Casanova In Training (11 page)

Keel he understood, but where the fuck was Jaydee? It had been two weeks since the near-death incident. Damned if Jaydee hadn’t treated him like he was any other man. As if they were strictly colleagues, she did her job and left, barely speaking to him unless absolutely necessary. He hated it. How could she ignore the passion that flared between them—combustible like a spark and gasoline.

“You’re looking bored, Casanova. Everything okay?”

He glanced to the waitress who stood at his right shoulder. A slender, attractive blonde. Lauren.

“Hey, Lauren. I’m just lost in thought.”

Her smile was soft and inviting. And, in the past, he would have taken her up on the obvious offer. He
had
done so. However, now, the only one he could think about in that way was Jaydee. Awake or asleep, she existed in his thoughts. As if she was a part of him. Blood. Heart. Soul.

A hand settled on his back and he waited for the familiar tingle a woman’s touch brought him. Nothing.
Damn it!
He’d hoped Lauren’s caress would have snapped him from the desire for his hot Lieutenant Commander Amos. How wrong he’d been.

There was nothing. No spark. No tingle. No anything. For all intents and purposes, it could have been Lizard clapping him on the back.

Bottom line…he was fucked. Any way he looked at it. Royally and totally fucked.

Jaydee Amos had been in his life for two months now and it was harder each day to pretend that not a single thing existed between them other than work. His emotions were always extreme in regards to her. Horny as hell or angry as shit.

When he thought of her flying, he grew furious. It didn’t matter that he knew she was good at her job, damn good, it still bothered the crap out of him. And he knew it showed. Then, when he saw her, everything changed. He saw her and thought sex. She walked by in a flight suit and his cock hardened to titanium.

A nudge to his shoulder brought his attention from lustful thoughts of Jaydee. Of wrapping her legs around his waist as he pounded into her.

“Casanova?”

Damn, I need to focus.
Lauren watched him with large, jade green eyes, a mixture of understanding and craving in them. She had one elbow braced against the smooth expanse of the polished bar top. Her tray beside her with a few empty bottles and glasses on it.

He sighed. “Yes, Lauren?”

“You look like…well…you could use some sex.”

His chuckle lacked humour.
You have no idea.
“Just a lot on my mind, Lauren.”

She reached out and stroked idly up and down his arm. “You know all you have to do is call, right?”

Yes, he knew. Much like he knew that was all any of the other pilots had to do. Call her. He opened his mouth to respond but Lauren spoke again.

“I really don’t know why she comes in here.”

Tipping the bottle up, he took a drink before asking, “Who?”

“Jaydee. I mean she only drinks water.” A scoff of derision. “This is a bar for crying out loud. She doesn’t even drink soda. Just the same old thing. Water. Don’t get a lot of tips for water.”

Gio whipped his head around and fought the immediate groan that seeing Jaydee brought to his mouth. It was as if the room had narrowed down to the two of them, for all his attention zoomed in on her.

Jaydee wore a plain gold T-shirt, jeans, and black boots. Her hair was windblown as if she’d ridden without a helmet.
Shit!
His cock fought valiantly to punch free from the pants that restrained it.

She smiled gently at Puck who met her. Then her gaze landed on him and he immediately drowned in her tortoiseshell eyes. She gave him a slight nod and moved on, accompanied by Puck, back to where the others mostly hung out.

Over-familiar strokes on his arm made him almost growl. Lauren had been stroking his arm as if she’d every right to do so. Jaydee had seen it.
You have no claim over her,
his brain chided.

The fuck he didn’t.

Swallowing hard, he pushed from the stool and spun on his heel. He paused at the touch Lauren placed on his arm. “Yes?”

“The offer always stands, Casanova.”

He stared at her. Lauren was a beautiful woman. Her blonde hair, green eyes, and creamy skin made an extremely attractive package. But one that did nothing for him.

“Right.” He strode off, beer in hand.

As he approached the table, he was met by grins and smirks. “I see Lauren tracked you down,” Lizard said. “From the look on her face she’s gonna get to be with Casanova tonight.”

Gio sat in a chair across from Jaydee who drank…water. Holding her gaze, he took a slow drink of his nearly empty beer. He cut his gaze to Lizard and gave him a small, untelling smile. His friend roared in laughter.

“I knew it.”

Gio swung his attention back to Jaydee. She paid him no attention. In fact, she no longer sat there—he was treated to the natural sway of her hips. As he watched, she, Puck, Tessler and Tinman began to play a game of pool.

Lust slammed him as Jaydee caressed her pool cue before bending over to break. He felt heat course through him and his cock pressed insistently against his jeans.
Christ! That ass of hers would make a monk sin.
Given that he wasn’t even remotely close to a monk, it did way more than that to him.

Anger churned at his gut as he watched her laugh and mingle with those around her. She was so reserved when interacting with him—polite yet reserved. Hell he’d stopped by her place a few times since the incident and she’d never even answered the door. He’d been unable to get her alone. And that fact drove him crazy.

“Evening, Casanova.” The deep voice preceded his CO lowering his body into a vacant seat.

“Good evening, sir.” He straightened up in his chair and tore his hungry gaze from Jaydee’s ass.

The man’s grey eyes meandered between him and the four at the pool table. “No pool for you?” he asked.

“Not this game, sir.”

Captain Fentress, aka Renegade, rose, took a drink and said, “Let’s play.”

He dutifully followed his CO to the table next to the one that Jaydee played at. He ensured he brushed past the woman who made him hornier than a young man while he grabbed two cues, and he grinned at her sharp intake of breath.

“Excuse me,” he breathed softly.

“Not a problem.” Her response was bland and hid the emotion he knew simmered beneath her composed surface.

He longed to drag his tongue along the shell of her ear, press her against him, and tell every slobbering fucking male in the establishment she was
his
. Beyond everything, he saw Lizard and Lauren talking and his gut clenched. Not with jealousy but uncertainty. The gleam in Lizard’s gaze made him wonder what nefarious plan he had put into play.

Playing a game with one’s CO was hard enough, but when you added outside forces to the mix it became damn near impossible. He did his best to concentrate but he continually grew hard and distracted by Jaydee. The way she touched the pool cue, how delectable her ass looked when she bent over for her shot, and even the sound of her laughter.

Pathetic? Perhaps, but he couldn’t help it.

For those reasons and more, he lost. Fentress laughed as he began to rack them a second time.

“Mind’s not on the game, Casanova.”

“He’s got a hot date with a blonde later on. I’d be distracted too.” Lizard spoke up.

Fentress nodded. “Ahh, I understand. Up for another game?”

Gio shared a glance with Lizard before rolling his shoulders. “Yes, sir.”

Puck came and joined them, so it was he and Lizard against Puck and Renegade. Still, his attention meandered to where Tessler and Jaydee stood talking and laughing back along a wall.

“Focus, man,” Lizard hissed in his ear.

“I am.”

“Bullshit. Well, perhaps not, but I need you to focus on the game, not her.”

Catching a waitress’ eye, he ordered another drink, using the time to ogle Jaydee. She walked with Tessler towards them.

“Are you leaving?” Puck tilted her head as she asked.

Jaydee smiled, another innocent action that slammed into him hard.

“Yes. I have things to attend to. It has been an honour serving with you.”

Puck stood. “You too.”

The women embraced before Jaydee moved on to the others who were leaving. With a quick glimpse at him, Lizard, and Captain Fentress, she strode off with nothing more than a goodnight. Gio watched her leave from beneath lowered lashes.

All he wanted to do was follow her. Kiss her. Fuck her. He bit back a groan and forced his attention on the game. It took a while but eventually her face settled in the back of his mind.

When he finally called it a night, said his farewells to those leaving, and headed to his car after paying his tab, he found Lauren resting against the side of his convertible.

“I’ve been waiting for you.” She had a coy look in her eyes.

“Not tonight, Lauren. I’m exhausted.” And he was. He wanted his bed. Although he had no doubts that if Jaydee called him up asking for sex he’d find some energy. A hell of a lot.

“You’ve never been too exhausted before,” she whined.

The sound grated on his nerves. “Don’t push, Lauren, it’s unbecoming.” He gently lifted her away from his door and opened it. “Lizard is inside if you want him.”

“No, I want you, Casanova.” She pressed against his back and rubbed. “I’ve always wanted you.”

The feel of her pert breasts against his back failed to stimulate him, even remotely. “Goodnight, Lauren.” He climbed in and drove away, leaving her there in the lot, probably furious and definitely alone. He knew she didn’t like being ignored.

He mulled over it all while he drove. It wasn’t a one-time thing anymore. He wanted no one but Jaydee. The feel of another woman had no effect on him, whereas the mere thought or glimpse of Jaydee could send him close to coming in his pants.

He took a long shower—a cold one—when he got home, to try to negate the power Jaydee had on him. Nothing worked. With a muted groan, he flopped naked onto his California king-sized bed.

Tomorrow was a day off and he knew exactly where he was going in the early morning. The thought calmed him a bit and he eventually began to relax.

* * * *

Jaydee sat on the edge of the table, her booted feet swinging back and forth as she waited. The room was silent except for the hum of the computers. She tucked some wayward hair behind one ear without stopping her feet. Palms on the desk, fingers curved about the edge, she lifted her head and stared at the person in front of her.

He was an imposing man. Tight black hair clipped close to his head. Tall and broad-shouldered, he filled out the white lab coat he wore. He had skin the hue of pumpernickel. He wore small rectangular glasses and had on a turtleneck and slacks under the coat.

She, on the other hand, wore steel-toed boots, jeans, and a T-shirt. Honestly, she felt a bit underdressed. Not that he would care—it was her problem, her hang-up. Not his.

He raised his head and pinned her with ochre eyes. A heavy sigh before he glanced back down to the tablet PC he held.

“Are you positive about this?” he questioned. His voice was as authoritative as she recalled.

“Yes, sir.”

“And you filed a report with your CO?”

“Yes, sir. An exact duplicate to what you’re reading now.”

“You don’t think this is like the
Spirit of Kansas,
where there was moisture in the aircraft’s Port Transducer Unit which appeared during the air calibration?”

Jaydee shook her head and jumped off the table before approaching him. She barely reached his shoulder. But she wasn’t scared, she knew her shit. And knew he knew she did, too.

“Not at all. There was no distorted information sent to the air data system like what happened with B-2 89-0127. Plus, this accident didn’t happen during take-off. Had he had an extra thirty-degree pitch he could have corrected, regardless of the negative angle of attack. It’s not the same thing.”

He stared at her without blinking and took a deep breath. “So you’ve concluded it happened because of the antigravity—”

The door swung open and brought their conversation to a halt. In walked Captain Fentress and he was followed by a few other men she didn’t know. Only when the last man entered and closed the door behind him did her breath catch. Gio.

He wore his flight suit and it was all she could do to keep her moan contained. He had the look of just getting out of the shower and she shifted her feet. Like a predator, his gaze snapped to her and burned her to the soles of her feet. It took more work than normal but she managed to remain composed, and to continue with her coolly professional demeanour.

Gio stood at the back of the room while the others sat down at two of the tables, facing her and the man beside her. He crossed his arms over his chest and fixated his stare on her. She barely heard Captain Fentress introduce the man beside her since she was so tuned in to the man at the back.

“Yes, like your captain said, my name is Dr Thompson.”

That got her attention and she swiftly moved to a vacant chair off to the side where she could see and listen. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Gio move so that he lingered more in her peripheral line of vision. With a groan, she determinedly ignored him and focused on the lecture.

“Commander.” A voice whispered in her ear.

She looked over her shoulder and found Fentress there on his haunches by her.

“Sir?” She glanced at him only to be met with a blank expression. “What can I do for you, sir?”

“You’re going up. Keel’s waiting for you so get changed and get moving.”

Going up?
This morning she’d been informed her day was to be spent here analysing  the results with the fellow scientists. Dr Thompson had asked for her to be there. Seeing Captain Fentress and Gio had thrown her, as she’d not expected them to stop in. It wasn’t unheard of having pilots come by to listen, but mostly it remained just the geeks.

“Amos, now!” The order fell firm with no room for dispute.

“Sorry, sir.”

She slanted a glance up to where Dr Thompson continued to talk. He gave a nod without breaking his speech and she immediately rose and crept to the door, eyes purposefully down to avoid the penetrating and heated stare from Gio. Even so, she could feel his gaze upon her.