Love Saved by Augusta Hill Page B

unusual: most of Kirk's clients were the wealthy, cocky, bastard type. It came with the territory - the only people who could afford a luxury trip to the remote dunes were the people Kirk least wanted to take.
    Oren was at least attractive; he was young, with handsome square features and a broad back that tapered down into lean legs. Most of the obnoxious billionaires that Kirk had to fly were old, round men who were only going on a trip to please their supermodel girlfriends. Oren was physically the exact opposite and had surprisingly come alone.
    Well, alone except for the bodyguards who were sitting behind their boss with ramrod posture. They had barely moved a face muscle since walking up to the plane, and Kirk wondered idly if they were even human. Surely a normal person would have yawned or leaned forward or done something by now, right? They were unnerving in their cyborg-like stillness, but perhaps that was the type of protection a man like Oren needed. Who knew what people would do to get their hands on a billion dollars.
    A red light came on above Kirk's head, interrupting his thoughts, and he creased his brow slightly. That was three times this week the fuel warning had come on, even though there was a full tank. The mechanic had looked the machine over several times and maintained nothing was wrong and that it was an annoyance at worst.
    But still, a pilot didn't like feeling as if his pride and joy had even the smallest problem. Kirk sighed and reached up to fiddle with the indicator. He would get it looked at more thoroughly as soon as he got back from this run - no matter how much pushback his manager gave.
    And there was sure to be pushback. Over the last couple months, he had started to feel that the company was cutting corners, and he was reaching his limits. It had started small, by reducing the quality of the guest's meals and shortening their trip by tiny increments. But to delay maintenance on the planes because the boss didn't want to pay overtime? That was a step too far.
    Kirk took another quick glance at his wealthy passenger. No doubt he was also the type of man to cut corners for money. The greediest men were also the richest, in Kirk's experience. Even if this one happened to be young and incredibly good-looking.
    I’ve got to stop thinking about how handsome he is.
    Underneath expensive clothing and copious amounts of cologne was no doubt a rock hard body, with well-defined abs and a taut butt. Not that it mattered. He isn't my type at all, Kirk thought to himself, checking his altitude out of the corner of his eye. I like my men funny and soft-hearted. I doubt Mr. Moore laughs much at all. Unless it is to chuckle evilly while counting his money, of course.
    A red light popped back on in the periphery of his vision. Kirk grunted, looking up expectantly at the fuel warning light. However, this was a new warning signal - one of the engine lights was flashing.
    "What-" he managed to mumble before the entire plane made a wild shudder, beginning to lean precariously to the left.
    Shit. I'll kill that incompetent mechanic myself.
    "What is going on up there?" one of the bodyguards called up, his voice like ice.
    "Nothing to worry about! Just one moment," Kirk said quickly, cutting power to the affected engine and hoping they'd be able to glide to somewhere safe to land. "Just one moment-"
    Another light began blinking brightly as alarms sounded throughout the cockpit. Kirk craned his head to look out the window and saw flame flickering at the periphery of his vision.
    Shit shit shit. I hope the passengers don’t notice yet. I need them calm.
    "There is smoke outside the window!" The other bodyguard yelled.
    Nevermind, then.
    "What the hell is happening here?" Oren boomed, ripping off his headphones and leaning forward to try and peer into the cockpit area.
    Kirk was going to give more platitudes about how everything was fine, but smoke was beginning to fill the air and he quickly held his breath to