“Yes.” I stop in front of her, and she reaches out, taking the handle of my bag from my grasp as she speaks.
“I’m Donna. Mr. Ellis is waiting for you on the plane. If you come with me, I’ll scan your license into the system, have you sign a couple of documents, then walk you out to meet him.”
“Oh, okay.” I step inside the building when she motions for me to walk ahead of her. As we make our way across the glossy concrete floors, I look around the expansive space with a counter taking up the front portion. The rest of the open room is filled with fancy chairs, tables, and a kitchen, where pastries and coffee are set out.
“Would you like to get something to eat or drink?” she asks when we get to the counter, and my stomach churns at the idea of putting something inside it.
“No, thank you.” I dig through my purse for my wallet, then hand over my ID card.
“All right, this should just take a couple of minutes.” She takes my card and places it into a machine that almost immediately spits it back out the bottom.
“Do you know where we’re going?” I ask, trying to see the computer she’s looking at, and she lifts her eyes to mine.
“Wenatchee.”
“Wenatchee?” I repeat, having no clue where that is.
“In Washington.”
“Washington state?”
“Yes.” She laughs. “Did you really not know where you were going?”
“I didn’t even know I was going on a trip until an hour ago.”
“Seriously?” Her eyes widen.
“Seriously.”
“Well, I don’t have all the details here, but I know a rental car is waiting for you at the airport there, so you’ll be driving somewhere after you land.”
“Great.” I take my card back, and she gives me a sympathetic look.
“I’m going to have you sign a couple of documents, then you’re all set.” She flips the computer screen around to face me, and I quickly scan over the two documents that look simple enough before using my finger to scribble out my name at the bottom. When I’m done, she flips it back around and grabs the handle of my bag. “I’ll take you out.”
With a nod, I walk with her to a set of glass doors, where I can see a small but very expensive-looking plane waiting just feet away, with the stairs down and two attractive men in suits talking near the steps. My knees start to feel like Jell-O when we step outside, then my heart starts to pound when Donna stops us in front of both men, who are wearing tags attached to their suit jackets that state they are pilots. Neither of them looks much older than me, and they both look like they spend more time in the gym than they do flying, which is a huge concern.
“Ms. Beaver, I’m Tom, and this is my copilot, Henry. We’ll be flying you and Mr. Ellis this morning,” Tom says, holding out his hand, and I take it with mine that I’m sure is shaking.
“Nice to meet you both.” I take Henry’s hand after letting go of Tom’s. “So have you guys been flying long?” I ask, and they both share a knowing smile.
“We flew in the Air Force together for five years.”
“They are some of the best. You’re in good hands.” Donna gives my arm a reassuring squeeze before passing my suitcase off to Henry. “While they get your bag loaded, you can head aboard. Mr. Ellis is waiting for you.”
“Right.” I wipe my clammy palms down the front of my jean shorts and say a quiet thank-you to Donna before I start up the steps to Jace.
Chapter 5
Kidnapped
Have you ever had that feeling in the pit of your stomach, like a warning bell that something huge is about to happen? Also because you don’t know if it’s good or bad, you just keep moving forward.
That’s exactly what I feel as I step through the small doorway of the plane and enter the dimly lit cabin. Looking to my left, I see the cockpit is open, allowing me to see the millions of buttons and switches just beyond the two chairs, then turn to the right. Sitting in the second row is Jace with his head down and his brows drawn together in a deep frown. Looking behind me to the door, I find Donna standing at the bottom of the steps, and as soon as our eyes meet, she gives me a thumbs-up.
I return the gesture, then drag in a breath and turn back toward Jace, finding him no longer frowning at his lap but at me.
“If you complain about me being late, I swear I’ll get right back off this plane,” I bite out, and he shakes his head.
“You look freaked. Are you okay?”
“No.” I walk toward him and sit in the seat across the aisle from his. “I’ve never flown before.”
“You haven’t ever been on a plane?” He looks doubtful, and I roll my eyes.
“After my dad died, my mom’s priority was keeping a roof over our heads. Taking trips never fit into her budget, and since I’ve been older, I’ve always driven to wherever I’ve wanted to go.”
“How old were you when your dad passed?”
“Four.” I wrap my hands around my bag in my lap. “So are you going to tell me why you need me with you on a trip to Wenatchee, Washington?” I change the subject, because Lord knows I do not want to share sob stories about my life with him.
“Well….” He clears his throat, suddenly looking nervous, which only peeks my curiosity.
“Mr. Ellis, Ms. Beaver, we’re going to be closing the door and should be off the ground in about ten minutes,” Tom says, boarding the plane with Henry right behind him.
“Thanks, Tom,” Jace replies, and I start to inwardly panic as the light from outside is cut off when the door is pulled in and latched, cutting off my only way to escape. “Hey, it’s okay,” he tells me softly, and I look down when I feel warmth curl around my fingers and stare at his much larger and tanner hand wrap around mine. “We can take a car if you need, if this is too much.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I need the practice,” I tell him, lifting my eyes to his.
“Practice?”
“Never mind.” I grip his hand tighter when the plane begins to move… and then start to panic when he gets up out of his seat.
“What are you doing?” I gasp, looking between his now empty spot and him.
“Relax, I’m just gonna get you buckled in.” He squats down in front of me and takes my bag from my grasp, placing it on the ground before sliding his hands down my hips. I’d like to say my body does not react to him being so close while touching me, but my nipples pebble and my breath catches in the back of my throat. When the lock of my seatbelt clicks into place, he lifts his head, and our eyes lock. “Now you’re safe.”
Why do I suddenly feel like that’s totally not true?
“Thanks.” I clear my throat, and he gives me a grin that catches me off guard. I know he’s a good-looking man; I knew that from the moment we met, though if he were a jerk but smiled at me like this all the time, I would not give one fricking flip how rude he is.
He stands and takes his seat, and I expect him to… I don’t know… maybe ignore my existence? But instead, he leans across the aisle toward me and takes my hand in his once more. So distracted by his touch—besides a dip in my lower stomach as the plane lifts off the ground—I don’t notice anything else.