He shrugged a shoulder. “Suit yourself.”
She studied him. “How old are you?”
“Twenty-nine. I graduated college from University of Maine and then a few years later joined the Marines at my father’s urging. You?”
“Twenty-seven.” She pointed a finger at him. “But this is about you. Not me. Are your parents still married?”
“Yes, very happily so.”
“Was your father in the military, too?”
“Yes, he was a career officer, and he hasn’t stopped reminding me of that since I decided not to reenlist.” Twisting his lips sardonically, he raised his glass to her. “The captain didn’t approve of his only son deciding the military wasn’t for him. After being under his thumb all my life, the military wasn’t much of a challenge.”
She nodded. “Why did you decide to get out of the Marines?”
He tensed. “I don’t want to talk about that. Anything but that.”
“Okay.” She might be dying to know what brought the hardness to his voice, but she knew when to back off. “What does your father think of your new job?”
He scoffed. “He thinks I’m wasting my time. He owns a company for former military operatives. A private security detail. And he wanted me—”
“To run it.” The puzzle that was Cooper rapidly came together. He didn’t seem like the type to accept things being handed to him. And he didn’t strike her as kind of guy who would take the easy way out. She appreciated that in a man. “I’m guessing you’re not interested?”
“Nope.” He tossed back the remains of his drink and set the glass down. Clearly he didn’t like the topic. “I’m not taking the position because I’m his son and a shoo-in. That’s not fair to anyone. If I take a job, it’s because I’ve proven myself to be the best candidate. No other reason.”
So, she’d been right. Kayla took a sip of her drink and sat back. “What’s your biggest fear?”
“Failure.” He tightened his fists and looked down at his lap. “In particular, failure that will result in a loss of life.”
She studied his lowered head, reached out and rested her hand on his knee. “Did you lose someone in the war that was close to you? A squad member, perhaps?”
He chuckled and tugged on a piece of her hair, making her stomach tighten. Such a simple gesture, but its effects were staggering. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that. But this topic is closed, sweetheart.”
“Fine.” She withdrew her hand. “Then give me the biggest fear besides the one I’m not allowed to ask about?”
He leaned in closer. “It’s a good fear. Humiliating, even. But it’ll cost you.”
“What’s the price?”
“A kiss,” he whispered.
Ha. She would’ve done that for nothing. “People will see.”
“It’s not like we haven’t done that already. Besides, no one’s watching us.” He gestured at the other passengers. He was right. Most of them were sleeping or reading. No one was even remotely interested in the two of them. “Just one little kiss…”
Reaching out, she touched his hair. It was as soft as it looked, even though she’d first thought he had to use a whole can of hairspray to get it to fall so perfectly into place. No, he seemed to be naturally lucky with his hair. His face. His body. Everything, really.
She sighed, as if he was asking a lot of her. Let him stew on that. “Fine.”
Grabbing on to his shoulders, she melded her lips against his, kissing him with all of the pent up frustration and need coursing through her veins.
For the next few days, she’d have to be the Kayla Moriarity that her whole family thought she was. The girl they all thought hadn’t grown up yet. Tonight, on the plane with Cooper, would be all about her. The real her.
He trailed his fingers lightly over her shoulder. When his hands closed around her sides, his grip so close to her breasts, she arched her back in invitation. He seemed to get the hint. He lifted the blanket up over their shoulders and then closed his palms over her completely.
They broke apart when someone coughed. He slid his hands away from her, and the blanket fell back to their laps. Kayla scanned the passengers, looking for any signs that they knew the two people in the back row were this close to getting it on.
No one was watching. Unbelievable.
She took a shaky breath and met his eyes. The way they blazed back at her almost broke her resolve to not strip naked here and now. “I think I more than earned your secret, didn’t I?”
“Hot damn.” He dropped his head back against the plane seat. Dragging his hand down his face, he shot her a disgruntled look and adjusted his position on the seat. She totally wanted to peek under the blanket and see how hard he was right now. “My secret is I’m terrified of public speaking. When I get up in front of a crowd of people, or someone hands me a microphone, I panic. And I’m not talking about babbling like a fool or anything. I just stand there. Not moving. Not talking. Nothing.”