Page 93 of Forever Fallen

Everyone in town was willing to help out the lovely unit of people that had established Flyboys on the outskirts. Her friend, Dixie Tarrant, had mentioned over lunch one day that she was flying to Alaska to see her new niece or nephew arrive, but felt guilty because her best friend needed help running Flyboys…

Karen volunteered.

The place looked so neat, and she was of the same fascination as most of the town – wondering what it was like to fly a plane, but terrified to do so. She had time available and could use the extra money to stash away for a rainy day. Plus, it would give her a chance to see if this was something she actually wanted to try… or not.

Apparently, Reaper had to fly back to Afghanistan because he was active duty and completely out of paid time off. Another pilot was going to be helping out for the week… before switching out with yet another airman from Thumper and Alpo’s old unit overseas.

Thumper’s wife had a baby already.

Valkyrie’s wife had her baby… Romeo was Dixie’s husband, so they were both in Juneau. Armadillo’s wife was due shortly. Alpo’s wife was pregnant… and that left Firefly – who had just gotten married.

They were in desperate need of help to keep things going.

“Mmmmmm! I love me some southern women because those are some sweet flapjacks you are bringing to the terminal.”

“Buzz off, buddy…” Karen bit out angrily in disbelief.

“Honey, if you want me to butter you up and lick the syrup off – just say so and we can leave now.”

“Pervert…” she snapped hotly, feeling her face flush with mortification as one man walking through security, right after the other, were looking at her like she was a piece of meat.

“You want some sausage with those?” an older man with a beard said to her, wagging his eyebrows before walking off and laughing.

“THAT’S SEXUAL HARASSMENT…” she hollered after him, before looking down at her clothing to make sure she didn’t have her zipper undone on her slacks or maybe her underwear sticking out of her pants.

She smoothed a hand over her blouse to make sure her bra didn’t show through the rayon material… and heard another voice much too close to her.

“You look absolutely delicious, and I’ll definitely make breakfast for us in the morning…”

“What?” she screeched in disbelief as he grabbed her arm. “Don’t touch me!”

“You’re advertising and I’m certainly willing to buy. Don’t play hard to get honey – I’m in. You don’t have to try to win me over,” he said arrogantly, taking her by the arm again.

Karen jerked her arm back and hurriedly reached in her purse for the tiny pink can of mace on her keychain.

“Whatever… you’re not worth the trouble…” he snapped, walking off the moment she brandished her can towards him.

Stunned, she looked around to see that she was being eyed by at least twenty men in the baggage claim… some lecherously and others with avid curiosity.

Karen felt her face getting hot with embarrassment and perhaps this request of her boss was a bit much? She hadn’t thought so when he asked! She had flown out of DFW and Love Field several times,neverreceiving treatment like this.

She was a teacher for goodness’ sake!

Everything she owned was modest and she was very careful of her attire after her first year of teaching when her skirt got tucked into her slip. Oh yes, that was a very hard lesson learned. She switched to slacks, dress shirts, comfortable shoes – no heels, and wore nothing attention getting or that could get snagged on something.

Now her biggest threat was ink, chalk, markers, or sticky hands from a loving child…

“Hot Cakes?”

Karen was livid.

She turned, looked at the gorgeous man who was smiling at her, and saw red. Flinging the sign at him, she stormed off towards the parking garage.

Nothingwas worththis!

She would just call one of the managers on duty, telling them that they would need to have someone else come and pick up Jace Sorenson.

Getting out her phone… she heard someone yelling behind her.

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