Read Online Aussie Rules by Jill Shalvis - Free Book Online Page A

the outside hangars rose, all in preparation for the morning flights. They usually had three to five planes come in to fuel up before nine o’clock. Some of those remained on the tarmac while their rich patrons went into Santa Barbara for their business. Some were towed into the maintenance hangar for work needed, and others simply used the airport as a fuel stop and moved on.
    But as they typically did every morning before their day began, the staff and crew gathered at the counter of the Sunshine Café, mooching coffee from Charlene, standing around for the early-morning gossip session.
    Mel, who was usually first into the airport, stood in the middle of it now, sucking down caffeine, humming an old Ratt song, which was coming from the ever-faithful boom box. Dimi was nowhere in sight, as usual. The woman was going to be late to her own funeral.
    Ritchie was the front lineman today, and Kellan the rear, both inhaling donuts along with Danny and Ernest. Ritchie was talking, using his hands, his big gestures matching the grin on his face. “…And then I said, if you won’t dress like a Victoria’s Secret model, then don’t expect me to act like a soap opera guy—”
    Kellan laughed. “Oh, yeah, I bet that got you laid.”
    â€œHey, I was just being honest.” Ritchie looked at the others. “It’s best to be honest. Right?”
    The ones with a penis vehemently shook their heads.
    Mel sighed. “More donuts,” she said to Char. “We need more donuts.”
    â€œGot ’em.” Charlene came forward to plop down a tray, and it was like feeding piranhas, hands moved that fast. Mel managed to fight her way in and get a cinnamon twist, and had just taken a heavenly bite when Al nudged her. “So what’s up with that Bo guy?”
    Mel choked on a bite. “Um…What do you mean?”
    â€œJust wondering why he’s hanging around.”
    Everyone looked at her, interested. Of course they were, it was her own business, which made it front-page news.
    Where the hell was Dimi? Mel thought frantically. Dimi would lick the sugar off her fingers or something and suitably distract attention away from this issue. Mel glanced at Ernest, the only person here who’d been around when Eddie and Bo had shown up the first time all those years ago, but he was looking right back at her, no expression.
    Was it possible Ernest didn’t remember Bo? “Bo’s an old acquaintance,” she finally said, hoping they’d all leave it at that. “And I’m letting him use some office space.”
    â€œWhat’s the story with you two?” Danny asked, perceptive as always.
    â€œNo story,” she said. “There’s no story.”
    The entire staff shot her a collective gaze that told her she’d have to do better. But until she heard back about the deed—and how it was falsified—she wasn’t saying a word.
    â€œIs this guy hassling you or something?” This from Kellan, with all the toughness his twenty-one years afforded him. He set down his donut and puffed up a bit. “Cuz I can talk to him for ya.”
    â€œMe, too,” Ritchie said, now also resembling a puffer fish.
    Silly. Stupidly male.
    But they meant it. Everyone else nodded, too, and Mel’s throat went tight. These guys, her friends, her family, would do anything for her. Anything except the one thing she needed: turn back time. “No one’s hassling me,” she said. “He’s just…visiting.” She tried to smile reassuringly but suddenly the whole thing felt like a big, fat elephant sitting on her shoulder.
    â€œYou sure?” Danny asked her quietly, watching her with those steady eyes. “Because I have a weird feeling you’re not telling us everything.”
    If he only knew…But they weren’t going to let it go. Of course they weren’t going to let it go, that would have been easy. So