“A pilot.” Looked as if Aiden had paired up with a fellow adrenaline junkie. She flew the plane and he jumped out of it. There must be camaraderie in that. “So you work together.”

“Sometimes. There are several pilots. Tiffany also handles paperwork in the office, so she doesn’t fly as much as some of the others.”

Tiffany. “That’s nice.”

“What about you? Boyfriend?”

She shot him a wry grin. “When would I have had time for that?”

“I guess you’ve put your life on hold to some degree. But surely you’ve dated.”

“Very little.” She could count them on two fingers, actually, but she wasn’t owning up to that. “And with no one who interested me.”

She felt his perusal and wondered what he was thinking. Heat bloomed in her cheeks as she stroked Pippa’s head.

“You deserve someone special, Sophie. Maybe now that you have a new beginning you’ll find him.”

His blue eyes were mere shadows in the flickering candlelight. “Maybe I will.” Their gazes held for a long, poignant moment. Years ago she’d thought he was her special someone. She would’ve staked her life on it. Her heart felt as if it might pound right out of her chest.

He still affected her like no other man. When he’d arrived at the house she only wanted to avoid him. But now, only one day later, she dreaded his leaving. What in the world? If she wasn’t careful she’d lose her heart before the storm even passed. Maybe she’d lost a bit of it already.

She jerked her eyes back to the game board and rolled the dice, getting the number she needed to send her final piece home.

She glanced triumphantly at Aiden as she took care of business with a flair. “I’m so sorry. I’m afraid you’ve lost.”

“You’re not one bit sorry. Best two out of three.”

She glanced at her watch. It wasn’t that late, but this—the darkness, the candlelight, the conversation—was too intimate. Too dangerous.

“It’s getting late.” She swigged the last of her drink and rose to her feet. “I think I’ll turn in while we’re even.”

After she helped him put away the games, he knelt down and gave Pippa some love. When he straightened, his expression was an enigma in the flickering shadows.

“Here, take a flashlight. Good night, Sophie. Sleep well.”

“Night, Aiden.” She scooped up Pippa and headed to her room, feeling his eyes on her until she closed the door.

She leaned against it, setting a kiss on Pippa’s head. “Don’t get too attached, sweetie,” she whispered. “He’ll be leaving soon.”

chapter fourteen