Destination Wedding (Crimson Romance) by Robyn Neeley Page B

Learjet. It was one of ten parked in the private jet area. The pilot and co-pilot were already in their seats. “You can set your bags down. We’ll take them for you.”
    Luke waved to the pilots. “Looks like this bird’s ready to fly. Here, after you.” He nodded for Kate to go ahead of him up the stairs.
    She took three steps and turned around. Luke felt her hands press hard on his chest, nearly knocking him off balance. If there had been a bed underneath him, he wouldn’t have minded and would have gladly taken her along with him. “Everything okay?”
    “I’m sorry. I can’t do this.” Her wide eyes showed full on panic.
    “Can’t do what, Kate?” He already knew the answer.
    She hesitated. “Fly.”
    “Why don’t we let the pilots do that then? From what I’ve experienced, they’re pretty good at it.”
    She nodded but didn’t take her hands off of him. Any lower and she might feel the pounding that was going on in his chest. “I’ve never been on a plane this small. I don’t think I can do it.”
    “Sure you can.” Luke put his hands over hers and brought them down. “I’ll help you.” Still holding on to one hand, he went ahead and guided her up the stairs and into the aircraft. Inside, he brought her over to a beige leather sofa, deciding that might be more comfortable than the two chairs across from it. “Here, why don’t you get comfortable, while I help the flight attendant with our bags.”
    Luke rushed back to assist the flight attendant. “She’s a little nervous.”
    “I’ve got it covered. I’ll open some wine.”
    “That would be great, thanks.” He helped the flight attendant stow their luggage.
    “Red or white?”
    Luke thought for a minute. Given Kate’s tendency to wear whatever she was drinking, he chose white. It might be easier to get out in the likely event she had an accident. He took a seat on the sofa next to her.
    Her face was pressed to the window. “Luke, how long until we land?”
    “Well, first we need to take off.”
    “I know that.” Kate turned her head. “You don’t understand. I have an intense fear of flying.”
    Oh, he understood perfectly.
He reached over and pulled down the window screen. “Why don’t we keep this shut?”
    “That’s probably a good idea.” She reached over and pulled the seatbelt buckle around her lap and fastened it.
    “You know, I completely understand how you feel? I’ve never been a big fan of flying.”
    The plane started to back up. She clutched her seatbelt. “I do. I do,” she muttered.
    “Do what?” Luke stared at her wondering if this panic attack would be worse than the last. Could her eyes shut any tighter?
    “Nothing. Ignore me.” She continued to chant.
    “I promise you, this is a quick thirty-minute trip. We’ll be up and down before you know it.”
    Once airborne, the flight attendant emerged from a curtain and brought in two wine glasses. “Would you like some wine?”
    Kate opened her eyes and took her glass. “Thank you.”
    The flight attendant gave Luke a quick wink before disappearing behind the curtain. Kate had stopped chanting but was still looking down at her seatbelt. They sat for a few minutes in silence, and he pretended to check his phone.
    How could he help Kate relax until the wine kicked in? Kissing her was out of the question. Or was it? He could lean in and caress her soft lips …
    He stirred in his seat. Not yet. He needed to be patient. The time would come to kiss her soon enough. At least he hoped. With any luck, he’d be doing it several times over the next twenty-four hours.
    “So, Kate.” He leaned back and draped his arm over the couch, nearly touching her shoulder. “How long have you been a wedding planner?”
    “Nine years.” She took a sip of her wine and followed it with a much longer one. “And four months.”
    “Wow, that long. You must have started right out of college?”
    She nodded. “I did. I was an apprentice and then a junior planner and now