Only Mine (Fool's Gold #4)(40)

“Except it’s not. I’ll ‘chill’ or ‘relax’ or whatever you want when you and Stephen get back to Alaska and finish college.”

Sasha sighed. “Sorry. No can do. I wish you could let it go.”

Before Finn could say anything, one of the production assistants called for Sasha to get ready for a lighting check. His brother waved at him and followed the girl toward the hotel.

Finn checked his watch. He had a group of tourists to take on a flight in a couple of hours. They would be the second ones this week. The previous group had been a family, including a thirteen-year-old boy who’d been fascinated by the idea of flying a plane. Finn had talked to him about taking lessons.

“You’re looking serious about something.”

He glanced up and saw Dakota walking toward him. She carried a clipboard in her hands and stopped in front of him.

“For once, not the usual,” he told her.

“Your brothers?”

“Work stuff.”

“Everything okay back in South Salmon?”

“As far as I know.”

She stood there, as if waiting for him to explain more.

“I was thinking about the tour I have later and the one I had a few days ago,” he said slowly. “There was this kid. He was really into flying. Sometimes I think about opening a flight school, focusing on kids.” He shrugged. “Who knows if it would work.”

“Don’t you have to be a certain age to get your pilot’s license?”

“You can solo at sixteen, but training could start before that. Teaching a kid to fly gives him, or her, the ability to sense possibilities. You need math skills to do some of the calculations. There would have to be a way for them to raise money to pay for the lessons, or grants or something.” He shook his head. “It’s just something I play around with.”

She tilted her head. “You should talk to Raoul. My boss. His whole thing is helping kids. His camp focused on bringing inner-city kids here to the mountains to get them out of their environment. He might have some ideas about how to get started.”

“I will. Thanks.” It beat worrying about the twins.

She gave him the contact information. “I’ll let him know to expect your call.”

He wondered if what he’d thought about doing was possible. There weren’t a lot of inner-city kids in South Salmon. Of course, his cargo business was there.

But the thought of doing something a little different excited him. Cargo was paying the bills, but taking tours around was a lot more interesting. And doing something useful with kids appealed to him, as well. While he worried about his brothers, there was also a sense of satisfaction, of knowing he’d been the one to shape them into grown-ups. Of course, he had no idea yet if he’d done a decent job.

Dakota glanced around at the decorated pool area. “San Diego would have been a lot warmer. It’s eighty there. I could have lain by the pool, ordered little drinks with umbrellas.” She sighed.

“I thought you loved Fool’s Gold,” he teased.

“I do, but I love it more when it’s warmer. It’s spring. There should be plenty of heat.” She shivered in her coat. “I had to dig out warmer clothes.”

“It seems fine to me.”

“You’re from Alaska. Your opinion doesn’t count.”

He chuckled. “Come on. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

“At Starbucks? A mocha latte would really help me feel better.”

He took the hand that wasn’t holding the clipboard. “You can even have whipped cream on it, if you want.”

She leaned against him. “My hero.”

CHAPTER EIGHT

A SHARP, INSISTENT RINGING called Dakota out of a dream that involved a panda, a raft and ice cream. She rolled over in the bed and picked up the phone.

“Hello?”

“Dakota? It’s Karen.”

Dakota glanced toward the clock, wondering why the production assistant was calling her. “It’s one in the morning.”

“I know.” Karen’s voice was muffled, as if she were trying to be quiet. “I’m out by the pool at the lodge. There’s a Tahitian dancing team here. Or maybe it’s not a team. I don’t know what they’re called.”

Dakota flopped back on the bed and closed her eyes. “I appreciate the news flash, but I’m really tired. I can catch the dancers tomorrow.” Which was technically later today, she thought.

“I don’t want you to see them. Sasha is here and so is Lani. I think she knows some of the dancers. Geoff’s filming the whole thing.”

“Then I can see it on the show broadcast. I’m sure Sasha and Lani are great dancers. Thanks for telling me, Karen.”

“Don’t hang up. I called to talk to Finn.”

That got Dakota’s attention. She sat straight up and clutched the phone tighter. “Why would you think he was with me?”

“Oh, please. Do you know how small Fool’s Gold is? Everybody knows you’re sleeping with him. Which isn’t the point. I need to talk with him. I’m afraid this is gonna get out of hand. Sasha is dancing with Fire Poi.”

Dakota wanted to go back to the “everybody knows you’re sleeping with him” remark, but the words “Fire Poi” got her attention.