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  PRIVATE PILOT

  Copyright © 2020 by Karen Deen

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in either, electronic, paper hard copy, photocopying, recorded or any other form of reproduction without the written permission of the author. No part of this book either in part or whole may be reproduced into or stored in a retrieval system or distributed without the written permission of the author.

  This book is a work of fiction. Characters, names, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual events, locations or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

  The author acknowledges the trademark status and owners of products referred to in this fiction which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.

  Published by Karen Deen

  Formatted by Opium House Creatives

  Edited by Contagious Edits

  Cover Design by Opium House Creatives

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Karen Deen has been a lover of romance novels and happily-ever-after stories for as long as she can remember. Reaching a point in her life where she wanted to explore her own dreams, Karen decided now was the time to finally write some of her own stories. For years, all of her characters have been forming story lines in her head, just waiting for the right time to bust free.

  In 2016, Karen put pen to paper for the first time, with Zach and Emily being the first characters fighting to have their story written. From that first word, she hasn’t been able to stop. Publishing Love’s Wall (her first novel in the Time to Love Series) in 2017 has ignited her passion to continue writing and bring more of her characters to life.

  Karen is married to her loving husband and high school sweetheart. Together, they live the crazy life of parents to three children. She is balancing her life between a career as an accountant by day and writer of romance novels by night. Living in the beautiful coastal town of Kiama, Australia, Karen loves to enjoy time with her family and friends in her beautiful surroundings.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  They say it takes a village to raise a child.

  It takes a tribe to write a book. Thank you to all my tribe. I’m so grateful for each and everyone of you.

  To my beta readers who pushed me with Private Pilot to bring you the best book I possibly could. Vicki, Linda, Nicole, Shelbie and Di. I love you girls. I couldn’t write without you keeping it real, telling me what needs improvement and pushing me to write faster, in the nicest possible way of course.

  Linda Russell and the team at Foreword PR & Marketing. Thank you just doesn’t seem enough for the help you give me. For the laughing and crying you get from the other side of the world and the random questions at weird times of the day. Linda you have a big heart and I am grateful we have connected. Plus, I need a late-night mother who yells at me from the US to go to bed. Love you lots.

  Contagious Edits are my savior. Lindsay thank you for making my jumbled words make sense and adding the many commas that are always missing. You are amazing for looking after me and always doing the edit as quick as possible for which I am extremely grateful. I would be lost without you.

  Opium House Creatives and Sarah Paige. You make my covers look hot, teasers sizzle and read all my words to format them and make them look pretty. Thank you for always doing your best for me and nothing is ever a pain. Even if I change something ten times. So grateful to have had you on this journey.

  To all the bloggers, book groups, promoters, and book lovers who share our posts, talk about our books and makes us smile every day. The indie world wouldn’t survive without you. Thank you for everything you do for us.

  My readers. You are AMAZING! When I write I want to share the world that’s in my head. You beautiful people allow me to do that and then shock me with your amazing reviews and messages. Grateful for the love you share with me.

  My mentor, blessed and grateful for you in my life and the guidance you give.

  To my family and friends – I promise you will see me out of my office sometime this year. Just keep hanging in there.

  My husband Michael, children Josh, Caitlin and Aimee. Thank you for your love and patience. You are my world and reason for breathing.

  Grateful.

  Karen xoxoxo

  CONTACT

  For all the news on upcoming books, visit Karen at:

  www.karendeen.com.au

  [email protected]

  Facebook: Karen Deen Author

  Instagram: karendeen_author

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Epilogue

  Dedication

  For my hubby who stands beside me

  while I’m chasing my dream.

  So grateful for you in my life xx

  1

  Mason

  ANOTHER DAY — another case of blue balls.

  My job’s dangerous to my health but not as much as my boss is.

  Fuck, that woman is going to kill me.

  At times, the pain she causes is not pleasant. Just thinking about her is already making my balls twitch.

  That ass, the way it sways as she ascends the stairs. Long legs and perfect calves. All leading down to those fuck-me heels. Brightly colored that draw my eyes every single time!

  One day maybe she’ll notice the way I look at her. Until then, I live with the pain.

  Climbing out of my Jeep, George is walking around the front of my plane.

  “Morning, Captain”

  “Hey, George. Got my baby ready for the day?” I walk into the hangar, looking up at the love of my life. Meredith, my Dassault Falcon 8X private jet. Technically she’s not mine, but she may as well be. No matter how much I fly her, she still brings me joy every single time.

  “She’s all fueled, checked, and ready for you.” George stands, wiping his greasy hands on a rag. He is my main aircraft maintenance technician. I trust him with my baby, which means I trust him with my life and those of my passengers.

  “Thanks, man. What would I do without you?” I walk towards the stairs to head on board and start my preflight checks, hearing him chuckling behind me.

  “Same thing I always tell you. You’d be on your knees begging for forgiveness from the boss lady because she can’t fly across the country to bust someone’s balls today.”

  Laughing to myself, that’s a vision I don’t want to picture for too long.

  Placing my bag in my locker, I enter the cockpit, my office. The moment I sit on my chair in here, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I feel home. Where I belong. This has become a ritual for every flight. Get myself in-tune with Meredith, working in sync, nothing a problem.

  Preflight checks done, my copilot Aaron and flight crew Holly are on board and settled. George is hooking up Meredith to the towing vehicle and pulling us out to the tarmac to wait for the boss to arrive. There is one thing I never have to worry about. She’s always on time.

  “Wonder who we have on board today for the flight to Florida, besides the boss? Hope she doesn’t have that dickhead assistant Tyson. I’m close to reminding him with my fists that we do
n’t take orders from him.” Aaron looks at me, more serious than I would like to think he is.

  “Calm down, man. I agree with you, but he works for the boss, so if she says he can tell us to jump, we say how high,” I reply while signaling to George from the cockpit that he can unhitch the plane. “Remember, they are always right, and we are here to do our job.” Aaron grumbles as he gets on with it.

  Looking up, I see the car in the distance crossing the tarmac. Making its way towards the plane, as usual.

  “Go time, people.” I exit the cabin down the staircase. As the captain, it’s my role to welcome all passengers on to my plane. Part of the reason I love my job is the personal service we give. I tried my hand at being a commercial pilot of a larger plane but realized this is more my style.

  The car pulls to a stop. Black with dark tinted windows, it doesn’t allow me to see our passengers for today.

  My eyes are pinned on the rear passenger door. Waiting like always. Standing with my hands behind my back, feet slightly apart. I’ve never lost my military training. It’s embedded in me no matter how hard I try to shake it off.

  My body is racing waiting to see her. Time to breathe deeply and maintain my role.

  What feels like ten minutes passes and finally the driver exits the car, opening her door. Today’s shoes are bright yellow.

  Her fuck-me heels show her confidence and power.

  Well, that’s what I’m thinking in my head.

  Shoes with attitude, her signature look.

  Never black. Always a loud color, yet she is far from loud.

  Even standing, she’s still partly hidden behind the car door, yet I can see her face. Just her face and never her eyes. Not until she is in the confines of the plane. Sunglasses hide her from the world.

  I often wonder where she’s looking. At me?

  Smoothing her clothes down and looking so perfect, she steps out, walking straight to the plane.

  “Hello, Ms. Ellen.”

  She offers a gentle controlled nod, acknowledging me as she passes.

  My view from behind as she ascends the stairs spikes my breathing. That ass is one I’d very much like to be acquainted with. More than just admiring it from afar.

  Yet, she has a secret flirt with me just to make sure I notice her. I’m sure she knows exactly what she’s doing as she sways her hips.

  My hands hold tight as I pound into her. These are fantasies I can’t be having.

  She’s my boss and totally off limits.

  High-powered CEO Paige Ellen. Totally out of my league.

  Never a thing out of place, the master of her domain.

  The star of all my dreams since my first day on the job.

  I hear a throat clear from behind me. Before I even turn, I know who it is.

  Tyson.

  Paige’s assistant. Grade-A jerk.

  What’s his fucking problem?

  If I say anything, he’ll just go running to Paige, saying I was mean to him. He’s that kid at school who sucked up to the teacher and then tattled on everyone, so it made him look good. The kind of kid who got picked on because he was such a nerd.

  Slowly, I turn back to face him, pulling my shoulders back, that little bit more imposing.

  “Sorry, Tyson, I didn’t see you there. I was just making sure Ms. Ellen made it safely up the stairs in those heels.” I step to the side.

  “I’m sure you were. It’s Mr. Burke to you. Don’t know how many times I need to remind you. Just concentrate on your job flying this plane and I will do my job of looking after Ms. Ellen in every way she needs. Understood?” His attempt to puff out his chest and assert his authority just makes me laugh. I try to hold it in, but as he starts up the stairs, I’m sure he hears my mumbles under my breath and the snickering that goes with it.

  Paige’s driver, Bent, is beside me with her day bag for the trip, a smirk on his face.

  “One day someone is going to tell that guy what we’re all thinking.” He hands the bag over to Aaron who is now standing next to me.

  “Please let it be me. Please, Mason, I’m itching to knock him down a peg or two.” Aaron pretends to throw a few air punches like a child.

  “I’m first, but something tells me if he steps out of line, the boss will put him in his place, quicker than we can punch. That woman knows how to take care of herself. She eats men like him and you for breakfast.” Bent and I laugh at the look of annoyance on Aaron’s face. Shaking hands, Bent and I get on with our work for the day.

  After loading everything on board and signaling for the cabin to be secured, I smile at Paige.

  “Enjoy the flight, Ms. Ellen, and let Holly know if there’s anything we can get you to make it more comfortable. We should be in Florida in just over two hours, in plenty of time for your meeting. Tyson, is there anything that I can help you with as the captain of the plane?” He wants to shoot daggers through me for my sarcasm.

  Looking up from her laptop that she’s already got open on the table in front of her, Paige finally shows me her eyes for the first time today. A tiny twinkle in her eyes at my comment, but then it’s gone.

  “Thank you, Captain White,” is all she says. Holding the look between us that little bit longer than usual, she seems a little sad today. Maybe I’m just imagining things, but I’m not seeing that hard edge that’s normally there.

  I want to ask her but doubt she’ll answer. I’ve been working for her for around six months now, yet it hasn’t gone much beyond the polite greetings and silent flirts. Instead I just look away and leave her to the work in front of her, and I return to the cockpit to get us up in the air.

  “Boss lady all belted in, ready for take-off.” Aaron looks across as I tighten my harness. I glare at him, and he gets the message.

  “Chicago Midway International Tower, this is Lima Delta Foxtrot 215 requesting permission to take off on runway zero-seven on route to Orlando executive Airport Florida. Over.” I flick switches and buttons to get the engines started, waiting for the reply.

  “Roger Lima Delta Foxtrot 215. You are clear for takeoff on runway zero-seven. Over.”

  “Roger CMI tower. Approaching runway now, ready for takeoff. Over.” While I’m liaising with the tower for permission, Aaron has done the cabin cross-check to make sure all doors are secure and passengers’ seatbelts on.

  “Roger Lima Delta Foxtrot 215, clear for takeoff. Over and out.”

  Stilling my breathing and focusing my thoughts on nothing else other than getting this plane in the air, I push forward on the throttle and we start the high-speed acceleration down the runway. Counting in my head until I know I’ve hit the right marker. I pull back hard on my steering to hoist the nose up into the air and we are heading into the sky.

  That adrenaline rush of takeoff never gets old.

  Settling into the flight as we climb to our cruising altitude, the weather is good, and everything is happening as it should be.

  “This is Captain White advising you are now free to move around the cabin. We are currently cruising at forty thousand feet and expect clear weather this morning all the way to Orlando. Our estimated time for landing is nine twenty-five this morning. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your flight.”

  I activate the autopilot switch for this part of the flight. Leaning back and stretching my arms above my shoulders, I release the nervous energy that always builds during takeoff. The moment I get complacent about flying is the moment I need to stop. I learned a long time ago that you need your wits about you at all times in the air. Even on the simplest of flights there can always be a problem that can make things turn to shit in a matter of seconds.

  “Got any plans today while we’re on the ground?” Aaron questions.

  “No, I’m just going to hang out on the plane and watch a movie. Had a big day yesterday with the boys. Grayson took us back to the track and we got to race each other again. Speeding around a track in a Nascar takes a very close second to flying for the rush. You should try it.” Unbuckling my harne
ss, I stand. “All yours for a few minutes, I need to take a leak.”

  He nods as I pass him to exit the cockpit. Holly is just outside the door preparing breakfast for Paige and Tyson.

  She smiles at me while I ease past her in the small galley. Stepping into the main cabin, I notice Paige with her head stuck in her laptop, busy typing away, her nails clicking on the keys at an amazing speed. Tyson is not in his seat which is unusual. I stand leaning against the wall watching her, wondering if she ever stops. What does a relaxing day mean in her world? I’m not sure she even knows what a day off work even means. We’ve regularly flown on Sundays so she’s ready for a meeting early Monday morning. Worse still, she’s often flown and had meetings on weekends. Of course, I’m not complaining because the payment for my services is greater on a Sunday. Not like I’m knocking the extra money.

  Tate, Grayson, and Lex—my buddies—are always ribbing me when I fly weekends with her. Plenty of Mile-High Club jokes, parking my jet in her hangar, asking what the runway looks like, and other ridiculous but funny comments. You can always rely on Tate to put a shade of dirty in anything innocent.

  Paige hasn’t noticed me watching her yet. Her fingers stop and hover over the keyboard, like she’s thinking. Her chest heaves like she’s trying to hold something in and not let it out.

  A single tear escapes, sliding down her cheek. Just one. Like she won’t give herself permission to let any more release. If there is one thing I can’t take, it’s to see a woman cry. Yet Paige and her single tear has me moving before I even realize what I’m doing. I kneel beside her chair with my handkerchief, and she startles.

  “Captain White, where…” She stammers a little in a voice far softer than I’ve ever heard from her before.

  “Mason, please call me Mason. Sorry to disturb you.” Offering up my handkerchief, she shakes her head and turns away from me for a moment to wipe the stray tear away.

  “Can I help you with anything? I saw you had dust in your eye.” I place my hand on hers, giving her an out to explain the tear. She jerks her head back towards me and pulls her hand away from me. I leave the handkerchief for her on the armrest anyway.