Arrogant Savior - Cocky Hero Club

As I made a pallet, I acknowledged the real reason why I hated the rich. My parents.

My father walked away from prominence and wealth to live his dream and marry my mother. My mother left him for her dream, wealth and prominence. For the longest time, I’d hated him for her leaving. Time and maturity made me hate her for choosing money over me. All of which left me wondering how I’d allowed myself to get involved with Sophia in the first place. Then again, she’d seemed different. Boy, how wrong I’d been.

When I was done, I knocked on the bathroom door.

After no answer, I said, “Look, we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. I shouldn’t have said what I said. What you do is your business.” Not mine, I said to myself.

“That’s an understatement,” she spat.

I nearly chewed my molars to dust as I managed to say, “It gets cold at night, especially with a storm like this. I made a pallet for you by the fire.”

“Wow, you have a heart,” she said with no mistake of her contempt of me.

I almost walked away, knowing I deserved it. “Oh, I left your plate warming on the stove in case you get hungry. I’ll be in my room if you need anything.”

“Trust me, I won’t need anything else. But thanks.”

She sounded as if she could barely speak that last bit and I did us both a favor and walked away.

My father was going to skewer me when he realized what a dick I’d been, even though she hadn’t exactly been a princess either. Knowing him, he might use this against me to find a way to get me to stay in the business instead of finally flying on my own.

I was in my room when the door opened. From my vantage point, I had an unobstructed view of the striking woman as she exited the bathroom with her hair piled on top of her head.

She wore my thermals. Even though they swallowed her, they didn’t hide the slope of curves from her breasts to her ass. In an instant, I was hard. I blamed it on the lack of female attention I’d had in the last several months. I’d been allergic to women since Sophia. She’d left a bad taste in my mouth. I’d been solely focused on my career.

“You can keep your sexist comments to yourself,” she said, after noticing my eyes on her.

“Sexist? I’m pro-sex.” I couldn’t help the cheeky grin I gave her.

“You’re a pig,” she snapped.

“I consider myself more of a Thoroughbred.” I gave her a wink to spur on her anger. Damn, if she wasn’t cute when she’s pissed off.

“More like a jackass.”

I shrugged. “They’re both pretty hung.”

“Does everything you say have to be about sex?”

“Only when we’re talking about the facts.”

“Ugh,” she groaned and stormed off.

Truth be told, I’d been here licking my wounds. I’d given Dad all my time, knowing that was coming to an end. Living atop a mountain wasn’t exactly a hot spot for women. Dating women at the bottom of it wasn’t an option either.

Clinestown was a small town by anyone’s standards. Everyone knew each other’s business and a casual relationship wasn’t possible. Knowing that I’d be moving somewhere else as a base once I’d earned my captain’s stripes kept me away. Last thing my father needed was to also deal with any fallout from me hooking up with a single girl from high school still looking for a husband.

As I moved to the door, I closed it instead of going through it. She may be hot, but I didn’t intend on getting burned. She was some rich man’s candy and totally off-limits. In a week’s time, I’d be in New York sitting in the co-pilot’s chair. I could celebrate that win at a bar in the city. There were bound to be plenty of single women around to celebrate with me.

I lay back on my bed and folded my hands behind my head with a smile on my face. Funny enough, it wasn’t because of the promise of hooking up with a random woman.

No. My dream was finally coming true. I would be at the helm of a big metal bird in the sky. I also knew it wouldn’t take me long to earn my pilot’s stripes.

That would be better than sex. Then again, maybe I hadn’t been with the right woman. My mind traveled back to the sexy brunette who was likely sprawled out right before the fire.

A chill crept over me as the light in my room went out.

A slew of curses left my lips as I got to my feet. It was too late to go searching for the problem. I had to put more wood on the fire.

I hoped that Jolene wouldn’t mind me sharing the covers because this level of cold was life-threatening. Sharing body heat was the best possible way for survival.