Stay with Me (Return to Haven 1)

“Don’t wait up,” he told them.

Livie whirled around on the steps. “We won’t be that long.”

Ignoring her protest, he bound down the narrow concrete steps and headed toward his truck. He opened the passenger door and gestured for her to get in.

She plopped into the passenger seat and jerked her seat belt. “Don’t take this date too seriously, Romeo.”

“Oh, I’m just pushing your buttons because you’re too easy to irritate.”

Another growl escaped her as he closed the door. He gave her friends a mock salute as they stood on the porch and waved. Jax wasn’t sure if this plan was brilliant or one of his more idiotic moves, but he was about to find out.

* * *

“What are we doing here?”

Olivia had no idea what to expect, but she didn’t think they’d end up at the airport. Jackson’s lights slashed across the darkness, landing on one of the old hangars.

“Our date. I figured this was the best place.”

He was up to something, she just knew it. Whatever it was, she’d be ready. He’d caught her off guard once; she needed to be on her toes from here on out.

Once Jax killed the engine, Olivia opened her door. The creaky old truck needed some serious oil on those hinges, but that wasn’t her problem. She slammed the door and set off toward the hangar.

Surprisingly, Jackson followed without one snarky comment. Once inside, she flicked the overhead lights, and once again that old Cessna sat proudly in front of her. Years of memories flooded her and Olivia already knew what angle Jackson was working.

She had to remain strong.

Jackson headed to the plane and started walking around doing an inspection . . . an inspection that one usually did preflight.

“No,” she stated firmly. “Nice try.”

Without missing a beat, he opened the tiny door and climbed in. With his booted foot dangling out, he grabbed the preflight checklist from the pocket of the door. He flicked controls on the panel, watched the wings tip, and moved on to the rest of the panel. Any seasoned pilot still always went through the routine of the preflight, but she wasn’t having any part of this.

“Flying at night has always been my favorite,” he stated, as if they were having a normal conversation. “Maybe it comes from my years in the Air Force, or maybe I just enjoy the peaceful time and the beauty of the lights below.”

Olivia found herself crossing the space between them as he spoke. There was a different tone to his voice when he talked about flying. He came across almost nostalgic . . . laced with love. Definitely love. Still, she couldn’t get in that plane and keep control over all the swirling emotions.

After a moment, Jackson hopped out of the plane and hit the switch for the bay door. The loud groaning of the track filled the space and the warm summer air swept in as the door lifted. He attached the tow and pulled the plane out and onto the pavement.

Damn it. Olivia knew if she wanted to talk to him, she’d have to get in that plane.

First, though, she had to take a deep, calming breath. The last time she’d been in that plane her father had insisted she fly and he ride as the passenger. They’d talked about nothing, really, and Olivia remembered being irritated because she’d wanted to go to a bonfire with friends, but she’d ended up letting guilt make her decision.

That was the last time she’d been in this Cessna, the last time she’d piloted. She hadn’t given flying much thought since sh

e’d left Haven; she’d tried to push that portion of her life behind her. But here she stood, literally face-to-face with her past when all she wanted to do was leave.

How had she gone so askew from her original plans?

“You want to fly?” Jackson asked, pulling her from her thoughts.

Olivia shook her head, holding her hands up. “Oh, no. I haven’t flown since I was seventeen.”

That devilish grin flashed her way once again. Why did he have to ooze charm and sex appeal? It wasn’t fair that her adversary could make her tingle from across the room. Nor was it fair that someone who was so awkward years ago looked like he’d stepped out of a calendar photo shoot.

She had to work damn hard to attempt to stay on top of her weight, her wrinkles, her dark circles beneath her eyes. Jackson probably just slid out of bed and into his perfectly form-fitted jeans and tees and left the house. No regimen needed when you looked that good.

“I’d say you’d remember the second you got the controls in your hands.” He closed the space between them and nodded toward the plane over his shoulder. “Come on. Aren’t you just a bit curious to see how she still flies?”