Page 93 of Perfect Assumption
“Soon,” I promised him. And not just because I need him to know everything before I tell him I’ve fallen in love with him. Ward’s been gently pushing for a night out. “I’m dating the most incredible woman in the world. I want to take you places you’ve never been.”
I’ll never be completely comfortable with the media exposure that surrounds Ward, but it’s a part of him. And like he’s accepted the broken bits of me, I need to do the same for his twisted pieces.
When he enters the conference room a few moments later, he wraps his arms around me. I lean back against his chest. “Good call?”
“It sucked. I have to fly to Bigfork to sign the contracts.” His voice is grumbly next to my ear, sending shivers racing across my skin.
“Why do you sound like that’s so miserable?” I spin around in his arms to face him.
“Two reasons. The first is we just finished with our own snow that was up to our asses. Do I really want to voluntarily fly to Montana to deal with theirs? It’s not like I’ll have time to ski. “
“I forgot you ski.” I recall the taunting he gave Carys the day they came to the house about her lack of coordination.
“You don’t?”
“Let’s put it this way, when God was handing out athletic ability, he forgot to give me mine. Dancing is my hard limit.”
“So noted.” We stand wrapped in each other’s arms.
An idea pops into my head. Can I afford to do this—financially and mentally? Quickly, I do a mental assessment. Deciding to go with my gut, I tentatively offer, “Would it be better with company?”
Ward’s body jerks. He holds me out at arm’s length. “You’d do that? You’d come with me?”
“If you want me there.”
“I crave being with you all the time, Angie.” His words are blunt, but his touch softens them. “You do realize Bigfork is becoming a winter playground for the rock-and-roll rich and famous?” What he’s not saying is more important than what he is saying. The press. The very reason I’ve been reluctant to go out in our own city.
That gives me pause but only for a moment. Then I decide it’s time. “Then there should be plenty of others they can amuse themselves with,” I say firmly.
I wish I could capture the expression on Ward’s face at this very moment—incredulous joy combined with absolute shock. “Not that I’m complaining, but what brought this about?”
“If I don’t take the steps to reclaim my freedom, I’ll always be letting them win. And they can’t have you,” I say fiercely.
Ward’s mouth is on mine in an instant. There’s no buildup to this kiss. It’s savage with the way he eats at my lips. I’m woozy by the time he lets me up for air. “I’ll take that to mean you want me to come.”
“And I want you to be with me in Montana.”
We beam at one another. I pull away reluctantly before excitement gets the better of me. “I better go book us tickets. Wow, just think, my first plane ride.”
“Nuh-uh. I’ll arrange the flight.” When I give him a pointed look, he just shakes his head. “Trust me, we’ll get there and won’t end up in Warsaw.”
“Well, at least the clothes I’ll be packing would work for either place. When are we leaving?”
“Tomorrow after lunch. I’ll go to my place and pack in a few, then do you want to head to your place?” he asks.
I’m thrilled at the idea of being a few days away with Ward where we can be in public doing all the normal things couples do. “Yes. I’ll be here waiting.”
His dark eyes pierce mine as he reluctantly steps away. “This trip is going to be the beginning of so much, Angie. I can’t wait to be with you.” Then he slips out of the conference room.
“Me neither.” I allow a ridiculous grin to split my face before I gather myself together and tell Carys she’ll be without me for a couple of days.
* * *
“Teterboro?What airline flies to Montana from Teterboro?” I demand as the car service speeds through the Lincoln Tunnel to carry us beneath the Hudson River to the airport the next night.
“It’s a specialty airline.” Ward has his body angled toward me, a smug smile on his face.
“It must be, because I’ve never heard of LockAir. I just hope we’re not flying in a propeller plane that has to weigh us before we get on board.”
