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He cocked an eyebrow. “Is wow a good thing?”
She sucked in a huge breath and blew it out slowly before she answered. She seemed to come back to her senses, and the huge smile that spread across her face answered him before her words could. “It’s so much more than a good thing, Jacob. It’s an amazing thing. Wow is such a small word for this. That you … you cared enough to even give a thought to me having to drive back would have been a wonderful thing. But that you cared enough to want to come and get me – and to actually come? And to put your friend out to help with Fred and …” she shook her head. “This is, without question, the nicest thing that anyone’s ever done for me. Thank you.”
His heart clenched in his chest when he saw the tears that shimmered in her eyes as she smiled.
“Hey.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”
“Oh!” She swiped at her eyes with her thumbs. “I’m not crying. I’m just … thank you so much.”
He leaned in and pressed a peck to her lips. “You’re welcome.” He had to clear his throat; her reaction had him a little choked up, too. He’d been concerned about how she’d feel about the plane. A lot of women loved the idea of getting to fly around in a private jet. With most of the women he’d dated, he’d known that it was part of his appeal. With Becca, he’d been concerned that it might put her off, that it’d highlight the differences between them. But she hadn’t even focused on the fact that he’d come in a jet. Her sole focus had been on the fact that he cared enough to come for her. He brushed his thumb over her cheek.
“It’s selfish of me, too. I’ve been looking forward to you getting back. I know we set up our coffee date for tomorrow, but …” He lifted a shoulder and smiled.
“You’re amazing.” He shifted in his seat when she leaned in and pressed a kiss to his lips. “I couldn’t wait to see you, either. And now, I don’t have to.”
He pecked her lips again, wanting nothing more than to close his arms around her and draw her to him, to finally kiss her the way he’d wanted to for weeks now. But he held back. He knew she wouldn’t be comfortable with it, not yet – not while she was so aware of the driver, who she’d kept glancing at the whole time.
The moment to kiss her would come, and it couldn’t come soon enough. But he’d waited this long, he could wait a little while longer.
Chapter Seven
Becca was still trying to take it all in when they arrived at what looked like a smaller airport, and the driver let them out of the car. She thanked the driver when he gave Jacob her case from the trunk. He nodded at her and gave Jacob a smile that she didn’t understand.
She kept looking back over her shoulder at him as Jacob led her to the building.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Sorry. I just … whowashe?”
Jacob laughed, but it didn’t make her feel stupid. It felt like he was happy that she asked – though why, she couldn’t imagine.
“He works here. They have cars and drivers. Since people who fly in need transport.”
She pursed her lips. “People who fly in on the airlines need transport, too. But they have to go to the rental desk and rent cars.”
He smiled through pursed lips and held the door open for her when they reached it. “Things are a bit different here.”
He wasn’t kidding! She tried to look nonchalant as she took in the big leather sofas next to the wall of windows that looked out onto the runway, the big fancy desk where two women who looked like flight attendants were sitting, and the handful of people – mostly people in business suits – who were sitting or standing around. It all felt very … upscale. It was quiet and refined, and … peaceful. A very stark difference from all the people milling around and the long lines in the main terminal building.
She was glad she’d worn her nice jacket to travel back in. It was only because it didn’t fit in her carry-on, but still. She stood up a little straighter when Jacob took her hand again.
“We’re over there.”
She smiled at the girls at the desk as they passed them, but they didn’t smile back. Oh well.
Jacob stopped when they reached two men dressed in pilots’ uniforms. The older one stepped forward and took Becca’s case from him with a smile.
“Thanks, Trick. We’re ready to go whenever you are. Sorry I didn’t text you. It didn’t take as long as I expected.”
Trick – what kind of name was that? – smiled at Jacob and then at her. “No problem. I just need to file our flight plan and we can be in the air.” He had a nice voice; there was a trace of an accent, Irish maybe? Becca liked him immediately and smiled back at him.
He handed the case to the other man. “Do you want to take this out?”
As the younger man took her case, he also smiled at them, but he gave Becca the creeps.
Jacob looked at her as if he could sense that she was uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, I should introduce you. Becca, this is Trick – short for Patrick. He’s Jacobs Estate’s Chief Pilot, and he’s been with us for years.” He turned to the other man. “And this is Jamie. Jamie’s been helping us out while Trick’s partner, Elliott, takes some time off. Guys, I’d like you to meet Becca Taylor.”
Trick gave her a warm smile as he shook hands with her. “It’s a pleasure, Miss Taylor.”
