Page 13 of Over Verdant Irish Hills

“Have fun, Mum,” Liam said, blowing her a kiss and getting back in the car.

Her gaze followed him as he drove off, and she used the opportunity to gather herself. “You involved my son in this little surprise?”

He took her arm. “It’s not like I told him we were going away to have sex, Bets. I told him I had some surprise business for you.”

“Liam is a smart kid,” Bets said, failing to pry the carry-on from Linc’s grasp.

“It’s light as a feather,” Linc said, starting toward the plane.

“He probably knows what we’re up to.” Bets was sure her face had turned lobster red again. “God knows what he packed. When I consider what Liam must have been thinking—”

“Then don’t, sugar. It’s raining, Bets. Let’s get onto the plane and talk.”

“I thought we were going to hole up at either your place or mine. I had some provisions. Eggs. Cheese. Roast chicken.”

He caressed her cheek. “I look forward to having them when we return, but I got to thinking after I left you the other night. A man and woman only have one first time together. I wanted to make ours count. Care to guess where we’re going? I’ll give you a hint. It’s where it all started for us.”

As she thought… She glanced at him through the soft rain. His blue eyes were tender, and in a navy rainslicker belted around his waist, he looked handsome and dashing. Her heart leapt in her chest. “Paris?”

“Yes, ma’am. I couldn’t imagine a better place to begin things. Can you?”

Emotion lodged in her throat, and she shook her head. God, she wanted to kiss him. Right now. “Come here, cowboy.”

He dropped his hold on her carry-on. In a flash she was in his arms, his mouth moving over hers in heated passes. She clutched the front of his raincoat, rain falling gently on them. When he raised his head, his eyes were hot with passion.

“Let’s go,” he said, his voice a gruff baritone she didn’t recognize, but boy, how it thrilled her.

She grabbed his free hand, and together they headed to the plane. On board, his flight attendant poured them his usual twenty-five-year-old Pappy Van Winkle.

“To new beginnings,” Linc said when they were alone.

She touched her glass with his, the gesture filled with intimacy. Soon they would be touching each other, skin to skin, nothing between them. Her face heated again. She pretended to busy herself wiping the rain from her hair with the thin towel the attendant had left her. Linc took it from her, gently clearing the water away for her, the passes of the towel over her skin proving just how sexy it was to have rainwater removed that way. She was breathless by the time he tossed the wet towel onto another table. His eyes held hers for a moment. All she was aware of was the heartbeat in her ears. He wasn’t smiling now. No, he was looking at her with an intensity that stole her breath.

Her hand unfurled, and then she was reaching for him. He took her hand and clasped it between the two of his, his touch grounding and yet commanding.

“Why don’t you kick back and get some rest? We’ll be in Paris before you know it.”

She watched him lean his head back and did the same, her hand still nestled in his grasp. “You still tired from the wedding?”

“Not on your life. That came from staying up all night wanting you. Now, close your eyes, sugar. I’m going to come out of my skin if you keep looking at me like that.”

She felt her mouth curve. “Better get used to it.”

“I plan to,” he said softly.

Her eyes closed, but she didn’t sleep. All she could think about was being naked with him on a bed of white sheets. She was aware of breathing loudly. Heck, her breathing was as loud as her thoughts. Anticipation, she decided, was hell on a girl’s peace of mind. Then again, the last thing Bets was interested in right now was peace.

When the plane started to descend, Bets stopped the pretense of sleep and opened her eyes. She inhaled sharply. Linc was watching her, his jaw locked with tension.

“Have I told you how beautiful you are?”

Her throat grew tight. “I don’t think so.”

“Consider that oversight corrected.” He leaned forward and caressed the line of her cheek. “You’re so beautiful. Bets, I could look at you like a stargazer looks at stars through his telescope.”

She was going to melt in her chair. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” he said—and continued to regard her with his hot gaze as the plane landed and taxied to their terminal.

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