Page 11 of SEAL's Spitfire
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The collected relieffelt at the gate was tangible. Rafe joined in that relief. They’d be taking off about three a.m. and it meant he’d be able to catch the early flight to Denver and be with his family by noon or one their time. Now he just hoped that Tex would have something for him before he said goodbye to Meghan.
“Thank God. I was starting to think I’d have to have one of these seats named after me,” Meghan said.
“We could still do it if you want. I’m game. We can write our names on the bottom of the seats.”
The look she gave him was priceless. Her lips formed into a huge “o.” “No way, you’re going to deface private property? What would your teammates say?” Her indignance cracked him up.
Smacking him in the chest, she said with a laugh, “Dang it. I should have known better, huh?”
“Ouch. You’ve got an arm on you.” It had been nothing, well not nothing. Her touch sent heat radiating across his chest. If just her slight touch could do that, he’d love to know what having her naked body against him would feel like.
“Riiiighhhhttttt. And I’ve got a bridge I can sell you too.”
“Want to sit with me on the plane? Or would you rather try to get some rest? I know you’re walking into a shitshow when you get home.” He’d surprised her again. She must not have much experience with good men. He’d never even asked if she had a boyfriend or a husband. No ring on her finger didn’t mean much these days. He’d just assumed she was available. Bad on him.
“Do you think we’ll be able to sit where we want?”
Rafe looked around at the sleepy group, he couldn’t imagine that the flight attendants would care where they sat as long as they weren’t trouble. They’d been waiting around too and were probably exhausted. “I would think so. I guess we’ll find out soon. Looks like they are getting ready to board.”
“I know I’m not supposed to, but can I leave my bag with you while I uhh run to the ladies’ room?”
“Of course. I’ll protect it with my life.”
“No doubt,” she said as she got up and walked away while still smiling. He loved making her smile and her laugh was contagious. It also gave him a chance to check his phone for messages from Tex. His pocket had vibrated a few times, but he didn’t want to check in front of Meghan.
Tex had been busy. He had four messages all from him. Scrolling through, he was surprised how much he’d managed to dig up in just a few hours. But he did get verification that it was Meghan’s brother’s group.
Replying with a few more questions and an update on his own status, he tucked the phone away before she returned but not by much. Other than the dark circles under her eyes, you’d never know she’d spent most of a day in the airport. Tiny, yes, but she wasn’t some half-starved waif. Her curves were in all the right places and made him itch to hold her again. It had been heaven to have her in his embrace for even a few moments.
If you’d asked him what his “type” was he wouldn’t have an answer. He didn’t really date, rarely saw a woman more than one or two times. His free time was valuable to him and he’d rather spend it with the guys or alone. Then he met Meghan. She was so different from any of the women he’d met, more like his sister but not really either.
There was no pretense about her. Like his sister, Dawn, what you saw is what you got. But Meghan was a lot to get. Her black hair fell in sheets around her shoulders, so dark it was like looking at a moonless sky in the desert. Pale skin told him she rarely got outside and worked too much. Her hazel eyes were the most expressive he’d ever seen. He wondered if she realized everything she was feeling, and thinking was visible in the blue-green depths.
Did he want to dull the smile that she wore as she approached him? Bringing up the news about her brother would rip it off her face faster than he could get the words out. She’d asked him to get information if possible. Would telling her now do anything to help, or just make the plane ride a living hell?
“I feel better. I apologize if my breath was a bear. My mother would have had my hide for chatting without brushing after dinner.”
“You’re fine. I swear and if I meet your mom, I promise not to tell her.” Feeling the lightness of her mood helped him make the decision. He’d hold on to his information until they got to Atlanta. She deserved a respite no matter how short.
“Thank you. I appreciate that,” she answered with a wink. Yup, holding off was definitely the right thing to do.
Chapter 5
The flight went without a hitch. All the passengers were not only allowed to sit where they chose but encouraged to sit in First Class. It somehow made the entire ordeal a little easier to swallow and the free drinks didn’t hurt either.
Meghan and Rafe chatted throughout the flight in hushed tones to not disturb the other passengers. There was something about talking in the near darkness that made it easier to share the deepest private thoughts. Sharing her greatest fear—disappointing her mother—was huge. She’d never told anyone, not even Chrissy. Her mom had always believed in her children and encouraged them to follow their dreams. But what she was doing now wasn’t even close to living her dreams. How had she let it go on for so long? Five years in a dead end job was too much.
Thinking about it, she shivered, as acid roiled in her stomach. Maybe the vodka and tonic hadn’t been a good idea.
“Are you cold? I can get you another blanket.”
“No, I’m fine. Thanks. Just a ghost walking over my grave.” She was surprised that even in the dim light he noticed the movement.
“A what?”
“You’ve never heard that expression?”
