Page 9 of One Kind Hand

Because it was joy she felt. And it felt pretty damn good.

****

The weekend crawled by because time liked to screw with people when they waited for something they wanted to get to on Monday. Charlie and Isabel had spent Friday night enjoying what had become an Austin Rayhill Movie Marathon. Isabel had brought Cups Café spinach pies because she was truly the World’s Best Bestie. They’d nibbled and swooned, swooned and nibbled until they’d both fallen asleep on Charlie’s couch. Only Jackson’s call, wondering where his fiancée was, had gotten them to separate.

“What’s on your schedule for tomorrow?” Isabel had asked before hopping in her SUV to head back to Pine River Cottages.

Charlie quickly checked her phone to see no requests for charters or rescues. “Filling out movie paperwork, I guess.” They both had thrown up their arms and waved them as if they were at a rock concert.

“Okay. Fill out your important movie papers then come to the cottages. We’re doing some painting in the new buildings and could use all the help we can get.” Isabel had pointed at Charlie. “And you need a busy way to pass the time until Monday arrives.”

Charlie had saluted her. “Roger that. I’ll be by.” She’d flicked leaves off the black combat boots she’d pulled on to walk Isabel out. “And thanks, Isabel. For making me enter my chopper.”

“Thanks for the autograph you’re going to get me.” Isabel had winked. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

Painting on Saturday had been fun. Ribbing Jackson while discussing all things Austin Rayhill had provided additional fun. Jackson’s brother, Christian, had joined in too.

“I’m into women, but if I were into guys . . .” He’d whistled. “Austin Rayhill would be at the top of the list.”

Charlie had looked at Nicole, Christian’s fiancée, but the woman had shrugged. “At least my man has good taste in men.”

Sunday had found Charlie doing a little maintenance and beautification of her chopper. She’d thoroughly cleaned the inside and outside, checked fluids, inspected the rotors, and made sure she was gassed and ready for her foray into acting. The details Janice had sent told Charlie to fly to an airfield in Montpelier so Austin, his agent, and Flicka Entertainment could get a better look at her chopper. Naturally that made Charlie wonder if they wanted a better look at her as well.

Shit. Could they change their minds now that they’d said her chopper had been chosen? Worse, could they get someone else to fly her bird if they didn’t like her look? No way in hell was Charlie going to allow another pilot to get his hands on her baby.

So on Sunday afternoon, she had pushed aside her distaste for clothes shopping and went to Cynthia’s Boutique in town. There, Heather Danahy had outfitted her with an ensemble that was functional for a helicopter pilot as well as sexy for meeting movie stars. Black cargo pants that were more fitted and rode lower than her usuals. A camouflage print V-neck thermal that made her boobs look great with a short, black suede motorcycle jacket. Black lace-up boots with a chunky heel. The outfit was basically what Austin would wear for a role, but with a female flare in all the right spots.

“Now the trick,” Heather had said while Charlie admired herself in the fitting room mirror, “is to rock all of this with your signature Charlie Moyen ‘tude.”

“And what ‘tude is that exactly?”

“You know,” Heather had said. “The I-fly-a-helicopter-and-am-a-total-badass-chick ‘tude.”

“Oh. That ‘tude. Right.”

“And another fun piece to complement this ensemble.” Heather had held up a necklace that immediately caught Charlie’s attention. “I know you don’t really do jewelry if it isn’t spiked or skulled, but—”

“I love it.” Charlie had grabbed the black leather cord and inspected the pendant hanging from it. A silver compass rose that was absolutely perfect. She’d put it on and it fell halfway between her throat and her cleavage.

“You look fabulous, Charlie.” Heather had angled her head. “Call me nuts, but I feel like a black baseball hat might catapult this look to another level. With some small silver hoop earrings?”

Charlie had agreed to the additional tweaks and now that she had it all on, she had to admit she loved the image reflecting back to her in her bedroom mirror. She had her own black leather cuff bracelet with silver studs on it that she always wore and it matched the other accessories nicely. Her jaw-length black hair hung straight about her face from under the hat and she’d rimmed her gray-blue eyes with some black eyeliner. This was the most effort she’d ever expended on her appearance and she hoped it made the right impression. How could it not? She looked confident and ready to help Austin take down bad guys. That had to be the right look.

Didn’t it?

Despite looking confident, she felt anything but.

“Suck it up, buttercup.” Charlie stretched her neck to the left then the right. “You can do this.”

And she had to do it now or she was going to be late.

She slicked some lip gloss that Isabel had given her over her lips and grabbed the keys to her SUV. Fifteen minutes later, she pulled into the small airfield on the fringe of Maplehaven and jogged to her chopper.

A loud whistle made her shoot a look over her shoulder to see fellow pilot, Harlon Langs, sprinting toward her.

Great. She’d been hoping to make it out of the airfield without having to explain anything to anyone. She had a reputation to uphold among all the male pilots in this business. Harlon was the last person she needed seeing her outfitted as she currently was.

Charlie increased her speed, giving Harlon a wave as if to say, No time to shoot the shit.