Page 137 of Enticing Her Love

“I think it’s just my wrist, but I can’t see. Something’s against my face.”

“It’s the book, but there’s a sharp branch on the other side holding it in place. Do not try to move it.”

“Okay.” Her breathing was so erratic, she thought she might pass out.

“Deep breaths, Steele. Yoga breaths.” She closed her eyes, trying to slow her breathing.

“Gregg?” Flynn said, his voice strained and harsh. Then louder, “Gregg.”

There was no response.

Sutton’s chest constricted. “Is he…?”

“I don’t know. Don’t think about that. I’m sure help is on the way. He radioed.”

The plane shifted and creaked, and she screamed as their fingers slipped apart.

“Sutton,” Flynn said sternly. “You have to try to calm down.”

“The book shifted. I can’t see you anymore,” she said frantically. “It’s freaking me out.”

She heard him grunt, and then his fingers curled around hers. “I’m here, baby. You can feel me. Concentrate on that. Do not move that book, the branch will impale you.”

More sobs burst free.

“Sutton, baby…think about the waterfall. Remember how pretty…it was?”

“Yes.” She closed her eyes, shaking all over. “I remember.”

“You were so beautiful that day. So happy and relaxed, driving me in…sane in that damn pink bikini.” He panted loudly. “Remember how much fun we had?”

“Yes,” she managed, but more sobs hit her. “Flynn, I’m scared. I don’t want to die.”

“You’re not going to die, baby. You’re going to get out of this…and go to LA to be everything you ever dreamed of, and I’m going with you.”

“No—”

“Don’t argue with me. Listen. We don’t have to live together if you’re not ready…but you’re it for me, Sutton. I love you. I want every day with you…cheering you on while you set the world on fire. I pitched a show for you to Karen and Aubrey, covering more of the stories you want to handle…but you got the offer from GNN so fast, we didn’t have time to discuss the details. That’s what our meeting was supposed to be about today.”

She closed her eyes against her sobs, choking out, “You were? For me?”

“I’d do anything for you. I know it’s fast, but you are my love, my life. You are my heart story, baby. The only one that matters, and I’ll wait a lifetime if that’s what it takes until you’re ready to be with me full time…but I’ll be damned if I’ll miss you from across the country.”

She couldn’t stop the flood of tears. “You don’t have to wait. I want every day with you, too. I’m not going anywhere. I don’t want to report about wars and political issues. That was my dream, but it’s not anymore. Those things make me sad. I don’t want to be Barbara Walters or Tom Brokaw and move far away from you and my family. I want to be Sutton Steele, doing what I love, and I want to be with you. I know we can’t keep working together, but I’ll find something closer to—”

The sound of a helicopter drowned out her voice, filling her with hope. Flynn shouted, “Hear that, baby?” just as the branches snapped, and they plummeted toward the ground.

Chapter Forty

FLYNN ENDED THE call with his parents and set his phone on the book that had saved Sutton’s life. She was sitting beside him on the emergency-room bed, clinging to his hand as she spoke to her parents on the phone, reassuring them that they were okay. They’d been there for a few hours, and they were waiting to be discharged. Flynn had stitches on his head, gnarly scratches on his chest, three broken ribs, a broken arm, and a sprained ankle. Sutton had miraculously gotten out almost unscathed, with a fractured wrist and stitches on her arm. Gregg had been knocked out with the initial impact. He had a broken leg and several lacerations. They were keeping him overnight for observation, but he was going to be okay. All three of them suffered a multitude of scratches and bruises, and Flynn knew they’d feel like they’d been hit by trucks tomorrow. But he was so fucking glad they’d made it out alive. When the plane had plummeted toward the ground, he’d thought they were goners. But it had gotten caught between two trees. According to the rescuers, they’d initially been about forty feet up in the trees, and they’d ended up about fifteen feet lower.

“I will, Mom. I love you guys.” Sutton ended the call, turning troubled eyes to Flynn. “They send their love.”

He kissed the back of her hand. “We’ll go see them as soon as we get back.”

She nodded, fresh tears sliding down her cheeks. “I was so scared.”

He gently drew her against his uninjured side, knowing it could be a while before the trauma subsided. “I know, babe. You’re safe now.”