softly. “Of course I am,” she said and reached up a hand to touch his cheek. She kissed him softly but he was having none of that. At the first touch of her lips to his, he pulled her onto his lap and kissed her thoroughly. “You still haven’t answered my question,” he said when he was through.
Elissa leaned back in his arms and smiled. “What question was that?” she asked, not sure about anything after that kiss.
“What are you doing here in New York? You’re supposed to be safe and sound back at my house.”
Elissa laughed delightedly. “I’m packing up,” she explained. Looking out the window, she slid off his lap. “We’re here,” she said and stepped out of the cab. She knew he was following right behind her and she led him up to her condo. “I just need this and I’m ready,” she said, and picked up her small bag. “My flight isn’t for another two hours though,” she said.
“You’re coming back with me,” he growled and took her arm in his.
They hailed another cab which took them to the airport. Elissa assumed that he’d booked another flight and made reservations for her as well. She didn’t mind, she had missed him over the past few days and she liked the way he made her feel. She felt feminine and cared for when he put his strong arm around her waist. Elissa leaned into his strong body whenever they were standing still or sitting in the cab. She loved this man. She loved everything about him; his physical strength, his intelligence, the way he cared for all the people on his ranch and knew every one of their family members. Living in Texas would definitely be a different way of life, she told herself.
The cab took them to a different section of the airport than she was used to. She hadn’t been paying attention to the instructions Jake had given the driver so she was surprised to be stepping out onto the tarmac instead of into the airport terminal. “What are we doing here?” she asked.
Jake guided her over to a sleek jet. “We’re going home,” he said and dropped her luggage into a seat. “Want to ride up front with me?” he asked.
“What do you mean?” she asked
“I’m flying us home,” he said and showed her into the cockpit.
“You know how to fly regular planes as well as helicopters? Is there anything you don’t know how to do?” she laughed.
“I’ve loved flying all my life. I own the helicopter but this is borrowed from a friend. And yes, I know how to fly,” he chuckled.
He put on the headphones and flicked some of the switches on the board. Elissa kept quiet while he spoke with the air traffic controllers and requested permission to take off.
Three hours later, Jake landed the plane perfectly at the small airport in Texas. “Wow! That was very exciting,” she said as he taxied to the small building that would protect the plane from the elements.
“You liked it?” he asked, pulling her to her feet and kissing her. “I liked you sitting beside me,” he said. “Now we’re heading back to the house and we’re going to talk. I’ve been trying to have this conversation with you for the past two weeks, but you’re not getting out of it this time by using that lovely body of yours to distract me,” he said and patted her on the bottom to get her moving.
Elissa just laughed and silently accepted the challenge. “Talk, huh?” she said but stepped down the stairs to the tarmac.
Jake drove quickly to the house then guided her to the main house. “Go up to the house and pull on some jeans. We’re going for a ride,” he explained.
Once Elissa came back downstairs, he had already changed into jeans himself. He guided her out into the barn. “Get on,” he said and waved to a beautiful black stallion that nickered at their approach.
“Um, Jake,” she said, not moving any further towards the huge beast once she saw where he was taking her. “I don’t think I’ve had enough lessons yet. I really don’t think I’m ready for that animal.”
Jake wasn’t having any of that. “Trust me?” he said and lifted her up onto the stallion. He immediately followed, settling her exactly where he wanted her in the saddle. With a flick of the reigns and a nudge on the flanks, the three of them were galloping across the fields. Elissa