Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(7)

“Leo, you’ve known me since I was a kid. Please call me Wolf.” He didn’t chuckle, but there was the slightest bit of humor in his tone. Most people would miss it, being intimidated by this brute of a man. But I paid attention to the little things.

The pilot smiled. “You got it, Wolf. Nice to meet you, Miss Thomas.”

“Oh, you can call me Dylan. It’s nice to meet you, too.”

“Great. Let’s get this baby up in the air.” He turned and disappeared behind a door just as a woman with long, dark hair stepped out from the back of the plane.

“Hi there. I’m Valentina. Once we’re up in the air, I’ll get your drink order and bring you some pastries.” She smiled at me, and I didn’t miss the way her hooded gaze took in Wolf.

The man was a sight, no doubt about it. He was tall with broad shoulders. A chiseled jaw that was sharp and distinct and peppered in just the right amount of dark scruff. His lips were plump, and he rarely smiled the few times I’d been around him, yet it was difficult not to stare at his mouth. He radiated confidence and probably intimidated most people he came into contact with.

I just wasn’t most people.

Wolf Wayburn did not scare me.

Sure, he held my future in his hands. But my work ethic spoke for itself. I knew I’d do whatever it took to do this job well, and if that didn’t impress him, I’d be just fine. I had several job offers; this just happened to be the one that I wanted most.

He didn’t flinch at the way the gorgeous woman took him in. He just nodded, and she turned to walk to the back of the plane.

I glanced over to see him unbutton and roll up the sleeves on each arm. I was fascinated by the way his veins on his forearms bulged against his golden skin.

I forced myself to look away and pulled out the binder I got from Roger just as the plane started to move. We took off down the runway, and I clutched the binder just a little until we were up in the air. I could feel Wolf’s eyes on me. I’d never flown on a private plane, so this was new. I wouldn’t say that I was nervous exactly, but I was a bit out of my element. I actually liked it. Pushing myself outside of my comfort zone was one of my favorite things to do.

“You okay?” he asked.

“Yep. Of course. I’m fine.” I opened the binder as the plane bounced a little, and we continued to climb higher and higher.

“I want you to know that it wasn’t personal when I said that I didn’t think you were the right person for the job. I just call it as I see it.”

I turned to look at him. The arrogant prick. He wanted me to be okay with him insisting I wasn’t right for the job? “Well, we have that in common. I call it as I see it, too. And it sure sounded personal. But that’s fine, Wolf. I have no problem showing everyone just how good I am at what I do. Prepare to be dazzled.”

“I won’t hold my breath.”

The bastard was egging me on. He wanted to see if he could get a reaction out of me. I had to give him credit. He was damn good at poking the bear.

“Isn’t that what you did for a living as a SEAL?” Two could play this game.

He barked out a laugh, and it managed to be completely free of humor. “I see ignorance is your superpower.”

I forced the fakest smile. “Just calling it as I see it.”

Valentina showed up out of nowhere and looked between us, and I swear you could cut the tension with a knife.

“May I get you something to drink?” she purred. Her eyes were on Wolf, and I wanted to wave my hand in her face and remind her that I was sitting here, too. “Orange juice, mimosa, sparkling water?”

“I’ll take a whiskey, straight up.” He pulled a file from his briefcase and dropped the table down in front of him.

I tried not to laugh. It was eight o’clock in the morning. Was I already driving the man to the bottle? Good. I was irritating him as much as he was irritating me.

“I’ll take an orange juice, please. Nothing like a good dose of vitamin C to get you ready for the day.”

Valentina smiled at me this time and turned to get our drinks. I pulled my table down and started reading about the ten players that we’d be meeting with over the next two weeks.

“Here you are,” she said, and I looked up to see her set down my orange juice along with a basket holding a few pastries in it. Wolf had the same setup, minus the juice, which was replaced by a healthy dose of whiskey.

“This looks delicious. Thank you.” Valentina disappeared to the back of the plane, and I pulled out the cinnamon-covered donut and took a bite before groaning. “Oh my gosh. You have to try this. It’s so freaking good.”

“Do you always talk with a mouthful of cake?” He studied me.

I nodded and swallowed, reaching for my drink and taking a sip. “I don’t like when people talk with their mouths full either. However, there is a gray area when it comes to pastries.”

He dug into his basket and pulled out a croissant. Shocker. No sugar. The man didn’t have a sweet bone in his body. Although, I’m sure he’s got one impressive bone in there. The man was built like a Mack truck, so he had to be packing, right?

I digress.

What can I say?

These are the things that cross my mind.

I studied his massive hands as they held the delicate pastry, and I couldn’t help but glance down at his feet.