Page 7 of Pirate

“I forgot my phone,” she grumbled.

He looked her up and down. “You also didn’t pay for your dress.”

“It’s already paid for,” she told him. “But I probably should change so I don’t ruin it.”

“Which probably would have been a smart thing to dobeforeyou ran off half-cocked to the airport.” Sophia was going to argue but Pirate suddenly gasped, “Oahu?! What the fuck? Why are we going to Hawaii?”

“Because that’s where Jazz’s mom is,” Sophia told him, stepping forward as the line moved. “Woman can’t bother to come to her own daughter’s bridal dress fitting because it would have messed up her fucking vacation.”

“To Hawaii?” he repeated, aghast.

Sophia nodded. “Yup.”

After a moment, he said slowly, “My mom wasn’t able to come today either.”

“But she’s been involved,” Sophia argued. “Your mom’s awesome. She helps Jazz out when she needs it, offers her opinion but doesn’t do it in a way that makes Jasmine feel pressured. Your mom was there when Jazz bought her dress. Whereas Jazz’s own mother couldn’t bother to attendanyof her shopping trips or fittings. So far, everything Jazz has chosen for her wedding has been wrong. From the location to the date to her fucking dress… I’m sick of it.”

Sophia heldout her ticket for Pirate to hold. “Here.” He had no idea where she was hiding anything on that dress that she only needed him to hold her ticket stub.

Sophia bent to unlace her high tops. Then she swiveled around to unlace his boots. When she stood up, her hair was in her face. Pirate had the oddest urge to help move it for her. Instead, he carefully walked with his unlaced boots forward. He tucked both of their tickets into his inside jacket pocket.

As they got up to the security counter, Pirate pulled out his medical card and veteran identification card. He knew that Sophia knew about his leg. She’d been around their apartment too much not to know, but he couldn’t recall if she’d ever seen him without his prosthetic attachment. She’d come into his room once without permission to talk to him. He’d still been in bed and the covers would have hidden his missing limb—as well as his naked ass.

It was strange, the self-conscious feeling that came over him as he was ushered over to a different area. The TSA man waved a wand over him before Pirate was instructed to sit down and remove his leg for it to go through the x-ray machine along with his shoes, jacket, wallet, phone, and keys. He caught the eye of a little boy in line behind him who watched in raptured fascination. Pirate winked at the kid.

He’d gotten over the initial shame of his injury a long time ago. In a weird, twisted way, concentrating on taking care of Jumper had helped with that. Pirate had followed Marshall to Mount Grove as soon as he’d gotten out of the hospital. Other than his own physical therapy, there’d been little time to concentrate on his own injury.

Yet, he couldn’t help but glance out of the corner of his eye at Sophia to see if she was looking at him or what she thought of seeing him without his prosthetic leg and foot.

The woman looked impatient but not disgusted. If it wasn’t for the fact that he had her ticket, Pirate even wondered if she would have left him to get through security on his own.

Hawaii?Fuck. He wasn’t even sure what time they were going to land or if there were any connections. He was definitely going to be missing work tomorrow.

Once TSA cleared him and Pirate was able to put his leg back onto the socket attached to his real leg, Pirate grabbed his belongings and stood.

“Chop, chop,” Sophia snapped her fingers. “We have to get to the other side of the airport and I still have to pee.”

Pirate followed grudgingly, wondering what the hell he’d just gotten himself into.

CHAPTER 2

Sophia sat back in the plush leather of the first class seat. They had one stopover in San Francisco, but they would not need to deplane there. She had thirteen hours of plushness ahead of her. Her older brother, Dallas, had tried to convince their dad to buy their own private jet. Thankfully, her dad was a practical man and did not see a need for such an expense—even if hecouldafford it. Sophia had no issue flying commercial, though she did take advantage of the more luxurious accommodations when available.

Rustling next to her made Sophia crack an eyelid open. Pirate was shifting back and forth on the seat as if he was trying to get comfortable. He’d stowed his winter jacket above them. It was the only item in their compartment because neither of them had a carryon. Sophia hoped he was better at remembering things than she was. It would not be snowing in Oahu and reaching for a jacket might not be on his mind when they landed.

The man had insisted on having the aisle seat, which she was fine with. She liked the window view anyway. Their chairs were large and spacious enough that they weren’t bumping elbows. She was looking forward to the first meal already. The ladies had been planning on taking Jasmine out for dinner after her fitting.

The rustling continued to her left.

“Oh, would you stop?” She sat up, annoyed that he was already bothering her and they hadn’t even taken off yet.

“It’s so fluffy,” he remarked. “I feel like my ass is going to fall through it if I sit back all the way.”

Sophia couldn’t help the smile on her face at the image of his ass. The mandidhave a nice one. “It won’t. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.”

The flight attendant came over to introduce herself. “My name’s Maria. Can I start either of you off with something to drink?”

“Champagne for me,” Sophia answered, “and a bottle of rum for the squirming pirate please.” At the attendant’s confused look, Sophia bent down and pulled up Pirate’s pant leg to show off the prosthetic limb. “Was bitten off by a shark,” she added sadly.

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