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“He’s talking to her. I wish I could hear what he’s saying,” Ellie continued, her voice low, full of just as much emotion as Rochelle’s father’s.
Ty could almost feel the excitement bubbling through her.
“They’re bonding.”
Ellie glanced at him, smiled beatifically. “Isn’t it wonderful?”
Her smile was wonderful.
Her touch on his shoulder.
The light in her eyes.
He’d missed her.
Something in Ty’s chest shifted, blossomed, and he realized that if she’d said no to going to Texas, he’d have talked her into it.
He wanted her with him, wanted to show her his family home, introduce her to his family and, more than anything, he wanted her at his side during the weekend. He’d have begged her to go if that was what it would have taken.
That thought worried him almost as much as the thought of seeing his father again did.
On a plane.
With Tyler Donaldson.
On the way to his family’s ranch in Swallow Creek, Texas.
Not feeling a hundred percent as she was fighting a nervous stomach.
How were they going to get through the next few days?
Those were the thoughts running through Eleanor’s mind while she pretended to be asleep in the first-class airline seat next to Tyler’s.
Pretending to be asleep was easier than trying to make polite conversation as they’d done when their paths had crossed since the day Rochelle’s father had come to the NICU. They’d shared a moment of truce when Rochelle’s father had been present, but otherwise the awkwardness lingered and made her stomach churn even now.
Then again, everything seemed to make her feel nauseated these days. As a child she’d often had stomach issues when she’d got really nervous or upset, but she’d thought she’d outgrown that during her late teens. Recently, that old habit had returned. As if having to deal with her memories wasn’t enough torture.
She snuck a quick peek at the man she couldn’t keep from her mind.
And caught him staring at her.
“Good nap?”
“Um, yes. Thanks for asking.” Heat infused her face at the way he watched her. As if he knew exactly what she’d been doing.
He couldn’t possibly know she’d been faking sleep, could he?
Probably. Somehow Ty seemed to know everything.
The plane hit a bit of turbulence and her stomach lurched. Her face must have paled, because Ty’s expression instantly grew concerned. His hand covered hers where she clutched at the armrest.
“You okay?”
For answer, she unbuckled her seat restraint and hurried to the lavatory, grateful that no one was there or she’d have had to make do with the little bag provided on the back of the seat in front of hers.
Once inside the small lavatory, she prayed the other passengers couldn’t hear her spilling the meager breakfast she’d forced down.
She prayed Ty couldn’t hear.
