Taking Flight: Turbulence: Taking Flight, #2

By Donna Faye

Stella isn't the same doormat whose life shattered on that dreary winter day. She braved screeching training instructors, crawled through fire ants, and endured the world's most awkward showers on her journey to empowerment. 

Then there's Gabe McCreary, a wounded warrior who is battling post traumatic stress, missing home, and adjusting to his changed physique - moving forward seems to be his biggest battle yet.

When their lives collide, the draw is instant. Despite their turbulent histories and enough baggage to ground an airliner, they just work. Through night terrors, a temporary duty assignment, and her trust issues, they learn how to laugh and live again.

**Please note, this book picks up where Taking Flight: Departure leaves off. It will make a lot more sense if you read that one first. It's available as a free purchase at most digital bookstores.**

• Language: English
• Publisher: Donna Faye
• Release date: Nov 30, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370806492

Book preview

Chapter 1: Fartsack 

- A sleeping bag.

When Gabe walked into the conference room at headquarters the morning of the dam trip, he felt his jaw drop and desire pool in his gut at the sight before him. There was a tiny woman bent over by an AV cart, fussing with the power strip. Her hot little ass stuck up in the air and was framed by the tight blue jeans she wore tucked into combat boots.

The way she leaned caused her shirt to fall forward, revealing a few inches of skin that begged to be touched. Her tiny waist accentuated the exquisite flare of her hips...just right for grabbing hold. Her legs were long and shapely despite her tiny stature. The proverbial icing on the cake was the long, strawberry-blonde handlebar braids – just the right length for pulling. How he’d love to give them a yank and hear her gasp.

Gabe cleared his throat to get her attention, but held back his laughter as he watched the woman jump straight in the air then promptly fall back on her delectable little derriere. He’d like to kiss that boo-boo all better.

Oh, for the love of... As her gaze found him, the woman’s unspoken expletive hung in the air as all the color drained from her face. She whispered the words Running Man as if she was confused and questioning her vision.

He smirked. Of all the people, in all the Air Force, he was going camping with the little fox from Lackland. Life was so strange sometimes. And what did she call him...Running Man? She had a name for him? He supposed it made sense given that they’d never actually met. He’d known her name, but had thought of her as the little fox. Hell, they hadn’t actually been near one another except the time she plowed into him her first day.

He snuck a peek at her left hand and saw no sign of a ring. Why her name different? Her last name had been Imbrogliado at Lackland.

He took a moment to peruse the woman who’d captured his attention so long ago. How many times had he wondered about how she was, where she’d gone, and what she was doing? He knew she’d make it into the Air Force, but he’d wondered about her story many times over the last year and a half.

The timing of their initial meeting had been utter shit. After being laid up for so long and fighting hard to walk again, then to run, and even to be allowed to remain in service, there was no way he’d lose all that from chasing a skirt—no matter how well she undoubtedly filled said skirt. Gabe had been in a position of authority there, however temporary the position had been, and to chase after her would’ve meant serious trouble.

His gaze traced her form, mentally taking stock in how well she was stacked. The timing might have been terrible then, with him finishing physical therapy and filling his time at the training squadron while waiting for orders to switch jobs, but now there was no red tape to keep them apart. Unless, she was married now, is that why her name had changed?

Gabe McCreary, at your service, ma’am. He gave her a mock bow.

His reward was a little giggle that made him want to do dirty things to her.

Gabe extended his hand to help her off the ground.  Good lord, she was so tiny and sweet, especially when she blushed as she took his hand. And those cute, little freckles sprinkled across her nose were kryptonite.

There was something about her – there had always been – but he couldn’t put his finger on it. She was certainly beautiful, but he saw plenty of good-looking women everywhere.

No, it wasn’t the porcelain skin and lithe body, the reddish-blonde hair, or ice-blue eyes with the dark ring around her iris that captured his attention. Though her eyes haunted him since the first moment they’d collided – they seemed so sad each time he caught a glimpse of her in the chow hall or scrubbing the marching pad.

Perhaps that was it. Where most Rainbows radiated fear, she appeared cautious, sad, and tiny. It was as if she physically shrank into herself and wanted to disappear, especially that first Sunday at Mass when she’d bawled her eyes out in the pew.

Stella allowed him to help her up then dusted her sweet ass. She appeared embarrassed, but then she always seemed to stumble around him. She squared her shoulders and took a deep breath before she offered her right hand to greet him.

Stella Tobias. It’s nice to officially meet you. She grinned as she blatantly checked him out.

Gabe knew his strengths, but did her eyes have to linger on his nose, slightly bent from having been broken many times over the years, as well as the random scars, and burn marks on the left side of his face? He felt naked with her studying him like that.

Likewise, he said as he recaptured her hand in his. Such a small, innocent gesture and yet holding her soft hand sent his mind into a downward spiral of dirty thoughts about how he’d love to –

Wow, I can’t believe it’s you, she said brightly, immediately halting his lurid thoughts. This is so weird, she mused, almost to herself, as she pulled her hand back and avoided eye contact as she looked around the room.

So, she began again, swinging her arms nervously, clearly reaching for a safe conversation topic. Are you ready for this? she gestured toward the laptop and projector setup.

He nodded and held up his pocket drive. It was easy. I just pulled some basic slides from my usual beginner’s guide. The room was silent and thick with tension. So, you changed your name?

Her jaw dropped. How did you ...

He chuckled, Your last name was on your uniform.

A sheepish look crossed her face, but then her expression morphed to something akin to surprise. You remembered me?

You’re very memorable. He grinned at her. His memory hadn’t done her justice. She was gorgeous. Oh, and Wino, I mean, Master Sgt. Vinyard might have mentioned something about a couple of trainees exchanging words during PT. He smirked at her expression of astonishment. Her endearing blushed returned.

Yeah...well ... She took a deep breath and made eye contact at last, grinned, clearly remembering something amusing before she spoke again. That chick had a big mouth.

He laughed. Well, thanks. It was nice to hear I had someone on my side.

And he meant that. Before he’d been injured, he looked at all the good-time girls and wonder where the women of substance had hid themselves. That thought returned ten-fold after his last tour in Afghanistan when he sat, alone, recuperating in Texas. But Stella was different, he could tell, despite barely knowing her...something he needed to change.

So...the name change...did you get married or something?

Or something, she said as she scratched at the side of her nose, her gaze not quite meeting his. She seemed to muster her courage before her eyes met his again. Um, I...uh, actually I got a divorce.

Oh. Sorry, he offered, feeling somewhat lame for that response when exhilaration pumped like liquid caffeine through him.

Memories of her sobbing in church invaded his mind, again, and he finally began to understand why she was so distraught that day. He’d fought his basic nature back then, having felt a pull to comfort her, to wrap her in his arms and protect her. She’d looked so small kneeling there with her shoulders trembling – it had felt cruel not to go to her. He was relieved to see her looking so much better as they reacquainted themselves. Looking at her then versus now, he’d have never guessed she was the same woman. She had a certain glow of confidence about her.

Psshh! Please...the best thing I ever did was divorce that sorry sack of... Stella slapped her hand over her mouth to stop her word vomit.

He smiled at her mini-rant. So it’s a good thing?

She grinned back at him. The best.

Just then a young brunette whirred into the room – Lucy, he presumed – followed closely by a gaggle of pre-teen boys, three older women, and a disheveled-looking man.

The scouts had arrived. Gabe observed the man and immediately understood why the group needed his help – the dude never looked up from his phone. He shook his head at that. So many people never got past their gadgets to enjoy the world around them.

As to the other leaders, the older women looked supremely out of place wearing impractical sandals and had their faces full of makeup, with their hair immaculately styled. He saw Stella pat at her hair and straighten her clothes, as though her own appearance was diminished by these women.

He mentally rolled his eyes because she was a natural beauty. She exuded warmth and innocence – something he found extremely refreshing. Where these women were all made up with big hair, she wore braided pigtails. Her low-maintenance hair was much more practical, and adorable. Aw hell, had he grown ovaries? Adorable was not a word normally present in his vocabulary.

Stella took in the mothers’ overdone appearance and was glad she only wore a little waterproof mascara and some tinted lip balm. She was too pale without them but felt like anything else would be overkill on a camping trip. And her braids meant her curly mop wouldn’t frizz in the Washington humidity. Plus, she liked how the braids looked with the blue bucket hat she’d picked up to keep the sun and ticks off her head.

Nonetheless, Stella didn’t like the hopeful look one of the moms wore as she took in Gabe’s form...not that she could blame her. He was a fine specimen. She straightened her shirt and checked to make sure her boots were properly laced as everyone poured into the room.

Jim, Leigh, Eve and Rita. Lucy said, gesturing to the other adults, then pointed to herself. Lucy. She smiled kindly as she continued. Meet Stella and – She raised her eyebrow for Gabe or Stella to offer his name.

Hey, Mick, a voice boomed from the doorway where there stood an enormous man who filled the entire doorframe. Let’s quit the jawin’ and get a-gawin’, he drawled out.  There were snickers around the room as everyone took in the dark-skinned man, whom Stella assumed to be Master Sgt. Paul Rufus.

Rufio, Gabe bellowed as the men exchanged a fist bump.

Master Sgt. Rufus’ face was very open and friendly despite his intimidating size. He wore a trim mustache, and his hair was styled in the high and tight way set by military regulations. His posture straight and proud accentuated his height and enormous muscles. He had deep dimples on his cheeks that appeared when he smiled, and he seemed to smile a lot. She could see why Gabe spoke highly of this man.

She smiled at the newcomer and offered her hand. Sgt. Rufus, I’m Stella Tobias. It’s great to meet you. Thanks for helping out.

Please, call me Paul or Rufio, he said in response. They shook hands and exchanged niceties as Lucy settled the boys.

Stella introduced the men to the group’s leaders and giggled to herself as she watched the two big, strong men squirm at the predatory attention the mothers poured over them. She watched for a moment then intervened.

Ladies, would you like to introduce us to your sons? She gave them a pointed look that reminded them to behave.

As she took in the expressions around her, she nearly lost her composure. Lucy snorted and tried to hide it as a cough, the relief shone on Gabe and Rufio immediately, and the women reacted like someone took away their favorite toy. Meanwhile, Jim, Lucy’s stepfather, fussed with his phone, oblivious to the people surrounding him. With parents like these volunteering, it was no wonder Lucy had to run the show.

Introductions went around the room as people took seats at the giant table, though she doubted anyone would remember the names as there was so much activity there. All fourteen boys spun around, like helicopter blades, in their swivel seats. 

Gabe and Rufio exchanged a meaningful glance as they watched the melee around them. They had obviously realized, just as she had, that the parents weren’t going to calm these boys. That would not do.

In a voice that commanded respect, and admittedly inspired some healthy fear, Gabe boomed out "Hey! That got their attention in a heartbeat. You will