Page 34 of A Kiss at Midnight

A huge dumpster’s in the driveway, one that wasn’t there when I went inside with Bill an hour earlier. I walk over to the work truck —Astor Constructionstenciled on the door — and find a pair of gloves in the back.

Over the next few hours, I pick up roofing from the ground and throw it in the dumpster. By the time the sun is getting low in the sky, I’m completely exhausted, but the yard is mostly cleared of debris, and I feel pretty good about myself.

“You don’t listen too well, do you?”

I turn to find Blake behind me. He wipes his forehead with a rag before looking me in the eyes.

“No,” I tell him. “It’s always been a fault of mine.”

“We’ll see if I can help you change your ways,” he says with more than a hint of anticipation in his smile.

“You don’t have time.”

“I invent time. Especially for those who need punishing.” He throws the rag down and puts his shirt back on, leaving it unbuttoned. “Let’s run back to the apartment and shower. We need to get a move on because I want to do something tonight.” He takes my hand, leads me to his work truck, and practically thrusts me inside.

“Where’s your car?” I can’t picture Blake as a truck guy.

“I had my employee take it back when he delivered the truck. We needed tools.”

“Oh, makes sense,” I say, at a loss of what to say next. Everyone keeps throwing me new curves, and it’s overwhelming my brain to catch up.

He doesn’t say goodbye to his brothers; he just starts the truck and drives into traffic. After a few minutes, my curiosity overrides my need to be quiet.

“Where are we going?”

“That’s a surprise,” he replies. The eager gleam shining in his eyes makes his face look so much more handsome — not that he’s a slouch in that department, even in his worst mood.

I’ve already argued with him far more than I should’ve today, so I’ll bite my tongue for the remainder of the night. An hour later, I’m seriously regretting my choice not to argue.

Chapter Review

Chapter Twenty-One

Jewel

My heartbeat thrashesin my ears as I look at the tiny plane before me. I immediately flash into fight-or-flight mode — except thatflightis the last thing I want right now. I want to know which way torun.

“Do you honestly think I’m getting into this thing?”

“Yes. Why wouldn’t you?”

“Because it’s a death trap on small wheels!” My face is ashen with fear, and I begin to pace, trying to think of a way out of this. I can’t do this, no possible way. What good will I be to my brother if I die of a terror-induced heart attack or from landing in a fiery heap on the runway of Blake’s private airstrip?

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve been flying for years without even a minor mishap. My mechanics certify the plane, and it’s inspected before and after each flight. If the smallest thing is wrong, the problem’s immediately fixed.”

“I’m not going.” It isn’t the first I’ve outright refused this man, but it’s the first time I’m certain I won’t change my mind. I don’t know if I’m panicked more at the thought of flying or at the thought of his reaction to my refusal. But he can’t make me go up in this thing. My brother won’t want me to.

“You can do this, Jewel. There’s nothing to fear.”

“Please don’t make me do this. I can do anything else you ask — just not this.”

He’s silent for a full minute before his expression changes. It isn’t anger or frustration on his face; it’s patience, something I haven’t seen from him before.

“Come sit inside,” he tells me, holding out his hand.

“No, please,” I say in a tear-choked voice.

“We won’t go anywhere until you’re ready. I simply want you to sit in the plane, feel it, see that it’s not so frightening.”

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