CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Was there really a way to measure time? People make comments such as
I’m running late
, or
There’s no time to do this or that
, or
Time is running out
. . .
But really, time keeps on turning no matter how you try to measure it. There are the same amount of hours in each day, and the same amount of days in each year. Time doesn’t stop. It’s steady. It’s reliable.
And time kept on passing as Stormy remained in Cooper’s house. The cottage had been long fixed, but he’d insisted there was a mold problem in it now from the water damage. She didn’t see any mold, but she didn’t want to argue because she wanted to enjoy each moment of time she had left with Cooper.
Time. It truly was a curse, she thought. If she could have one superpower, it would be to freeze time, or at least to slow it down. Because she didn’t want her time with Cooper to end—not anytime soon.
On this beautiful summer morning, Stormy sat in the lighted bedroom with her legs curled beneath her, notepad in hand, while she sketched a pattern on paper. Pulling away, she smiled as she looked at the intricate bracelet she’d created—swirls of metal came up around a circled compass.
She’d spent days perfecting the design, originally wanting to create something for Cooper, but now knowing it was far too feminine for a man. Maybe she could use the compass to create a pin for his suit, though. It was something she’d have to think about.
Glancing up, she noticed the faint outline of the red alarm clock and the blurry numbers. She blinked to clear her vision. Once the world came into focus, Stormy realized that she’d been sitting in the same spot for hours.
She had a whole day off and the entire house all to herself so it didn’t really matter, but the cramps in her legs insisted she had to get up and move around.
The peaceful silence of her perfect morning was interrupted when her cell phone began vibrating. She smiled when she saw that it was Lindsey.
“Hey, Lindsey,” she croaked, before laughing. “Sorry, I’ve been drawing all morning. I’m just coming back to the real world.”
“Hey, darling. I need girl time. Are you free later?”
“I have the day off, so yes I am.”
“Yay. I came down last night for a medical conference, and I don’t have to be back to Bellingham until tomorrow morning.”
“What time is your conference over?”
“I’ll be finished up by noon, or should be. I’ll text when I’m done and we can meet up?”
“Okay, sounds good. Talk with you soon.”
Hanging up the phone, Stormy leapt up and decided it was time to get ready for their lunch. She could sit in the perfect light and draw all day, but she missed Lindsey so she headed into the bathroom.
She saw a bright blue envelope taped to the mirror and slowly approached it, a smile on her lips.
Before Cooper, she’d never received notes before. She liked it.
Her name was beautifully written out in calligraphy on the back of it, so she carefully took it down and ran her fingers along the seal before opening it.
Inside was a card and a pressed rose. She pulled both out and gently set the rose on the counter before reading the note.
My Dear Stormy,
Meet me at Trans Pacific’s hangar number 7 at eight tonight.
Wear a dress—and nothing else.
Cooper
Instant heat surged through her at the words. She had wasted too much time not being in Cooper’s bed, and now that she’d had him again, she couldn’t get enough of the man.
“It seems I have a date to get ready for,” she whispered as she glanced at herself in the mirror. Then to her surprise a giggle escaped.
A new dress was certainly in order. Though time kept on ticking, Stormy ignored it. Because as long as they were together, she wanted to make sure he never forgot her again.
That meant she was going to knock his socks off—and his pants, too.
Rushing to get dressed and ready so she could run out the door the minute Lindsey called, Stormy found herself restless as she sat on the back deck checking her phone every two minutes.
The day was progressing beautifully, bright blue skies with not a cloud in sight. Like a blanket, the warm sun beat down on the landscape of Gig Harbor, reinforcing how much she loved her new home.
I’m here.
Stormy jumped up at her friend’s text message. It was about time. Rushing around front, she smiled as Lindsey stepped from her car.
“Stormy!”
“Lindsey!” Stormy rushed forward and the two embraced. “It’s so great to see you. I can’t believe it’s been months already. I hate how time flies,” Stormy complained.
“I know. It’s been too long. But, from the look of things, your life has sure changed. I couldn’t believe it when you gave me this address,” Lindsey said with a wicked grin. “Did you meet a bank president or something?”
“Let’s go shopping for a fantastic dress and I’ll explain everything on the way,” Stormy offered.
“Okay, how about coffee first, then shopping. My tank is running low,” Lindsey said.
“Agreed.”
They got into the car, drove down the long driveway, waited for the gate, and then sped off.
Lindsey lived in Bellingham, Washington, and the two had been friends since working in a café together back in Seattle when Stormy had first arrived. They’d bonded instantly.
“I want info, woman,” Lindsey insisted as they drove toward the mall in Bellevue.
“My old neighbor, an incredible man, heard I needed a place to live, so he told me his nephew had an extra room. I was wary, of course, but I didn’t have a lot of options,” Stormy began.
“Wait! You were about to be homeless and you didn’t once think of calling me?” Lindsey demanded with outrage.
“You’re in a relationship, living in that tiny place, and I wouldn’t even think about bothering you with my troubles,” Stormy told her.
“Well, if we talked more often, you would know that my relationship ended and I would now love the company. Matter of fact, if you ever want to leave paradise, I have a room open for you,” Lindsey said.
“Oh, Lins, I’m so sorry,” Stormy said, reaching for her friend’s hand.
“I’m not. He hit me and I gave him a black eye and very enlarged testicles,” Lindsey said with a smile.
“Why didn’t you call me when that happened?” Stormy demanded.
“I was embarrassed and, I don’t know, being independent,” Lins told her.
“I wish I were as strong as you, Lins. Dang, I would have paid money to see that man rolling on the ground gripping his balls,” she finally said, a chuckle coming out.
“I can’t believe he thought he would get away with it. I grew up with four brothers.”
“Did you tell them?” Stormy gasped, imagining what they would do.
“No. I saved the pathetic man’s life. If I had told them, he wouldn’t have walked again. I did warn him that I would tell them if he ever came near me again,” Lindsey said. “Not that I’m not perfectly capable of taking care of myself, but just to ensure I never have to see his face again. He went all white and scampered away.”
“You were with him over a year. I’m sure it’s difficult,” Stormy told her.
“Not really. I’m used to being alone. I’ve yet to find a man who isn’t afraid of my brothers. I lose respect for them when they are,” Lindsey said.
“Yeah, I kind of like tough men, too, but relationships are complicated,” Stormy said with a sigh.
“I’m far more interested in hearing about your man,” Lindsey insisted.
“He’s not really my man. I’m living in his house. We had sex at the Anderson wedding six years ago, and I was so embarrassed about it that I didn’t even tell you, and then we’ve been having steaming hot sex now for a while. We’re just . . . I don’t know, we’re just friends with benefits, I guess you would call it,” Stormy told her.
“Yeah, we will see how that turns out,” Lindsey told her with a laugh. “We’re going to find a dress that is bound to drop this guy to his knees.”
The two women spent the remainder of their afternoon going from store to store, trying on countless outfits. Just as they were giving up hope of finding the right outfit, Stormy walked from the changing room feeling like a million dollars.
Stormy wasn’t a dress-up sort of girl, not normally. She wasn’t down on herself, but she had never looked in the mirror and thought she was stunning. This dress changed that. It was like it was made for her. A black cocktail dress that, while modestly cut at the top, showed off just enough cleavage to tease. The hem fell just above the knees and somehow managed to make her legs look like they went on for miles. Her favorite part, though, was the plunging back. It was elegant and sexy and she felt more glamorous than she ever had in her life.
“Hot damn! That man’s pants are going to be down before you take two steps,” Lindsey said as they walked to the front register.
“That’s the goal,” she said with a wink.
When the day was over, they were both sorry to see it end, even if Stormy was anticipating her night with Cooper.
“Promise me we won’t let so much time pass before we see each other again,” Lindsey pled as they sat in the driveway.
“I guarantee you’ll hear from me so much that you’ll be sick of my voice,” Stormy replied, her eyes filling.
“I’ll hold you to that,” Lindsey threatened.
Stormy reached across the small space and gave her friend a hug. Then she opened her door and climbed out. She stood in the driveway with the dress draped over her arm, waving as Lindsey sped away.
Now it was time to transform.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
It was exactly three minutes until eight, right on time . . . or a little early.
Stormy laughed quietly to herself as she realized she’d actually managed to make it somewhere on time. A slight squeal from the brakes of the yellow cab she’d hired to bring her to the hangar could be heard across the entire place as it came to rest outside the vast rusted building.
Being careful not to snag her new dress, Stormy stepped onto the uneven asphalt, wobbling a bit due to her choice in footwear. It had been a while since she’d worn heels. Stormy leaned against the cab with one hand while trying to maintain her balance. With a quick “Thank you,” the quiet cab driver took the money, nodded his head, and barely gave her a chance to step away before he drove off.
A shadow of worry surrounded Stormy when she found herself standing alone, wearing a short dress in a vacant lot. When she looked upward, the rusty, faded blue hangar loomed over her like an unsightly set in a horror flick. It was not helping her current state of mind.
Nevertheless with some glimmer of hope, she scanned the hangar’s surroundings, looking for Cooper’s car. Why hadn’t she reminded him she didn’t have a car and asked him to pick her up?
Because she was independent, that was why.
Scanning the wide expanse of asphalt, she let out a relieved sigh when she spotted the trunk of Cooper’s Porsche. She stepped toward the huge hangar door, her eyes still uneasily drawn to the rusty exterior of the building.
Well, it was an adventure, at least. Stormy pulled the metal door open, and hoped she wasn’t stepping onto the set of the next crime scene in the papers.
“Hello?” she shouted. “Cooper, are you here?” The room was far too dark, giving her the shivers. Yep, she was definitely in a horror flick.
There was no response. She was growing irritated. Deciding to go back outside and return the way she came, she reeled when two arms wrapped around her. The shriek she let out vibrated off the metal walls. Her heart thudded, until she inhaled deeply and the sweet smell of his familiar cologne filled her nose. Her panic ebbed but not her irritation.
“I was getting frustrated,” she said.
“I’m trying to surprise you, woman. Now be silent,” he said with laughter in his voice.
She was about to reply when his hands slid across her stomach and down her thighs before coming back up and lightly tracing her breasts. Her breath panted out. The darkness of the room, his hands, the husky sound of his breath right below her ear—all played a part in making her knees shake.
His hands suddenly stopped their movement and she began to protest when his fingers brushed back her hair. Then she felt the familiar touch of cool silk against her cheeks as he covered her eyes.
“No peeking,” he whispered, his hot breath sliding along her ear a second before his teeth gently nipped the spot.
Passion erupted inside her as he pushed against her back and she felt his arousal. He stroked the flame as he softly began kissing her exposed shoulder, moving across the sensitive skin as his tongue darted out.
Moaning, she tilted her head to the side, exposing her neck for easier access. Cooper quickly took the cue and moved around in front of her, where his lips then dipped into the V of her dress.
Although she’d been hungry when she’d arrived, thoughts of food were completely forgotten as he continued to work his magic. But then just as quickly as he’d begun, he pulled away.
“Come with me.”
“If we have to,” she replied breathlessly, not even caring if she sounded like a pouting child.
Cooper carefully guided her through the dark, then stopped. She heard a muddled clicking noise, and then the once quiet room was filled with a loud buzzing sound as the massive hangar door opened.
Still holding her arm, Cooper guided her outside, onto the pavement of the tarmac.
Goose bumps covered her skin as the crisp evening air flowed over her.
“You look absolutely exquisite, Stormy. The things I want to do to you . . .” he trailed off.
“I wish I could say the same about you, but I can’t see,” she said with a nervous laugh.
“I like keeping you blindfolded,” he said as he kissed her neck again.
“Well, you’re going to have to let me in on the surprise,” she told him. “Where exactly are we going?” She heard the rumble of large jets filling the otherwise quiet night, and the pungent smell of exhaust slightly tickled her nose.
“Be patient,” Cooper said, as he took her hand and began walking once again. “We’re almost there.”
Patience was one thing that Stormy didn’t have. But for some reason, when Cooper spoke, she wanted to give him anything he asked for. That could be a problem—a big, fat problem.
“You know, Stormy, the only thing that can even come close to getting me to stop thinking about you is flying. But even then, it’s a struggle not to let myself get caught up in thoughts of you naked and underneath me so I can do my job,” he said, making her body throb.
“I’m all for finding a bed,” she said, satisfied when he took in a sharp breath of air.
“I’m going to ignore that for now,” he said through what sounded like clenched teeth. “We’re here. I’ve been wanting to share something with you for a while.”
He took off the blindfold and Stormy gazed at the plane before her.
“I’m going to take you up in my baby,” he said, excitement beaming off him.
“Oh . . .my,” she gasped.
Stormy looked at Cooper’s large, twin-engine Cessna airplane. Oddly shaped, the aircraft had an elongated nose and a large tail section. The body was lined with round porthole windows. Immaculate white paint covered the metal skin with small sky-blue accents adorning the wingtips, nose, and tail. A bold navy-blue stripe lay against the lines of the aircraft. The combination of metal, plastic, and fabric came together to create a true testament of modern aviation.
Stormy’s stomach sank. Soaring heights had always made her nervous. The peaks of tall trees, cliff edges, the crests of waterfalls, and the view from small airplanes all made her terribly uneasy.
“I’m not the biggest fan of small planes,” she told him.”
Cooper looked at her with worry. She could see it was unfathomable to him that anyone would be afraid of taking the beautiful piece of machinery out for a spin. She didn’t want to disappoint him, but she didn’t know if she could do it.
“She isn’t exactly what I’d call small. A glider plane is small,” he told her with a smile.
“It’s a lot smaller than a 747,” she pointed out.
“A lot of people fear personal aircrafts, but once you’re up, they aren’t scary anymore.”
“I’m having a hard time believing you on this one,” she told him.
“How about this? We’ll get inside and sit down. If you panic, I won’t even start the engine. If you feel comfortable after a few minutes, then we’ll rev it up. At any point, you can tell me you’re done and I’ll stop, no hurt feelings, and no pushing you. I promise not to do anything you can’t handle,” Cooper said, while nodding his head toward the craft.
“You promise we can stop if I ask?”
“Absolutely,” he said as he looked at her with encouragement.
“I guess . . .” she said, and he didn’t give her a chance to back out of the first step—getting on the actual plane. He gripped her hand and moved forward.
With reluctance, she followed him behind the wing.
A quick flip of the handle and a slight tug was all it took for the entry to swing open. Folding outward, the stairs and door, all in one, came down. Cooper placed his foot on the bottom step, ensuring it was locked in place.
“Ladies first,” Cooper said as he leaned forward and motioned for her to climb inside.
She took a few steps back. “I’m trying here,” she said.
“All you have to do is look inside, remember. I won’t start the engines unless you tell me it’s okay. You’ll see that it’s actually just like a car, only with wings. There’s nothing to it. We’ll be perfectly safe.”
Still unsure, she peered around the corner, poking her head into the opening but not stepping inside. Looking up and down the cabin, she could see tan leather seats, plush carpet, and a small set of blinds over the circular windows.
Cooper bounded up the steps ahead of her, and with a grin, he stretched out his hand. “Do you trust me?”
Reflecting on the topic of trust, she soon realized she had no reason to doubt him. A strange confidence overtook her fear as she again looked deeply into Cooper’s sapphire eyes.
“Yes, I do,” she said, a little surprised at the calm settling inside her. She removed her heels, grabbed his hand, and climbed aboard.
As they began to get situated in the flight deck, Stormy’s dress snagged on the seat. Baffled as to why he’d requested she wear a dress, she couldn’t resist questioning him.
“Tell me again why I wore a dress for a plane ride?”
“Because, beautiful woman, I’m taking you out for a nice dinner when we land,” he replied.
“Dinner? Where?”
“It’s a surprise.”
Knowing Cooper was busy with prepping the plane for flight, Stormy sat quietly and watched him work. He held a checklist with one hand, mumbling a few audible words with the primary ones being
checked
and
set
.
As if conducting a symphony he moved or adjusted what seemed like every knob, button, and switch in the plane’s flight deck. Entranced by the show, Stormy continued to sit patiently, letting her imagination run wild. It flip-flopped from dirty to clean and back to dirty again with ease.
“I’m going to start her up,” he said, giving her a minute to tell him no if she wanted.
“Okay.”
She really was a lot more comfortable. It did boil down to her trusting him. And she did.
Cooper finished by tuning the radio to talk with air traffic control and informed them he was ready to start. Opening the small side window, Cooper placed his face close to the opening and yelled, “Clear prop.” With one single motion he engaged the starter and pushed up the throttles to feed fuel to the starving engines.
The plane vibrated with harmonious rhythm as both engines began to stabilize. These vibrations only fueled Stormy’s confused emotions, not knowing if it was anticipation or anxiety of the upcoming flight.
Nonetheless, her heart was beating rapidly and strong enough to be felt at her fingertips. Her right hand clamped tightly around the armrest perched on the outer door and her left was hanging onto Cooper’s inner thigh.
“Whoa, not quite so tight, there.”
Stormy realized her nails were probably drawing blood and released her grip with a faint “Sorry.”
Cooper smiled as he started to taxi the airplane across the tarmac and toward the runway. “It’ll be all right,” he assured her, placing a hand on her exposed leg.
Stormy soon realized that she wasn’t the only one enjoying the moment as she moved her hand a bit farther up his thigh. It seemed her previous assumption about making him bleed might prove impossible, as all his blood seemed to be flowing elsewhere.
The glare of the setting sun over the end of the runway reflected on the slightly dull windshield as Cooper maneuvered the plane in perfect alignment with the runway centerline.
The brakes moaned as Cooper stopped to perform the final checks before takeoff. Once he was sure they were ready, he took Stormy’s hand and placed it on the throttle. With her hands cupped within his, in a single smooth motion he gingerly guided her arm forward, advancing the throttle to takeoff power.
The twin engines responded almost simultaneously to the rush of fuel, bringing them to a deafening roar. Stormy’s heart raced with anxiety over the task she was performing. Unlike the previous vibrations, the plane now shuddered and surged like a creature trying to break free from its bonds.
As if to free it from captivity, Cooper released the brakes. Responding with a leap forward, the rapid acceleration of the Cessna immediately pinned Stormy back into her seat. Trying to calm her nerves, she moved her gaze out the side window, where she watched the hypnotic pattern of the lights that lined the runway as they passed faster and faster under the wing and out of sight.
“All right, here we go,” Cooper said as he gently pulled back on the plane’s yoke.
Like an eagle flying high into the sky, the plane’s nose rose effortlessly above the horizon. The loud spinning of tires on pavement turned into the steady buzz of electric motors as the wheels retracted into their bay. Stormy likened the deafening sound of rushing air to the roar of water over a rocky edge.
Feeling her heart pounding in her throat, Stormy concentrated on the ever-dwindling landscape below. The rooftops that lined the runway became smaller and smaller, then faded from view.
“See? Not so bad,” Cooper shouted over the engine’s noise, while smiling a bit. Pulling back even farther, Cooper banked the plane to head out over the waters of Puget Sound.
Stormy’s fears began to melt away as Cooper flew the plane effortlessly over the shimmering water below them and they seemed to dance on the wispy clouds.
The flight deck was lit only by the subtle green glow of the instrument panel and the occasional bright surge of light from the wingtip strobes. Below her was a vast expanse of twinkling lights.
The tall office buildings, still lit up as people hadn’t yet gone home for the day, and the layout of surrounding suburbs created fantastic designs of light. Highways, side streets, and city roads were filled with white and red flowing lights of traveling cars like blood flowing through the city’s concrete veins.
Cooper made a large sweeping turn to the left and continued flying through the sky. The view below faded in and out of darkened countryside and small lit communities.
Stormy turned from the window, looking at Cooper, his tanned skin glowing with the dim flight deck lights. She watched as his muscles flexed with every correction he made to the yoke. She could do anything, face the scariest of her fears, with him beside her. That was a sobering thought. Maybe she was now forever lost to Cooper Armstrong. It might just be too late for her to ever let him go.