All I Want(69)

She marveled at his courage, at the strength of character it took to put what was right ahead of what was easy, even if it meant risking his job. Zoe’s job meant everything to her—flying meant everything, and she wondered if she could put the right to do that on the line and be willing to walk away from it if she had to.

But that was just it; she’d never have to. It wasn’t her job to make those kinds of decisions. It was Parker’s, and she was beginning to understand what he had at stake.

Everything.

All the time.

It was little wonder that he lived the way he did, with few to no distractions, no ties, and no real home base.

“I’ll fly you,” she heard herself say.

He started to shake his head, but she said, “The Caravan’s been repaired and Joe wants to sell it. I’m taking it up north today so the buyer can get a look at it. Rocky Falls is a barely there detour. You can come along and get a look at what you need to see on the way.”

“No.”

“No?” she asked, surprised.

“I’m not going to ask this of you.”

“Well, that’s the thing,” she said. “You didn’t ask. I offered.”

He didn’t respond, and given his expression, he wasn’t going to change his mind, either. And suddenly she realized what she’d given up, because just yesterday he’d have moved toward her, taken her into his warm arms, and pulled her in tight like he’d done so often since he’d come to Sunshine.

God. Had it really only been a little over a week ago?

“Not happening,” he said, sounding different to her. A little cool, a little distant, and she found her mad.

“Why?” she asked. “Because I’m not going to sleep with you anymore? We aren’t even friends now, is that it?”

“Not what I said.” He paused. “And there’s been very little sleeping involved.”

“You know what I mean!”

He looked at her for a long moment, as if wrestling with himself. And given his overactive sense of privacy, he probably was. God forbid he just come out and say something about himself without being arm-wrestled for it.

“When I first came out here,” he finally said, “I thought this case was about one thing.”

“Yes,” she said. “The antiquities dealer making a boatload of money off his illegal gains, right?”

“Right. But now it’s something else, something bigger, and I won’t drag you into it.”

“How would me flying you around on a sightseeing trip drag me into anything?” she asked.

“Maybe it wouldn’t, but you’ve already flown me over Cat’s Paw once. I’m not going to risk Carver noticing you for the second time. He might get suspicious and investigate, and realize he knows you. And if Carver found you, I’d never forgive myself.”

“It’s not even the same plane as before,” she said. “It’ll be the Caravan today. It was the Cardinal last time.”

“And when you flew him before,” he asked, “or his men, was that always the Cardinal?”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure.”

Parker ran a hand down his face, and she knew she had him. She also knew nothing bad would happen to her while she was with him; he’d protect her, body and soul.

The real question was, how to protect her heart?

Their flight was quiet and—at least in Zoe’s case—a little awkward. She had no experience with this, falling for a guy, having sex—and not just any kind of sex, but the fantasy kind, where orgasms happen in a shocking blink without having to strain for them—and then having to act like they hadn’t.

Parker didn’t seem to be having the same problem. He was calm, quiet. Focused. Like maybe she was pretty damn easy to get over. Her attitude deteriorated a little at that, but she was a professional, she reminded herself. She’d keep it bottled up tight.

And for the most part, she thought she was successful with that as she handled the testing on the plane and then flew them over Rocky Falls, specifically Cat’s Paw.

Parker had both his laptop and long-range camera, quietly scoping the place out.

“Anything interesting?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said, dividing a gaze between the scope and the laptop screen, but he didn’t elaborate. He did, however, take out his high-powered binoculars as well and had her make a second pass.

And then a third.

She had no idea what he was looking for as he took a long careful look at the surrounding area before finally indicating that he was satisfied.

After that, she flew onward, landing at the private airstrip of the Caravan’s potential buyer. That detour, the meeting, and the potential new owner’s inspection took the better part of the afternoon.

When they finally landed back in Sunshine, Zoe turned to a very quiet Parker. “Everything okay?” she asked.

“If anyone were to come into the airport asking for the flight logs from today, would they be able to get them?” he asked.

“Why?”

Face blank, he looked at her for a long beat. His expression was a visceral reminder that they were practically strangers.

Except they weren’t. He’d helped her fix up her house. He’d rescued two kittens for her neighbor. He’d kissed her like she hadn’t been kissed in too damn long, making her feel sexy, wanted . . . “No,” she said. “No one should be able to get the flight logs without some sort of court order.”