Page 35 of Angel In Armani

As her ears filled with the steady familiar noises of flight, she couldn’t help the happiness that swept through her. In the air again. At last.

For this, she would put up with Lucas Angelo and whatever else the universe decided to throw at her. She allowed herself to revel in it for a minute or two, and happily Lucas stayed silent. She assumed he had his nose buried in his laptop as usual. Which meant it should be safe to sneak a look.

Just one.

After all, it was her responsibility to ensure her passenger was comfortable. And she was determined to be hands-off with Lucas from here on in—but that didn’t mean she had to completely deprive herself, did it?

But when she twisted her head to check on him, she found herself caught in the spotlight of those brilliant blue eyes. He lifted one eyebrow at her. She turned back, cheeks heating.

“Did you want to ask me something?” Lucas’s voice came over the headset.

She shook her head.

“My mother always says it’s not polite not to look at someone when you’re talking to them.”

“Your mom isn’t flying a helicopter,” Sara said. “Besides, I wasn’t talking to you.”

“Oh, just admiring the scenery, then?” Amusement was clear in his voice.

“I was making sure my passenger was all right.”

“I see.” He paused. “You know, I could come up and sit beside you.”

Panic flared. She might have thrown sanity to the wind by taking this job but she had retained enough common sense to know that she needed to keep some space between them if she was going to keep her distance from Lucas. She glanced at the empty second pilot’s chair beside her. “Nope. It’s not safe for you to move around while we’re in the air.” She worked the controls a little, just to make the helo bobble a bit. “And see, it’s a bit bumpy. You stay where you are.”

“Okay. As long as you tell me something.”

She gritted her teeth. “What?”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

Wake him up…? It took her a moment to figure out what he was talking about. Then her cheeks got hotter. Her stomach tightened and something lower down throbbed as suddenly the helo felt full of tiger all over again. She swallowed. Play dumb, Sara. “Wake you up?”

“Back in the Hamptons.” His voice sounded lower. “Why didn’t you wake me up and ask for some help?”

“Because I didn’t think you’d let me take the car,” she said. “Why would you? You had to get back to the city and let’s face it, I’m just the girl you slept with because you were stuck in a dodgy motel during a storm.”

“As I recall, I slept with you because you made a pass.” His voice was definitely lower.

She didn’t know if that was a bad or good thing. Do not turn around and look at him. It was bad enough that she could feel him sitting there behind her. Feel him as clearly as though he were pressed against her. “Blame the beer.”

“Do you often make passes at men after one and a half warm beers?” He sounded curious.

Only when they look like you. She swallowed again, tried to ignore the tingle on the back of her neck. He was watching her. She knew it. But she wasn’t going to turn around. “No.”

“Then let’s be honest and chalk it up to mutual attraction.”

Mutual? Her mouth dried. “I?—”

“Which brings me back to my question. Why didn’t you wake me up? I had a damned good time.” His voice roughened, and she had to suck in a breath as it sent a shiver fluttering down her spine. “I’m pretty sure you did, too. So why wouldn’t you ask me to help you?”

Because if I woke you up, I wouldn’t have been able to leave? Nope. Wasn’t going to say that. “I like to solve my own problems.”

“Car theft was easier than asking someone to help out? Isn’t that taking independence a little bit too far?”

“I wasn’t thinking straight. I was worried about the helo.”

“Helo trumps guy?”

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