by Madelon Smid
“I know you’re nothing like Brian. I said that as a knee-jerk reaction because I was afraid and felt cornered. I know you’re an intelligent man, a gifted pilot, and an exceptional aeronautical engineer. You have never expected a free ride through life, but have worked hard for everything you’ve achieved. I know you care about people, and I know you accepted me, flawed and full of fears, as I was, and still said you loved me.”
She inched closer to the edge of her chair, closer to him. “I know I love you so much I hurt all the time without you. I’m so sorry I tested you and pushed you away because I was afraid I’d fail you at some time. By doing that, I did fail you. I was unfair, judging you against my past experience.” She swallowed, blinking away a film of tears. “I hope you’ll forgive me. And I pray you still love me.”
Adam’s smile warmed the icy cavern in her heart. He was so beautiful; his gray eyes steady on hers, like a comforting hand.
“I did deserve to be tested, because I did let you down. I did judge you, disappointed when you didn’t believe in me, in what I offered. And I did exactly what you feared. I walked away to nurse my hurt, leaving you feeling like you had failed. I’m so sorry.” He set his glass on the table, his grin crooked and endearing. “I’ll forgive you, if you forgive me.”
“Oh, Adam, I’ve missed you so much.” She leapt toward him and was snatched into his arms, cuddled, rocked, and crooned over like a lost child found.
“I felt like my soul sank to the bottom of Lake Tahoe when you sent me away. I needed to hold you, love you, convince myself you were safe, and your behavior confused the hell out of me.” He pressed kisses along the side of her neck.
“Thinking about you, knowing you wouldn’t stop searching till you found me, kept me going through that terrible night. And then you treated me as impersonally as a nurse, taking care of me like we were strangers. I thought you didn’t want me anymore, but were just being the good guy you’d be for anyone. Considerate, kind, but not involved. So, I hid how much I love you so you wouldn’t feel bad.”
“Lord, we need better communication. Talk about mixed messages. I’ve never hurt so badly in my life, not even recovering from the crash. Then I just had to heal my body, but healing my heart wasn’t going to happen.”
“Will a kiss make it better?” she asked through a misty smile.
“Maybe, a little. But I think it’s going to take a lot of kisses and hugs and hearing you say you love me,” he bargained, his smile devilish and teasing at once.
“I’ll try my hardest. I’ve never had to heal a broken heart before.” She pressed a fairy kiss against the slash of his cheekbone, another on the side of his nose. “Any better?”
“Infinitesimally.” He tapped his forefinger against his lips. “Try here. See if that makes a difference.”
Her mouth hovered above his for a heartbeat, two, as they both anticipated the erotic pleasure of the kiss. Their lips joined, their bodies pressed into one silhouette. “You taste so delicious,” he drew back a whisper width to say.
“I love the way you smell. I kept the shirt we used for the trackers under my pillow,” she confessed, before sinking back into the kiss.
His hand was at her breast, her fingers frantic at the waistband of his slacks, when a gong sounded in the front hall. “Half an hour till dinner,” he groaned. “We have to change. God, I want you. Let’s make love through dinner?”
She laughed, buoyant with love, confident and secure in his arms. “Your godmother might object to a floor show with her meal.” She pushed back out of his arms. “I can’t believe we got this carried away.” Stepping away, she refastened his belt. “What if someone had come in?’
“Not possible. Gita put her guards on the door, remember.”
“I’d forgotten, but it seems you were counting on them,” she laughed. “Naughty man.”
“One does what one must.” He cupped her breast, brushing her taut nipple one last time before letting go, his gaze lingering on the soft mound.
His eyes, luminous gray with tiny flecks of black in their depths, locked on hers. “Say you’ll marry me?”
Sky felt like she was jumping out of a plane without a parachute, but Gita’s words sang in her mind, “the greatest rewards come with the greatest acts of courage.” All sorts of questions hung out like clothes not taken off a line—where would they live, what about her flying, his career, Max and the business?
She leapt.
“You know how one of the Thunderbird F-16Cs has an inverted five on it?”
“Yes, because it flies upside down mirroring the other plane, so the five reads the right way from the ground.” Adam nodded, looking puzzled.
“I want to be your number five. You said everything would be easier together, and I believe you. Yes, Adam, I will marry you.”
“Together, we’ll find a way to meet all your needs.” He kissed her long and deep, like he was passing his soul into her, taking hers home.
“And yours, too, Adam. They’re just as important.” She flung back her head and laughed. He picked her up and twirled her in a circle, laughing with her.
“I’m so happy I could burst.” She showered kisses over his face.
“Thank God for Gita. I don’t think I could have borne being apart from you another second.”
The gong sounded again.
“Fifteen minutes to dress for the biggest announcement of our lives.” He grabbed her hand, and they raced out of the room, taking the stairs two at a time, like rough-housing children.
“I can’t wait to tell Pops.” She kissed him one more time, her hands falling to her side in slow motion.
“Dad’s going to be so happy for me.” He grasped her shoulders, ran his hands down her arms in a cascade of warmth and love, paused at her wrists as if checking her racing heartbeat, then interlocked their fingers. “Whatever challenges cloud our skies, we’ll fly through them together.”
She tightened her hands around his. “Together.”
A word about the author…
Madelon Smid is nature’s child and happiest when she’s kayaking a river or skiing down a mountain. Her characters share her love of adventure, risk, and living fully.
An avid reader, she discovered the romance novel at fourteen, then found writing them even more satisfying and sold her first romance in 1991.
She parted ways with her first love—romance, to build a successful career as a nonfiction writer, co-authoring the Canadian Best Sellers Smart Women and Smart Women Get Smarter. The desire to spin fantasy into gold for her readers drew her back.
She lives with her husband by a lake in Saskatchewan, where she writes about the strength and passion women and men demonstrate when they conquer the trials of life and love.
Enjoy her blogs on writing, kayaking, and chronic disease on www.madelonasmid.com
http://www.underdesign.ca
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