14. Flynn
Chapter Fourteen
FLYNN
Angling my plane in the air, I looked ahead at the glacier tucked between two mountain peaks, glowing and otherworldly blue under the sunshine. I heard a few oohs and aahs from the back of the plane and angled to the side to offer a better view. I was flying along the mountains encircling Kachemak Bay before returning to Diamond Creek.
Most of this area was undeveloped, especially on the far side of the bay. There were a few Alaska Native villages scattered on the shores, along with Seldovia, which was one of the oldest towns in the area.
I’d flown this group to Seldovia for the morning to tour the picturesque little town. Inside of a half hour, I had landed and taxied the plane into the hangar after everyone disembarked. It was late afternoon, and I went through my usual routine of checking everything on the plane before leaving for the day. I was putting a few things away in our storage room there when I heard someone call my name.
Leaning my head out, I saw Elias approaching. “In here,” I called.
His head swiveled in my direction, the sound of his footsteps echoing in the cavernous space as he crossed to me. Stopping inside the doorway and resting his shoulder on the frame, he asked, “How many trips do we have tomorrow?”
“Four. I have you slated to take two. That gonna work?”
Elias nodded. “Yeah. Just sorting my schedule mentally. My mom’s flying in tomorrow evening.”
“Oh, that’s right. She’s staying out at the resort, right?”
“Of course. Be prepared for her to be as nosy as usual,” he offered with a chuckle.
“She flying in to Diamond Creek or Anchorage?”
“All the way to Diamond Creek. I arranged her flights.”
“She’ll be glad to see you.” I zipped up my day bag and slung it over my shoulder. “You drive or ride with Gabriel?”
“I hitched a ride with him this morning. I was hoping I could hitch a ride back with you.”
“You know you don’t even need to ask,” I replied as we turned and walked out together. “You mind if I stop and get some coffee?”
“Of course not.”
A few minutes later, we were in line at Red Truck Coffee. Cammi was noticeably absent today, and the guy she had covering for her looked a bit overwhelmed. When we got to the front of the line, Elias was short with him.
Catching the guy’s eyes, I quipped, “Don’t take it personally. He’s just out of sorts because Cammi isn’t here.”
I heard Elias almost choke on his coffee and turned to whack him on the back helpfully. “I’m sure she’ll be back tomorrow, right?”
The guy nodded. “Yeah, she’s moving, so she’s got me here while she rounds up people to help her with that. She’ll be back bright and early tomorrow. I hope the coffee is okay.”
I took a swallow. “Delicious, as always.” I slid the kid an extra tip.
Elias remained silent throughout this exchange. When we got back in my truck, he said, “Fuck you.”
I arched a brow and started my truck. “You don’t wanna fuck me; you wanna fuck Cammi.”
“Yeah, just like you wanna fuck Daphne.”
Elias never pulled any punches, and this was not the first time he’d given me shit about Daphne.
Little did he know I’d been insane enough to act on my totally inappropriate and ridiculous attraction to Daphne. A jolt sizzled through me at the mere mention of Daphne, and I instantly recalled her body shuddering in my arms. I didn’t know what I’d been thinking that night. I suppose I hadn’t been thinking. At all. Even worse, I was coming to regret that I hadn’t taken things all the way. Some stupid and misplaced sense of honor stopped me and held me in check.
Now, I didn’t know if I’d ever get that chance again. I did know the chemistry wouldn’t fucking quit between us. I focused on the road as I turned. “So what if I do? You’re not Cammi’s boss. You can have your way with her. Plus, I think she likes you too.”
Elias narrowed his eyes at me when I glanced his way. “For fuck’s sake, don’t you dare turn into a matchmaker.”
I chuckled. “I could say the same to you.”
I felt his shrug. “Whatever. Plus, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal that you’re Daphne’s boss. It’s not like there’s an HR department to chase you down.”
As I slowed to turn onto the road that would lead us to the highway, the sound of a honking horn drew my attention. Looking to my left, I saw my sister Nora waving madly in her truck with Daphne in the passenger seat.
I stared a beat too long, and Elias interjected, “See? One look at her and you’re stunned.”
Turning, I cuffed him lightly on the shoulder. “Fuck you.”
“You don’t wanna fuck me; you wanna fuck Daphne.” He laughed as he threw my own words back at me. With him laughing too hard, I lifted a hand to wave at Nora and Daphne, biting my cheeks to keep from wondering aloud where they were going.