Page 135 of Enticing Her Love

“I’ll meet you at the airport in Alaska. A bush pilot will fly us out to meet my grandfather.”

“I can’t wait!”

“To see me, or to report the story?”

“Both!”

SUTTON MADE GOOD use of the long flight to Alaska. She researched Flynn’s grandfather, who was far more impressive than she’d imagined. He had more publications than anyone she knew, and he’d been making archaeological and paleontological discoveries, big and small, for decades. She also researched the history of dinosaurs in Alaska and read reports about previous expeditions that had taken place there. But her thoughts kept trickling back to the job offer from GNN. What should feel like a beacon of new opportunities loomed over her like a storm cloud waiting to break.

When she’d watched the videos of her idols last night, she’d found that while her respect and admiration for them had magnified over the years, the issues they’d reported on, while important world news, didn’t cause the same kind of thrill she felt about her work at Discovery Hour. She returned to the pros and cons list she’d started when they’d asked her to come for the site visit, but for the second time in recent weeks, she didn’t feel like her tried and true lists were showing her the right answers. She didn’t know why she was having a change of heart after so many years of working toward a singular goal, but she spent the last two hours of the flight watching more videos of her idols and clips of people talking about them. The renowned journalists were praised for their integrity and achievements, but it was reiterated many times over that achieving that level of success came at great personal costs, like lack of privacy, having a target on their backs for criticism, and giving up family time. She’d known that, of course, but hearing it time and time again had her thinking about what she really wanted. She knew the chances of achieving that level of success were slim, but if she took the job, it would be with that goal in mind, and she’d give her all to attain it.

By the time she landed and connected with Flynn and the tech crew, she was armed and ready for the assignment and more unsure than ever about the job offer. She was also pumped up on coffee and adrenaline. It took a great deal of willpower to act within the confines of a professional relationship with Flynn around their peers, and she hated every second of it. But that suddenly felt like a small price to pay for the excitement of their new assignment.

The crew was flying out with another bush pilot to get bird’s-eye-view footage of the expedition location. Sutton and Flynn headed out to meet their pilot.

“I did a lot of research on the flight.” Her hair blew across her face. Wishing she had a hair tie, she turned toward the wind so it would blow away from her face as they walked. “I was surprised to read that scientists haven’t ever taken a close look at this stretch of the river.”

“That’s why my grandfather put the expedition together. He said he’s been studying a forty-year-old research paper focused on the sedimentary rocks lining the banks along the middle section of the river for years. It’s the only paper of its kind, and he used it to determine field sites.”

“Amazing.”

“It’s pretty cool.” A sexy glint appeared in his eyes. “But what’s amazing is that your lips have never looked more tempting.”

How did he go from work to that so seamlessly, and why did it instantly make her body hum with desire? “Maybe if you’re nice to me, I’ll let you taste them later.”

“I’m about to be very nice to you.” He stopped walking and shrugged off his backpack.

“What are you doing?”

His eyes took on an intensity that felt serious and soft at once, making her pulse quicken. “Now that we’re alone, I wanted to take a minute to say that I’m really proud of you. Getting an offer from GNN is no small feat. I know how hard you’ve worked to get this far, and now there’s no limit to how far you’ll go. Which is why I want to give you this.”

She was floored he was thinking about her and the job offer as they embarked on such an exciting assignment, but when he withdrew the familiar leather book cover that protected his treasured copy of Gulliver’s Travels, her thoughts stumbled. “I can’t accept that. It’s from your grandfather.”

“I want you to have it.” He put it in her hands and covered them with his own. “It’s brought me luck for all these years, and now I have the career I want and the girl I’m crazy about. Now it’s your turn to reach for the stars, and this will keep you safe and help get you there.”

“I…” Tears burned her eyes. She blinked rapidly, trying to keep them at bay. “I haven’t accepted the job yet.”

“I know, but you will and you should. It’s what you’ve always wanted.”

Her hair whipped across her cheek. She tucked it behind her ear and clutched the book to her chest, wishing she could hug Flynn, and at the same time, wishing her thoughts weren’t so jumbled so she could figure out if she wanted the job or not. But she felt the pressure of the pilot waiting for them, and all she could manage was, “Thank you.”

“Come on, Steele. Let’s not keep our pilot waiting.” He shouldered his backpack and led them to a rugged-looking man with a white buzz cut and a trim mustache who looked to be in his sixties, standing by the bush plane.

“You must be Flynn and Sutton,” the man said with a friendly smile that helped calm her nerves.

“Yes, sir,” Flynn said.

“Gregg Lange. It’s a pleasure.” He shook their hands.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Sutton glanced at the plane. “Is this our ride?”

“Yes, ma’am. Are you comfortable on small planes?”

“I guess that depends on the pilot.” She smiled to let him know she wasn’t really worried about the flight. It was her looming decision and Flynn’s gift that were consuming her thoughts.

“Makes sense. Bush pilots are like air cowboys. Especially in the remote places you two go. But don’t you worry. I’ve been doing this for longer than you’ve been alive,” Gregg reassured them. “Let’s get your bags loaded.”

Flynn took out his personal video camera, tossing Sutton a wink, and then handed Gregg his bag to put in the luggage compartment. When he closed the compartment door, Flynn said, “Would it be okay with you if I got a shot of you and Sutton before we board your plane?”