Page 30 of Breaking Emily's Rules
Her eyes were at half-mast. “I guess this means I can’t fly.”
That made him want to laugh. Maybe she was still searching for an excuse to get out of this and save face.
“You’ll feel better in a few minutes.” He proceeded to carry her inside, but she wriggled, trying to get away.
“I can walk, you know?”
He didn’t let her. “I’m aware of that. Humor me.”
Cassie threw open the door to the hanger and stared from Stone to Emily. Then she glared at Stone, because, of course, this was somehow his fault.
“Great. What did you do to her?”
“She’ll be all right. Maybe a little altitude sickness.” Stone carried Emily into his office, where he set her down on the chair. He walked over to the water cooler and poured her a cup, which he handed to her.
She accepted it, a look of resignation on her face. “Maybe I’m no good at this flying thing after all.”
Cassie followed with a towel which she placed on Emily’s now-rosy cheeks. “Don’t worry, hon. This happens sometimes.” Then she left.
“Does it?” Emily turned to him, wide-eyed, as though she wanted confirmation.
“Sure.” Somehow, he couldn’t say no to her.
“I’ll be better next time. Probably.” She took the towel and patted her forehead.
Time to put all his cards on the table. Or at least a few more of them. “Here’s the thing. I’m not sure how much longer this flight school is going to be around. Not sure how long the airport is going to be around, actually.”
“Why isn’t it going to be around much longer?”
“A developer wants to buy the airport.”
“What? This airport has been here for decades.”
“I’m aware of that. But it’s valuable land and some people only care about money.” Like his sister. “I had an investor lined up to buy the flight school, but I’m afraid he might be backing out due to the lawsuit.”
“Lawsuit?”
Yeah, he thought that would get her attention. “My sister is suing me. Seems she’d rather have more money. I know what our dad wanted, and I can’t let her get away with it.”
Emily only stared at him. Probably rethinking the whole thing. Not that he blamed her. He didn’t know why in hell he was telling her any of this instead of just taking her money.
He was obviously as great of a businessman as his father. “Why don’t you go home and think it over?”
Emily worried a nail between her teeth. “I don’t need to think it over. I kind of liked being up there.”
“Even with me?” He crossed his arms and leaned against the desk. “The guy you ran out on—twice?”
She squirmed in her seat. “You don’t see me walking out now, do you?”
No, he didn’t, even if it appeared that, at this point, she’d need to wobble out of here.
“Look, if after you go home and sleep on it you still want lessons from me, come back. I’m not going anywhere for a while.”
“I don’t have to sleep on it. I know what I want.” She patted her lips with the towel.
The problem was, so did he. He wanted to bury himself inside her, not teach her how to fly. But if there was one thing he understood, it was discipline. Yeah, he could do this. One tempting blonde who’d been nothing but bad luck so far wouldn’t stop him.
“Fine.” He held his arms out to the sides, resigned.
