Page 2 of My All American Girl

“Sarah, this is Dean Ryker,” my father said, breaking the spell. “He’s one of the finest pilots the Air Force has ever seen.”

I nodded dumbly, unable to tear my gaze away from Dean’s piercing green eyes.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sarah,” he said, his voice smooth as an expensive whiskey.

“The pleasure is all mine,” I squeaked out, mentally kicking myself for sounding so awkward.

But Dean just smiled, a crooked grin that sent my heart racing even faster. I was sure he was used to women drooling all over him. He was beyond sexy, and he had to know it. It really wasn’t fair to the rest of us mere mortals.

My father was pulled away to talk with more of his admirers. I found myself lingering near Dean, desperate to keep talking to him.

Say something, Sarah. Say anything!

“Congratulations on your graduation,” Dean said, saving me from having to think of something.

“Thank you,” I said, suddenly gushing. “That means a lot coming from you. I mean, you’re you. You’re a legend. But you’re real. And you’re here. At my graduation. Telling me congraduations—I mean congratulations.” My words tumbled over each other in my eagerness. “You’re such an inspiration to me. To all of us. Hell, I even had a poster⁠—”

My father placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder before I could embarrass myself by mentioning the poster of Ryker I had on my bedroom wall. Why the hell had I been about to tell him that?

“We’re all very proud of you today, Sarah,” my father said.

My cheeks burned as I stared at the ground. Why couldn’t I keep my cool around him? Guys never had this effect on me. Usually, I was the one making them nervous. But Ryker was just so damn impressive. He was the only pilot I knew that used his last name as his call sign. No one else was that cool. Everyone else had to use a name typically given to them.

“Your father speaks highly of you, Sarah,” Ryker said. “And thank you for all the kind words. I’m sure we’ll meet again someday. Maybe even in the air.”

With a slight nod, he began to walk away.

“Ryker, hold up a second,” Dad said. “I need to talk to you about something.”

I took that as my cue to leave them alone. My dad often had these private conversations. I was used to being told it was classified or above my rank. I rushed away to join Maddie. She had been watching the exchange with wide eyes.

“Did you see that?!” I squealed.

Maddie fanned herself dramatically, pretending to swoon. “That man could target me with his heat-seeking missile anytime,” Maddie joked, her eyes twinkling. “Seriously, that is the hottest man I’ve ever seen.”

Dean Ryker was indeed the epitome of perfection. We watched him talk with my dad, neither of us able to quit staring at the man’s broad shoulders or steely-eyed gaze. He moved with an easy agility, as graceful on the ground as in the air.

“I wonder if he’s good in bed,” Maddie mused aloud.

I shoved her. “Don’t say that!”

She laughed. “Uh, like you weren’t thinking it. Have you seen how he handles a jet? Imagine what he could do with your body. I’m imagining it right now and it brings a tear to my eye. And it’s not just my eyes getting damp.”

“I can’t believe you just said that,” I hissed, glancing around to make sure no one had overheard Maddie’s scandalous comment.

She just grinned wickedly, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “I’m just saying, I should have joined the Navy because I need a wetsuit with that man around.”

“Stop!” I laughed and shook my head. “You can’t put those thoughts in my head or I’ll never be able to talk to him again without blushing.”

“Your dad knows him?”

“My dad knows everyone,” I said with a sigh.

Maddie nodded. “Which means Dean Ryker is off limits.”

“Exactly.”

“But not for me,” she said with a grin. “My dad isn’t going to care if I grab his stick and go full throttle.”