Read Online Untamed Desire by Lindsay McKenna - Free Book Online Page B

emerging. Placing the cartridges on Stella’s desk, she slipped into her fur-lined parka, and picked up the flight plan, and walked out the door toward the control tower.
    Storm dropped off a family of three at Camp Four at the base of the Talkeetna mountain range, where they planned to fish for brown trout. The boy, a pallid youngster of five, had looked unhappy, and as Storm went mechanically through the post-flight checklist, she also rechecked the family’s medical history. Louise Callings poked her head inside the cabin.
    “Well, I think we have everything, Storm. You’ll be dropping off our supplies in three days?”
    “Yes. Is your son, Bobby, all right? He looks a little peaked.”
    Louise pushed a strand of black hair off her broad, attractive face. “He just got over the flu a few days ago, and I don’t think all this traveling has helped his recovery.” She bit her lip, then added, “I tried to talk Frank into waiting a few more days, but…” She brightened. “Well, you know fishermen. When the big ones are waiting for them, they just pray everything else will fall into place.”
    Storm sensed her disquiet. “Why don’t you let me give you some aspirin for Bobby? Just in case he starts running a slight fever.”
    Louise seemed relieved at the suggestion. “Yes, that would be wonderful, Storm.” She leaned forward, touching her arm. “Thanks. I’m so glad you’re a woman! Men just don’t understand our worries.”
    Storm’s spirit was buoyed by Louise, but as she flew back to Anchorage, some of her anxiety over this morning’s conversation between Jim and Dan returned. Dan had said she could stay. Now all she had to do was continue to perform well and try to ignore Jim’s attitude. Her heart squeezed in anguish as she realized that would be impossible. As she taxied back to the flight line, her concern increased. The only time she could forget her problem was when she was up in the royal blue Alaskan skies.
    The pit of her stomach churned as she saw Jim Talbot standing at the desk in the front office. Storm slowed her steps, hoping he would leave by the time she got there. Stella looked up and smiled broadly as Storm entered. Jim glanced over his shoulder, scowling.
    “Well, is the Callings family all settled in for the duration?” Stella asked cheerfully.
    Storm nodded, putting the paperwork in Stella’s hands, trying hard to ignore Jim’s presence.
    “Yes,” she replied tentatively, taking another sheaf of papers and distractedly beginning to fill them out.
    “You sound worried,” Jim commented. He turned toward her, his eyes pinning her in silent appraisal.
    Storm opened her mouth and then closed it. She was behaving like an unsure teenager! She licked her lips and then said, “It’s their boy, Bobby. He’s still recovering from a case of the flu. My personal opinion is that they should have waited a while longer before bringing him out here.”
    Even to her own ears she sounded defensive, peevish. Her anger at him was tingeing her tone of voice, despite her efforts to control it. He was so devastatingly handsome, so disturbing to her in every way. It hurt her to realize he didn’t want her around.
    Storm abruptly turned away, took the papers she was working on over to a chair and sat down, filling them out. As she handed them back to Stella, Jim said directly behind her, “Take the rest of the day off, Storm. I’ll get Danziger to take your last flight. You look tired.”
    Storm turned slowly, trying to assess his unreadable features. Her hands felt wet with perspiration, but she forced her voice to remain even. “No, thanks,” she answered coldly, “I’ll carry my part of the load.”
    Jim studied her for a long moment, his mouth thinning with displeasure. The tension between them increased with intensity. Stella meekly excused herself and left the two of them alone.
    “I’m not asking you to do it,” Jim finally said. “I’m telling you.”
    Storm’s blue eyes