The Magnolia Affair (31 page)
T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, three children, and canine kiddo.
T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.
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This book started coming together months before I sat down to write. I pieced it together little bits at a time, but I kept holding back on writing it. That is, until Alyssa pushed me to get this story out there. So, Alyssa, thank you for cheering me on.
Shane, you’re always in my corner. I can’t write without your support. Thank you for being there.
To the great team who helps my books take shape, thank you. Sommer, the cover is flawless. Dani, I can always count on your eagle eye to take my books to the next level. E.M. Tippetts, thanks for adding the touches my books need.
To my friends and family who have supported my career, I owe you so much!
Readers and bloggers, thank you for always encouraging me. If you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.
Keep reading for a preview of Fly, an adult contemporary romance. Available Now.
Not everyone’s good at one-night stands.
Skye Stephens has the worst day of her professional career, and all she wants to do is shed her power suit and get lost in the sheets with the hot guy she met at the bar. The problem is, this uptight ad exec doesn’t know how to do one-night stands. She has strict rules about dating and when to let a man in her bedroom.
Fighter pilot Ben “Bolt” Hardcastle is used to lovin’ and leavin’. But, after he meets Skye, one night doesn’t seem to be enough.
When these two crash-land into each other, a connection strong enough to make the loner pilot and the sexy businesswoman shed their rules about love and relationships begins to burn deeper than either of them ever expected.
“B
olt, Bolt!” There was pounding on the door. “Man, we’re already late. Pre-flight’s in thirty minutes. Get your ass out here.”
Bolt rolled to his side, removing the arm draped across his chest. He grabbed his phone. “Shit,” he mumbled. He never set his alarm last night. He glanced at the brunette under the sheets. Her hair tumbled over the pillow.
“Hey,” she smiled.
“Um, hey.” He jumped from the bed. Damn, what was her name?
“Bolt! Dude, the car’s downstairs. We’re leaving.” The pounding stopped.
“Right behind you.” He called after them, trying to clear the fog from his head.
The girl pulled the sheet with her as she sat up in bed. “I thought you said your name was Ben.” She tilted her head to the side.
He shoved one leg, then the other in his flight suit before zipping it up to his chest.
“Yeah, it is.” He grabbed his flight bag. “Call sign, Bolt.”
“Oh.” Her eyes followed him as he rushed around the room, collecting his scattered clothes and shoving them into his bag.
He threw his dog tags over his neck and fed them through the neck of his T-shirt.
“So, you think I’ll see you again?” She crawled forward on the bed.
He stopped for a second, taking in her curves. She was young, gorgeous, and incredible in bed. “Wouldn’t that be cool?” He walked toward her. “But I don’t know when I’ll be back in Miami. Last night was fun.”
He smiled as he leaned toward her to kiss the pouty look off her face. Maybe he could get out of the room without using her name. He hadn’t bothered to commit it to memory, but he knew he wouldn’t forget those lips. He couldn’t help but want to steal another kiss.
She arched back on her heels. “It was definitely fun.” She ran her tongue over his lower lip. “Bye, Ben. Call me when you’re in town again.”
He headed toward the door. “Yeah, I’ll do that, Ash—”
“It’s Audrey.” He heard the scowl in her voice.
He winced. “Right,
Audrey
. See ya.” He pulled the door behind him and raced to the elevator. He didn’t wait to get her number. He knew he’d never see her again.
He tapped the button for the lobby and leaned against the wall. Last night was a blur of neon, short skirts, and tequila. He and the guys had gone out in South Beach. Audrey was the usual casualty. He shook his head as the doors retracted.
He stepped into the lobby, just as his flight buddies walked out of the hotel. He ran after them.
“Oh, there he is.” Eagle chuckled as he threw his bag in the back of the taxi. “Nice of you to join us.”
“Dude, you barely made it. Was she worth it?” Hollywood punched him in the arm.
“Shut up.” Bolt threw his bag on top of the others.
“You know we don’t like being late, right? You’re such an asshole.” Ranger glared at the pilot.
“Whatever, you went out too. It’s not our fault you’re the one who’s married.” Bolt knew he would be hearing about this for the rest of the trip. They still had two more days of flying ahead of them. Denver today then back to Miramar tomorrow.
They climbed into the cab and directed the driver to take them to the airport.
“So who’d you end up with?” Hollywood asked as he popped a piece of gum in his mouth. “The blonde or the brunette?”
The other guys laughed.
“None of your damn business.” Bolt’s heart was still racing. He hadn’t showered or even eaten breakfast. A cup of coffee would be nice.
Eagle jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. “Must have been the blonde. That brunette was ridiculously hot, even for you Bolt.”
He cracked a smile. “Then you would be wrong.”
“What the hell man? Can’t we do one cross country where you don’t sleep with a girl in every city?” Ranger looked irritated although his shades were firmly planted on the bridge of his nose, concealing his eyes.
“Negative.” Bolt leaned into the seat. It wasn’t his problem Ranger was married and stuck to his wedding vows like a choirboy. There were beautiful women all over the world—he was missing out on what Bolt had learned was one of the best perks of being an aviator. Women loved pilots.
“Wow, you fly fighter jets? Like in the movie?” The girls had gathered around Bolt, Ranger, Hollywood, and Eagle.
The guys towered over the small group. Ranger was the shortest in the gang, and the heaviest of the four. Hollywood’s bright smile and blond hair helped him stand out in the crowd. Eagle was lean and tall with dark hair and small dark eyes. Bolt knew at twenty-seven he wasn’t bad looking. His close brown haircut and baby blue eyes had lured in more than one woman. It didn’t hurt that he had chiseled features and a workout routine that would kick most Marines’ asses.
After last night’s club hopping in Miami they decided Denver was more of a sports bar town. They chose a spot called the Goal Post.
“That’s right.” Hollywood winked at the one closest to him. She was perched on a barstool, soaking in his every word. She twirled her dark hair around her index finger.
Bolt wondered how many drinks she had already had. “Like, that is the hottest thing I’ve ever heard.” She batted her eyes at Hollywood. The other girls seemed equally impressed.
Wait until they heard why he was called Hollywood. It usually was the last piece of bait he tossed into the tank before reeling them in. It worked every time.
Bolt surveyed tonight’s options. He wasn’t going to swoop in on the girl talking to Hollywood. There was a code there that wasn’t worth breaking. Ranger distanced himself from the female attention and sat at the end of the bar with his beer. Looked like he was checking the basketball scores on the screen.
“Is it dangerous?” she asked, her eyes wide.
Hollywood leaned against the bar and looked directly into her brown eyes. “Yes, very.”
Bolt laughed, shaking his head as the three girls gasped. College girls were too easy, but Hollywood was obviously enjoying it.
“I don’t even know you, but I’m already worried about you,” she sighed.
Hollywood put his arm around her shoulder. “Well, let me buy you a drink, we can get to know each other.”
She perked up. “Ok. That would be good.” She turned to smile at her friends, then back to Hollywood. “I’m Joni.”