Page 15 of Love at First Flight

“Oh my God! Selah?” The booming voice was followed by a man nearly crashing into their table. “It is you! God! It’s been forever! How’ve you been?”

“Dex?” It took her a second, but the disheveled man with a red flushed face, who was definitely not sober, was the familiar park ranger. His hazel eyes were glassy, his smile a little too bright. Him looking at her as though she was a long-lost friend wasn’t an unpleasant experience, even while knowing it wasn’t true. Being on a date with a man who was becoming more lecherous made Dex a welcoming sight.

“Hey, I’m Dex. State. Park. Ranger.” He pointed to a spot over his chest before glancing down and realizing he wore street clothes and not his uniform. It didn’t seem to bother him, though, as he awkwardly lowered his finger and addressed Kevin again while taking the extra seat at the table. “Anyway, did you know this is Captain Selah?TheCaptain Selah, world’s greatest balloonist in the world,” he said to Kevin.

Her date looked confused. “Like balloon animals?”

Before Selah could correct him, Dex jumped in. “No, you dump truck. Hot-air balloons. In the sky. She pilots them. So smooth you’d think you were floating on a cloud or a balloon... or a balloon made of clouds.”

If Kevin was impressed by this, his expression revealed nothing. Plus, he probably didn’t appreciate the nickname ofdump truck,even if she agreed the name suited him well. “Look, pal, we’re on a date and we don’t need any extra company, so if it’s all the same to you, fuck off.”

As though Kevin didn’t exist anymore, Dex focused on Selah, taking a few attempts to prop his head on a palm as he leaned on the tabletop. “What’s the world’s greatest balloonist doing with a dump truck like that? He doesn’t deserve to hear your pilot voice.”

Selah held back an embarrassing giggle because she didn’t want Dex getting into trouble. Her date’s annoyance was clear, his blue eyes growing hard and menacing. She was inexperienced at having two men fight for her attention. This had never happened before. Not that Kevin cared about her. She was merely a lady body that was, in his mind, available to him.

Selah was also under no illusions Dex wanted her either, based on their conversation earlier on the trail. His motivation in all of this was unknown. Where had he even come from? But his interruption was a silent prayer answered, and it was fun to pretend they were sparring for her.

Regardless, she didn’t want Dex to get in a real physical fight over whatever this was, because the whole situation wasn’t worth it.Shewasn’t worth it. “Dex,” she said calmly, “are you here with some friends?”

“Oh yeah. That’s Jon, my best friend in the world and also a park ranger—so, just so you know, I’m not here alone,pal.” This last part was directed at Kevin. Dex pointed over his shoulder to a man sitting at the bar who was watching this whole thing, his shoulders shaking in silent laughter.

“Then why don’t you go back to your friend and leave us the fuck alone? I’ll be happy to escort you—”

“Oh my God, I completely forgot to tell you,” Dex interrupted Kevin, doing a soft smack alongside his forehead with the palm of one hand. “You know that earbud you lost? Guess what? I found it!”

Selah was confused because, obviously, the earbud was no longer missing, but she replied, “Oh, yeah?”

“Yup. And then I just happen to run into you. What kind of a lucky break is that? I put it in a safe spot for you and everything. It’s in my glove compartment. Do you want it?”

It finally clicked. He was risking getting punched by a dump truck, doing this friendly drunk thing, all in the hopes of giving her an out, an escape. She’d never been so touched in her life. “Oh! Yes! Thank you. I do want it back. Can we get it right now?”

Kevin again wrapped an arm around her shoulder, trying to lock her into place. “Come on, baby. Can’t you get it later? It’s just an earbud. Fuck off, man.” He shoved a rough hand against Dex’s shoulder.

“No, you don’t understand. This is a very important earbud,” she said, attempting to stand.

“It was given to her by someone special,” Dex added, standing as well.

Kevin looked torn between wanting to punch Dex in the jaw and not wanting to let go and risk losing her. “Ok, well, maybe I should go too—”

On a dime, Dex’s drunk goofball routine switched off, his face transforming into something serious and sober. It made her wonder if he deserved an Academy Award for his previous performance. He rested a palm against the table and leaned toward Kevin, lording over him. “No.We’regoing to the parking lot. You’re staying here. There’s probably someone else waiting for you, Big Daddy Sasquatch.”

Dex turned his attention to Selah, an easy grin slipping into place. “Captain Selah.” His hand swept toward the exit to let her lead them away.

The whole thing caught her off guard. What was happening here? On the trail today, he’d been in no-nonsense park ranger mode, clearly irritated with her, but this dark sternness was something else entirely, and it was directed at some loser on her behalf. Selah had never been so turned on by a state park employee before... or anyone else, for that matter.

Whatever Dex was doing, it worked because Kevin’s expression dropped along with his arms, releasing her. He looked confused and startled. She wasn’t sure why he’d give up over a bizarre name likeBig Daddy Sasquatchwhendump truckmade him appear as if he wanted to punch a wall. Maybe this was some magical park ranger thing used to subdue angry bears and assholes. Regardless, she wasn’t going to question it, quickly joining Dex on the other side of the table and proceeding out the door of the brewery.

Safely outside, they stopped at the edge of the parking lot. Selah was free to say anything, but was at a loss for words, especially since she wasn’t sure if Dex remained aggravated with her and this whole thing was an act. “Thank you,” she said simply, but she never meant the phrase more than she had at any point in her life.

“Is everything okay?” Over Dex’s shoulder, his friend, Jon, appeared. She was relieved Kevin hadn’t followed them.

“Yeah, everything is okay,” Dex replied, his lids heavy as he gave his friend a playful salute. He leaned nearer to her, a scent of rum enveloping her, and in a loud stage whisper said, “He was afraid that guy was going to fight me and then he’d have to jump in and save me.”

Selah had no doubt this was the plan because Jon was taller, broader, and appeared to be the sober one between the two of them.

“You weren’t worried about that?” She wasn’t able to keep the humor from her tone.

“Nope,” Dex replied, swaying a bit. “I had to do something. That guy was a shitbag. And I also had a little bit to drink. I don’t know if you noticed.”

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