“It wasn’t that bad either. This was exactly what I needed after my run-in today. To be around normal people having normal conversations.”
“If you can call any of us normal. Ty just about lost his shit over the selfie. Thanks for being so generous.”
She leaned her head back against the car seat and studied Griffin’s profile, feeling the beat of the bass pulsating through her body like another heartbeat. His dark hair was a wild mess and she loved the afternoon stubble on his face. It made him even sexier if that was possible. His lashes were unbelievably long and when he smiled his eyes crinkled. Damn him.
“Yes,” she yelled, trying to control her windblown hair whipping across her face.
He turned to look at her, one eyebrow arched. “Yes what?”
“Yes, I’ll go out with you this weekend.”
“Hot damn. I knew Faye was my ace in the hole!”
“As friends. I could use a friend.”
“That’s as good a start as any.” He pulled into her drive and turned off the engine. He sat for a moment without moving, waiting until the song ended, then opened his car door and came around to her side. He bowed and held out his hand. “My lady,” he said comically.
“And Stew said you couldn’t act.”
“I’m crushed my lady. Remove thy beak from my heart.”
“A Poe fan, no less.”
“Not really, too depressing. Well this is it,” he said depositing her at the front door.
“Bye, Griff, see you tomorrow. What time?”
“I’ll pick you up at eight. Pack an overnight bag, just in case. Small planes are vulnerable to weather. You never know. I’ve been caught before.”
She frowned, “We won’t get stranded, will we?”
“I’ll check the weather forecast again before I file the flight plan, we should be fine.”
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a surprise.”
“What should I pack?”
“Pack a swimsuit, a change of clothes…wear a sundress, something casual.”
“I can do that.”
He reached out and ran his thumb across her bottom lip and her body responded like a thoroughbred at the starting gate. Pulse fluttering, lady parts throbbing, she turned and left him before she did something she’d later regret.
18
Griffin had completed his preliminary safety inspections and checklists and was waiting to be cleared for takeoff. Penelope was strapped in next to him, tantalizingly close and cozy in the small cockpit of his four-seater Cessna 172. He glanced over and their gazes locked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. They both had on their headsets with mics, which allowed him to communicate with both air traffic control and with her.
“Have you ever flown in a single-engine?” Griffin asked.
“No. I’m so excited.” Her voice sounding slightly tinny through his headset.
“You’ll feel more turbulence, so don’t freak out.”
“I won’t.”
“I’ll do my best to make the trip as smooth as I can.”