Love on Landing (15 page)

She swallowed hard, suddenly nervous at the prospect of what could happen with their conversation. Good or bad—whether he thought she was making the right choice or not, she wanted to tell him what she'd decided to do. Her decision was final.

"Did you still want to talk?" She mumbled the words as her nervousness got the better of her. "I think you said that before the turbulence. Or, um, if you don't want to talk, that's fine too. I can go. I should probably go, right?"

She reached for her handbag and shouldered it as she made her way quickly toward the open door. She was stupid to think he'd still want to talk to her after everything she'd said to him. It would be better for everyone if she left now before more was said that couldn't be taken back.

"Wait," Gavin said, putting his arm up across the entrance, blocking her path to the door. "I do still want to talk. Will you stay?"

Hope sprang into her chest, her head going slightly dizzy with possibility. Of course she would stay if he wanted to talk. How could she refuse him when she wanted to work things out?

How could she refuse when he stood so close to her, towering over her in the small jet—the scent of his now-familiar cologne filling the tiny space? She could smell his scent for a million years and never tire of it. If that were actually to happen, she'd have to build up some kind of tolerance to it since her knees were suddenly threatening to go weak on her again.

Every. Time.

"Yeah, sure. I can stay for a few minutes." That was casual enough, right?

"Good."

She expected a smile from him, but his solemn face didn't crack. This probably wasn't going to be the conversation she'd hoped to have. She could feel her happiness, her hope, sliding away like the smile on her own face. Tears from concern, from stress, or from all of the crappy emotional shit she'd been through over the last few days, pricked the backs of her eyes, threatening to spill down her cheeks. Again.

She swallowed the hopelessness rising in her throat. No. She wasn't going to break down and cry. She deserved whatever it was she would get from Gavin. Now wasn't the time to cry. Now was the time to put on her big girl panties and take whatever heartbreak she was given.

"It's that Kerry girl, isn't it? I slapped you and then you ran off into her arms. I understand and I deserve it. Just tell me so I can move on."

Gavin leaned in, narrowing the gap between them, his eyes never leaving hers. "I don't want anything to do with Kerry."

Woo hoo!

His face was so close to hers now she could feel his breath on her lips. Maybe this conversation wouldn't be a conversation after all. Maybe they'd skip the boring talking and move directly to the make-up sex part instead. That part was always more fun than talking ever would be.

She licked her lips, trying to capture the faintest hint of his breath on her tongue. To taste him the way she'd been longing to since they'd first been together. His lips parted as if to answer her unspoken need for him.

"We done here, boss?" Cameron asked, stepping out of the cockpit and completely killing the moment.

She groaned, unable to stop herself before the sound was out of her body and floating in the air around them.

Cameron's gaze flickered back and forth between Gavin and Tali, taking in their close proximity. "Sorry to interrupt. I'll get out of here." Finally, he understood and would leave so Tali wouldn't have to kick him out of the plane.

He disappeared before either of them had a chance to confirm or deny his assumption. It didn't matter what he thought anyway. The only one who mattered right now was Gavin. The air was silent and thick between them as Cameron's footsteps faded away. The quiet was too much for her.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly before Gavin had the chance to speak. "I'm sorry for being such a spoiled brat. I'm sorry for treating you like a servant, for yelling at you when you were only trying to help me. For everything, I'm so sorry."

Her breath hitched in her throat as she fought her tears, waiting agonizingly long seconds for him to respond. But instead of replying like she expected him to, he pressed his lips to hers. Her head swam with confusion and happiness mixed into one giant ball of crazy. She didn't know why he was kissing her, but she didn't care.

Tali ran her hands up his chest and gripped his tailored shirt in her fists, pulling him closer to her—as close as she could possibly get him. She wanted to taste him, touch him, savor every inch of him.

His tongue plunged into her mouth, exploring her. She groaned in response, arching into him and wrapping her hands around his head, tugging on his short hair. A growl of pleasure came from him, sending a spike of heat through her body. God, she loved this man.

I love him?

Tali giggled into his mouth. The instant pleasure of realizing how she really felt was amazing. She couldn't believe it took her so long to figure it out for herself, but it had. She loved Gavin and the thought of losing him and how it tore her up inside, was merely proof of that. She giggled again, happiness making her feel as if she were drunk.

Gavin pulled away from her and peered into her eyes, his brow creased with confusion. "What's so funny?" His voice was husky with need. "This isn't exactly a good time to laugh."

Tali laughed out loud. Damn he was cute.
And I love him!

"I'm sorry. It's not funny but I can't help laughing. I just realized the most ridiculous thing—I love you." She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. Had she really just put that out there for him to hear? She could almost see the words lingering in the air.

"You love me?" he asked.

She nodded. Yep. God help her, she loved him in a way she'd never experienced before.

She bit her lip as he studied her. What if he didn't love her back? What if he'd only been kissing her goodbye forever and wanted nothing else to do with her?

"I know I haven't treated you very well," she said, "and I haven't been very honest with myself about who I am and what I want in life. I don't expect you to love me back, not when I'm only just learning to love myself. I'll understand if you want to ignore what I said and walk away from me. I'll—"

"Shut up, woman, and kiss me." He pulled her against him, cupping her butt with one hand so her body pressed fully against his. "I love you, too," he whispered.

He pressed his mouth to hers gently at first as if trying to tease her. His tongue flicked across her lips. His free hand disappeared under her shirt, quickly unfastening her bra with ease. Skimming his hand over her flesh, he left a path of tingles in his wake. He kneaded her breast and thumbed her nipple.

"I love you too, Tali," he again said, pulling back from her enough to get the words out. His forehead rested against hers as his hands continued to explore her body. "Since the first moment in the cockpit when I learned your mouth was just as hot tempered as my own, I knew you were the one for me. I just kept trying to fight it. I'm stupid."

"No, you were right to fight your feelings. I wasn't ready." She ran her hand along his jaw, cupping it. "You were right about me. I wasn't being honest with myself or my family about what I really wanted in life. I tried to live a lie that would never make me truly happy. You—you showed me I can be who I really am and it's okay. That's why I'm going to tell my father he needs to find someone to replace me. I won't be taking over the job of running the company."

"Really? Are you sure? I thought we were coming home because your father needed you, some crisis or something."

"There is a crisis. He does need me and I won't let him down right now. But I will tell him I'll only help until Stanley is on his feet again or until I hire someone to fill my spot. Then I'm to be set free. For the first time ever in my life, I'll be free to do what I choose to do and not what's been chosen for me. And I owe it all to you, Gavin."

"I'm so proud of you. And I'll be with you every step of the way—if you'll let me."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. Besides," she giggled. "Who else would I have fly me all over the world to paint my great masterpieces?"

"Sounds like you're going to need a frequent flyer card."

"True. Maybe I'll even become a member of the mile-high club."

"That might be tricky when I'm the guy flying the plane." He laughed.

She grinned. "Isn't that what auto-pilot is for?"

"Good thinking. How about we practice once before we try it at thirty thousand feet?"

He pulled her down into one of the large leather seats, her legs straddling his thighs. She slipped her shirt and bra over her head and let them fall onto the floor in a heap. The cold air from the open door caressed her skin, raising little goose bumps.

"Shouldn't we close the door?"

He shrugged. "Probably, but that would mean moving and I'm not too interested in doing that right now. Beside, we're in the private hanger area; no one ever bothers me when I'm finishing up after a flight. No one will bother us now."

"You like the thrill of possibly getting caught, don't you?" she teased.

"It doesn't
not
thrill me."

She hit him playfully and folded her arms across her bare breasts as she stood. "Go close the door and I'll wait right here. I'm not into getting caught. I have a reputation as being a stone cold bitch to hold on to, remember?"

"Got it."

Gavin quickly closed the cabin door and then briefly disappeared into the cockpit before returning to his seat. She climbed into his lap again. "Where did you go?"

"To get this." Gavin placed a small square box in her hand. "I have a little something for you I picked up in Paris before we left. Open it."

Suspicion flared to life in Tali's brain. What was he doing? It was too early for giving a gift that came in a tiny square box. A little velvet box to be exact.

"Gavin, I can't. I—I'm not ready. Hell, I only figured out I love you a few minutes ago. I can't accept this." She tried to shove the box back into his hand.

"It's not what you think and you can accept it. I promise, I'm not proposing while you're topless, although there is a certain appeal to that scenario."

Tali held her breath as she opened the little box. Inside was the pendent she'd seen displayed in the window of one of the boutiques along the Champs-Élysées the day she'd made Gavin go shopping with her. It was the most amazing pendant she'd ever seen. How had he known how much she'd loved it?

"The moment I saw you looking at it with that twinkle in your eyes, was the moment I suspected there was more to you than you let on. I knew in that instant I had to find out who you really were and I'm so glad I did.

"You, Tali, are as unique as this pendant. You said it was a perfect piece because each person who gazed on it would see something different. I saw a bunch of swirls, but you saw possibility. Never stop seeing possibility in everything."

Tali nodded. Her throat constricted with tears and love and an unbelievable respect for this man who knew her better than she even knew herself. She leaned forward so Gavin could fasten the necklace around her neck. As the cold metal pendant hit her chest directly above her heart, it instantly warmed to her skin. She glanced down at the colorful design then back into Gavin's eyes. In them, she saw all the possibility she'd ever need in life. In them she saw her future.

The End

About the Author

Heather Thurmeier was born and raised in the Canadian prairies, but now she lives in upstate New York with her own personal romance hero (aka her husband) and their two little princesses. When she's not busy taking care of the kids and an adventurous puppy named Indy, Heather's hard at work on her next romance novel. She loves to hear from readers.
Heart, humor, and a happily ever after…

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Also by Heather Thurmeier

Available at
Silver Publishing
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Love on Landing