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I didn’t believe Scott would play me that way, but emotions were high.
Either way, he’s ignited something in me. I am hot and bothered and I need a cold shower and to eat my emotions.
“Crap.” That’s when realization strikes. I left my purchases in the bag with Scott’s.
Chapter Four
Scott
I’d kissed Elyssa. There hadn’t been any hesitation on my part. Once I felt her in my arms, how perfectly she fit against me, there was no denying the pull.
She’d been stunned at first, her lips frozen against mine as I pressed in for our first kiss, but her shock had quickly melted away. In its place was eagerness.
Just thinking about it now had all the blood rushing below the belt. The kiss had been better than I’d ever imagined. And I’d dreamed about it a lot. Especially when I’d first joined the military.
Those long days and nights of training, missing home. The memory of Elyssa, her smile and the way she threw her head back and laughed wholeheartedly when something was really funny played over and over in my mind.
I hadn’t been aware that I’d had a crush on her until I had been away. When I thought of home, I thought of her. Almost every significant memory of my youth included her. Sure, I’d known she’d had a crush on me back then, but I’d chalked it up to big brother worship. I had—or tried—to treat her like a sister then.
It may have worked back then to shove our relationship into that category, yet now there was no way I could think of her like that. Not when I knew the taste of her, the way her curves felt against my body. No, I wasn’t feeling anything platonic or brotherly now.
The quick slapping of bare feet against hardwood floors alerts me that Logan is up. My bedroom door flies open and the little man launches himself at my bed, clawing and crawling his way up.
“Hey, buddy, you feeling better today?”
Logan doesn’t say anything, his head nodding slightly as he tucks himself into my side. He slept through most of the night, only waking once when I put more drops in his ear. Grinning down at him, I place a hand on his back and slowly begin rubbing circles.
“You excited to see Grandma today?”
“Yeah. She got me a truck.”
“Did she? Your collection is getting so big.”
“It’s gonna—gonna be huge!” he exclaims, jumping up and bouncing. My body rolls slightly with his movement but I exaggerate the quake, making him laugh and fall right back down on my chest.
After catching my breath, we scoot off the bed and begin getting ready for the day. Mom and Dad are watching the kids for me today so that I can meet up with the man who oversees the mountain rescue near town. There’s a pilot opening and I’m hoping to land the spot. It’s a full-time gig with good hours. It would allow me to have nights and weekends with the kids, only having to respond to emergency calls that needed a pilot.
God, how drastically my life had changed in the last four months. From soaring high in the sky with adrenaline pumping through my veins to having both feet firmly planted on the ground—little ones looking up to me for help and guidance. My new daily life was something I was still getting used to.
I did miss the air force and my team. I’d always believed I would be a lifer. Content to pop in and out of my family’s lives as I continued to serve my country. I didn’t think being a father and husband was in the cards for me.
One look at Logan and my life had been irrevocably changed. The all-consuming love I’d felt for my nephew when he was born still humbles me to my core every time I remember holding him in my arms for the first time. My sister beaming at me. And then Bridget came along and the feeling only grew.
A pang of grief hits me, making me fumble in my task of getting the kids ready to go to Grandma and Grandpa’s. I’m fucking furious she was taken from us and that she’ll never see her kind, thoughtful and curious children grow up. But I would do her proud and be the best guardian I could be. Her kids were mine now, and I would do absolutely anything for them.
Even if that meant giving up my career in the air force to take care of them. It was an easy decision to make. And as if she was looking down on me and helping guide me, a unique job opportunity had come my way that had me giddy with excitement.
In my distraction, I lost track of time. Cursing, I hustle through our morning routine. Reaching for the plastic pharmacy bag from last night, wanting to pack the children’s pain reliever just in case Mom didn’t have any, I pause when a heavy bottle clatters to the ground.
How the hell had I missed this last night? Elyssa must have forgotten she’d put all our purchases together in the rush to get Logan some relief.
Grinning at the opportunity this has provided me, I place the large bottle of hair conditioner and the other item in a separate bag and continue, still aware of my time crunch.
With the kids fed, dressed and washed up, we head out the door and make the twenty-minute drive to my parents’ house. They were watching Logan and Bridget for the day while I headed to the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue headquarters. I was meeting with the leader of this area’s SAR division, hoping to join the team.
The drive to my parents’ house is quiet. Logan is watching cartoons on the tablet in the back seat and Bridget is fast asleep in her car seat. When we arrive, I barely get a pat on the shoulder of hello from my parents, their attention solely on the kids and their delight to have them for the day. I give everyone quick kisses goodbye and then am off again, heading into the beautiful foliage of the mountains.
In no time at all I am rounding the gravel path that leads to the main building with a hangar to the side. My hands squeeze the steering wheel in joy when I spy a row of helicopters through the large metal doors. Fuck, that is a beautiful sight. I miss flying.
