Page 8 of Turbulent Fires

“She likes to fly my airline.”

He chuckles. “Sounds like you’re screwed, brother.”

“Nope. I don’t give up that easily.” I’m not at all worried.

“Well, she sure didn’t give you much. Are you sure she’s interested?”

“She’s interested. I saw the spark in her eyes. There was something between us that doesn’t happen too often. I think she wants to be chased as much as I want to go on the hunt.”

Drake chuckles again. “Sounds like you’re getting philosophical. Maybe Jayden’s rubbing off on you.”

“Where there’s a will, there’s always a way,” I say in my most Buddha voice I can muster.

“Well, I’ll get the popcorn going, 'cause I think this is going to be a great show. Any woman who can get Wolf Young on the prowl interests me.”

I reach the rental place and say goodbye. I’m still grinning as I approach the counter, making the woman behind it blush.Thisis the reaction I’m used to receiving. I flirt, but my heart’s not in it. I do get my keys in record time, though.

By the time I’m heading to my vehicle, I should have Audrey out of my mind, but that’s not the case. She’s at the forefront of my thoughts, and I’m wondering if she’s thinking about me just as much. I want to believe so. What’s a better start to a love story than spilled wine, quick wit, and a wicked smile? Nothing, in my humble opinion.

Most women tend to fall somewhere between curious and eager once I give them my attention. I’m vain enough to know what a catch I am, not that anyone has managed to capture me for longer than a night so far. I’m the model for what men want to be, and I’m well aware of it. I can’t brag about genetics, but I can take credit for my confidence and drive. The fact that Audrey walked away with as much, or more, confidence than I have makes her the most interesting woman I’ve ever met.

I get into my car and throw my bag into the backseat, then slide into the driver’s seat. The familiar hum of the engine grounds me, but my mind’s still 35,000 feet up, stuck in the moment her fingers brushed mine and her laugh filled the cabin.

Audrey didn’t say no because she wasn’t interested. She said no because sheis, and she knows her worth and wants to see if I’m man enough to chase her. I respect the hell out of that. She wants to see what I’ll do with the challenge. My grin grows. Challenge accepted. I don’t back off when something matters... and this woman is going to be mine. I don’t normally have patience, but I have zero doubt this woman is worth the wait.

Chapter Three

Audrey

If caffeine were a love language, there’s no doubt my best friend Chloe and I would be soulmates with no need for men in our lives. But, sadly, a little factor like sex makes that impossible. We both like a nice package far too much to give up men. Well, that, and the fact that she’s now disgustingly in love with her hunk of a husband who worships the very ground she walks on. I want to be jealous, but I love her far too much to begrudge her total happiness. I like her man, too. That helps a lot. I don’t mind sharing her with her husband as long as he shares as well so we can have our much-needed girl time, which is essential to my soul.

Our quaint little corner of downtown Seattle, which is drenched in sunshine for once, is a perfect homecoming for me after getting back from Florida, another place I absolutely love. If it weren’t so far away from my family and bestie, I’d move there in a heartbeat. But that will never happen, so I have to take in the beautiful days here in Seattle whenever they occur. If it gets too gloomy here, I travel to keep me sane.

We’re seated on mismatched chairs at a patio table outside of a hipster café that serves everything from lavender oat milk lattes to espresso strong enough to grow hair and make a person see their future. We both love it.

Chloe takes a slow sip of her cold brew, her eyes twinkling over the rim of the mason jar containing her drink. “You’ve stalled long enough, woman. Spill,” she demands.

I give my own drink — a coconut milk vanilla iced latte — a slow stir and smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

She gives a very unladylike snort. “You texted me in all capsYOU WONT BELIEVE WHO I MET ON THE PLANE, followed by a few flame emojis. You don’t get to pretend something didn’t happen.” She lets out a long sigh. “Unless you’ve already lost interest, which wouldn’t surprise me at all.” She pauses and analyzes me as only she can do. “There’s still a little extra sparkle in your eyes, though, so I have a feeling you haven’t lost anything at all.”

I lean back in my seat and push my sunglasses onto my hair. I want to talk about the man I met on the plane, which surprises me. “His name’s Wolf,” I tell her with a chuckle, still finding his name both amusing and incredibly fitting.

“Like the animal?” she asks with a laugh.

“Exactlylike the animal.” I wink.

Her lips are still twitching. “That’s either extremely dangerous or incredibly sexy.”

“He’s sexy for sure, and most certainly dangerous. He’s tall, dark, and handsome, the beginning of every romance book I’ve ever read. He also has dimples that should come with a warning label, a smile that makes your panties wet, and so much confidence that it made me want to slap him and jump into his lap and kiss him at the same time.”

“Do tell more.” She bites into her pastry while wiping a bit of drool from the corner of her lip. Just because she’s madly in love doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to hear about other women’s romances. A good story is always worth hearing. I’ve made her wait until I returned home to hear this story. She’s now going to drill out every single detail.

“He was sitting next to me in first class. I might’ve dumped a glass of red wine straight into his lap.”

Chloe laughs. “You what?” She leans a bit closer.

“I promise it was an accident. The plane hit turbulence, and I was engrossed in a very spicy chapter of my book, and my hand slipped. I was horrified until he spoke.”

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