Page 27 of The Wedding Toast
The pilots who flew for Jacob were really nice.Trick was a bit older, but he was so chill – Callie loved him.And Elliott was cool, too.He was a big old flirt, but there was something quieter about him as well.His flirting was onlyfun, and he felt… safe.That was the word.
She stood up a little straighter.This Ollie must be safe as well.Otherwise, Becca wouldn’t have let him come for her.
She hitched the strap of her duffel higher on her shoulder and stepped forward out of the shadow of the building.When she saw him get out, she took a few steps but then falteredwhen he turned around.
Wow.Safe or not, he was definitely sexy.
She’d been expecting a pilot’s uniform – but only because that’s what Trick and Elliott had worn.It didn’t make sense for Ollie to dress that way in the small plane he was flying.But still, she wasn’t prepared for the ball cap, the T-shirt – or the way it showcased his lean, but muscular build.
As he turned to look back at the runway then up at the sky, she let her gaze linger on his denim-clad butt – and took the time to appreciate that he was wearing jeans rather than black slacks.
She wished she hadn’t stepped out from the shadow of the building now.He’d see her as soon as he turned back around.But from the casual way he shoved his hands in his pockets and looked around, she guessed that since he hadn’t seen her right away, he’d decided that she was late, even though she’d arrived fifteen minutes early, as she did most places.But there was no way that he could know that.
She sucked in a deep breath and blew it out slowly.She was nervous about being around Jacob’s fancy friends – Becca kept telling her that they were lovely and she’d get along with them all, but she wasn’t so sure about that.She mostly preferred her own company lately.
But Ollie had been kind enough to come out here to get her.She was sure he’d be getting paid, but it wasn’t really his job.She could treat him as a kind of halfway step – he wasn’t one of the wine country royalty, but he was still a pilot – she could practice small talk with him.
With that decided, she pulled the lapels of her jacket a little closer together as she continued toward him and called, “Hi, are you Ollie?”
He spun around and seemed to freeze for a moment before raising his sunglasses over the bill of his cap and resting them there as he gave her one hell of a sexy smile and came toward her.
“I am.And you’re Callie?”
“That’s me.”
It was hard to drag her eyes away from his lips; they were full, and the way they curved up into that smile did strange things to her tummy.
“Oh!”She came back to her senses when he held out his hand.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
She wanted to roll her eyes at herself as she pumped his hand up and down like a crazy person.“You too.And thanks so much for coming to get me.I could have driven – I told Becca that.”
“She told us you’d said so, but why should you have to drive when everyone else is being flown in?”
She held his gaze for a moment, wondering if he really didn’t know.It seemed that he didn’t.“Well, for one thing, I live so close – it’s not that much of a drive.And for another” – she glanced over at the small plane he’d arrived in – “this is hardly convenient for you, is it?The big plane wouldn’t even fit here.”
“None of that’s a factor.You’re the bridesmaid, and you deserve special treatment.”
The way he said it made it sound as though those were two independent facts – and she liked that.Even though it was probably just her imagination.
She shrugged, not knowing what to say.
“Are you ready to go?”
“I am.Do you need to do anything first?Fill her up or …” She bit down on her bottom lip.She’d been about to saygo pee?But that was none of her damn business, and it had only come to mind because that small plane couldn’t have a bathroom like the jet did.
Ollie gave her a puzzled smile.“Are you worried?Scared of flying?I promise you I have plenty of fuel to get us back safe.”
She shook her head rapidly.“No, I’m not scared at all.I’m excited.I just didn’t know how it worked – if you needed to do anything before we take off again, or if you need me to do anything.”
He grinned.“You don’t need to do anything – other than sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.Here, let me take that for you.”
When he held his hand out, she just stared, not knowing what he wanted.
“Your bag?”
“Oh.Right.”She let it slide down from her shoulder.His hand brushed hers when he took it from her, and her gaze flew up to his.He met her with that same sexy smile.
