Chapter 18
18
JADE
It’s been over two weeks since I called in a favor with one of the squadrons on base and waved my lovely mom off on a plane from the airfield on base.
The night before Mom flew home, I pulled an all-nighter, calling, emailing, and filling out copious amounts of paperwork to get her back safely. And with little to no sleep, I’m surprised I managed training the next day. Luckily for me, it was a ground training day, where we amended some of our maneuvers and discussed our flying and media schedules for the upcoming weeks ahead, as well as any functions we have been invited to attend; which is lots, apparently.
Mom was home after surgery within three days, and Aunt Babs assures me she is continuing to do well in her physiotherapy sessions and getting around just fine. “You’re doing that tongue sticking out of your mouth thing when you concentrate.” Gregor knocks his shoulder into mine as I stare at my phone, and he sits down beside me.
Knowing he’s right, I pull my tongue back into my mouth as the rest of the team joins us in the break room. It’s getting increasingly hot as we approach summer in Cyprus, and following our morning flying, we’re back to have a break, rehydrate and eat before our midday slot. I don’t know about everyone else, but flying makes me hungry.
“I’ve not found a nanny yet,” I say half-heartedly, scanning my eyes over yet another resume the agency sent me to look at. None of them have been right for the position. It’s a huge ask to assume someone would be 100 percent flexible; work nights, travel with me, travel without me, and meet me in different countries.
The panic of still not having arranged any nanny interviews for next week when I’m back in the UK is turning into fear, overshadowed by enormous amounts of anxiety; who will look after Poppy?
Every part of me wants to ask Owen to do the role full-time. He’s incredible with her and I love watching them together. I can’t remember what life was like before him. He’s organized and ensures Poppy has an activity booked every day. He takes her to the park, loves going to the soft play center with her and he’s the best manny any girl could wish for. He never complains when she grumbles in the night either, getting up to see to her, telling me to go back to sleep as I have work the next morning.
The man has stolen my heart. And Poppy’s.
He’s amazing. Period. And I have seriously fallen in love with him.
But can I ask him to put his plans on hold for us?
Would he do that?
I am way too nervous to ask him. I don’t want him to think that I am taking advantage of his jobless and homeless situation, because that’s not why I would ask him .
I trust him with her.
I never want him to think that’s the only reason I want him around.
But he has his own life to live and his own dreams to chase. I can’t let my career take over his. But if I don’t find a nanny, I’m going to have to ask Aunt Babs for the interim, and that does not sit well with me at all. I feel like I’m taking advantage.
Of everyone.
I’m definitely getting pushed off the team if I don’t find a solution soon.
I pop the last of my halloumi and bacon roll into my mouth, and moan as the salty flavor bursts against my tongue. There’s no denying it. Halloumi tastes better in Cyprus than it does anywhere else in the world.
Sliding my phone onto the table, I put my head in my hands and rest my elbows against the table. I lick my lips to dust the crumbs of my sandwich off them and blow out a shaky breath as I stare at the resume on my screen. If this one—I glance at her name: Iris—if Iris can’t do every third weekend of the month, then she’s not suitable. “I need a nanny, stat.”
One by one, the guys join us around the table.
“Why?” asks Spike.
I roll my eyes as if it’s not obvious why I need one. “Because I have a baby, Spike.”
“Duh,” someone says, making everyone laugh.
“But you have a nanny.” Spike’s brows wrinkle.
I sigh. “For the time we are here, Spike.” What then?
Sometimes these guys exasperate me. It’s all good and well for them. They have their wives back home, seeing to childcare and managing their households, but I don’t have a partner to help me .
Although Owen did say he would follow me wherever I go.
Not used to having a partner travel with me or give up everything to be with me, I can’t help but hold on to that thought to bolster my hope for our future together and I can’t believe someone would do that for me. Especially after Michael ran at the first opportunity.
And while my team are amazing, I carry more responsibilities than most of them because they’re also unaware of Cobra’s advances toward me. They couldn’t know because I’ve told no one.
Since the incident at the hospital, two weeks ago, he’s been a little better, keeping his distance and not making excuses to be alone with me, but I’ve caught him watching me and he’s always helicoptering around me when he doesn’t have a reason.
It’s enough to have me on edge, knowing he could make a move at any time. My mind reminds me of the time, not long after I split up with Michael, when he cornered me in the break room and made it clear that he was into me.
Not long after the incident, I found out I was pregnant, and they moved me to an administrative role. And while I remained within the squadron, I was far enough away to avoid Cobra at all costs.
Since my return, on more than several occasions, he’s tried to get me alone.
To protect myself, I always ask someone to accompany me in meetings so it’s not just him and me. It’s not been easy to navigate, and I don’t want to rock the boat, but I do it to protect myself.
I love this job and want to fulfill my full term on the display team.
It’s worrying to think Cobra has so much power, especially when he made it clear he did me a favor , persuading the drafting clerk who allocates postings to hold my position open for an extra two flying seasons to accommodate my time away on desk duties and maternity leave.
He likes to remind me that, at the snap of his fingers, he could take my dream job away from me and have me return to my fast jet squadron. Although he hasn’t mentioned this since the hospital, so I am praying this is a good sign.
However, if I don’t find a nanny soon, I’m guessing he will make good on his promise to cut me from the team.
How did I ever think returning to a flight squad traveling every week was ever going to work as a single mom?
Anyway, I have a bigger problem than Cobra to solve first; like finding a flexible au pair.
I inhale a deep breath while sending a quick email to the agency asking if they have any other options. I close my phone and push it further away from me. I’ve looked at around twenty applicants so far.
I stretch out my neck left and right as Arlo joins us. “I heard you talking about your childcare problems. Why not keep your new nanny? He’s hot.” Arlo takes a large swig of his water.
“I’ll let Oliver know you said that… you know, your boyfriend.” I hitch a brow.
“Oh, he knows already. I sent him a photo I took of Owen at the pool. Yeah, Gregor’s cousin is hot.” He swoons, eyes twinkling as if picturing him fresh in his mind.
“I’m being overlooked. I’m not exactly an ugly bastard.” Gregor scans his eyes around the table, making everyone laugh. He’s not ugly, not even in the slightest. But Owen? Well, Owen makes my insides go all gooey and my legs feel like Jell-O when I’m around him.
And then there’s that thing he does with his tongue behind my ear as he counts down and begs me to come on command, which is hotter than a volcanic eruption. Not to mention, no man has ever had the ability to turn my usual sharp brain cells into sponge when he’s eating me out. What that man can do with his tongue is as surprising as it is pleasurable.
How I’m still able to walk after having him fuck me on every surface and piece of furniture in the villa, I will never know.
Having not had Mom around for two weeks, once Poppy goes to bed, it’s as if a new level of Owen has been unlocked, filling me with his cock every hour of every night. I’m not complaining. Having someone who desires you and looks at you the way he does me, as if I stole the stars out of the sky for him, is oddly addictive, and the way he kisses me breathless makes me crave him all the more.
As I float off somewhere on a flying carpet through rainbow-colored clouds thinking about Owen, a hand waves in front of my face, bringing me back to reality.
“I think we lost her.” The team chuckles. “She’s loved up.”
While the guys openly talk about their relationships, I like to keep my personal life exactly that— personal—so I never share, but maybe I should.
“I really like him,” I whisper, not sure if I am doing the right thing. Embarrassment colors my cheeks.
Arlo leans across the table and lays his hand over mine. “We know.”
My eyes meet at least a dozen pairs. “Do you like him?” Knowing how much we all mean to each other and how tight we are, approval from them is everything.
“We love him, ma’am.” Arlo pats my hand. “He’s incredible with Poppy.”
They all know how Michael created a whole new brand of selfish, not wanting to be part of Poppy’s life.
My cheeks grow hot and I just know they fill with color again, exposing the way I feel about him. “He is, isn’t he?” I pull my shoulders up to my ears and discreetly rest my hand over my flight suit where my lucky charm is nestled, safely tucked into my bra. It brought me more than luck; it brought me a six foot two, chiseled to perfection Scotsman, with the body of an athlete and the brains of a statistical whizz. It blows my mind how quickly he can do mental math.
Each guy around the table adds their own thoughts.
“He’s funny.”
“Smart.”
“Respectful.”
“Kind.”
“Despite what he’s been through lately, he’s still smiling. He’s not broken.”
“He has great abs.” I knew Arlo would mention those, making me giggle.
“And he has a gigantic cock,” I add. “And you should see what he can do with it.” Kidding , I don’t say that, but I chuckle, imagining what they would all say and do if I did.
I’m a lady after all, prim and proper, cooking and cleaning for my imaginary husband, shouting tally ho, waving goodbye to him as he goes out to make some hard-earned pennies for his family… Yeah, right. Long gone are those days.
Thank goodness.
Bring on the New World where we have women fighting on the front line, running the country, and flying fast jets while we birth more strong women, then get back to business. I am honored to be one of them.
Women empowering women, I’m all for it. Bring it the hell on.
Well, bring it on, but for the love of God, find me someone wonderful to look after Poppy first .
Being only one of the handful of female pilots in the Air Force, I spoke to Cobra about recruiting more women to enroll when I first joined the team. How I would love to give motivational speeches to the high schools, encouraging boys and girls to join the Armed Forces and consider going through our flying school. To travel the world, see and do things no one else ever has. It’s the best job in the world and I’ll tell anyone who will listen.
However, Cobra has pooh-poohed me, every time I have suggested it.
I shiver as I remember the way he touched me at the hospital and push the thoughts about him aside, deciding to stand up to Cobra the same way Owen did.
I make a snap decision.
It’s time to take a stand.
I earned my place here. My skill and talent secured my place on the aerobatic team and I won’t let anyone take that away from me.
I must put a stop to his harassment. As soon as I return to the UK, I will make an appointment with our group captain because he outranks Cobra by a mile, certain he’ll be appalled to learn everything I’ve been taking notes of while under Cobra’s command.
I tune back in to the conversation the guys are having. “You should move him into your quarters and make him your full-time childminder,” Gregor says, referring to Owen. “It would give him something to do until he sorts his life out.”
What then? Will he leave to pursue a new career like I’ve told him to, leaving me and Poppy to piece our hearts back together?
Saddened by that thought, my heart stutters in my chest.
“He would need full security clearance, and I recommend you have a DBS check done.” Cobra’s steely voice breaks through our lighthearted banter.
I hate that man. He’s the only bad thing about my job. He hasn’t even taken it upon himself to apologize for his dreadful behavior at the hospital, and it’s been two weeks. And that creepy snake tattoo he has branded into the skin of his forearm gives me the heebie-jeebies.
“A DBS check?” Arlo questions him. “What the hell would he need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service check for? That’s ridiculous.” Arlo shakes his head. “Sorry, sir, but I disagree.”
“What’s a DBS check?” Looking at Arlo, Gregor hooks one elbow over the back of his chair.
Cobra narrows his eyes, pissed off that Gregor didn’t ask him, but he answers anyway. “To check whether he is safe to work with children.”
“What the hell?” Gregor runs his tongue along the front of his top teeth. “Seriously, Cobra? Do you even know my family at all?”
“Easy, Flight Lieutenant Brodie.” Cobra’s voice stabs like needles. “May I remind you who you are talking to? And you can never be too safe these days. There are all sorts of weirdos out there.”
Yeah, you being one of them.
The atmosphere instantly changes, turning to ice even as the warm air continues to billow into the room through the mosquito-netted windows.
“Forgive me, sir.” Gregor reluctantly apologizes, remembering our ranks, then angrily pushes his chair back. He stands with such force that the chair drops with a loud clatter against the floor.
One of the other men picks it up and before Gregor storms out of the room, he turns to me, and with fire in his eyes so fierce it burns, he says, “She’s safe with him, ma’am.”
I give him a curt nod.
I know she is, Gregor, because I feel it through every inch of my body and way down deep into my soul.
But him, looking back at Cobra, I wouldn’t trust him to look after a goldfish.