Page 114 of Coveted

The engines come alive, whirring and humming. Ground crew in hi-vis vests get into position.

Everyone’s waiting for me.

Lucan leans down, lowering his voice. “Talk to me, Sadie. What’s up?”

“This is a lot for a first date.”

“It’s dinner, I promise. I shouldn’t have teased you on the ride here. I just want to take you somewhere you don’t have to look over your shoulder for one night. You deserve that.”

I swallow. “I’ve never been on a plane before.”

He offers me his hand while subtly holding his breath, like taking me on this date is important to him. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you. Not tonight, not ever.”

My mind spools through a million reasons to say no, and comes up short.

I’ve always wanted to fly on a plane. Just because I imagined different, humbler circumstances when it happened, doesn’t mean I should say no. Why refuse when I can say yes and maybe have an adventure? Do something worth writing about?

Looking up into Lucan’s eyes, which are the exact shade of deep blue sky at his back, I realize that I want to spend time with him too, jet or no jet. I want to know him better.

“Okay.” My shoulders unwind. “Let’s go to dinner.”

He smiles, hoisting me from the car. “Good girl.”

We climb the narrow stairs of the jet, wind whipping across the tarmac and into my hair. Lucan follows close behind me as a reassuring presence.

A uniformed flight attendant with impeccable makeup greets us inside the aircraft, which smells shiny and new.

“Welcome aboard, Miss Marlowe, Mr. Hale.” She shows us to lounge seating made from cream leather. “We will take off shortly.”

Fastening my seatbelt, I gaze around at the gleaming wood finishes and small tables. The attendant serves us two cocktails with curls of lemon rind on the rims. Lucan and I are the only passengers.

“Flight time is six hours,” she says. “The pilot will announce our descent.”

The engine hums louder, and she takes her seat near the cockpit door.

“Six hours?” My brow furrows. “Either we’re going to the West Coast or…”

Lucan rubs my wrist with his thumb. “Another country.”

“Seriously?”

His eyes gleam with amusement. “Seriously.”

“But I don’t have a passport.”

“It’s all taken care of.”

“If you say so.” I look down at my clothes. “I wish you would’ve let me change.”

My hair and clothes will be far from fresh after a six-hour flight.

“There’s a garment bag for you in the bathroom.” He tilts his head at a wood-paneled door behind us. “You can freshen up and change once we’re in the air.”

“I can’t believe this is normal for you,” I say as the jet turns on the runway and picks up speed. “No wonder you’re so…”

His brow arches. “What?”

I snort. “You.”