On Wings of Love by Kim Watters

it.
    Sighing, Ruth grabbed the railing and pulled her body up the steps while her eyes skimmed over Noah’s khaki pants, past his muscular chest underneath the green polo shirt he wore today and grazed his firm lips. Without his sunglasses on, Ruth noticed his blue irises deepened to the color of the clearing sky before they darkened like the receding monsoon clouds. The cold, remote look etched across his features signaled his attitude toward her profession hadn’t changed much either.
     
    Once Ruth stood next to him, Noah frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. He should have known Ruth would be the coordinator today. He didn’t like the effect she had on him. She made him want to feel again. The call had come in right after Brad had lost the coin toss and had taken off on a scheduled trip to fly some executives to San Jose with the other pilot, Seth.
    Hannah had left for another doctor’s appointment, her second this month, which concerned him, but he didn’t want to pry into his office manager’s personal life, and Noah had been stupid enough to answer the phone instead of letting it go to the answering service. The only reason Noah was here was because he couldn’t afford not to be. Turning down any job would put a strain on his business no matter what it cost his emotions. He’d deal with any repercussions after he paid his bills.
    “Hi, Noah. Thanks for coming. I wasn’t sure anyone would be able to get in with that storm.”
    “Ruth.” His gaze raked over the blonde, taking in her appearance. Curly wisps of hair had escaped from her ponytail and framed her pink, heated face. Her white T-shirt covered now by his dog’s paw prints made her look more like the girl next door that Brad had mentioned on theirfirst fly-out together. Only the lab coat draped over her arm clued him in to her profession. “A little rain isn’t going to keep me from my contractual obligations.”
    “Oh. Okay then. I’m glad of that. Well, thank you anyway.” She glanced down and ran her fingers up and down the strap of her duffel bag.
    Noah checked his resentment and wished he could retract those spiteful words. He hadn’t meant to say them out loud. He hadn’t meant to hurt Ruth. Using the tip of his finger, he tilted her chin back so he could lose himself in the color of her eyes that reminded him of the acres of green grass he’d mowed weekly on his granddad’s farm. “I’m sorry, Ruth. That was uncalled for. Even if I didn’t have a contract, I would have come for you.”
    Her expression softened to the caring one he associated with her. “It’s okay, Noah. I know you have issues with my job. If you want—”
    “No.”
    Ruth touched Noah’s arm, the contact almost making him forget what she did for a living. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be here for you. Before I forget again, thanks for changing my tire Friday and for following me home.”
    “No problem. I’d do it for anyone.” Noah shifted uncomfortably. He sure knew the right words to say today. Finding two coins in his pants pocket, he rubbed them together as silence loitered between the two.
    “Where’s the rest of the bunch?” Uneasy, Noah shifted his attention past her shoulder to the empty tarmac. He swatted at a lazy fly buzzing around his head. In the distance, monsoonal clouds were rebuilding behind the mountains.
    “It’s just me. I was on a case.” Her voice hitched, signaling a death spiral to his resolve to remain unaffected by her charm. Would he ever be able to separate her from her job?
    “A case?” A bead of sweat dripped into his eye before he could shove it away.
    “I represented a local donor. Instead of bringing a team in to retrieve an organ, I came in by myself, found the recipients and coordinated the surgeries when the other teams arrived. What about you? Where’s Brad?”
    “I’m solo today, too. We’re flying in a turbo prop that needs only one pilot. It saves money.” Noah lost his battle not to get any