Turbulent Intentions(72)

“Now that I have you alone . . .” he said, his eyes going instantly dark.

“What shall we do?” she said, instantly hungry for him all over again.

“First we will change,” he said, though he looked as if he’d much rather just rip their clothes off. “Then you will get a night of romance,” he added with a huge smile. “Then I will devour you.”

“Or we could go straight to the devouring,” she huskily said, which made his eyes go even darker.

“Don’t tempt me, woman. I’ve put a lot of time into this,” he said as he spun her toward a room and gently swatted her on the butt.

She got even wetter as she moved away.

Stepping into the luxurious bedroom, Stormy felt as if she were on another planet. Cooper had literally whisked her away in his private plane, brought her to a penthouse suite in the wine country of Oregon, and then on top of that there were a couple presents sitting on the bed.

Slowly walking over to them, she ran her fingers through the ribbons and sighed. She wanted to dive right in and open them, but she needed to take a shower first.

Rushing through the shower, she couldn’t wait to go back out to the gifts. Wrapping a towel around herself, she approached the bed and began opening the boxes carefully. Her cheeks flamed a little as she pulled out a delicate lingerie set and matching silk robe.

But she wanted to please Cooper, wanted to wear the sexy outfit. So she slipped into it before looking at the smaller package. Her fingers trembling, she undid the ribbon, and then fell back on the bed when her knees went weak.

Fighting desperately not to let the tears fall, she gently touched the locket that sat on a bed of velvet next to a stunning pair of what appeared to be diamond earrings. They were beautiful, but the locket was priceless.

It was the very first piece of jewelry she’d designed and created. And Cooper had obviously found it and kept it. Her heart swelled and her knees were weak. One tear escaped as she slipped it around her neck.

He’d gone and done it. He’d made her fall in love with him.

It took several minutes for her to compose herself, and then she couldn’t wait to be in his arms. What a cherished gift he’d given back to her.

When she stepped from the room to find candlelight and soft music along with champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, and an assortment of appetizers, her senses were overwhelmed.

“Cooper . . .” Her husky voice made him turn his head and the glow that instantly entered his eyes gave her confidence. “I’m ready for more dessert,” she said.

He didn’t hesitate. His clothes went flying as he rushed across the room to her. He lifted her and turned right back toward the bedroom she’d just exited.

“Romance will come after we’ve appeased this hunger,” he growled.

“I don’t think it’s ever going to be appeased, but you’ve given me more romance with this than anything else you could have ever given me,” she told him as her fingers ran over the locket she wore.

“I never stopped thinking about you through the years. I needed you to know this. I’m giving up my lucky charm,” he said with a gentle smile.

“You use it as a lucky charm?”

“No. You’ve been my lucky charm all along,” he said.

She couldn’t speak. But then she didn’t have to because all talking stopped as his lips captured hers.





CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Cooper and Nick moved in sync around the hangar where they were working on the P-51 D plane they’d been ecstatic to get their hands on. It was going to take them months, if not over a year, to complete the project, but when she was restored to her former glory, they’d be fighting over who got to fly her the most.

Turning too fast, Cooper knocked over a bottle of oil, the slimy black liquid running through his fingers. He quickly cleaned it up, then got back to his brother who was beneath the plane hard at work.

“Are you going to take all night?” Nick hollered.

“I’m coming,” Cooper yelled back with a roll of the eyes.

“Cooper Armstrong! Is that really you?”

Cooper turned around and found Keri Jensen running up to him from across the hangar bay.

“Hi, Keri. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here with my brother. He’s taking me up in a few minutes.”

“Well, I don’t want to keep you,” he said.

“I’ve missed you,” she cried.

Keri had been one of his favorite flight attendants to flirt with back in the day, a tall blonde with all the right curves in exactly the right places. Plus, she was perky, fun, and always out for a good time. He’d decided after one night of hanging out with her that he thanked God she was one of the few women he hadn’t slept with. They were much better off as friends.