Cameron chuckled to himself while he waited for Cole to come back. He thought this kind of thing only happened in movies. It was Cole’s wedding day—just a few hours before they were supposed to be at the chapel—and the two of them were sitting stranded at the airport in Vegas.

Cole had been right to be wary of holding his stag party the night before the wedding. Though, to be fair, they weren’t stuck here because of any crazy Vegas party antics. They’d only come here this morning to drop a guy off. The party had started out here in Vegas, but no one was really into it, and when Laura had called Smoke and asked if he and the guys wanted to go and join her party, they’d all flown to LA and had a great night with the girls at Oscar Davenport’s new nightclub. Everyone else had headed back to Summer Lake either last night or this morning, but Cameron and Cole had come here to drop off the pilot who’d flown one of the planes to LA for them. That was when things had gone off track. They’d gotten here no problem, but when they were ready to take off again, there was a problem with the plane. Cole said it’d take a mechanic to fix it—and of course, there wasn’t one of those around.

Cole was calling around to see what he could figure out, but it wasn’t looking hopeful. Cameron smiled at him when he came back, then looked at his watch. “Are you sure you don’t want to ask Piper to come?”

“No.”

“No, you’re not sure, or no, you don’t want to?”

Cole smiled through pursed lips. “Both.”

“How long would it take us to drive?”

“About four hours.”

“Ah, too long.”

“Yep. I either figure out a way to fly the plane out of here, or I have to admit that I fucked up and tell Laura.”

“You didn’t fuck up! It’s hardly your fault.”

“My plane, my maintenance schedule, my fuck-up.”

“Or just one of those things?” Cameron smiled. He didn’t want Cole getting down on himself today—it was his wedding day, supposed to be the happiest day of his life.

Cole chuckled. “Maybe. I’m going back to the front desk to see if they’ve heard from the mechanic on call yet.”

“Okay, but if they haven’t, maybe it’s time to ask Piper to come get us.” Cameron smiled. “I have a feeling Laura won’t mind.”

“So do I; I just don’t want to start our married life with her gloating that I couldn’t even get myself to the chapel. Do you think she’d ever let me live it down?”

“Probably not,” said Cameron with a grin.

Cole went back to the front desk, and Cameron could tell by the way they were talking that there was no good news. Cole came back and held up his hands. “Time to admit defeat, I guess.”

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed. Cameron wondered how Piper would react to having to fly back here to get them. There were only a couple of hours left before the wedding and Piper should be getting ready herself. He watched his brother’s face as he talked.

“Nope. I hate doing this, but I’m going to have to ask you to come get me. Where’s Laura? … Okay. I’ll call her. I’m not going to leave you to explain it to her.”

Cameron smiled to himself at that.

“Yeah. We’re going to be cutting it fine.”

Cole smiled. “No, I’m fine, thanks. Cameron made sure he brought everything we could need, just in case of an emergency, but I guess you’re going to have to fly in your bridesmaid’s dress … Thanks, Piper.” Smoke hung up and gave Cameron a rueful smile. “This is going to look great, isn’t it? We’re going to have to get changed now and go straight to the chapel when we land.”

Cameron laughed. “I know it’s not ideal, but I love it!”

Cole laughed with him. “

“I already like that idea.”

Smoke shook his head. “I don’t get you with Piper. You blow hot and cold.”

Cameron shook his head. “No. I’m blowing hot the whole time. I’m just blowing so damned hot, I’m scared—I don’t want to burn her.” The words surprised him; he hadn’t known they were true until he said them.

“I don’t think you want to freeze her out, either, and it looks like that’s what you’re going to end up doing.”

Cameron shrugged. It was true. Last night would have been the perfect time for Piper and him to get to know each other better. They’d had every opportunity at the club. They’d talked; they’d danced, but for some reason, he’d still held back—and she had, too. “It’s probably better that way. Anyway, stop worrying about Piper and me. Call Laura, and then we’d better get changed and wait for our bridesmaid in a pretty dress to come rescue us.”

Cole chuckled and walked away to call Laura.

~ ~ ~

Piper smiled to herself as the wheels touched down on the runway at McCarran.

Laura looked across at her and smiled back. “Is this crazy or what?”

Piper laughed. “Totally. If someone had told me when I first came to visit you that we’d be flying around on your wedding day—in our dresses, no less—there’s no way I would have believed them.” She taxied the plane off the runway and followed the controller’s instructions until she reached the general aviation building. She brought the plane to a halt on the line and went through the checklist to shut the engines down.

Laura grinned at her. “This is it.”

“Yep. Let’s go find that man of yours and get you both to the chapel.” She let herself out into the cabin and let the steps down. She could just imagine how this must look to anyone watching. She was all done up in her bridesmaid’s dress, and Laura was in full-on bride mode—dress on, makeup and hair done, everything! She looked at the FBO building wondering if Smoke and Cameron would be waiting outside. She didn’t see them, but she did see movement inside. She stepped aside to let Laura go down the steps ahead of her. Smoke would no doubt be watching out for them, and she’d love to see his face when he spotted his bride exiting the plane.

A golf cart was waiting on the tarmac to take them inside. Piper smiled at the driver who was obviously curious what their story might be but was too well trained to ask. Smoke and Cameron were waiting just inside the doors from the ramp when they got inside.

Smoke went straight to Laura and closed his hands around her waist.

Piper looked away as they kissed. Cameron came toward her will a smile. “Thanks for coming to get us. You’re the hero; you saved the day.”

Piper nodded. She could not figure the guy out. Anytime they had a chance to get together, he backed right off. The rest of the time he was so sweet—and seemed so interested. “I hear you helped out, too. I was worried I’d need to find Smoke’s clothes and everything and bring them to you, but you’d brought everything you might need, just in case.”

“Yeah. I like to be prepared. I didn’t think we’d need anything; in fact, he laughed at me when I insisted on packing our suits and the rings and everything, but I’m glad I did.”

“You’re not the only one. Can you imagine if we had to get back to the lake and take you both home to get changed? There’s no way we could do it all and still get to the church on time.”

They both grinned as a round of applause broke out. Smoke lifted his head from the kiss finally, and he and Laura both smiled around at their well-wishers. “Thanks, everyone, I got the girl; now we just have to get to the chapel on time.”

Piper rolled her eyes at Cameron. “Glad he finally remembered!”

Cameron chuckled.

When they were all in Papa Charlie, Smoke smiled at Piper. “Thanks, Piper, you’re the best. I think you know you’re not flying us back though, right?”

Piper laughed. “I suspected as much.” She looked at Laura. “I don’t think I’m taking the right seat either, am I?”

Laura shook her head. “No. That’s my seat for this flight.”

And that was as it should be. Piper was glad she’d been able to get the plane here for them, but now it was up to Smoke to get his bride to the church on time. She didn’t have a problem sitting back here in the cabin. She just hoped that Cameron would be his fun, friendly, attentive self. If he was going to be the sexy, flirty version, then she might not be able to stop herself. She’d kept trying to distract herself, but the man was gorgeous, and in that tux, he was doing weird things to her insides.

~ ~ ~

Cole raised an eyebrow at Cameron. He was asking if he minded sitting back here with Piper for the flight back to the lake. Mind? He nodded. Of course, it was fine. It was more than fine. He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her since she’d opened the door and let the steps down when she landed the plane. He’d always thought it was cool that she was a pilot. But seeing her fly in to the rescue did something weird to him. If he thought about it too hard, he might have to admit that in his mind, when someone flew in to save the day, it was a guy, rescuing his woman. It turned him on no end that Piper, beautiful, petite Piper was the hero in this scenario.

He made a conscious effort to pull himself together. Piper had already taken a seat in one of the big club chairs and was fastening her seat belt. He eyed the two seats opposite her, but instead, took the one next to her. She looked so good, and she smelled so good, he realized as he sat down. He just wanted to be close to her.

Her eyes were wide as she looked up at him. They weren’t wide with surprise, though. He understood as he breathed in the scent of her that what he saw in her eyes was desire. Why the hell had he kept holding back? They could have spent last night together. They could have spent the last two weekends together. What was his problem? He didn’t know, and he didn’t care anymore. Whatever it had been, he was over it. Tonight, at the wedding reception, he was going to dance with her; he was going to hold her against him, and afterward, he was going to take her back to her room—or his—it didn’t matter. He was going to peel that dress off her and explore the body underneath it. That body had been taunting him for weeks now. He was ready to surrender, and he could tell she was, too.

The airplane thundered down the runway, and soon they were up in the sky above Vegas. The plane banked to the right, and they were on their way. He looked past Piper and out the window. Her cheeks turned pink as he deliberately leaned across her and pointed. “See the mountains?”

She nodded and then turned back to face him. Her eyes searched his.

He felt pretty dumb. She could hardly look out the window and not see the mountains. “They’re beautiful,” he murmured.

She nodded again.

“You’re beautiful,” he breathed.

This time she didn’t nod. She closed her eyes and then opened them again. “Cameron, what are you doing?”

He smiled. “Making a fool of myself?”

“It feels more like you’re making a fool of me.”

Damn! That wasn’t his intention. “No. Piper, no. I … I like you.”

“I like you, too.”

He reached up and touched her face, and she pressed her cheek into his palm. “I don’t want to complicate things.”

She ran her tongue across her bottom lip. “Why does it have to be complicated?”

He shrugged. He didn’t even know, and he was tired of trying to figure it out. He slid his fingers into her hair and leaned closer. She leaned toward him, and he watched her lips until he brushed them with his own. Her hand came up and clung to his shoulder, and he was lost. He covered her mouth with his and kissed her. Finally. She kissed him back. There was nothing hesitant about it. She pressed her lips to his, and when he slid his arm around her to draw her closer, she gave a little moan. That set his body on fire, and he let himself go. He explored her mouth and slid his hand down her back; she pulled him closer and pressed her breasts against his chest. Damn! The feel of her drove him crazy. She was so soft and so willing. When she finally pulled away from him, he felt bereft. He wanted to pull her back in, kiss her some more, listen to her soft moans and look forward to hearing more of them—tonight.

Reluctantly, he sat back and met her gaze. Would he get to hear her moan again tonight?

She smiled. “What took you so long?”

He chuckled. “What took you so long?”

“I wasn’t sure if I was reading you right. I thought you were …” she shrugged, “but then you kept flipping the switch.”

He nodded. He couldn’t deny it. “Not because I don’t like you.”

“Why then?”

He wasn’t sure he could explain it, wasn’t sure he even knew, but from on the look on her face he knew had to try. “Because, according to my assistant, I’m a womanizer.”

She gave him a puzzled look, and he waited, wondering why he’d told her that and what her reaction might be. It wasn’t anything he might have expected. “So, womanize me,” she said with a laugh.

He shook his head. “You’re not that kind of girl.”

“What makes you say that?”

“I don’t know. You just don’t strike me as the kind of girl who …” How could he put it?

“Who what?”

He shrugged.

She smiled. “You’re scared if you sleep with me, I’ll want something more?”

He shook his head. That wasn’t it, was it? No, it wasn’t. To him sleeping with women was a game he played—and the women he played it with were players. Piper wasn’t a player. Her smile was fading. He had to say something. “You’re a good girl.”

She laughed. “And you don’t like good girls?”

“I like you.”

“But you only hook up with bad girls?”

Cameron frowned. Was that it? It seemed he was taking too long, she was starting to look pissed. He had to say something. “I only hook up with girls who …” How to finish that sentence?

“Girls who what?”

He racked his brain, trying to figure out what the truth was, not just so he could answer Piper, but also so he could understand it for himself. He was shocked when understanding finally dawned. “Girls who I wouldn’t want to date.”

She frowned. “What?”

He gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry, but it’s true. The women I know enjoy hooking up just for the sake of hooking up.”

“And you see me as a good girl, so you don’t think I’d want to do that?”

“Do you?” Maybe she did. Maybe he had the wrong idea about her.

She stared at him.

“When was the last time you just hooked up with some someone?”

She shrugged, and he knew he was right about her. Larissa and all the other girls he knew would have named a day within the last week. He was sure of it.

“When was the last time you did?”

He had to think about it. He’d spent that weekend with Larissa. That had been the weekend before he’d gone to Summer Lake for the first time to visit Cole. The weekend before he’d met Piper. “Three weeks ago,” he said. He wasn’t going to mention any of the offers he’d had since then—or the fact that he’d had no interest in any of them because he couldn’t get Piper out of his head.

She frowned.

“Does that put you off me?” he asked.

She shook her head. “No. It doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Well, that’s not quite true. It bothers me that since then, you’ve had the chance to hook up with me every weekend, yet you’ve walked away every time.”

“I don’t know how to explain it.”

“Then don’t bother.” She gave him a resigned smile. “It’s not a big deal, is it?” She made to pull away from him, but he tightened his arm around her and drew her closer again.

“It doesn’t have to be.” He leaned in, wondering if she was still interested or if she’d given up on him.

“No?” She was looking up into his eyes.

“No,” he said as he lowered his lips and brushed them across hers. “Not if you give me a chance to make up for all that lost time.”

Her arms came up around his shoulders, and if her kiss was her answer, then it seemed she was eager to make up for the time they’d lost.

His hands moved over her; he couldn’t help himself. He’d wondered about her body since he first met her. Now he finally got to touch her, even though it was through her bridesmaid’s dress.

When they finally came up for air again, she leaned back and looked him in the eye.

“What?” he asked.

“I just want to be certain I understand what’s going on here.”

“What’s the question?”

She shrugged, and he guessed she was maybe too embarrassed to ask it.

“Yes, I like you,” he said. “Yes, I’m attracted to you.” Her lips twitched into a smile. “Yes, I’m hoping that you do want to.”

She met his gaze. “Want to what?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Dance with me later,” he said with a grin.

“I might.” He loved the way her eyes sparkled. She was playing with him now.

“What else?”

She shrugged. “What else are you hoping?”

“I guess we’ll have to wait and see, won’t we?”

“I guess we will.”

He slid his hand into her hair and tipped her head back, so she was looking up into his eyes. “I can’t wait,” he breathed.

She nodded and moistened her lips with her tongue. “Me neither.” He lowered his head to her again. He needed to taste her lips. He hadn’t lied when he said he couldn’t wait. He’d love nothing more than to get her out of that bridesmaid’s dress right now. Unfortunately, he’d have to wait. He could hardly ask her to join the mile-high club with him right now—not with his brother flying the plane and with the possibility that Laura could open the cockpit door at any moment. He’d have to make the most of just kissing her for now. Her kisses were intoxicating—and addictive. Every time he lifted his head, he was soon leaning in for more. He hadn’t kissed a woman like this in years, probably not since he was a teenager. Maybe it was because he could normally get a woman naked and underneath him, or maybe it was something about her. Like he’d told Cole, there was something innocent about her. The way she kissed him made him want to keep kissing her; it wasn’t just a locking of lips while he undressed her. It was more than that, but he couldn’t explain just what it was.

She had her fingers tangled in his hair, and she moaned into his mouth as he tormented her breast through her dress. She had the most amazing, full round breasts. He couldn’t wait to get to them to explore them with his mouth and his tongue. He froze at the sound of Cole clearing his throat. Piper went still for a second, and then they sprang apart.

He gave Cole and Laura an apologetic look. Damn! He’d intended to have himself back under control long before they landed. Beside him, Piper kept her gaze down and straightened her dress. He hoped that being caught like that wouldn’t put her off him completely. As far as he was concerned, they were just getting started. He’d love to continue this as soon as they could be alone together.

“Sorry to disturb you,” said Cole with a laugh. “But it’s showtime. We’re back, and we all need to get to the church.”