Chapter 3
TOMCAT
It had been two days since I'd last set foot on the airfield, but club business had required my attention, pulling me away from the one place I actually wanted to be. However, when the prez said jump, we all went as high as possible without question.
As an enforcer, I was tasked with protecting its members and the club rep. This particular not-so-legitimate operation had required my expertise, so it had been unavoidable.
Fortunately, today was a scheduled test flight, which meant I didn't have to come up with some flimsy excuse to be back here, watching for a certain honey-haired archivist.
Fallon, another club enforcer and my best friend since we met at Top Gun over twelve years ago, had accompanied me. It always helped to have another pilot's perspective when working on a prototype, so I’d often recruited him as an additional consultant on a project.
He’d noticed I was distracted, but when I just grunted in response to his inquiry, he let it go. For now. I knew he’d interrogate me later. I’d deal with that then.
I adjusted the collar of my flight suit, scanning the area with what I hoped passed for casual disinterest, even though my gaze kept returning to the admin building’s office windows, hoping for a glimpse of Linden.
Jason approached, clipboard in hand, flipping through a stack of forms. “Checklists look good. Maintenance cleared it yesterday. You should have smooth sailing today.”
I nodded absently. “Thanks.”
He followed my gaze, then shot me a knowing smirk. “Looking for something specific, Tomcat? Or maybe someone?”
Fallon was in the cockpit, and his head popped over the side at Jason’s last question.
I ignored him and kept my expression neutral, but Fallon knew me better than anyone. The slight twitch of my jaw gave away more than I wanted. “Not sure what you’re implying.”
“Yeah,” Fallon drawled with a grin. “What are you implying?”
I shot him a look and muttered, “Stow it, stick monkey.”
Fallon laughed at the insult—a term used to imply a pilot merely manipulating the control stick like a programmed monkey—and flipped me the bird.
Turning back to Jason, I grunted before returning to my task.
Jason huffed out a laugh, shaking his head as he turned back to his forms. “Whatever you say, man.”
Ignoring him, I circled the jet, running my hand along its sleek skin. I checked every panel, rivet, and inspection point as methodically as ever, but today it felt more like going through the motions.
Because truthfully, my attention kept drifting back toward the admin office windows, frustration building in my gut when I didn't see her.
I mentally replayed every detail of our last encounter.
The catch of her breath when she tripped, the soft flush on her cheeks when I asked her name, and the way her gentle voice sounded as she spoke.
Hell, I'd even dreamed about her—waking to the image of her beneath me, those wide green eyes looking up at me with a shy, sweet trust that made my chest ache.
Finally, I caught movement from the corner of my eye, and my pulse kicked up instantly. Linden was there, partially visible through the office window. But the warmth that had flooded me at the sight of her quickly cooled, replaced by a sudden tension that clenched around my heart.
She looked different today. Not relaxed like before, when she’d seemed quietly curious about her surroundings.
Now she looked anxious. Stressed. Her shoulders were stiff, the delicate lines of her frame taut with a worry she couldn’t conceal, even from this distance.
I frowned, shifting slightly to get a better view.
Her head dipped low, but her gaze darted around her frequently. Her fingers tapped restlessly on her desk, betraying an uneasy agitation. My stomach knotted, instinct telling me something had gone wrong.
I watched her carefully as she stood and gathered a stack of folders into her arms. Then she left the office, and I saw her through the glass door, coming down the short hallway toward the tarmac. My entire body tightened, something fierce and protective roaring to life in my chest.
She emerged from the admin building, walking along the edge of the flight line—the same path she’d taken the first time—but her stride was hurried, her footsteps quick and clipped.
Her posture was tight and uneasy. Her bright eyes didn’t lift to meet mine.
Instead, they flitted nervously around, scanning her surroundings.
My lips twitched when I saw her bright yellow flats that had a rhinestone strap across the top of her foot. The thought occurred to me that I might like to fuck her while she was wearing a pair of her surprisingly sexy shoes.
Then I caught sight of the slight tremor in her hands as she adjusted her grip on the files, her knuckles white around the edges.
She kept glancing back over her shoulder as though she expected someone to be following.
I didn’t like the way fear sharpened her features and worry tightened her soft mouth.
She looked over her shoulder again, even though there was no one there, her breath quickening in her chest.
Her obvious anxiety sent my protective instincts roaring to life. Whatever had happened since our last meeting had left Linden rattled and afraid. The sight of her distress hardened something fierce and unyielding in me.
At that moment, I knew one thing for sure. I was going to find out who’d put that fear in her eyes. And I was going to make sure they regretted it.
“Linden,” I called out, my voice carrying just enough to cut through the quiet of the airfield without startling her too badly.
Even so, she jumped a little, the stack of folders trembling slightly in her arms as her head snapped toward me.
Those wide green eyes met mine, alarmed for a heartbeat, before recognition sank in, softening the rigid line of her shoulders.
I watched tension bleed from her posture as relief spread across her delicate features, her breath rushing out in a quiet sigh.
“Keegan.” A tentative smile curved her soft lips as I closed the distance between us. It damn near took my breath away just seeing her look at me that way.
“You good?” I asked, my voice pitched low even though something fierce and protective still raged hot beneath the surface.
Her eyes widened again, surprise flickering in their bright green depths.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, the freckles standing out as she blinked up at me in confusion, like she couldn’t believe I’d actually noticed her agitation.
For a moment, it looked like she might confess something.
Then, with a slightly forced laugh and a shake of her head, she offered a dismissive shrug.
“Oh yes. Everything’s fine.” She tried to appear casual as her gaze skittered briefly away from mine. “Just a busy day. A lot of files to process.”
It was the worst lie I’d ever heard.
My brow furrowed slightly, and I took a deliberate step nearer, closing the space between us just enough that she had to tilt her head up to maintain eye contact.
The urge to reach out and touch her was overwhelming, but I forced my hands to stay at my sides, keeping my posture easy and open.
I didn’t want to intimidate her, but I wasn’t going to let her brush me off either.
“Bullshit.” I kept my voice firm but gentle enough not to frighten her.
Her eyes widened again, her lips parting on a quiet gasp as I leaned just a little closer, my voice dropping to a low, protective rasp.
“You’re scared, Linden. Something’s happened.
Someone’s rattled you—or threatened you.
Maybe you feel like someone’s been watching you? ”
She didn’t deny it. Her gaze darted away, skimming across the tarmac as though looking for an excuse or distraction, but she didn’t pull back. Instead, she tried again for casual, shrugging one slender shoulder with a dismissive little smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“It’s nothing.” She shook her head. “I’m probably just being paranoid. It’s been a long couple of days, and I haven’t been sleeping well. Honestly, Keegan, I’m fine.”
She moved to step past me, but I reacted instinctively, gently catching her by the elbow and stopping her retreat.
Her breath hitched, her eyes flicking up to meet mine again, uncertainty and something warmer swirling together behind their bright depths.
My touch wasn’t forceful, but it was clear—I wasn’t going to let her leave without giving me more.
“Come with me.” I guided her away from the center of the tarmac to a quiet spot near the hangar wall, away from prying eyes and ears. She didn’t protest, just followed my lead, her gaze darting between me and the airfield around us as though still worried we were being watched.
I stopped and turned to face her, my hand slipping slowly from her elbow but staying close enough to catch her if she tried to bolt again.
Her shoulders were set in a rigid line, and I could practically feel her pulse quickening from here.
She was nervous and maybe a little unsure, but she wasn’t pulling away.
I took a slow breath, calming the protective anger simmering beneath my skin. I needed her to talk, to trust me enough to let me help. My voice softened, but the words were quietly authoritative.
“Look at me, Linden.” I waited until her eyes lifted to mine, wide and uncertain. “I can help, but only if you tell me what’s got you spooked. Why you’re nervous. If someone’s threatened you, I need to know who. And I need to know why.”
Her lips parted as her chest rose and fell in shallow movements. Something flickered in her eyes, hesitant yet yearning. I was hoping like hell she felt the same pull between us that I did, that something instinctive inside her would drive her to confide in me. To lean on me.
I wasn’t counting on her trusting a near stranger with whatever secret had put fear in her eyes. But I stepped just a little closer, lowering my head so my words were for her alone, quiet and demanding but gentle enough to feel safe.
“You can trust me, little dove.”