Page 22 of Plane Passion

Vera planted an unwelcome kiss on his cheek. Normally, he enjoyed her easy affection, but suddenly, he felt the need to put some distance between them, especially given the judgmental look Millie was currently directing their way.

Vera was oblivious. “Ernie didn’t want to come today, but I dragged him here. I think you managed to impress him, Miss Aldrich, and that’s not easy to do.”

“You flew very well today,” he admitted, grudgingly.

Millie laughed. “High praise.”

She finished signing the photo and handed it back to Vera.

“Can I speak to you a moment in private?” Millie asked him, looking suddenly serious. “It’s about work,” she told Vera.

“Of course,” he answered. “I’ll be just a moment,” he assured Vera.

They took a few steps away, just far enough to whisper without being heard.

“Does she know you don’t have serious intentions? Because she’s obviously got matrimony in mind,” Millie hissed in his ear.

“I told her from the start that I’m not ready to commit, and she said the same. I’m not deceiving her about anything.” Not that it was a good enough defense, but he’d always been forthright.

Millie was too close. He could smell her spicy citrus scent. He could feel a magnetic tug that he didn’t like one bit from her proximity.

“You can’t do this,” Millie said.

“Do what?” As if he didn’t know.

“String her along. I like Vera too much to let her fall prey to a cad like you.”

“This is absolutely none of your business, Miss Aldrich, and I don’t appreciate you involving yourself.”

She leaned in closer. How was a man supposed to keep his composure with such a woman inches from his nose?

“I don’t care how you feel about it. I’m determined to see you do the right thing. I don’t want to see her get hurt like I was.”

He’d had about enough of this conversation. There had to be some way to distract her. “Your public is getting restless.” It was true. The people in line were starting to give them looks.

“This conversation isn’t over.”

“It is as far as I’m concerned.” Enough was enough.

She let out a long breath between her clenched teeth and glanced at the line again. “Fine. I’ll let it go for now. I’ll have to wait until our study session tomorrow to give you a piece of my mind.”

Crap. He’d completely forgotten. “About that. Can we reschedule? I have dinner plans with Vera.”

“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to make your excuses and cancel them. There are bigger things at stake here than your dinner date.”

What was she talking about? The only thing at stake was his love life. “You’re ruining a perfectly pleasant evening for me, you know. I won’t forget it.”

“Good. I don’t want you to forget it.”

“I’m finished with this conversation,” he growled, then turned to rejoin Vera.

“What was all that about?” Vera asked, as he returned to her and hurried her back to his Model T.

“She reminded me that I scheduled time with her tomorrow to go over the routes. I’d forgotten. I can’t go to dinner with you tomorrow. I’m sorry. I was really looking forward to it.”

“Poor Ernie.” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “I’ll have to make it up to you next time I see you.”

Guilt churned in Ernie’s belly. “Vera, you know I like you, right?”