Crash Landing. Lori Wilde

out the windshield. She had a delicate profile—a diminutive nose, gently sloped forehead, small but well-formed chin—that complimented her petite stature. Not a complex face that an artist might find a challenge to sketch, but a fun face, an open face, a happy face.

      Looking at her made him smile. He did not want to smile.

      There was no swelling of peppy music, no Ferris Bueller, “Oh Yeah” deep-based chorus, but the feeling that his life was about to change and change big, dug into Gibb and clung tight.

      She guided the plane with what seemed to be an innate ease. Gibb had never thought of flying as anything more than a skill that anyone who put their mind to it could learn, but right now, watching her, his old belief disappeared, replaced by a deep certainty that there was such a think as a natural born pilot. She had an effortless, light touch on the controls and her sense of timing was impeccable. It was as if she’d strapped the airplane onto her, the way an old west gunslinger strapped on a holster, and the plane started to breathe with her.

      Something told him he would relive this moment again in his dreams—the point where the cocky cowgirl became the consummate aviatrix and she was transformed. He felt transformed just by sitting next to her. He would be able to lie in bed at night, close his eyes and be with her again on wings of air, floating into a sweet, deep peace. If he could eat this moment, it would taste like one perfect bite of amazing amuse-bouclé—bitter, sweet, salty, sour, savory, piquant.

      “I never tire of the beauty.” Sophia breathed.

      “Impressive.” Gibb didn’t take his eyes off her.

      She turned her head, caught him staring. Her smile deepened. “What would Blondie say?”

      He blinked. “Who?”

      “Your girlfriend.”

      It took him a moment. “Oh, Stacy. She’d probably be texting or tweeting or something and never notice the scenery.”

      “I wasn’t talking about the scenery.”

      “No?”

      “What would she say about the way you are staring at me?”

      “I’m not staring at you. I was studying the instrument panel,” he lied smoothly, his stomach roiling and unsettled.

      “Uh-huh.”

      Well, damn, if she didn’t want men to look at her, she shouldn’t wear shorts like that. “You do have nice legs.”

      “So does Blondie.”

      He blew out his breath. “I think you must have gotten the wrong idea about Stacy and I.”

      “I think I understand it pretty well.”

      “We’re just…” What were they?

      Sophia turned toward him, arched an eyebrow. “Friends with benefits?”

      The benefit part was right, the friend part, not so much. “Could we talk about something else?”

      “It is your three thousand dollars. We can talk about whatever you want.”

      Silence stretched out wide as the sky. He had to fix that. He should ask Sophia something else. “How long have you been a pilot?”

      “I got my pilot’s license when I was sixteen,” she said proudly.

      “Wow, that’s young.”

      “My father’s a pilot. This was his plane. He gave it to me when he retired.”

      “Why did he retire?”

      “He’s losing his sight.”

      “That’s a shame.”

      Sophia nodded. “Yes. Poppy is like a bird with a broken wing. It’s very sad.”

      “You speak English like a native,” he said. “Much better than my Spanish.”

      “I was bilingual even as a kid. I have dual citizenship. My mother was an American,” she said. “We visited her family in California every Christmas.”

      “Where abouts in California?”

      “Ventura.”

      “Really? I have a beach house in Santa Barbara.”

      “Of course you do,” she said.

      “What’s that tone all about?”

      “What tone?”

      “The tone that says there’s something wrong with having a lot of money.”

      She gave a half laugh that sounded more like a snort. “You are imagining things, Mr. Martin. I do not have a tone.”

      Was he? “You don’t have anything against wealthy people?”

      “Why would I have such an attitude? If it were not for the rich and powerful and famous who come to Bosque de Los Dioses, I would not have a job.”

      “Because I know how some rich people can be. They can be very demanding. I’m sure you have to put up with a lot.”

      A sly smile flitted across her face. “Ah.”

      “Ah, what?”

      She shook her head.

      “What is it?”

      “You are the one with the prejudice against the wealthy.”

      “What! That’s crazy. I’m worth over a billion dollars.” Well, until this last investment, but he would be back up there again soon. “Why would I be prejudice against rich people? That’s like saying I’m prejudiced against myself.”

      “Are you?”

      “Am I what?”

      “Prejudiced against yourself?”

      What kind of question was that? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “No.”

      “You weren’t born into money,” she said.

      How had she guessed? He raised his chin. “What makes you assume that?”

      “That chip sitting on your shoulder.”

      “I don’t have a chip—” Shut up. Don’t argue with her. It doesn’t matter.

      “Were you?” she asked. “Born rich?”

      “No,” he admitted.

      “So you are a self-made man.”

      “There’s that tone again. You’re mocking me.”

      “You are mistaking my jovial nature for mocking.”

      “Am I?” Gibb shook his head. The woman was turning him inside out and he couldn’t say why. Sure she was cute and sexy, but so were a million other women. What was it about this one that stoked him and frustrated him and challenged him and made him want to grab her up and kiss her until neither one of them could breathe?

      “This is going to be a very long flight, isn’t it?”

      “It sure is shaping up that way.”

      More silence. This time he wasn’t going to say anything. He could sit here forever and be quiet if need be. Not a word. Not another word was going to pass his lips.

      She looked out over the nose of the plane, and with the slightest moments, shifted the plane northward. Underneath her breath she was softly humming, “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.”

      “Okay,” he blurted. “You’re right. Maybe I do have a chip on my shoulder.”

      “I know.”

      Did she have to sound so damn cheerful about it? Gibb clamped his teeth together. Not another word.

      “About that chip on your shoulder?” she ventured.

      “Yes?”