Page 45 of Soaring on Love

“Are we there yet, Roth?” Tressa tussled with the silky fabric over her eyes. “This blindfold is chafing me.”

“Hands off,” he said, swatting her playfully. “We’re almost there.”

A short time later Roth activated the turn signal and made a right. He parked, then moved around to her side of the vehicle and helped her out onto the hard surface. Where were they? Using her available senses, she tuned in to her surroundings.

She smelled…exhaust, maybe? No, gasoline. Definitely gasoline. A racetrack? No. If they were at a racetrack, she would have heard the roaring engines and cheers from a crowd. Plus, she seriously doubted anyone raced this early.

What did she hear? Wind. Lots of it. And she felt it, too. A windmill farm? That made her laugh. Why in the world would Roth bring her to a windmill farm?

Roth took her hand and led her forward. She remembered the last time he’d held her hand for support. The Mile High Swinging Bridge at Grandfather Mountain. That trip to Silver Point had been the start of something beautiful.

Tressa’s steps were now just as hesitant as they’d been walking out on the bridge. “Don’t let me fall, Roth.” Although, she knew he’d never allow that to happen.

“Do you think I’d allow you to hurt a pretty little hair on your head? Stand right here,” he said, placing his hands on both her shoulders as if to steady her. “Don’t move.”

“And risk breaking my neck?” Her ears perked when she heard what sounded like a key being inserted into a lock. Then it sounded as if he’d opened a metal garage door. It clanked and rattled so loud it startled her. She reached out, her wiggling fingers searching for the comforts of his. “Roth?”

“I’m right here, baby.” He stood directly behind her. “You ready?”

“Been ready.” When Roth removed the blindfold, her eyes adjusted to the light. Squinting, she blinked several times, but the small personal aircraft was still there in all its massive glory. “What…”

Roth placed his hand on her lower back and ushered her forward. “Meet Zoom.”

Tressa’s eyes scanned the black-and-silver plane, then the hangar where it was being housed. If it was any brighter in the all-white, pristine space, she would have needed sunglasses. “Zoom?” she said absently.

“You ready?”

She whipped toward him, confused by the question. “Ready for what?”

“Part two of your Valentine’s Day. We’ll only be gone overnight.”

Still confused, she said, “Part two…?” Her words trailed off.

Part one of her Valentine’s Day had been pretty damn fantastic. Roth had had four dozen red roses delivered to the hospital. When he’d arrived at her house to pick her up for dinner, he’d given her the largest box of chocolate she’d ever seen. After a dinner fit for a queen, they’d returned to his place and made love for hours.

“Where are we going?”

“It’s a surprise.”

Roth strapped her into the two-seater aircraft. She’d be lying if she said she wasn’t a little nervous about Roth flying them to wherever it was he was flying them to. And it wasn’t the fact that it was Roth, per se; she would have been nervous with anyone behind the wheel—controls—of this intimate craft. Plus, when she flew, she was used to having far more space, and far more pilots manning the controls.

“Um, is your pilot’s license up-to-date?”

Roth flashed a stunned expression. “You have to have a license to fly? The video game simulation never stated that.” He smirked. “Don’t worry, baby.” He cradled her chin, leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. “I got you. A champion, remember?”

“Of flying paper planes.” She hadn’t actually meant to say the words aloud.

“Look at me,” Roth said. When she did, he continued, “Not only do I always want you to feel happy with me, I want you to feel safe, too. If you don’t want to do this, we don’t have to. I won’t be offended.”

Tressa inhaled and exhaled slowly. “Let’s do this.”

Several moments later, they taxied down the runway, then ascended.

---