CHAPTER 30 #3
She blinked and sat upright. “Wait, what? Your Learjet?”
“That’s right. I closed on it yesterday. She’s mine. Well, mine, plus three other guys’. Now all I need to do is turn her in for the conversion.”
She let that sink in for a moment. “You bought a Learjet?”
“A 1980 a35, yes. She’s far from new, but a very good start.”
“You didn’t mention buying a plane!”
“I did. Long time ago.”
She thought back. “Yes, I remember now. For an air ambulance.”
“That’s right.”
“You mean you’re actually doing it?” She sat up. “For real?”
His eyes sparkled. “For real.”
“That means …”
“That means I’m self-employed.”
“No more Singapore?”
“No more Singapore. I found a pilot to replace me; my work in Asia is done. No more separations. No more being away from you. These months have been pure hell, and I never want to go through that again.”
“You’re not going back.”
“No.”
Jannie couldn’t help it: she hauled him to her and planted a big kiss on his smiling lips.
He grasped a lock of her hair and let it slide through his fingers. “I wanted to surprise you today, with myself and with the news. Got way more than I bargained for. I was about to ring the doorbell when I heard you shouting.”
“Thank God you showed up when you did.”
“Did you like being rescued?” he asked seductively.
“Actually, it was Blake you rescued.”
He looked at her quizzically.
“My next move would have been to knee him in the nuts.”
“Mm.” He chuckled and blew in her ear, making her shiver. “My beautiful girl is fierce.”
“Want to see how fierce?”
“Very much.” He kissed her hair. “I missed you.”
“Missed you more.”
“Not possible.”
She cupped his face. “I am addicted to you, Nicholas Sebastian Kent. And for some reason, just looking at you makes me happy. When you leave, my whole world turns black and white. And when you show up again, it returns to vivid color.”
“Funny you should say that, because I’ve been living in black and white for the past six months.
” He gripped her chin and looked deeply into her eyes.
In one swift motion, he pulled her onto his lap, and she instantly felt the press of his erection as he caressed her breasts, stroking her nipples with his thumbs. She moaned.
He made a sound deep in his throat. “Things just got colorful for me, too. And I can’t wait for the fireworks.”
He wasn’t talking about the ones from Disney. She thrilled at the thought of him deep inside her. “I have some news too.”
“Oh?” He took her hand and kissed it, then sucked her fingertip into his mouth.
She gasped, suddenly finding it hard to concentrate. “The week after I got back here, I told them to prepare for my departure.”
His smile was slow, and his eyes shone with that intense light that was quintessentially Nick.
“I wasn’t sure at first, so I told them to get ready … just in case.”
“And? Is it the case?”
She nodded. “Friday was my last day. I was about to book a flight to Singapore and surprise you.”
Nick was silent for a moment. “What are your plans?’
“I have none.” She nipped his jaw. “I was thinking we can make them together. All I know is that they’ll include flying. Maybe I’ll go for my ATP license.”
“I like the way you think.” He took her lips in a hot kiss that went on for so long, the room spun. “You know what else I like?”
“What?”
“A lady pilot coming on my fingers and mouth and—” he tilted his hips, grinding into her “—on me.”
She countered his move but forced herself to stop. “We have to keep an eye on Rolf.” She couldn’t hide her disappointment.
He kissed her nose. “I know. It’s hard to keep my hands off you, but I can wait. You make a pot of coffee, I’ll order pizza and dessert, and we’ll have a marathon movie night. With popcorn.”
“You don’t mind?”
“Not one bit.” He kissed her sweetly. “Just looking at you is foreplay. And I can do it all night long.”
This man … this man who always took such tender care of her, who came to her rescue out of nowhere, who satisfied her like no other, didn’t mind staying up all night and forgoing sex after such a long dry spell. To help her watch over her dog.
Jannie cradled his beautiful face, overcome by an emotion so powerful, she had to briefly close her eyes.
“I love you.” The words slipped out unintentionally, but as her lips parted in surprise at what she had just said, her heart repeated them.
I love you.
Yes, she loved this man wholeheartedly. And something told her that would never change.
Nick froze. For a long moment, he stared down at her, unblinking.
Jannie’s gaze locked on his, her heart beating faster and faster as she watched the expression in his dark eyes turn from warm to molten.
“You don’t know how long I’ve waited to hear you say that,” he finally said. “And you don’t know how much I love you.” He took her lips in a kiss so intense, so deep, that she felt a little dizzy. “But I’ll show you every day, if you come with me.”
She clutched the front of his shirt, burying her nose just below his jaw, inhaling deeply of his intoxicating scent.
“Where?” she asked.
He wrapped his arms around her. “Home.”