Page 113 of Seduction Under the Southern Stars

But to my surprise, he says, “No worries. Take as long as you need.”

Elora and I exchange glances, our eyebrows rising. “Is Zoe back?” she asks.

“Nope.”

“So you only have Hallie there?”

“Yeah,” he says. “It’s not a problem.” I can hear the smile in his voice, and so can Elora, judging by the way her eyes widen.

“No…” she says, lengthening the word dramatically. “Are you and Hallie—”

There’s a click. He ended the call.

She rolls her eyes again and tosses the phone onto the sofa. “Charming.” She has a mouthful of coffee. “Do you think they’re…”

“Oh, definitely,” I say. “His eyes lit up when you told him she’d broken up with her boyfriend.”

“God, why do I miss all the signs? I’m so blind to this stuff. Linc, don’t ever be subtle with me.”

“I won’t. I’m looking forward to having sex with you again.”

She bursts out laughing. “Me too,” she says, and then she snuggles up to me and lifts her face so I can kiss her.

*

The next day, Wednesday, we rise leisurely, check out, and drive the Lexus back to the airport.

“What time’s our flight to Christchurch?” Elora asks.

“Around ten thirty,” I reply, leading the way to the gate.

“Ooh, another charter flight?” she says as we skip all the queues and check in at the empty desk.

“Kinda. Henry’s sent his company’s private jet to pick us up.”

Her eyes widen, and delight fills her features. “We’re going to see Henry?”

“Yeah, is that okay? We don’t board the cruise until around four.”

“Of course! I haven’t seen him in years. I’d love to catch up.”

“He’s going to show us around Kia Kaha, and we can catch some lunch before we head off.”

She beams happily, and I smile as the flight attendant comes to collect our bags and lead us to the waiting plane. I follow Elora up the steps. Wow, Henry’s company must really be doing well. It’s an eight-seater, two tables on either side, each with four leather chairs. Elora declares she doesn’t mind sitting backward and slides into one side, and I sit opposite her.

The flight attendant gives us a brief safety talk, we buckle ourselves in, and before long we’re in the air. When she discovers that we haven’t had breakfast, the attendant offers to make us a bacon sandwich and a coffee, which we agree to eagerly. She goes off to make it, and Elora and I smile at each other across the table.

Last night, making love in the missionary position, while seemingly straightforward, was a big step forward for her, I think. I was worried about provoking bad memories, but from her reaction to me, that didn’t seem to happen, and if anything she threw herself into the moment with gusto.

I think about her lifting her arms above her head, inviting me to pin her down. I don’t know if that was her intention, but she certainly didn’t complain when I did it.

“You’re thinking about sex,” she says.

I blink and focus on her. “What?”

“Your eyes have glazed over.”

I grin. “I was thinking about last night.”

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