Explosive Alliance by Catherine Mann Page B

square jaw set. "I feel bad about what happened to you because of your husband. I'm here and I want to help you if I can, add in the fact that I really like to fly and now have a couple of weeks off. Let me tell you, time off's a rarity in the military these days, with everything that's been going on overseas."
    His flexing hands over the steering wheel drew her attention from his face. The sinking sun cast a rosy hue along the scars until they appeared angry and fresh instead of faded with time. Those hands held a story, and somehow she sensed it would make him more human—more intriguing—than even those slightly crooked teeth.
    "If you need to unwind, why not go to Mt. Rushmore? Or you could check out the. Badlands and some of their casinos."
    "Thanks, Madame Tour Guide. Been there. Done that. And lucky for you, I have a private pilot's license and would rather hang out with you. Must be your charm and gratitude." His eyes flicked with sarcasm.
    Contrition itched. "Sorry. But you're being rather pushy here."
    He shrugged. She bit back a sigh. Heaven help her, she was surrounded by Alpha males determined to lead the pack. "You have to admit this sounds rather suspicious. Why would you help us for nothing, because, trust me, the pay's next to nothing."
    "You can lower the defensiveness. I do want something out of this bargain that has nothing to do with money."
    Uh-oh. Dry-lightning alert. The hairs on her arms rose while the rest of her tingled with thoughts of want and need and fulfillment. "Like what?"
    "Flight hours."
    Huh? "Flight hours?"
    "I'll get free civilian flight hours, and that actually is worth more than you would expect outside the military world." With his wrist draped over the steering wheel, he drummed his fingers along the dash as if picking out a tune. "Here's my pitch, I'll hang out to fly you and your brother on your rounds in exchange for using your plane to log in some hours on my own when you're off duty. The Cessna's a different plane, dif ferent challenge than the C-17, and it does cost to fly. A lot."
    And didn't she know it? She'd about choked when she saw the appraisal for Seth's plane. Even used, it was priced at about the same as a decent-size house.
    Bo's logic made sense, and it wasn't his fault her husband had been dishonest. Bo didn't deserve her defensiveness, and he most especially didn't deserve her anger, but where was she supposed to put it all?
    "You're only offering to save my pride," she said with a feeble last attempt at self-preservation.
    "I'm offering to save your fine ass from a crash." He angled closer over the bench seat. Not that anything would happen with Kirstie asleep in the back, but sheesh he was in her space big-time. "What did I say a second ago? Don't go looking for a hidden agenda. And you do have a fine—"
    "Stop. Please." Laughter tickled her raw stomach lining. God, it was fun to be lighthearted in the middle of the mess her life had become. "No more ass discussions, if you don't mind."
    "I'm a man. I enjoyed the view. So sue me." He smiled, showing off those too-cute, slightly crooked front teeth again. His smile faded to seriousness. "But don't do something stupid like turn down my offer."
    He had such a way of making things sound logical. Or was that cute smile of his addling her brain? "If you go around helping everyone this much, it's a wonder you have time to work."
    "Don't make me out to be some altar boy who searches for needy folks to help. Believe me, the picture doesn't fit."
    "So you weren't an altar server?"
    Red stained his skin just above his collar. Who'd have thought bad boys blushed?
    Boy?
    All man.
    "Okay, so I was an altar server. But I was a very bad one."
    That, she believed. "So why does this bad man want to help me?"
    "I can't just stand by doing nothing when there's a problem and I have the means to solve it."
    Spoken like a true Alpha, which actually brought some peace and understanding. There might be more to his agenda and she