Authors: Trista Ann Michaels
Trista Ann Michaels
Published 2014
ISBN: 978-1-62210-116-0
Published by Liquid Silver Books, imprint of Atlantic Bridge Publishing, 10509 Sedgegrass
Dr, Indianapolis, Indiana 46235. Copyright © Published 2014, Trista Ann Michaels.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, recording
or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Liquid Silver Books
http://LSbooks.com
This is a work of fiction. The characters, incidents and dialogues in this book are
of the author’s imagination and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to
actual events or persons, living or dead, is completely coincidental.
When Kayla’s job as a flight attendant leaves her stuck in a tropical paradise for
three days, she should be ecstatic. Instead, she has to work even harder to avoid
Steve, the gorgeous pilot she’s always refused to even give the time of day to because
of his reputation. Steve’s womanizing ways strike too close to home, and Kayla refuses
to let her lust override his reputation.
Steve has had the hots for Kayla from the day he first laid eyes on her, but he hasn’t
found a way to get past the cold shoulder she always seems to have just for him. He
hopes their unexpected vacation will give him the chance he needs to show her he’s
not the man she thinks he is.
When they finally acknowledge their mutual physical desire, they agree to a tropical
fling to get each other out of their system. They’ll have three days with no emotions
involved and no strings attached, and then it’s back to their normal lives. Kayla
is intent on holding up her end of the bargain, but for Steve, it’s much harder. When
he begins to suspect his feelings run deeper than just physical attraction, he has
to figure out how to convince her that the rumors about him aren’t true and that he
can be the man she needs.
“We have four days in paradise. What’s the plan?”
Kayla smiled at her best friend, roommate, and fellow flight attendant, Jordan Mills.
He was a lot of fun and so much easier to talk to than most women. He always told
her what she needed to hear, good or bad.
“Lots of relaxation on the beach.” She sighed.
Jordan nodded. “I could use some work on my tan.” He eyed her skeptically. “And so
could you.”
“Aren’t you just a ray of sunshine.”
Jordan laughed and stuffed the blanket back into the first-class overhead compartment.
“I hope you brought that skimpy two piece number of yours. We’ll be sharing the beach
with sexy captain you-know-who.”
Kayla pressed her lips into a firm line. “Don’t start, Jordan.”
“Start what?” he asked. “I wasn’t going to mention how you watch every move he makes
or how he stares at you like a dieter stares at a chocolate bar.”
She let loose a loud sigh. “He’s not my type.”
“Since when is tall, blond, and gorgeous not your type?”
“Since he’s the captain of this plane, as well as one of the biggest womanizers in
the airline industry. Besides, you know how I feel about getting involved with pilots.
I want a boyfriend that will actually be home more than twelve days a month.”
“I’m not talking about a relationship, sweetheart,” Jordan purred and handed her an
empty cup from the back of a seat. “I’m talking about sex. Hot. Wild. Sex. I’ve heard
some of the women talk and from what I hear, he’s the man.”
Shaking her head, she tied the trash bag. Passengers had disembarked several minutes
ago and they were taking care of last minute clean up while they waited on maintenance
to pick up the plane. The unexpected breakdown had left them with a four day layover,
which was fine by her. She’d never been to Jamaica, so she was looking forward to
sightseeing.
Unfortunately, Jordan was bound and determined to either get her fixed up with the
infamous Captain Steve Hawkins or at least get her to admit she had the hots for him.
Oh, God, did she have the hots for him. She’d never admitted that to anyone, even
Jordan.
Steve stood a couple of inches over six feet and had the most seductive green eyes
she’d ever seen. Combine that with his dark blond hair and muscular build, he was
one hell of a package. And he knew it.
Nothing like an arrogant man to ruin the image.
“How good he is in bed is irrelevant. He’s a pilot and I don’t date or sleep with
pilots. Period. End of discussion,” she said firmly and closed the first-class closet.
“Captain Hawkins is off limits, no matter how gorgeous he is.”
“Girl,” Jordan admonished, “you need your head examined.”
* * * *
Steve stood just inside the cockpit door and grinned. So the untouchable Kayla thought
he was gorgeous. He’d secretly had the hots for her since the first day he met her.
When an opening became available for a first-class flight attendant, he’d recommended
her. It wasn’t just because he wanted her closer to him, he knew she would make a
good one and he’d been right.
Her long blonde hair, deep blue eyes, and luscious figure usually made her the first
thing the male passengers noticed when they stepped on board. Her sweet voice and
outgoing personality always kept them at ease.
Unfortunately he was never the recipient of that sweet side he liked so much.
With him, she was all business and professional. She never once rose to his bait or
even acted as though she caught on he was flirting with her. He was almost ready to
throw in the towel, until he overheard her conversation with Jordan. If she was attracted
to him physically, there was hope.
He shook his head at himself, unable to believe he was actually standing here hanging
on to her every word. He could have most any woman he wanted. Unfortunately, the woman
he wanted most was the one woman who gave him the cold shoulder. Was that the attraction?
Was it the challenge?
He didn’t think so, and he wanted the opportunity to find out.
“What’s so interesting?” his first officer, Carl Scott, asked.
Steve put his finger against his lips. “I’m listening to Kayla and Jordan.”
“What do you care what a gay guy has to say about you?” The amusement in his voice
was obvious, and Steve smacked the back of his head.
“I care about what Kayla has to say.”
“And what does she have to say?”
Steve smiled. “She thinks I’m gorgeous.”
“Her and every other woman that’s been within five feet of you.”
“You sound a little jealous, Carl.” Steve snickered, aggravating his friend.
Carl scowled. “In your dreams. Go back to your eavesdropping, asshole.”
Steve laughed and looked at his watch. “Actually, if we’re finished with everything,
we should clear out and head to the hotel.”
“Do we have one?”
“That’s a good question.” Pulling his phone from the belt clip, he called flight operations.
Since he’d been flying international flights, he decided to pick up one of the new
satellite phones. It had been expensive, but a good investment.
Ops answered after the third ring. “Dispatch, Bruce.”
“Hey, Bruce. It’s Steve. You got us a hotel in Jamaica yet?”
“Yeah, I was just about to call you. They’re on their way and will meet you at baggage
claim.”
“Perfect. Where are we staying?”
“Jamaica Grand Hilton. It’s right on the beach.”
“Thanks, Bruce,” Steve said, and then flipped his phone closed. “Well, looks like
we have accommodations, right on the white sands of Jamaica.”
Carl smiled. “Wonder if I can get my wife down here.”
Steve tossed him his cell phone. “Call and list her.”
While Carl took care of getting his wife on the way, Steve tried to think of a way
to get closer to Kayla.
* * * *
Steve stepped out of the hotel van and helped the ladies exit. Kayla glanced down
at his outstretched palm before slipping her tiny hand into his. Her fingers felt
warm within his grasp, and a tingle ran up his arm.
For a moment, the sensation startled him, leaving him staring at her like an idiot.
A warm Jamaica breeze blew, sending her scent floating through his senses. Vanilla.
She smelled like vanilla.
She tugged at her hand and frowned when he didn’t immediately release it.
“Sorry,” he mumbled and dropped her hand.
“You going to help me down?” Jordan asked with a teasing grin.
Steve raised a brow. “You look like you need help all right, but not with getting
down.”
Jordan snickered and stepped down. “I saw that.”
Steve frowned, pulling his gaze from the soft sway of Kayla’s hips. “Saw what?”
“Honey, you stare at her like a gay man stares at a body builder.”
With a shrug, Steve shut the van door. “She’s adorable.” He let his gaze travel the
length of her hour-glass figure, and his cock twitched at the thought of sinking between
those firm thighs. “As well as sexy as hell.”
“You’re preaching to the choir, Cap.”
Leaning closer, Steve whispered in his ear. “You’re her friend. What’s with the cold
shoulder?”
“You mean the one she gives you?” Jordan asked and followed him to the back of the
van to retrieve their luggage.
“That would be the one.”
“Why do you ask?”
Steve shrugged and pulled up the handle of his suitcase. The two of them hung back
slightly, allowing the first officer and the flight attendants to move into the hotel
ahead of them.
“You have to give me a reason, Steve. If you’re just looking for a weekend fling,
you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“What if I’m looking for more than that?”
“Then I would tell you, her father was a pilot and he cheated on her mother.” Jordan
glanced at his nails. “She doesn’t trust pilots.”
Steve frowned. “She lumps us all into a pile because of her father? That’s a little
unfair, don’t you think?”
“There’s more to it than that, but basically, she wants someone who will be there
for her, not off flying all the time. And then there’s that little problem of your
reputation.”
Steve narrowed his eyes. “What reputation?”
Jordan raised a brow.
“Oh, that one.” Steve cringed. “You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”
“Well, believe me. I hear a lot and so does she. She’s not a one-night stand or weekend
fling type.”
Steve nodded and gazed around the lobby. Shiny Mexican tile decorated a floor filled
with potted tropical plants and wicker furniture. It was a beautiful place, and Kayla
fit right in to the elegant atmosphere.
“You’re right,” Steve agreed as he stared, enthralled, at Kayla. She was laughing
at something the first officer said and her smile lit up her whole face. “She’s the
type you put on a pedestal and spoil rotten. The type you give your soul to.”
“Wow.” Jordan sighed and placed his hand over his chest. “Didn’t know you had it in
you.”
Neither did I
, Steve thought to himself.
Stepping into her room, Kayla immediately opened the sliding glass doors that exited
onto a private patio. She smiled, inhaling the mixture of salty ocean and jasmine.
The turquoise waves and white sands called to her, beckoned her to make her way through
the lush tropical vegetation and dive in.
It was still early in the day, not even noon, and her stomach growled from hunger.
The muffin she’d eaten at five this morning was long gone. Moving back into the room,
she sat on the king-size bed and dialed Jordan’s suite.
“Pleasure palace,” he drawled, making Kayla chuckle.
“Expecting someone else?”
“Well, I was hoping you were the cute cabana boy.”
She couldn’t help but smile at Jordan’s flaming personality. He could be such a hoot
sometimes. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
“That’s okay. I’ve got four days.”
“How about some lunch?”
“You know I’m always up for food. Meet you in the lobby?”
“Give me about fifteen minutes to change.”
“I need to change, too. We also need to do some shopping. I don’t have enough clothes
to last me.”
Kayla glanced at her suitcase lying on the dresser. “I need some also, but we can’t
get too much. We’ll never get it home in these small suitcases.”
“I’ll ship the clothes home.”
Kayla giggled. She knew he’d do exactly that. “Lobby, twenty minutes.”
“Be there or be square,” he sang.
“Nut,” she said, and then set the phone in the cradle.
With a sigh, she walked over to her suitcase and began to unzip it. Immediately, she
realized it wasn’t hers. It was very similar, but the outside pocket was slightly
different.
Whose bag is this?
Flipping open the top, she saw the pilot shirts and shaving kit. It was either the
first officer’s or the captain’s. She lifted the top flap further and noticed the
picture in the netting usually reserved for underwear. It was Steve holding an absolutely
adorable little girl with chestnut hair and eyes the color of chocolate.