Page 27 of Forever Fickle

“They are calledaccidents, notplans,” she retorted. “No one plans on having an accident, they just happen. These are small planes, too.”

“Karen…”

“What?”

“If we crash then you never have to go out with me ever again,” he said softly, smiling at her. “Can you let yourself trust me enough to give me fifteen minutes to ‘wow’ you?”

“You are not helping things,” she grumbled. “You know Glory and Hunter crashed.”

“Because of catastrophic engine failure – which we aren’t going to have,” Jace explained, getting in the seat of the plane. “Come on.”

“You promise?”

“Cross my heart,” he smiled easily. “I am not going to let the plane crash with you in it.”

Karen climbed up unsteadily and sat down, her heart beating wildly in her chest as she tried not to notice how close the two seats were together. She was practically rubbing arms with Jace. He handed her headphones that were plugged into a jack at the bottom of the dash area.

“Buckle up first and then we’ll shut the doors.”

“Jace… I…”

“You’ll be fine – I promise,” he said softly, his eyes holding hers as she realized just how close he was to her. She could see the small lines at either side of his mouth from where he smiled a lot and his thick eyelashes. “I’m never going to let anything happen to you.”

Nodding, unable to speak, she nervously reached for her seatbelt and felt her hands shaking. Jace took the belt from her, snapping it into place, before leaning over her to pull the door closed and firmly pressing the latch to lock it into position.

“Please, trust me,” he asked, looking at her.

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

“You look terrified.”

“For more than one reason, too!” she quipped nervously, feeling like she might have a panic attack. “I need to get out of the plane, Jace.”

“Shhh…” he said softly, taking hold of her hand. “Close your eyes and just relax. We aren’t moving. We are just sitting here together for a few minutes until you feel better.”

“I don’t think I’m going to…”

“What are you scared of – besides crashing? You said you were terrified for more than one reason,” he asked, his thumb brushing against her hand, making her heart beat even faster.

Karen couldn’t speak.

“I’ve got you,” he urged tenderly, his thumb stroking the skin of her hand again, driving her nuts. “Talk to me. What else scares you about this?”

Opening her eyes, she stared at him, sitting so close by and felt his thumb brush her wrist, tickling her softly.

“You do…” she whispered, seeing his eyes widen slightly.

“I’ll never hurt you,” he breathed, “But let’s tackle one giant hurdle at a time together so maybe someday you can trust me regarding the other fears you have… unless you want to get out now?”

“No.”

“Then let’s go,” he breathed, releasing her hand and moving a couple of switches and levers, as the plane taxied forward.

In seconds, they were off the ground, and she could tell the exact moment the wheels left the earth below. There was a strange floating feeling as the plane sagged slightly, but there was nothing below them to meet it.

Disbelieving, she felt Jace’s hand touch hers again – and she clenched it, looking around in stunned silence. She marveled at the landscape below that seemed to get smaller and smaller before her very eyes.

It was so different flying on a jumbo jet because she could see the clouds below her or faint outlines of roads, topography of the earth, but this was just like seeing everything the same… yet different.

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