Page 56 of Sky High Obsession

“Zach, please.Just… let me do my work.”The husky plea shredded him.

He forced himself to stay silent, but his gaze didn’t stray from her.After several minutes, she lowered the laptop shut.“Thirty-six guests have accepted the invitation.We need to narrow it down to the required twelve.I’ve sent the details to your tablet.”

Setting his glass down, he rose.“I’ll take a look tonight.”He held out his hand.“Right now, we’re taking a break.”

Ten minutes later, after she’d brushed her hair and, against his protests, pulled on her underwear, he met her in the hallway, ushered her into the elevator and hit the RT button.

She glanced from the lit button to his face.“We’re going up?I thought yours was the Penthouse?”

He smiled.“It is.”

“So…”

He kissed her as the elevator stopped and the doors slid open.In the mid-afternoon sunshine, the helicopter gleamed black and indigo.

Bethany jerked to a stop.“You have a private chopper at your beck and call?”

“You should know by now that I love my toys, Peaches.”

She rolled her eyes, and he threaded his fingers through hers, insanely pleased that she was once again looking at him.

They would work through this.As long as she stayed with him, he had to believe they would succeed.

He helped her into the back of the chopper and secured her seatbelt as she looked around the plush cream interior.Her eyes flashed with excitement and he found himself grinning.

“You like what you see?”

“What’s not to like?”She caressed the soft leather next to her thigh, and he mock frowned.

After securing his own belt, he picked up her hand and put it on his thigh.“You know, we can see the pilot, but he can’t see us.Wanna make out?”

Her immediate blush made his senses leap.“You’re really determined not to stop until you get us both arrested, aren’t you?”

As the rotors began to whir, he leaned in close and whispered in her ear, “You’ve already had me in handcuffs, Peaches.It’s a downward slope from here on in.”

She shook her head with another alluring laugh.“Tell me where we’re going.”

“To Newark, to tour the new plane.Then I’m taking you out to dinner.”

* * *

Bethany tried not to stare in awe at her surroundings and the view below her window, but she failed at both.

And with Zach so close and so mesmerizing, it was a futile task anyway.Every time she turned, his gaze met hers and he smiled that heart-stopping smile she was sure was specifically designed to batter her resistance to pieces.

And damn if it wasn’t working.Her insides shook every time she met his eyes.Her heart swelled every time he smiled at her.She may have patted herself on the shoulder for refusing to say she loved him, and even believed her reasons for saying so, but she knew the feelings were there, alive and stronger than ever.Especially after that revelation in his bathroom this morning.

Recalling his anguish, her chest tightened.Whatever had happened between him and Farrah, Bethany was beginning to believe deep in her heart that there had been exigent circumstances.The man next to her bore many flaws, but her instincts were fairly set on believing he wasn’t a heartless predator with pre-meditative intentions.

The chopper banked around Ellis Island, and she glanced at him again.She followed his chiseled profile to his strong neck and broad shoulders masked by his long-sleeved indigo T-shirt.Just like he liked his favorite color on her, she loved seeing him in indigo.His mouth-watering chest rose and fell in an even breath, and her gaze travelled lower, past his ripped abs to the legs encased in Tom Ford casuals.

Her belly heated as her gaze became trapped at his crotch.Even soft, his bulge was impressive and extremely noteworthy.He shifted, and she glanced up, met his electric gaze.In silence, he curved his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in to his body.

Resting her head on his chest, she slid her arms around his waist.

The sound-proof interior meant they could chat easily, but instead, they fell into a comfortable silence she was content to keep for the moment.

She had no doubt there would be even more turbulent times ahead; times when they violently disagreed, or times when his arrogance and blatant disregard for propriety made her see red.And yes, there would be times when she would refuse to let the secrets of his past remain dark and distant.

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