Page 91 of Mountain Grump
“It’s a pretty flower.” His voice is so soft, his words so gentle.
I purse my lips on an exhale. “Ethan Ford, tell me you’ll land us smoothly.”
He reaches over the gap between our seats and wraps his fingers around my wrist. “Matilda Iris, I’m going to land us smoothly.” He pulls my hand toward him, setting it on his thigh.
Ethan releases my wrist, taking the controls in both hands, but I leave my palm where it is.
And I close my eyes.
I close my eyes to the ground below us.
Close them on the situation before me.
Close them, just for now, while I gather my courage.
And when our tires meet the ground, I take one more breath in the dark.
One last breath before the next part.
Chapter 60
Ethan
Worry clawsat my throat as we pull onto the parking ramp beside our destination.
Tilda didn’t say anything during the landing.
Hardly said anything as we made another bathroom stop, then transferred to the car.
She’s been silent the whole ride.
And now, as I park and turn off the engine, I worry that she’s shutting down.
I know she doesn’t like her family, that she doesn’t want to be here. But this reaction is stressing me out.
As I push open the car door, I wonder if I should just turn the engine back on and drive us right back to the airport.
Tilda doesn’t need to be here for this.
She already has Jack’s house and land. Sitting in a room with her relatives as they find out is unnecessary. And, if I’m reading the family history correctly, more than a bit cruel.
Why would Jack put her through this?
With one leg out of the vehicle, I turn my head toward Tilda. “You don’t have to do this. We can go.”
Still wearing my extra pair of aviators, Tilda gives me a tight smile. “I’m okay.” She unbuckles her seat belt. “But as soon as this is done, we go straight back to the plane.”
I want to argue. But I dip my chin instead, leaving my sunglasses on the dashboard.
We slam our doors shut at the same time and meet at the back of the car.
Tilda pauses beside me.
The black glasses, with the black boots and leather backpack, mixed with her fluffy yellow dress, make her look even more badass than she did before.
I want to tell her that.
Want to tell her that I haven’t stopped thinking about the other night.
