Page 10 of One Kind Hand

Of course that made Harlon sprint faster and his long legs took him alongside her in no time.

“What in the fuck happened to you?” He let his gaze comb over her. “And why hasn’t it happened sooner? You’re hot.”

She shoved him. “Shut up, Harlon. I’ve always been hot and most definitely out of your league.”

He put his hands up. “Fair enough. You’re probably right, but couldn’t we check just to be sure?”

“Absolutely not. I’m on a schedule here and last I checked Hell had not frozen over.”

Harlon let out a loud guffaw. “I see the vinegar hasn’t been drained out of you even if you’re container has improved.”

“Nope.” She reached her chopper then gave Harlon a glare. “Are you still here?”

“I’m not done looking yet.”

“Yes. You are.” She shoved him again.

“Maybe the next time you see me, I’ll be all gussied up too and you’ll be the one doing the looking.” He widened his stance, his faded jeans covered in grease smears and stuffing poking out of a hole in his jacket sleeve. Harlon probably would be attractive if he cleaned up.

And never talked.

But keeping quiet wasn’t one of his strengths so Charlie had dismissed him as potentially date-worthy eons ago. He also had the misguided notion that women belonged anywhere but in an airfield. She hated to disappoint him, but he was dead wrong about that.

Actually . . . she didn’t hate to disappoint him. She rather enjoyed it.

Fortunately, another pilot called Harlon’s name and after one more eyeful, he walked off, leaving Charlie just enough time to do her preflight checks and get the hell out of there.

Flying over Vermont was always a pleasure at any time of year. The mountains, fields, and small bodies of water dotting the landscape made for a picturesque aerial view. The deciduous trees were mere sticks right now as winter approached, but the evergreens still let Vermont live up to its nickname of The Green Mountain State.

Today was clear with a nice blue sky, sunshine sparkling in ponds and lakes as Charlie made her way to Montpelier. It was a short flight so she arrived in no time, finding the designated airfield Janice had sent her in the emails and setting down her chopper. She shut down then wiped her clammy palms on her new cargo pants.

“Shit.” Wet spots on her thighs were no better than slick palms. “Breathe, idiot.” That was great advice until she squinted out the cockpit window and saw him.

Austin Rayhill.

Emerging from a small building.

Sunglasses covering his eyes.

Sun glinting off the golden highlights in his brown hair.

Sexy personified.

Charlie had a fight-or-flight moment as she gazed at Austin. What was she doing? How had she let Isabel talk her into this? Why had she put on lip gloss? So many doubts and questions cycled through her mind and she nearly fired up her chopper and took to the skies again to make her escape.

But another guy in a suit came out of the building and stood next to Austin, followed by a woman in a cute rust orange pea coat, and they both waved at her. She’d been seen. Too late to disappear now.

She opened the door and hopped out, trying to land as gracefully as possible. All she had to do was be her normal Cool Charlie Moyen self. She didn’t need to pretend to be anything else.

“Cody Kirkland, talent agent,” the man beside Austin said, extending his hand to her. “You must be Charlene Moyen, yes?”

“Call me Charlie.” She shook his hand. See. I can be chill. Chill Charlie.

“Nice to meet you, Charlie.” Cody gestured to the woman. “This is Janice Cross from Flicka Entertainment. I believe you two spoke already.”

“Yes.” Charlie shook Janice’s hand. “Pleasure.”

“Welcome to the Flicka family,” Janice said with a warm smile.