Fly With Me (Wild Aces #1)(43)

She had long copper-colored hair, and pale skin that made her look like a porcelain doll. Her eyes were a startling green, her makeup flawless. She wore dark jeans that fit her like a glove and a black turtleneck. Gorgeous gray boots completed the ensemble.

She stopped in front of us, and her mouth spread into a wide smile. She hugged Easy, who stiffened for a second, his usual swagger tempered. She pulled back and flashed that same smile at Sonya. And then she turned to me.

Her smile widened. Blinding. Genuine.

“You must be Jordan. I’ve been dying to meet you. I’m Dani.”

She spoke with a soft Southern accent that called to mind sweet tea and porch swings.

So this was Joker’s wife. The Dani that Noah had wanted me to meet.

“It’s really nice to meet you,” I replied. Something about her manner was instantly welcoming.

“I’ve heard so much about you since the guys got back from Vegas. I’m so glad you could make it to hang out with the squadron.” She gestured toward the bar. “Do you want a drink?”

“I can get you ladies something,” Easy interjected, his expression uncharacteristically serious.

You ladies?

I made a face, which I was pretty sure he caught by the snort that escaped his lips. Yeah, I was definitely not winning any points in the best friend department. Crap. Dani’s lips twitched as she noticed both of our expressions. I figured we looked like a pair of bickering siblings.

Easy took our drink orders, and then Sonya decided to go with him to the bar, leaving Dani and me alone.

“Do you want to go sit?” she asked.

I nodded and followed her to a table, feeling like all eyes were on me.

“I’ll let Noah introduce you around,” she said as we sat across from each other. “He should be here soon. I just spoke with Joker and they’re wrapping up work.”

I was ready to have Noah beside me. I definitely kept garnering a lot of stares, and while Dani was really nice, I wasn’t sure I could say the same for the rest of the crowd.

“It has to be kind of awkward coming to one of these things on your own.” She smiled. “The first time I went to a military function with Joker, I was scared out of my mind. We’d only been together for a few months and he invited me to the Air Force Ball. It was romantic, but not only was I obsessed with making sure I had the perfect dress, I was also petrified that I’d make a protocol faux pas or something.”

I grinned. “Yeah, that about sums it up. I’m way out of my depth here. The military is definitely a bit of a foreign concept to me, although Noah’s been awesome about giving me a little Air Force primer. How long have you and Joker been married?”

“Five years.”

She looked to be about my age now.

We chatted for a few minutes until Easy came over with our drinks, minus Sonya. Noah was right. I liked Dani. A lot. She had a way of making people feel comfortable and we’d clicked. I really hoped we’d become friends.

I expected Easy to drop off our drinks and go in search of his date, but instead he filled the empty seat. Within seconds, it was obvious he and Dani were close. The smirk and attitude he so often displayed had disappeared, and instead he almost seemed like a nice guy. He made a few jokes, asked her some questions, listened when she spoke. It was like his * persona had disappeared completely behind a veil, leaving me wondering which one was the real Easy.

Eventually Dani excused herself to greet some of the new arrivals. I got the impression that her position as the squadron commander’s wife made her the social hostess, a role she seemed well suited for considering how nice she was. Before she left, she turned to me and gave me her cell number. “If you ever need to talk, or just want to hang out while you’re visiting Noah and the guys have to work or something, give me a call.”

I grinned, feeling like I’d definitely made a new friend. “I will.”

She walked off, leaving me at the table with Easy. I had no idea where Sonya had gone.

I gestured toward where a group of guys congregated around a pool table, shouting and elbowing one another, raucous laughter spilling out over the club.

“I’m okay if you want to go play with them. You don’t have to sit with me all night.”

Easy’s smirk returned. “I’m fine. I told Noah I’d keep you company until he got here.”

“So you’re, what, my babysitter?”

He laughed, completely unfazed by the bit of bitch I threw his way. “Something like that.”

“What are they playing?” I asked.

He didn’t bother looking; clearly this was a common occurrence. “Crud.”

“Crud?”

“Fighter pilot game.”

My eyes narrowed as I watched the guys running around the pool table, arms and elbows out, a billiard ball pinging between them. It looked intense and more than a little violent. The odds of serious injury seemed high.

“So basically, it’s fighter pilot Quidditch.”

A strangled laugh escaped his lips. “Please tell Noah that.”

I barely stifled my eye roll.

“You don’t like me, do you?” Easy asked, using that same tone he always displayed when he talked to me, so different from the one he’d used with Dani. As though I amused him and more in a “laughing at me” than “with me” sort of way. He definitely felt like the annoying brother I’d never had or wanted.