Page 10 of Falling for the Playboy Pilot

“The rooms are all upstairs,” Laser said, leading me toward a set of stairs at the back of the building. “Co-ed, unfortunately. Or fortunately. I’m not going to lie, seeing shirtless hunks walking around isn’t the worst thing in the world.”

I laughed. “Sounds like the scenery inside is as good as the view outside.”

I grabbed my suitcase and bounced it up the stairs behind her. The room was small but comfortable. It looked very much like what I would expect a college dorm to look like. I never actually went, but I’d seen movies. There were two twin beds pushed against opposite walls. A narrow window let in a stream of sunlight. The walls were bare except for a corkboard above each bed, already cluttered with photos and notes on Laser’s side. A small desk sat in the corner, its surface covered in aviation manuals and a lamp.

“We get our own bathroom,” Laser said. “Thank God, because while I don’t mind looking at guys in nothing but a towel, I do not want to share a toilet with the pigs.”

The private bathroom was a luxury I hadn’t expected. It wasn’t anything fancy. A narrow shower, sink, and toilet. It was enough for me.

“Home sweet home,” Laser said, flopping onto her bed.

I set my suitcase down and glanced around. “This is nice. Way better than I expected.”

She grinned. “Yeah, it’s not bad. You can unpack later. I don’t want to push Herc too far.”

“Herc? You mean Dalton?”

“Yes. No one calls him Dalton. Just Herc. Short for Hercules.”

“And you’re Laser,” I said.

“My parents named me Cheryl. Cheryl Nolan. But no one calls me that.”

I smiled and nodded. I wondered if I would get a cool nickname. A call sign. I thought only the military guys got those names.

“Come on,” she said. “I’ll stay with you. What did you do to Herc anyway?”

I grinned. “I threatened to kick his ass.”

She burst into loud laughter. “Oh girl, we are so going to get along.”