Page 44 of Alaskan Blackout
“It was a pleasure having you on board. I hope you have a great time in Applewood.”
Piper smiled at the woman, who turned to walk back to the galley.Applewood.Piper mused over the word. It was a town she’d never heard of before two days ago, and thanks to the network of billion-dollar ranches in the town per capita, it one of the wealthiest in the country. Seeing as how a private jet was her first introduction to the community, she believed it. She smoothed a hand over the arm of her chair as she felt the plane decreasing its altitude.
A few minutes later, the plane landed at the Applewood airstrip, and Piper found her luxurious ride over far too soon. She disembarked and saw that the tarmac was lined with small white luxury planes. She’d previously wondered why Applewood had its own airstrip and regional airport, but now it all made sense to her.
She was led into the small airport, where she was to wait until her bag was unloaded from the plane and brought to her. The walls of the small building were made of glass and she took the opportunity to check out the environment around her. From the air, she’d seen the large swaths of rolling hills and ranchland that broke up the dense forests and comprised much of the town. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over everything in sight. It was a stunning sight, so tranquil, so quiet, so far removed from her crowded, bustling neighborhood in Chicago.
She pulled her phone from her purse to take a photo. Her eyes were still on her screen when she turned away from the glass wall and crashed against something hard and quite warm.
“Oof,” she said as the air compressed from her lungs at the impact, and she looked up to see the amused smile of possibly the sexiest man she’d ever seen. “I’m so sorry,” Piper told him, feeling an embarrassed flush rise in her cheeks. “I really should be looking where I’m going.”
He put a steadying hand on her upper arm. “It’s quite all right, ma’am,” he said in an irresistibly slow drawl. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine, thank you.”
“I noticed you looking at the scenery,” he noted.
She took the opportunity to look up at him again. He was the classic tall, dark, and handsome type, with a stunning smile, strong jaw and high cheekbones. The thick waves of his black hair were brushed back, and she was tempted to push her fingers through them.
“Yeah, I just landed and was killing some time while I wait for my bag,” Piper overexplained. She did that when she was nervous, and for some reason, this man made her nervous. She tore her eyes away from him and back to the glass. The sky was a stunning cerulean blue. “It’s gorgeous here.”
He was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans, a leather backpack slung over one shoulder. His square jaw was covered in a short dark beard.Speaking of gorgeous sights.She covertly looked him up and down through her dark sunglasses. He was handsome, and from the way he filled out his clothing, she could tell he was strong. Piper was absolutely transfixed.
“Is this your first visit to Applewood?” he asked her.
“Yes, it is. I don’t know just how long I’ll be here, yet,” she explained. “But I’m looking forward to getting out there and exploring.” And maybe crossing paths again with this mysterious hunk. “Do you live here in town?” she asked.
“I do. I guess my plane must have landed just after yours.”
Hisplane. So he was another rich person in Applewood. And she didn’t bother to correct him about her own status. “Yeah, perhaps.”
They watched each other for several beats before he smiled and shook his head, clearly embarrassed. “I’m sorry, I’ve forgotten my manners.” He stuck out his hand. “Maverick Kane.”
She shook his hand. “I’m Piper Gallagher. Nice to meet you, Maverick. Or do you go by Mav? Or Mr. Kane?” She was having fun flirting with him. She’d been on Texas soil for all of ten minutes, and she was already smitten.
“Whatever you want to call me is fine by me. I’m sure I’ve heard worse.” He laughed, and the warm chuckle vibrated throughout her body. “So, you’re staying in town then?”
“Yeah,” she told him, even though she wasn’t entirely sure where she would be staying. That was one of those little details that Piper was certain, one way or another, would work itself out. “For a while, at least. I don’t quite know for how long yet.”
He hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “You know, I’ve got my truck out there in the parking lot. Why don’t a give you a ride?”
“My mom always told me to never accept a ride from a stranger.”
He smiled at her. “Of course—you’re right.”
At that moment there was nothing Piper wanted more than to spend time with Maverick Kane. He was charming, sexy, and she wouldn’t mind getting to know him better. “It’s okay,” she told him. “I have a ride coming. Thank you for the offer, though. I appreciate it. I just hope everyone else in town is as friendly as you.”
He leaned closer, a slick grin on his face. “Don’t let that get around,” he told her. “I wouldn’t want it to affect my reputation.” He straightened. “Enjoy your stay,” he told her. “Maybe I’ll see you around.”
Piper smiled. She really hoped she would cross paths with Maverick Kane again. “Yeah, maybe you will.”
He returned her smile and, for a moment, their eyes connected, and if they had been better acquainted, Piper was sure that he would have leaned over and kissed her. But they were strangers, and that wasn’t how things worked in real life. Instead, he cocked an eyebrow and smiled at her, showing off his straight, white teeth. “Well, you shouldn’t be too hard to find,” he commented, letting his eyes roam over her.
Before Piper could respond, Maverick turned on his heel and walked away. Her eyes stayed on him and even when he exited through the door, her eyes stayed on the exit.
“Your suitcase, Ms. Gallagher.”
Startled, she turned to the voice. It was the baggage handler who had brought her bag from the plane. “Thank you,” she said absently as she dug into her purse for her phone. “I appreciate it.”