Page 31 of Paradise West
“Oh...okay,” Charli said. She grinned as she peered at Jack. “That’s a great name.”
He smiled proudly and held her gaze, his dimples on full display. “Yeah, I named her years ago.”
After a moment, Janie cleared her throat and Charli jumped, realizing that she and Jack had been silently staring at each other.
Awkward...
Charli lifted the box in her hands. “We’re spreading my aunt’s ashes today. Thanks for letting us use the plane. I was going to take the ferry out, but Jack wouldn’t hear of it.”
Janie grinned knowingly. “Yeah, I’m sure he wouldn’t.”
Jack rolled his eyes and lightly smacked her arm. “Knock it off, brat. Is everything set? Everything packed up like I asked?”
Janie made a tsking noise in the back of her throat. “Yes, bossy. Everything is just as you requested. David gassed Bertha up so she’s all set to go. All you have to do is sign her out.” She glanced at Charli,rolled her eyes, and shrugged. “Brothers,” she added derisively.
“Sisters,” Jack answered in the same tone and stepped to the counter to sign a paper. He turned and gave Janie another hug. “Thanks, Sis.” He gestured toward the door as he looked to Charli. “You ready to go?”
Charli turned to walk out the door. “It was nice to meet you, Janie,” she called out over her shoulder.
“You, too,” Janie responded with a wave. “Have a good trip.”
Charli grinned up at Jack as they walked around the building to the dock. “She’s really cute.”
Jack groaned. “God, don’t tell her that. We’d never hear the end of it. She’s bad enough as it is.” He pointed to their right. “There’s Bertha,” he said, gesturing toward the bobbing sea plane.
Charli froze on the dock. “Oh, wow...”
Jack looked back at her, his brows beetled. “What’s wrong?”
Charli shook her head. “Um, well...nothing’s wrong. It’s just that it’s a real sea plane. I’ve never seen one in person before.” It was almost as if she couldn’t wrap her head around the small plane with large floats. She squinted her eyes up at him. “Are you sure it’s safe?”
Jack gave her a gentle smile and rubbed her arm. “Trust me. It’s one of the safest ways to travel. And Bertha flies like a dream and can land anywhere. There’s absolutely nothing to worry about.” He stepped back toward her and grabbed her hand, giving it a little tug. “Come on. We have a mission to accomplish and I promise the scenery along the way is breathtaking.”
Charli let Jack tow her down the dock to the plane. He opened the door to the small cabin and helped her climb in. After they were buckled in, Jack put on his headset and radioed the tower, then pulled away efficiently from the dock. He seemed so comfortable and competent—and gorgeous and unattainable. Even so, Charli felt her heart pound in her chest as the plane slowly motored to an open space in the back bay. She squeaked and clutched the handle on the door frame, her knuckles turning white from the effort, as Jack powered up for takeoff.
The plane gathered speed and Charli could feel the floats striking through the light chop in the harbor. As the speed increased, the ride began to smooth out. In just a matter of seconds, and with what seemed like minimal effort, he had them in the air and turning to the west toward the Dry Tortugas. With wonder, Charli stared out over the lazy island splayed below them in the morning light. Key West seemed so quietand peaceful as it slept off the excesses of the night before.
“Wow,” she breathed as she stared out toward the horizon, her knuckles returning to their normal color as she loosened her death-grip on the overhead handle. “This is incredible.”
Jack grinned again. “Just wait,” he said, raising his voice above the engine. He pointed out toward the horizon ahead. “There are some shipwrecks I wanna show you. And maybe we’ll get lucky and spot some sea life on our way out.”
“Sea life?” Charli asked. “Like what?”
“Sharks, sting rays, turtles, that kind of thing.” He winked at her. “I have a feeling we’ll get lucky today.”
Charli nearly choked at his choice of words and pressed her lips together to hold in the laugh.
I wish I could get lucky with you...if only...
Charli frowned and gave her head a sharp shake. That line of thinking was not productive and clearly irrelevant. She needed to focus on the task at hand...fulfilling her aunt’s last request and putting her to rest.
“How are you doing over there?” Jack asked.
Charli glanced at him to her left and smiled, mentally sighing at the look of genuine concern on his face. He was such a gentleman, alwaystaking care of everyone around him. She could only wish that she would be lucky enough to find a man like him one day.
Since when have you ever needed a man, Charlotte Dorothea?!? What has gotten into you?
“I’m good.” She gestured around them. “Just can’t believe I’m sitting up here right now. It’s about one hundred and eighty degrees from where I was last week.”
