Page 47 of Turbulent Fires

I’m not a fan of long-haul international flights. I used to love them; being inside the cockpit of a huge plane is truly amazing. However, the majority of the flight is now done on autopilot, which can get old after a while. I’m too restless to sit for long these days.

When I get a call in the morning that another captain has come down with the flu and left a transatlantic route to Heathrow uncovered, I surprise myself by saying yes. Maybe it’s the gloomy Seattle day, or maybe it’s the last text I got from Audrey saying if I keep showing up in her dreams, she might think it means something.

After accepting the flight, I call Audrey. This requires a conversation, not texting. She answers on the second ring.

“Good morning, Sexy,” she says, her voice cascading over me like warm sunshine.

“Have you ever wanted to fly to London in the cockpit of a 787?” I ask, praying she says yes. I’ve never asked a woman to do this before, never wanted it to happen, but I want this desperately.

There’s a pause on the other end of the line. I’ve shocked her. I don’t say anything, just wait, praying she’ll come. Nearly a full minute passes.

“Yes,” she finally says, her voice seeming almost shocked. I want to jump up and shout, I’m so happy. Then again, I’ve been walking on clouds since meeting Audrey. It’s so strange, yet amazing at the same time. I wonder if this is how my father felt when he met my mother. Am I falling in love with this woman? We’re still new and feelings can change. I don’t see that happening, but I’m well aware it can.

“You’ll need your passport, to leave your fears of cramped quarters at home, along with your inability to sit still for hours.”

“The sitting still will be hard, but well worth it,” she assures me. I laugh.

“Meet me at SeaTac in two hours. Pack for a few days in case we decide to have fun.”

She laughs. “Aye, aye, Captain.”

We hang up, and I begin packing, excited for the trip I’d normally dread, then pace the house until it’s time to leave. I finally make my way to the airport I’ve been to so many times I couldn’t possibly count them.

Stepping inside, I zero in on Audrey, who’s sitting in a waiting area, looking at her phone with a smile on her lips. I have no doubt she’s watching funny videos, most likely about besties doing terrible things to their men. This should worry me, but I find it quite endearing.

She’s wearing jeans, boots, and a navy peacoat, looking like she belongs on the cover of a travel magazine. Her eyes immediately sparkle as she looks up, her lips parting. Damn, this woman turns me inside out. She stands, and I’m well aware that all eyes are on her. Every man in the area wishes she could be his. Somehow, though, she’s mine, and I appreciate this more and more each day.

Wearing my crisp uniform, my pilot cap tucked beneath my arm, I move with confidence to her, wanting to pull her against me and kiss her until neither of us can breathe. The passion I feel for this woman continues to grow. I don’t see it stopping.

“Mmm, I’ve never had pilot fantasies before meeting you, but you’re damn sexy,” she purrs as I stop with less than a foot separating us. I have to remember I’m in uniform and there are many sets of eyes on us. I wish I didn’t care, but since I’m a major owner of the company I’m wearing the uniform for, I know I’d better behave.

“I can make a few of those fantasies come true,” I promise as I give her a wicked smile and lean over to give her a very unsatisfying kiss. The flash in her eyes assures me she wants much more than that as well. Soon. Very, very soon, I assure myself.

Walking quickly through security, we take the back corridors only staff are allowed to enter. We get through the airport in no time and onto the plane. Audrey’s beaming as I introduce her to the flight crew.

Inside the cockpit, Audrey stops, her eyes wide as she gazes around. “This is so amazing,” she says with awe, making me and my co-pilot laugh. I try to see it from her eyes, and remember my reaction the first time I entered, knowing I was going to be controlling this beast. It was pretty damn awe-inspiring.

Every button, switch, and glowing screen is lit up around area like a futuristic dream. The view through the front glass is unobstructed, and the airport stretches out into the horizon. There is so much freedom in managing something this powerful. There’s also real humility in knowing I’m responsible for the lives of more than two hundred people. I never forget this fact.

“I have to admit I love your office,” Audrey tells me as I take my seat. She moves up next to me, careful not to touch anything. I grab her hand and place it on the throttle, then wink at her. She blushes as my co-pilot laughs.

“I think most kids dream of being a pilot at some point in their lives, just as they dream of being a firefighter or soldier. We might all have a bit of a hero complex,” I tell her. “Most kids grow out of that phase, but there are a few overgrown children like me who live for it long into old age.”

She backs away as I begin my pre-flight checklist, leaning back in the jumpseat where she can still see everything but has no chance of bumping into anything. The flight attendant shows her how to buckle up and hands her headphones. She smiles as she hears all of the chatter that most people never know about. I’m feeling about ten feet tall giving her this experience.

It takes a while for everything to get done, but soon we’re loaded, shut, and ready to push back. Audrey laughs as the plane starts moving. We unhook from the tug and taxi to the runway.

“Cleared for takeoff,” I tell the flight attendants before making an announcement to the passengers about a nice and easy flight to London, letting them know they can sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. I line the plane up, press down the throttle, then feel the familiar thrill as we lift off, this beast fully under my control.

As Seattle falls away below us, we pierce through a layer of soft, cotton clouds. Audrey practically has her face pressed to the glass as she gazes at everything. I need to take her up in a smaller craft. She’ll be in love. I want to give her every new experience I possibly can.

When we’re at cruising altitude, I lean back, set the controls on autopilot, then turn and smile at Audrey, who’s still beaming. “I feel like we’re backstage at a music festival and all of my favorite artists are standing in line to meet me.”

I laugh. “That’s a slightly bigger crowd than this cockpit.”

She beams at me, making my heart twist in my chest. Damn, I love her smile. I chat with my co-pilot, and Audrey asks us both about a thousand questions, making us feel a bit like superstars.

After a few hours, it’s time to move. I rise and give a good stretch. “Want to take a walk?” I ask. She looks confused as she gazes at the panels. “Don’t worry, Tony has this.”

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