Total pages in book: 33
Estimated words: 30983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30983 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 155(@200wpm)___ 124(@250wpm)___ 103(@300wpm)
I’m worried that Joel is going to follow in my father’s footsteps and be a flagrant pursuer of women while he’s jetting around the globe, aren’t I?
In fact, he hasn’t even left yet and my stomach is beginning to hurt, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Maybe I should make it drop sooner than later. If I find out early that he’s not good boyfriend material, I can start to get over my damaged feelings sooner. Right?
Maybe…I’ll follow him.
Just to see how he behaves at work. Because I won’t be a sucker.
He’ll never even know I was there.
But at least I’ll get some insight, won’t I?
Either a broken heart or peace of mind.
Whichever comes first.
CHAPTER 11
Joel
Ican’t believe I didn’t get a picture of her.
Haylo’s face is the one thing I want to see while sitting in the pilot’s lounge at Nashville International Airport, waiting to fly to Barcelona. Other pilots and flight attendants filter in and out of the private lounge, but they’re all a blur to me.
Instead, my mind replays images from the last twenty-four hours. Haylo walking beside me in the moonlight, bundled in my arms in the hotel room, face tearstained. That mischievous look in her eye the entire time she was determined to seduce me. The bliss on her face when I took her in the pool.
Some time and distance from the perfect distraction of her has given me time to reflect—and here is my conclusion.
If I’m going to be with Haylo—and I sure as fuck am—then commercial piloting isn’t the right profession for me anymore. For two main reasons. One, I will not be capable of spending this much time away from her. She’s burrowed herself into my heart so deep in the space of this weekend, I can only imagine what more time together will do. Turn me into even more of an obsessive madman, that’s what. I’m looking forward to it. Two, my time away makes my girl feel nervous and insecure. I flat out won’t have that.
I’ve got some ideas forming that will keep me close as possible to her, but my first order of business is speaking to Phil. Leveling with my friend is about more than respect. About more than honesty. The newly awakened authority in me that exists only for Haylo demands a full claim. Now. I don’t care if Phil is her biological father, I want her to be solely mine. I want the rights. I want the trust, the bond, the…everything.
Phone in hand, I call Phil, the line ringing three times in my ear before he answers.
“Hey, man! I can’t really talk. I’m in Logan, about to work a flight to Barcelona.”
That shocks a sound out of me. “I’m flying to Barcelona out of Nashville in an hour.”
“No shit?” He laughs, relaying the coincidence to someone in the background, probably his co-pilot. “Well, cervezas are on me tonight. I’ll see if my date can bring a lady friend for you.”
My stomach sours. “No, thank you, Phil. I’m not interested.”
“Come on. I owe you for covering for me with Haylo. Let me show you a good time.”
Based on the announcements being made on the other end, I don’t have much time to make my confession. He’s getting ready to board his plane. I could wait until we’re face to face in Spain before explaining that I’m a willing victim of love at first sight, and the target is his daughter, but I can’t seem to hold back. This feeling for her is huge and expanding inside of me by the second. I need to say something, need to make it known that she’s mine, or I’m going to go insane. “Phil, I’m in love with Haylo.” My heart beats rapidly at the sound of her name. “I’m in love with your daughter.”
A brief pause. “What the hell did you just say?”
“I think you heard me.”
An incredulous sound. “If this is a joke, it’s not funny, Joel.”
“It’s the furthest thing from a joke.” I stand up and pace in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the tarmac, possession thickening my voice. “Don’t hold your breath for an apology from me, either. An apology insinuates a relationship between Haylo and I is wrong. It’s not. It’s right for us.”
“She’s eighteen!” he sputters. “She’s my daughter!”
“And you neglected her.” Something lethal snaps in my blood. “She’s mine now. In every way. I’m going to alter my life to make hers happier, which is what you should have done a long time ago.”
“Fuck you, Joel. I can’t believe you betrayed me like this.”
“You can think of it as betrayal, or you can remember that I’m a man of integrity and honor who will move heaven and earth to make that girl happy. You can congratulate me for meeting the love of my life, instead of hating me for this.”