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“No arguments. Look how swollen and red they are. I wish you would have said something sooner.”
“I was fine, until I wasn’t.” The look on his face tells me he doesn’t quite believe me. “No, really. They were fine . . . until we stopped dancing.”
We pull up in front of Chase’s private plane. I try to open my door, but Chase growls, “Don’t move.”
Coming around from the other side of the car, he opens my door and scoops me up. It’s a good thing I’m holding on to my shoes, or they would have been forgotten. “This really isn’t necessary,” I object. The look on his face tells me he’s not to be trifled with.
“You are not walking, end of discussion.”
“Fine.” Our driver rushes out ahead of us with our bags and Chase follows behind him, carrying me up the stairs and onto the awaiting plane. Refusing to let me down even then, he waits until the hatches have all been closed. “I feel like some damsel in distress. It’s disturbing. Will you put me down now?”
“Maybe.”
“Put. Me. Down.”
“You are one stubborn woman,” he sighs, putting me down.
“Thank you.”
“Your welcome.”
“It’s late, I’m going to freshen up before we take off.”
“Olivia, wait.”
“What?” I’m still annoyed, even though I’m not sure I should be.
“Nothing.”
“Okay.” Once inside the bathroom, I quickly go through my nightly routine and change into something slightly more flight appropriate.
Walking into the main part of the cabin, I find him sitting on the couch staring out the small window. He’s still in his tux, only the bowtie is untied and disheveled, and the two top buttons are undone.
“I’m sorry,” I mutter. He doesn’t answer me, just keeps staring out the window. I sit down next to him, buckle myself in, and lean my head on his shoulder. “You okay?”
“No,” he mumbles.
“What’s wrong?”
Sighing, he turns to look at me. “I don’t want to go to Italy without you. I keep getting this strange feeling that something bad is going to happen. Please, come with me.” His deep blue eyes search mine for the answer he wants, but we’ve been through this.
“I told you, I can’t,” I say, gently caressing his cheek. “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’m a big girl.”
“I just can’t shake this feeling. I really want to cancel.”
“No, you’re not. I will not be responsible for effecting your work.” Placing a soft kiss on his lips, I add, “And, the sooner you go, the sooner you’ll be back.”
“Promise me you’ll stay safe, go right from work straight home?”
“Yes, of course. Other than stopping by my mother’s, I’m going to become a hermit in my apartment. Does that make you feel better?”
“Not really, but it’s a start.” He pulls me into a tight embrace and kisses the top of my head. “I love you more than you know, and would be totally lost without you. Please, be careful.”
“I promise, I will.”
We spend the last few days before Chase leaves holed up in his apartment. He cooks anything I ask and watches all of my favorite movies. It’s moments like these when I’m reminded how special he truly is, and how lucky I am.
He’s dotes on me hand and foot. And when we aren’t eating or watching television, we make love for hours. Now, the day is finally here. Chase is leaving for Italy in less than two hours and he’s finally finished packing.
