Page 101 of Plane Passion

“Likewise, though I knew I had to keep it in check. You were so fierce and determined. How could I help but be bowled over? It was very inconvenient being attracted to the woman I was supposed to make quit.”

She laughed. “I’m sure it was.”

Spinning her around, he watched her veil sweep around her and her skirt flare. What a lucky man he was!

“Can I ask you something, Mr. Pritchard?” she murmured in his ear, smiling.

“Anything, Mrs. Pritchard.”

“That night in Philadelphia when I was out with the girls…”

“Yes?”

“What did you think when you overheard me saying you were handsome? How badly did I embarrass myself?”

“Not at all. It’s nothing I haven’t heard before, though I was rather flattered to hear it from a famous aviatrix.” He brushed his lips against her ear and enjoyed her shiver.

She playfully smacked his shoulder. “I knew it would give you a big head.”

He laughed. “True. And I had a rather big head already.”

“Still do,” she said as he sent her into another spin. “I’ll have to make sure to keep you humble,” she said, returning to him.

“You do it so well,” he said with a smile.

“I do, at least until you distract me with those dimples and those caramel-colored eyes of yours.”

“Are you distracted now?”

“Very.”

Someone tapped Ernie on the shoulder, and Ernie turned to see Millie’s father, whom he’d only met the week before when they’d arrived by train from Florida.

“Might I have this dance with my daughter?” Mr. Aldrich asked. Ernie had hardly noticed the song had ended and a new one had started up. He handed off his bride, reluctantly, to his father-in-law then went to find his mother.

“Are you happy dear?” Mom asked as he spun her around the dance floor in a waltz.

“Couldn’t be happier.” And it was true. He couldn’t remember a time when his heart had been this full.

“Good, sweetheart. I’m so glad.”

Ernie lost himself in the music and dancing, enjoying the good company of all his friends and family. Every so often, he looked longingly over at his bride, who had now danced with a procession of his fellow pilots.

“You’ll be true and take good care of her, won’t you?” asked Katherine Stinson, steel behind her elfin eyes as they danced the two-step.

“Of course, I will. And I know if I didn’t, I’d have you to answer to. That is if Beth didn’t do me in first. Not to mention Millie herself. You’re all a bit intimidating, you know that?”

“I’m glad you think so,” she said with a smile. “You should know what you’ve gotten yourself into. Millie’s going to beat your Chicago record, you know.”

“Oh, I know,” he said, maneuvering Katherine around a group of other dancers. “I can’t wait to see her do it.”

“Good,” Katherine said, all sweetness again.

At long last, he made it through all the female friends and relatives that wanted to dance with him, including one very adorable flower girl he carried around the floor for a waltz. Millie joined him for another foxtrot.

“Thank God,” he said, holding her close. “I missed you.”

Millie giggled. “I missed you too. You should have heard some of the stories your friends told me about you.”