Page 92 of Falling for the Playboy Pilot

33

DALTON

Janna was gone. I knew it the second my eyes opened. Not just gone from my bed, but the cabin. How weird was it that I could sense her absence? I didn’t want to think about what that meant. I grabbed the pillow she had used and brought it to my face to breathe her in. It smelled of her citrus shampoo.

Am I pissed she left without saying goodbye? I don’t know. I’m not sure what I feel.

Yesterday had been so fucking weird. It was like I woke up in the wrong body. A body with feelings and emotions. It had taken me all day to try and get right with it. And I couldn’t say I was totally okay with it. Last night had been stranger than the day.

I held her. We actually slept together. Slept. No sex. Cuddled. Spooned.

Two months ago I would have shuddered at the thought. Now, I was thinking about how I could get her back in my bed for another cuddle session. I hadn’t slept that well in a long time and I could only assume it was her presence that did it.

I’m seriously fucked up.

And I had no idea what I was going to say to Chief. I knew I owed him an explanation. He wasn’t so old and out of it he couldn’t figure out what happened, but maybe I could feign innocence. I was pretty sure everyone else knew exactly what happened. I acted like a jealous boyfriend.

I reached for my phone and saw I had several messages. One from Pickle giving me shit. Another from Laser giving me more shit along with a meme of a silverback gorilla beating its chest. And then there was one from Tanya.

I groaned. I had to see her. I didn’t want to, but I had to. It was a promise I made, and I had to keep it. I was a man of my word.

I got up, showered, and brushed away the whiskey taste that still clung to my tongue. I hadn’t gotten drunk last night, but before bed, I did have a couple more drinks. My hand fucking throbbed. It was my own fault, but damn, I had to remember I wasn’t twenty-one anymore. Fighting and drinking didn’t hit quite the same.

I texted Chief to let him know I would be in soon. I had an errand to run and since my pager never went off, I was going to assume there were no fires to deal with. He texted back right away without mentioning the fight.

Hopefully, I could avoid that little minefield.

I headed into town, going to the liquor store first. I bought the bottle of whiskey that cost too much but was definitely worth it. Then I walked across the street to the flower shop. I wasn’t picky about what I bought.

The last stop was at the little novelty shop that sold souvenirs, weird trinkets, and chocolate imported from all around the world. I spent a little extra time choosing. I glanced around, taking in the shelves crammed with souvenirs and brightly packaged candies from around the world. My eyes narrowed as I zeroed in on the chocolate section.

The shop owner, a petite woman with silver hair pulled into a loose bun, appeared from behind the counter. “Good morning, Dalton. Can I help you find something?”

“Yeah. I’m looking for something special. Chocolate. But the good stuff.”

“Ah, a man of taste! Come with me.”

She led me to the glass case filled with rows of chocolates, each packaged in elegant boxes. The labels boasted origins from Switzerland, Belgium, France, and beyond. My eyes scanned them, but none of them felt quite right.

“What’s your favorite?” I asked.

“Well, that depends. Are you looking for something rich? Smooth? Spicy? Sweet?”

“I don’t know. Something different. Unique. Something that would make a lady’s toes curl.”

She laughed and swatted at me. “Such a flirt.”

I followed her deeper into the shop. She gestured to a display of exotic chocolates, each box fancier than the last. My fingers hovered over a sleek black box labeled Dubai Gold. The packaging screamed luxury.

“Oh that one is good,” she said. “It’s infused with saffron and rosewater. A real treat.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Saffron? Isn’t that the stuff that costs more than gold?”

She nodded, her eyes twinkling. “Yes, but trust me, it’s worth it. Here, try a sample.”

She handed me a square of chocolate. I popped it into my mouth, letting it melt on my tongue. The flavors hit me in waves. It wasn’t just chocolate—it was an experience. It was unlike anything I’d ever tasted.

“Holy shit,” I muttered, savoring the last traces of it. “That’s incredible.”