Kiss Me Katie! & Hug Me Holly! by Jill Shalvis

meant to kick you out like that, but I was watching you fly and—”
    â€œKatie—”
    â€œAnd it reminded me of—”
    â€œI think about you all the time,” he said, dipping his head to slide his cheek over her hair. “Even when I’m flying. You should know that.”
    â€œMy father—” She stopped abruptly, finally allowing his words to sink in. “What?” she whispered. “What did you just say?”
    He stared at her, shocked at himself. “I think about you too much. Tell me about your father.”
    â€œNo, wait.” Katie had put a hand to her heart, absently rubbing there as if she ached. “That thinking about me thing. Why can’t you just stop thinking about me?”
    â€œI’ve tried.”
    â€œYou’re not trying hard enough.”
    â€œDo you want me to stop?”
    â€œYes. No. I don’t know! ” Her hands fisted in his shirt, probably to push him away, but she held on. “You’re sidetracking me.” She stared down at her fingers clutching him, and as if she just realized what she was doing, she loosened them and smoothed over the wrinkles she’d caused. “I came in here to apologize and you’re going to make me forget that, or even why.”
    â€œSorry.” He had no idea what for, but if she wanted to hug him and apologize, who was he to say no? “Go ahead, beg for my forgiveness.”
    â€œFor what?” she asked, annoyed.
    â€œI don’t know exactly, but I’m certainly going to let you do it.”
    â€œBryan…darn it! You ruffle me.”
    â€œYou ruffle me, too. Do it some more.”
    â€œThis is crazy. I can’t…do this. Not with you.”
    â€œBecause of what I do?”
    â€œBecause of who you are. You remind me of—”
    â€œYour father?” he asked, gently nudging her. “Come on, Katie, open up. Tell me. He hurt you, I know he did, and you never talk about it, it’s not healthy. It’ll make you explode, or—”
    â€œOr cause me to be unnecessarily rude to you?” She let out a smile. “Too late.”
    â€œYou haven’t been rude, just…a bit prickly.”
    She laughed at that, then set her head on his chest. “I’m so sorry, Bryan, for so many things.”
    He didn’t need another reason to draw her close, to tuck her body against his and hug her tight. That she let him was a bigger thrill than any flight he’d ever taken. “Come with me.”
    â€œWhere?”
    Bless his sweet and totally untrusting Katie. “If I said to the end of the earth, would you follow me?”
    â€œI’d have to be pretty far gone to do that.”
    â€œSo, will you?”
    She hesitated, then let out a rueful laugh. “Apparently, yes.”
    Smiling, he led her to hangar three. When he walked up to one of his Cessnas, she held herbreath. And when he took her inside, she let the breath out shakily. He strapped her into the copilot seat, sat next to her, put on his sunglasses, and she went more than a little pale.
    â€œTell me we’re just checking out the new leather seats,” she said.
    â€œYep. From twelve thousand feet.”
    â€œOh, my God.” She bit her lower lip. She looked as though she tried really hard to contain a sudden rush of excitement, but he knew her now. Yes, she was afraid, but she was also ready to do this.
    â€œOkay?” he asked.
    â€œOh, sure. I’m great. Really. Couldn’t be better.” She looked nervously out the window.
    â€œNo stunts,” he promised, thinking she shouldn’t look so appealing, that it shouldn’t be so thrilling to be doing this, with her. “Nothing but straight flying, wherever we feel like going.”
    â€œJust like that.”
    â€œJust like that. Spontaneity, sweetheart. It doesn’t have to be dangerous.”
    Her gaze slid to his mouth and he nearly groaned. “Do