with whatever goodness is over there.”

The center of the room was filled with a huge table overflowing with all kinds of Brazilian dishes. From where he sat, Colton could see they had a huge vat offeijoada, vinaigrette with tomatoes and cucumbers, hearts of palm, three-layer gelatin, a delicious looking stroganoff, and various fish dishes. Wow. A whole meal in itself sat over there. He’d have to come back and bring all the other pilots. This place was amazing.

The servers wore white shirts and black pants and small black bowties.

Ivy returned after they’d placed the first three rounds on her plate. He laughed at her widened stare at the pile of meats.

“What is all this now?”

He pointed to the small bite-sized piece. “That is a chicken heart.”

She nearly choked.

“And that is a piece of an alligator.” He laughed. “Everything else you would find in a steak restaurant at home.”

“Good to know, and did you eat the heart or the alligator?”

“I did. I love those little hearts. Alligator though . . .” He grimaced. “This one tasted like old fish.”

She shook her head. “Nope. No need for me to enjoy that piece then.”

“But the gator I’ve had down in Louisiana . . .Mmm. That’s good stuff.”

“Where haven’t you been?”

He considered her question. “Not many places, honestly. I’m looking at Mount Rushmore as probably the last place standing that I have not explored. The last place of note. I also haven’t been on the plains of Kansas, but . . .”

“Well, now, let’s not underestimate the plains of Kansas.”

He eyed her. “I thought you were from Boston.”

“Oh, I am, but I have driven through Kansas, and I’m telling you. That long stretch of the same view is not to be underestimated. I am convinced there is extra land there than the maps lead us to believe.”

He laughed. “I can well imagine. Texas is like that. It just keeps on going. When you enter one end, the signs will tell you how many miles to El Paso, which is down south. It’s well over one thousand miles.”

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