“Like a lie.”
She nodded. “Sweetheart and darling are okay. My little chihuahua, though? That’s a no.” Her look was dark and dangerous.
I laughed.”Okay, no little chihuahua. No problem. And just okay isn’t going to cut it.” I leaned into the arm of the seat, and she leaned into hers. We were still separated by a good two feet, but it felt intimate. “What shall I call you?”
She raised her eyebrows in a challenge as I considered. For two weeks, we’d lived in the same house as roommates and worked in the same building. We’d had meetings and lunches and dinners, and we’d worked together. Surprisingly, I’d discovered that I liked her. I genuinely liked her. She was smart and no-nonsense and always seemed to know what needed to be done or said. But she was also funny and kind and had a surprising innocence for someone who was so on top of things. It made me want to take care of her, which was also a surprising feeling.
“Baby,” I said. “I’d like to call you baby.”
She blinked and pulled back. “Baby?”
“You don’t like that one, either?”
She swallowed. “No. I like it.” She took another sip of her champagne and didn’t meet my gaze. Did she not really like it? She wasn’t one to hide what she really thought, so I thought maybe she did like it and wasn’t comfortable telling me that. “You know…” she started, then stopped.
“What do I know?” I wanted her to continue.
She was silent for a minute and then nodded to herself before turning to me. “You know, I’m not an actress.”
“I didn’t think you were.”
She ignored me as if I hadn’t spoken. “But I’m supposed to be performing in front of an audience…well, in front of cameras, anyway. I’m supposed to convince them that I’m in love with you. I’m generally just fine in front of cameras. I don’t mind taking pictures—”
“You shouldn’t. You’re a beautiful woman.”
She fluttered her lashes at me but ignored me. “—but this is asking me to portray a woman who is comfortable being with you. Touching you. Being touched by you. You haven’t so much as shaken my hand. I’m supposed to act like I’m in love?”
“Mm. Passionately. You don’t think you can do it?”
She let out an impatient breath. “Do you? I think we’re going to need some practice.”
“Practice? Like, what, cuddling?” I asked, and she shrugged. “Or kissing?”
She pressed her lips together firmly. No-nonsense. But a blush tinted her cheeks. She was cute. She wanted to practice kissing, and it embarrassed her. I stood and stepped to her seat, holding my hand out to her.
“What?” she asked, confused.
“Come on. Let’s go sit on the couch, where we can practice being a deliriously in love, eloping couple.”
She stood up and smoothed her dress before putting her hand in mine. Her fingers were delicate and soft, and her nails were pale opalescent moons.
“There.” I grinned at her. “Now we’ve touched hands.” She rolled her eyes at me, but I could see the corners of her lips lift. I led her back to the lounge area of the plane, and we sat.
She sat too far away, so I scooched closer and put my arm around her shoulder. For a moment, she was stiff and held herself apart, but then she let out a breath, shook her head, and leaned into me. She melted into me. She raised a hand and put it on my chest, barely touching me. Such a light touch, but it set off tingles along my spine. Then she let her head fall to my shoulder, and she nestled there. I had no other word for the way she settled into me, rubbing her cheek against my shoulder until she came to rest with her nose and lips just barely resting against the skin of my neck.
I was suddenly breathless. I swallowed. “That’s good.” I rubbed her back a bit, caressing her slender form over the soft fabric of her dress. My fingers tangled in her ponytail. “Can I take your hair down?” My mouth went dry at the thought. I wished I’d thought to bring some champagne with us.
She nodded, and her lips found their way to my clavicle. I didn’t waste any more time. I realized I had been dying to see her hair loose—again. A flash of memory from a night seven years ago came to me. I had come upon her sitting on the porch, her hair loose and flowing like liquid flame.
I pulled the hairband out, and her hair was released. I let it fall over her shoulder, against the white dress covering her breast. “Wow,” I said, unable to hold back. “Your hair is stunning.”
She tilted her face up to see me. “Is my hair what made you fall for me? As my fiance who’s madly in love with me?”
“No. Your neck.”
“My neck?”
“Mmm. It’s so slender and long, but also proud. Your neck makes me want to charge into any circumstance and protect you so that you can stun them all with the force of your will.”
She laughed, and I felt it all through my body. I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her against me. She was so slender but curved, ripely. Strong and lush, both. It wouldn’t be hard to pretend I was enamored with her at all.
I cleared my throat. “And what made you fall instantly in love with me?”
“Your money, of course.” I glared at her. She laughed. “No, I’m just kidding. It’s a feeling. That’s all.”
“You’ll have to do better than that.”
She sat up, and I immediately missed having her in my arms.“It’s a feeling when I’m around you. You, the man I fell instantly in love with…” I nodded for her to go on. “You make me feel like I am lit up inside. I am drawn to you like the planets around the sun. Your energy makes me come alive.”
I closed my mouth because I realized I was gaping. “You are a romantic. You said you weren’t.”
“I am very good at expressing myself.”
“You are. Let’s see how you express yourself in action.” I could not wait any longer. I had to kiss her. I slid my fingers into that glorious hair and cupped her strong, delicate neck, drawing her to me.
She didn’t resist. I didn’t know why I thought she would since the kiss was her idea. Instead, she melted into me again, her lips soft and warm and stunning. Her hand went to my waist, then slid up my stomach to my chest, coasting slowly, driving me mad, until she wrapped her arms around my shoulders and held herself to me.
Her tongue tangled with mine, and the delicious taste of her made me feel as if we were flying through the air, no jet needed. It was just us and the blue of her eyes and the clouds filling my head, emptying it of all thought but her.
Her.
The wedding was stunning. It stunned me.
The limo let us out at a grassy field overlooking the mountains and the ocean beyond. The air was sweet with flowers, and the sky opened up above us, blue and blissful.
Birdie was wearing a flowing white dress that was very simple but perfect. She didn’t need any fancy details to detract from her own beauty. The low scooped neckline showed round, pert breasts, and the dress skimmed over her slim torso and softly swelled hips before swirling around her legs. White flowers were woven into a slender crown, and her hair streamed, loose and silken, halfway down her back.