Page 60 of Moonlit Colorado

Grace didn’t take me seriously yet. Didn’t really trust me. So I would have to earn it.

She had no idea just how persuasive I could be.

SEVENTEEN

Grace

“Mr. Knightly.Wonderful to see you again. Anything I can get you before takeoff?”

The flight attendant smiled at him. Then she glanced at me, and her smile didn’t seem quite so sincere.

Dane waited for me to sit by the window, then took the seat beside me. “Two glasses of champagne. Thank you, Sharon. You have Dom on board, right? A 1985?”

“Of course.” She eyed my messy hair and glasses before she went to the galley.

Believe me,hon, I thought.I barely know what I’m doing here either.

Dane reached over to fasten my seatbelt and then laced our fingers together. “Comfortable?” he asked.

“Perfect. But champagne for breakfast is more indulgent than my typical menu.” I wasn’t counting the rare brunch mimosa with Piper.

“We’ll have coffee afterward. But I’m in the mood to celebrate.” He picked up my hand and kissed the back of it.

I’d never even been in first class before. But here I was, on a private plane about to jet off to Manhattan with the sexiest man in existence. Somebody pinch me.

How was this my life?

That morning, Dane had picked me up before sunrise in his Range Rover. I’d been careful to disarm the security system at my house. We’d already had a false alarm a couple of days ago, and I didn’t want a repeat of that. Four grumpy, exhausted volunteer firefighters who’d been up all night on a call, and then I woke them mid-morning. Oops.

The alarm system had made a big difference to my peace of mind, though. Especially since we still had no leads on whoever had broken in to the house.

But not so great for my peace of mind? The growing frustration whenever I was with Dane and he didn’t kiss me. He hadn’t since that day in his hotel suite last weekend.

I had been dreaming of that kiss. It hadn’t even lasted that long, but it had been the best kiss I’d ever experienced. A tease of what was to come.

Yes, I was the one who’d insisted that our fling last only as long as this trip. But I hadn’t expected him to take that rule so literally. Nearly every day this week, he had stopped by my house to say hello. Or met me for lunch or coffee. Always to discuss ideas for the resort or hear my insights into the local community. We’d had a few meetings with local business leaders too. Every time, he’d kept things G-rated. But Dane had this way of looking at me that fired me up without a single touch. Like he was imagining all the filthy things he wanted to do to me that would scandalize the town if they knew.

Lordy, he was giving methat lookright now.

If we didn’t get to the liaison soon, I might spontaneously combust before I even got to enjoy the shopping and sightseeing.

Sharon walked over carrying a tray. She set a flute next to my seat and one by Dane’s. “Enjoy.”

“Thanks.” He smiled at her. “Once we’re in the air, we’ll have breakfast. Coffee and pastries. And whatever else Grace would like.”

“Yes, sir.” Sharon aimed a death-glare at me before she left.

“She doesn’t like me,” I whispered.

“What? Why wouldn’t she like you?”

“Because I’m with you. You knew her name. Did you and she ever…”

“No. But I like that you’re jealous. It’s cute.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“Sure. And I’m not jealous about those firefighters you live with.”

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