Page 61 of At First Flight
Dean nods. “You never searched the guy on the internet?”
My hair brushes against my shoulders as I shake my head. “A bit, but nothing really came up. I wasn’t brave enough to do a deep dive.”
“Maybe do that tonight, yeah?”
I nod, knowing I probably should have done it a long time ago, especially when I confessed to Ashvi everything that happened. I wonder what an internet search of Dean would bring up. Probably hundreds of supermodels draped on his arm at events or lying half naked in a bikini on his boat.
Hesitantly, I inch my pinky closer to Dean’s hand until just the tip of my finger brushes against the side of his.
“Dean,” I sigh.
He juts out his pinky and wraps it around mine. The line in the sand blurs with every second.
“All good things are worth the wait, ghost girl. I don’t expect anything from you. Not a decision. Not a concession.It may not appear that way, but I’m not afraid of working for something.”
My chest twists, full and achy. I turn to him, heart pounding, our fingers still interlocked. I want to kiss him. I want to throw down the gauntlet I hitched over my shoulder all those weeks ago. I want to cross that line. God, I want to.
Instead, I lean forward, my lips just barely brushing across the roughness on his cheek. “Good night, Dean.”
He returns my nod, a quiet smile touching the edge of his mouth as if he understands the courage it took me to take that leap. “Good night, Lila.”
Opening the door, I step out, immediately missing the insignificant touch of his finger. My heart thuds like I’ve just launched myself off the nearest cliff, and I wasn’t one hundred percent sure yet if I’d fly or fall.
Quickly, I make my way up the stairs to my room, ignoring the garage closing and Dean’s feet echoing on the first floor. As I pass the mirror above my dresser, I pause and bring my hands up to cover the flushness in my cheeks.
“Oh, geez.”
I know that my run up the stairs isn’t what caused the redness, but the potency of the man I hurried away from. The man who seems less like my boss and more like someone I want more from.
From the corner of my eye, I spy a cream-colored envelope lying on my bed. I snatch it up quickly, the paper shaking in my hand as I read Dean’s letter.
Lila,
Thank you for joining me today.
I know our dinner was probably in a small café, nothing fancy, but I know sitting across from you made it feel like the best table in the world.
You have a way of making things feel lighter, even when they’re not. And I don’t take that for granted. I don’t takeyoufor granted.
I’m glad you’re here, not just for the kids, but for me too. I’m grateful you’ve stayed long enough to share the parts of me I don’t usually let anyone see.
Sleep well tonight.
Dean
Well, fuck.
How did he even have this written before I agreed to dinner?
Immediately, I dial Ashvi’s number, the phone nearly slipping due to my sweaty palms, and I’m relieved when she picks up after the first ring.
“Vi, I have a big…huge problem.”
“What’s that? You finally realize you’ve got a thing for Daddy Moneybags?”
“No…” I drone on, but mentally I’m screaming,“Yes!”
“Ah, so youhavefinally figured out that you have a crush on that insanely attractive man you work for?”
