Chapter Two: It's Always The Quiet Ones

Dom stayed in the office most of the day avoiding Cait as much as possible. He was still a little embarrassed from the incident that morning. Cait had tried to reassure him that she was not upset with him and understood why he told Evan she was representing Santini Air in the Miss Aviation contest. It wasn't that she was opposed to a talent contest, after all she did take music and drama in high school and her sorority in college were known to put on a few skits. She had worked hard as a pilot having to prove she was just as capable as her male counter parts. The last thing she needed to do was bring herself down to the level of being judged on her sex appeal.

"Dom I'm going to run our flight plans over to the tower. Do you need me to do anything else while I'm out?"

"No, I'm good. Are you coming back after that? I'd like you to go over the schedule with me."

"Sure, I'll be back. " Cait said as she headed for her car.

Cait pulled into the parking lot in front of the control tower. She found herself thinking about Dom. She really did feel bad for him but reasoned that he would feel worse if she entered the contest and made a fool out of all of them. Maybe String was right, maybe she was a little chicken. Clearing her head she picked up the flight plans and headed into the tower.

"Hey Cait, I heard the big news." Stan said as he took her flight plans and began entering them into their system.

"What are you talking about Stan?" Cait asked puzzled.

"The Miss Aviation contest. Chrissie was just in here and told us you were going to enter it for Santini. Boy she sure didn't have nice things to say about you. Said you were a naïve country bumpkin and that the competition was getting easier. Of course you know I'm pulling for you Cait. Chrissie doesn't have anything on you."

Cait was hoping Stan would stop talking long enough for her to tell him he was misinformed. She patiently waited but he continued on.

"You know what she had the nerve to accuse Dom of? She said Evan thinks Dom made that up about you entering the contest. Said he was going to never let Dom live this one down. Cait, anything wrong? You haven't said one word since you walked in."

Cait didn't answer. She picked up the flight plans that had been entered putting them back in the folder.

"Cait, did I say something wrong?"

"Nope, I'm fine. Next time you see Chrissie tell her that Dominick Santini doesn't lie.

As Cait was walking back to her car she already wished she had kept her mouth shut. Now she understood why Dom did what he did. There was no backing out now. If she did they would all look like fools and Evan would never let Dom live it down. Cait started her car and headed for BJ's.

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"Hey Dom, guess what I just heard?" Everett said as he hung up his cell phone.

"Just spit it out son, I don't have time for guessing games."

"String you're going to want to hear this as well. That was Gary over at BJ's. He said Cait just left there, she signed up for the Miss Aviation contest."

Dom and String stopped what they were doing and stared at one another. "Are you sure Eve?" Dom asked.

"Yeah, Gary said she walked in and asked what she needed to do to sign up. He said he couldn't be happier because most of the guys there think Cait is hot including himself."

Dom turned to String. "I wonder what made her change her mind."

"Don't know Dom, maybe it was all the teasing I gave her today over being chicken."

"Naw, Cait would never give in to your teasing. It had to be something else."

"We'll know soon enough." String said pointing to the parking lot. "She just pulled in."

The three of them walked to greet her.

"Why are you guys staring at me like that?"

Dom took her by the arm leading her inside. "Cait we just heard you signed up for the contest. Is it true?"

Cait was embarrassed. "Yeah it's true."

"Why Cait? I thought you told me you didn't want to?"

"I don't know Dom; I got to thinking about it and decided it wasn't such a bad thing. Besides I can't let String accuse me of being chicken now can I?"

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Cait rolled over turning off her alarm clock. It was Monday morning. She laid there thinking about all she had to do. Christmas was Friday; she was relieved that she had her Christmas shopping done. Dom had closed the hangar for the week which was his custom during Christmas. Tonight was the contest. She was feeling good about her song choice. It was a song that her sorority did as a Christmas skit so she knew it well. Her biggest fear was letting Dom down. She was determined to do her best to win the trophy for Dom even though it went against everything she thought about this kind of male sexist behavior. And if she was honest with herself she wanted to prove to String that she was not the little sister type that he thought she was. He had teased her unmerciful since she signed up. Jumping into the shower she decided to get her day started.

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Dom was fixing pancakes at the cabin while String sat drinking coffee at the bar. Dom was in a good mood singing what he thought was Italian Opera. String cringed at each note but smiled, Dom really believed he could sing so who was he to burst his dreams. He hadn't said anything to Dom but he was worried about Cait. He felt responsible for her entering the contest. If he hadn't teased her so much about it maybe she wouldn't have entered. He had been to the contest in the past and he had to admit Chrissie did put on a show even though he thought what she did was a bit on the raunchy side but that's what the guys there like. Cait was much better looking than Chrissie and had a nicer body he thought but that wouldn't be enough for the competition. He thought about talking her out of it but then worried she would believe he didn't think she was good enough.

"What are you so queit about over there?" Dom asked as he flipped a pancake in the pan.

String sat his coffee down. "I was just wishing I hadn't goaded Cait into this contest."

"Oh, and why not. I think Cait has a great voice."

"Dom I know she does, but you and I both know that's not what this contest is about."

"So are you sayin that Cait doesn't have what the other women have, because if you are I'll have to disagree with ya String."

"Dom will you stop putting words in my mouth. What I'm trying to say is Cait is not like the other women but in a good way."

Dom plopped down a plate of pancakes in front of String. "Quit while you're ahead son. I know what you're tryin to say. Cait is not as experienced as the others and let's just leave it at that."

String gave an embarrassed grin. "Yeah, let's just leave it at that."

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String, Dom and Everett arrived early at BJ's so they could get a table up front close to the stage.

"Has anyone talked to Cait today?" String asked as he took a sip of his beer.

Dom and Eve nodded letting String know they hadn't spoken to her either.

"She didn't even tell me what song she was going to sing." Dom said as he signaled the waitress to bring them another round.

"I'm kind of excited." Everett said.' I've been with you for ten years now Dom, this is the first time we are able to have our own girl in the contest. Not to mention we have the best looking one"

Gary the owner walked up to the microphone. "Ladies and Gentleman we are about to start the contest. Each contestant will have five minutes to complete their routine. We are asking that you hold the applause. After all the girls have preformed we will call them to the stage. When we announce their name you may applaud then. The Girl that registers the largest applause on the meter will be the reigning Miss Aviation for one year. Of course the air service she represents will receive the trophy to keep until next year and all the proceeds tonight will go to the charity of her choice. So without any delay as is our tradition we will start with the current and four time winner, Chrissie from Palmers Air service."

Chrissie came out on stage dressed in a red corset, black fish net stockings with green garters holding up her stockings. Her corset was so low-cut and tight that when she moved and bent down, which she did a lot, you expected her breast to pop out at any given time. Dom rolled his eyes. "Of course she would pick "Hey Big Spender" as her song."

The men were whistling and cheering her on. He voice was not that good but no one was there to hear her sing. Dom started thinking maybe String was right. Cait had more class then this. It was too late to back out now.

Toward the end of her song Chrissie came down from the stage as she sang and walked over to where String was sitting, she straddled his lap facing him as she ran her fingers through his hair. When she sang the last line of her song "spend a little time with me" she pulled him in and locked her lips on his where she stayed for at least ten seconds. String didn't want to embarrass her but he didn't return the kiss. Getting up she returned to the stage where she blew kisses to all the men that were cheering her.

Dom glared at String. "What are you doing carousing with the enemy?"

String wiped his lips off. "I wasn't exactly asking for it Dom."

Two more girls preformed their songs as String ordered them another round of beers.

Everett returned from the men's room. "I just found out that Cait is on last since she was the last one to enter. There are six more girls to go."

"Oh brother, I don't think I can make it through six more girls with their tasteless costumes and off-key singing. Anything Cait does has to be better than this.

The last girl before Cait was finishing up her version of "I saw mommy kissing Santa Clause" as she went around to several of the men giving them a kiss. As she headed for their table String quickly stood up and headed for the men's room to avoided being molested by another one. He was just heading back when he heard them announce Cait.

"Ladies and gents tonight for the first time in the fourteen year history of the contest Santini Air will be participating. Represented by Catlin O'Shannessy."

Before Cait even appeared on stage several of the men that knew her were whistling and calling her name. Dom took a swig of beer and held his breath.

Cait stepped out as the music started. She had on a very short red Santa outfit that was trimmed in white with a black belt that showed off her tiny waist. The top of the dress had a sweetheart neckline and her shoulders were bare. She had on white stockings that went up to the middle of her thighs with black heels. She topped it off with a red Santa hat that was also trimmed in white. String was speechless. He thought no one that night looked as good as Cait did at that moment. She was beautiful and sexy.

The song she sang was "Santa Baby", her voice was soft and sexy and quite good. As she sang she swayed to the music acting coy when the song called for it. Toward the end of the song she took her hat off as all the guys were yelling for her to throw it to them. She tossed it out as the men fought for it. A strand of her hair fell into her eyes. She pursed her lips together and opening them slightly she blew a puff of air blowing the strand back in place. As she did this she bent down slightly placing her hands on her knees. The men were eating it up.

Dom sat with his mouth open in disbelief. String never took his eyes off of her. He had thoughts about her that he kept hidden inside. If he had not been seated and hidden by the table they were sitting at his body would have surely given him away. Everett still watching Cait leaned over to String. "You know what they say? "It's always the quiet ones."

The men were going wild as she finished. Chrissie was standing at the table with all the others from Palmers. Evan didn't look so cocky now and Chrissie didn't seem as confident as she did before Cait preformed. Dom was beaming looking around the room proudly as he took in all the cheering Cait was receiving.

Gary called all the women to the stage; Some of them were congratulating Cait on her performance. Chrissie was up first. The applause was loud. Dom wasn't feeling as confident after they showed the meter results from Chrissie. The other girls after that got just enough applause as to not be totally humiliated. Next was Cait. String didn't know what to expect. When he found out Cait was going to enter he thought it was something to tease her about, now he thought she had a chance to win judging by the way the men were reacting to her. Even if she didn't win he thought she was still the best one there.

As Cait's name was announced the room erupted. The guys were yelling and whistling. Gary held up his hands asking for silence. "Ladies and gentlemen we have a new Miss Aviation, representing Santini Air, Miss Catlin O'Shannessy?" Gary waved to Dom to come up to the stage. As he walked to the stage everyone was patting him on the back and shaking his hand.

Gary presented him with the trophy. Cait stood back so Dom could have his time in the spotlight. He was smiling ear to ear. She was glad she did it now, seeing Dom this happy made it all worth it. Dom looked back pulling Cait up with him as the cheering continued. Reaching over he kissed her check. "Thanks for doing this for me sweetheart."

Cait kissed him back. "You know how much I love you to do this don't you?"

"Yeah, I know."

String watched both of them on the stage. He now knew why Cait did this, it wasn't because of the teasing, she did it for Dom. For some reason he felt closer to them then he had before. He always knew they were important and he loved them but tonight was different he longed to be a bigger part of them. He wanted more out of their relationship with him or more to the point he wanted more from Cait.