Page 14 of Forever Fickle

“I was afraid you’d change your mind,” he said in lieu of an apology. Opening the back door, he put his duffle bag in the back and then moved to slide into the front passenger seat, hesitating.

“Jace Sorensen,” he began, holding out a hand. “I’m sorry about the misunderstanding, but I do appreciate the ride from the airport.”

His eyes looked awfully warm, as if he was trying to be nice, and she was stunned by how light brown his eyes were.

She was an eye-person, always noticing them. Reaper had almost pitch black, dark colored eyes that made her think of his grim moniker… but Jace’s eyes were a soft, toffee brown, that made her think of caramel.

She gingerly shook his hand.

“Karen Marks,” she said quietly.

“Very nice to meet you, Karen.”

“Wish I could say the same,” she admitted, putting her car into gear to pull out of the parking spot she was in. She almost expected him to comment or make some remark to keep the bickering going back and forth, especially since he’d had enough drive and aggression to follow her out of the airport… yet he was silent.

She glanced at him, only to see him studying her.

“I’m sorry,” she said instantly, feeling embarrassed at how rude she was being to a person who’d volunteered to help out the team at Flyboys – just like she was doing… and had quit.

“You have no reason to apologize,” he said quietly.

“Why is your call sign Hot Cakes?” she asked pointedly, blushing, and regretting the words the moment they had left her mouth.

Duhhhh Karen, she thought wildly.He’s called Hot Cakes because he’s beautiful and almost too pretty for a guy.

“It was my first day at the Air Force Academy,” he began, and she saw him shake his head out of the corner of her eye as she merged onto the highway easily, listening.

“I was so nervous, so scared that I would mess something up, that I got into the wrong chow line at the mess hall. I ordered a double stack of pancakes for breakfast because it reminded me of brunch at my grandmother’s when I was a kid… only to have one of the instructors holler out behind me, ‘Hey Hot Cakes, you’re in the wrong line’– and it stuck. Everyone called me Hot Cakes from there on out… and they took my tray away, making me get in the other line,” he chuckled softly, smiling shyly at her.

Karen couldn’t help but smile, realizing that it didn’t matter how old you were, that first day of school still felt the same… grown or not. She wasn’t expecting him to give her a backstory like that.

She assumed his name was because someone thought he was good-looking – not something so wholesome as pancakes after church with his family.

Wow.

That threw her for a loop, for sure! What kind of guy labeled himself such, acted flirtatiously and outgoing, but was a good guy on the inside?

“It’s not for the reason that most people think,” Jace admitted softly. “I just really loved my grandmother’s homemade hot cakes after church on Sundays and it made me feel at home… for about two seconds.”

“Until they took it away?”

“Yeah, we sure didn’t have hot cakes in our line,” he laughed easily, glancing at her. “We got chipped beef on toast.”

“Not even close to the same thing,” she smiled, fighting back a laugh.

“Nope,” he chimed in – and hesitated. “Are you really quitting the team? I know it’s none of my business, but I can tell you that they would be devastated to lose someone that they consider one of their own – and the fact that you are there? It speaks volumes.”

Karen hedged for a moment and then sighed heavily.

“No,” she replied. “I volunteered to help as a favor to my friend, Dixie, and I know they desperately need the assistance at the office. I love the open skies, seeing the planes, and being there… but it doesn’t hurt to let them stew for a bit until we get back.”

Jace smiled at her knowingly.

“Let people draw their own conclusions as to who you are – even if they are wrong about them, right?”

“Exactly,” Karen replied and then glanced at Jace. “But don’t tell them I said that.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” he smiled, watching her.

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