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“No problem. Even our smallest baskets carry eight,” I said.
My heart raced for a different reason. Desert Skies Balloon Adventures was doing all right, but every booking was important. If I brought in extra business,andif there was a free spot, Henry would reward me by letting me copilot, right? Then I would have that last hour I needed and could pilot to my heart’s content.
Marlboro Chic stuck out a hand. “Well, then, please show me the way, Miss…?”
“Sattler.”
He grinned. “Harlon Greene.”
We shook, and I marched him over to Henry’s office.
“But your groceries…” he started.
I didn’t care — not even about the double chocolate chip mint ice cream that was sure to melt. That was how much a flight meant to me. Plus, I had another reason to escort him over. If Madden was in the office when this customer came in, Madden would claim the business for himself in hopes of a big tip — and Harlon Greene hadbig tipperwritten all over him.
He insisted on helping me load the groceries into my car, then followed me to the office. And yay — it really was my lucky day, because Henry was at the desk, not Madden, and we had an opening in two days’ time.
“I’d really appreciate it if Miss Sattler could be my pilot.” Harlon lit up the room with another smile.
My lord. A smile that sunny could power all of Sedona on a cloudy day — not that we got many of those.
Even Henry beamed. “I’ll make sure she is.”
I smiled all the way home, my troubles forgotten. I was scheduled to fly — at last! My dream of a piloting career was about to come true.
* * *
My spirits soared for the next thirty-six hours, and I barely slept the night before the flight. Chico and John were in their usual, half-asleep state when I picked them up. Nash was his effortlessly handsome,Channing Tatum meets Oscar the Grouchself. I was the Energizer Bunny on steroids, talking a mile a minute to Chico. He’d had been on ground crew long enough to know the back roads, and I’d cajoled Henry into letting him drive the chase car for that one, low-wind, easy day. That freed me up to copilot with Henry and clock that last hour of flight time I so desperately needed.
“Will you slow down a little?” John protested as we hitched up the balloon trailer and triple-checked the propane tanks.
I revved the van to life and motioned them in.
“I think that means no,” Chico murmured as I sped away at twice my usual speed.
But the minute I pulled up to our launch point and spotted Madden, not Henry, arriving with the guests in a second van, my mood plummeted.
I glued on a fake smile as I dragged Madden aside.
“Where’s Henry?”
“Morning to you too,” Madden mumbled between sips of steaming coffee. Then he yawned. “You didn’t check your messages?”
No, I hadn’t. Reception was crap out where I lived, and I’d been too busy giving Chico last-minute instructions to check messages when we’d passed through town.
“Henry had to go to Denver. His brother had a heart attack.” Madden yawned in a manner more suited toflat tirethanlife-threatening emergency. “I’m filling in.”
I stared, none too pleased at the prospect of flying with Madden. Then I chided myself and got my priorities straight. “Is Henry’s brother all right?”
Madden shrugged. “I didn’t ask.”
I snorted. Of course he hadn’t.
“Ah, Miss Sattler,” a smooth voice greeted me.
That turned my smile genuine. “Mr. Greene. Good morning.”
“Please, call me Harlon.” He clasped my hand warmly, then gestured behind him. “I hope it’s all right. I brought a few friends.”
