Page 21 of Forever Fickle

Karen reached for her plate that was still on the table where she’d been sitting not moments ago – before nodding to Jace.

“Thank you again for the company.”

“Anytime,” he said quietly.

* * *

Hours later,Karen found herself listening to Jace as he spoke in the distance as a plane whirred past the offices, indicating that Armadillo had just taken a student up for the one-on-one instructor-led flight training.

“I’m here to teach you the dynamics of how to take off and land in theory before you are up in the air. I want you to see how to line up on the runway… the horizon, what the wheels are doing, and what’s going on around you,” Jace began.

Karen slid open the window to the office that separated her line of sight from the open classroom. It was strange hearing him talk, because most of the other guys closed the door when they taught or ‘lectured’.

“We are talking about the fundamentals, the controls, and this is how I do it and how I was taught,” Jace hesitated and though he wasn’t looking at her, somehow, she knew he was fully aware she was listening in on him.

A part of her wanted to slam the window closed again or get up to shut the classroom door… but another part of her was fascinated.

“We are talking about normal takeoffs – nothing overly dramatic like launching during combat, where you just want to get in the air as fast as possible without getting shot down. Every time you take to the skies it is similar, but there is always that one time where it hits you… and you think, ‘this might be it’…”

Karen drew in her breath nervously at his words.

“It’s that singular flight you never expected that leaves you shaken… but wanting so much more for some reason you can’t explain. While it’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done, it’s also the most satisfying, because you want to give it everything in you just to feel that incredible surge again – and it’s a beautiful flight despite the chaos and fear.”

She swallowed silently, trying not to pay attention, and wondering if he was still talking about flight… or her.

Don’t be so self-centered, Karen, she thought wildly, and went back to the accounting program open on the computer, entering in the stack of bills on the desk.

“Once you hit rotation speed, keep pressure on the right rudder so you stay coordinated once the plane is off the ground,” Jace was still speaking in the distance, but the tone had changed.

It wasn’t as emotional now… it was more perfunctory. She glanced up, only to meet his gaze for a split second before he looked away – smiling.

“Always check your gauges – or you might end up surprised,” he instructed. “In a short field take off, you want to use every bit of your runway, but giving it full power and pulling off the runway without any hesitation – and then gain speed before continuing your climb.”

Karen smiled softly to herself, shaking her head, and continuing to open the envelopes before keying in the data.

As the class ended, she looked up to see Jace standing there in the doorway, watching her. Immediately she looked away, if nothing else to steel herself from fawning all over the gorgeous man.

Play it cool, Karen,she instructed silently to herself as she looked up at him.

“Class over already?”

“Yeah.”

“Then I guess you are off work,” she smiled easily, “That was the last class for today and Armadillo will be back…”

“Is it me?” he said quietly, coming around the corner of the office before sitting down in one of the chairs, watching her. “Why did you defend me this morning?”

“I don’t know,” Karen admitted openly, feeling confused. “It just didn’t seem right when there was nothing to it, you know? I mean, it wasn’t like I couldn’t handle you…” she hesitated. “They immediately think you are out to…”

Karen couldn’t even finish the sentence. She was blushing so hard – and even Jace’s cheeks reddened slightly.

“I’ve got a bit of a reputation, but that’s not me,” he said gently, watching her, and Karen was struggling not to look at him. She didn’t want to fall into those eyes, believe his lies, or end up getting hurt.

“Look, it’s nothing,” she said easily, brushing him off, and looking away, opening an envelope distractedly – unfortunately it was the bill she was getting ready to mail. Wincing, she put the envelope down and looked at him.

“… But where there’s smoke? There’s fire. If you have a reputation, it’s because there was something there at some point… but that’s your problem, not mine.”

“Give me a chance,” he said gently. “I’d like to get to know you better.”

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