Page 59 of Too Much In Common
“Not quite. I had one of Javier’s empanadas.”
“I am, so I’m breaking out the frozen meals. Italian or Hawaiian chicken?”
“Both?” His comment had the desired outcome, and he was blessed with one of Tian’s laughs.
“Okay then, two double-size dinners.”
“Two?”
“Abbie gave me a major workout. You should see the homework I have. I’m going to have to double my workout time.” She rubbed her shoulder. “And invest in some flexible ice packs.”
“I have some. If you like, I can grab a couple while you’re heating dinner.”
“I might just have to kiss you for that.”
Chris bent and brushed his lips against hers. “Payment accepted.”
“I never took you as a mercenary.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a kiss worth more than a bag of ice.
“I didn’t take you for...” Chris couldn’t come up with something to say that didn’t border on trashy.
Tian pulled back and tapped his chin. “Good, because I’m not. It was an excuse to finish what was so rudely interrupted this afternoon. However, Iamhungry. So if you’ll go get the ice pack, your dinner will be waiting.”
Chris hurried to his apartment. This relationship could not be kept waiting.
17
The days moved fasterthan Tian expected. Brazil or not, it was the first time she could remember wishing that she was somewhere other than a cockpit. By now, she’d hoped to find a reason other than their jobs her relationship with Chris wouldn’t work. Instead, she found reason after reason to make it work. They laughed over games on his gaming system. He should have never challenged her toFightsym IV: Zombies in the Air. Then there were the hours he spent in the gym helping her through Abbie’s strenuous workout. The only reason she had to end the relationship was work.
Lame.
Double lame.
Tian aimed her flashlight into the landing gear to dispel the shadows created by the airport’s bright lights. The chill seeped in where her gloves met her coat as she completed her assigned exterior preflight checks and returned to the plane for their evening flight. She shed her coat and hung it in a closet near the outside of the cockpit door. The pilots spoke on the other side of the open cockpit door.
“She may be his daughter, but she’s as cold as ice.”
“I don’t believe it.”
“I’m telling you, don’t try. She’ll shut you down.”
“That’s what you said about the redheaded flight attendant.” The man laughed. The sound sent a chill up Tian’s spine. The uncomfortable feeling that she was eavesdropping on a conversation about her grew.
Taking a deep breath, she entered the cockpit and handed the checklist to the captain. “Nothing unusual. I can see a film of ice. I assume we are going through the deicer.”
“Ground is recommending it for all planes tonight,” said Captain Andrew Parish. His voice was the one of warning in the earlier conversation. Good. Tian would rather not have to fend off advances from the person in charge. Although this was her first flight with Captain Parish, she knew his reputation. He didn’t drink, never had coffee, and was a dedicated family man—something to do with his religion. He even attended church on Sunday when his schedule permitted. Would he attend in Brazil? Did he speak Portuguese? Probably, if he did this flight often.
The rest of the pre-flight and take off were routine. Two hours into the flight, the other officer left his seat. “First rest rotation?”
The captain nodded. “I’ll take second. Tian, you get third.”
The overnight flight was already playing with Tian’s body clock. She didn’t relish being last for the break, but perhaps it was for the best. She would be alert for the landing.
When the officer left, Tian moved up into his seat.
“I knew your mother back in the day.”
“Really?” She knew several of the older pilots must, but they never mentioned her. Probably since they worked with her dad.
