Page 53 of Guarded Hearts

She didn’t. Only gave him a noncommittal shrug and wrapped her arms around herself, huddling into her sweater.

The entire drive to the airstrip, Oaks followed close behind. They passed few cars on the road. Once they reached the less-traveled road to the secluded airstrip, they were the only two vehicles.

So far, everything was easy.

As they rounded a bend, the asphalt airstrip rose out of the field. At one end sat the Malones’ private jet.

Layne bolted upright in her seat, eyes fixed on the plane. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Carson! You actually own a jet.”

Her shocked tone made him smile despite the reason they were making an escape. “Did you doubt me?”

“I thought you might be exaggerating. This is huge.”

“I wouldn’t say huge. Maybe average.”

She gave him a flat look at his innuendo, and he chuckled.

“It fits my family easily, and serves our needs.” He parked in the private parking lot next to a few other vehicles belonging to the pilot, copilot and the air traffic controller here to see them safely on their way.

They climbed out, and Carson grabbed their bags while Oaks followed them over to the big white bird. Carson turned to his brother. “I got it from here. Thanks, man.”

“I’ve always got your six. Have a great flight.” Not one for sappy goodbyes, Oaks threw them a wave and walked back to the SUV to head to the ranch.

The pilot greeted them at the top of the steps. “Welcome aboard. Good to see you, Carson. Ms. London.”

Carson held out a fist, and his old friend who’d once flown fighter jets for the Navy bumped his knuckles against it in a show of camaraderie.

Layne entered first, and Carson ducked under the doorway. Her audible gasp amused him even more.

“I should have known you’d have black leather seats and leather on the walls. You really know how to make a woman feel like a real passenger princess, Carson.”

He waved a hand. “Sit anywhere you’d like.”

Getting into the air was smooth going. Now if their arrival in Italy was just as uneventful, he might be able to fully release the breath that had been trapped in his chest since he walked back into Layne’s life.

* * * * *

The sweet weight of Layne’s head on Carson’s shoulder transported him back in time to simpler days. Days when they’d curl up together to watch the sun set or enjoy the latest teen movie on the big screen.

She was with him, and he couldn’t quite believe it. While he wished to hell the reason for her returning to his life wasn’t because she was in danger, he couldn’t deny he loved having her in it.

So far, their flight had little turbulence, and she’d fallen asleep somewhere over the Atlantic. It left him a lot of time on his hands. He spent far too much of it thinking—and overthinking. His brain worked overtime on the issue of her stalker. Who it could be, where they had first seen Layne.

He also had a chance to research more on the note that had been slipped into that gift envelope with the rose stems. After Oaks texted him the name of the producer, Carson dug deep. He now knew every place the paper was distributed from here to the Pacific coast.

In his mind, he saw the words again.If I can’t have you, no one can.

Fuck.

Who wanted Layne dead? The son of a bitch was going to pay. In his enemy’s prison, Carson had learned the worst ways to kill a man slowly. Dragging it out until they snapped or broke.

Never in his life did he believe he’d employ any of those torture tactics…but he didn’t have to avenge Layne back then either.

The flames he saw in her eyes every time he looked at her…when she screamed his name and came for him…changed all that.

The motherfucker who wanted her for himself wasn’t getting anywhere near her.

According to his phone’s GPS, they were approaching Italian airspace. He thought about waking Layne to open the window shade so she could watch their descent. But she was so peaceful, curled against his side, that he couldn’t bear to interrupt her slumber.

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