Page 28 of Plane Passion

“Good. I think I have everything I need for tomorrow’s flight. Shall we pack up and head out?”

They had reviewed every detail of the route several times over. This was as good a time as any. “Sure thing. Let’s go.”

As they put away the maps and headed out to their cars, Ernie did his best to convince himself that this was the right course of action. He was doing this because he had to, not because he wanted to. The part of him that did a little dance when she said yes had to be ignored at all costs. Because going out for drinks with Millie was a dangerous game, one that he couldn’t afford to lose.

10

Millie followed Ernie down the stairs to the speakeasy, ignoring the warning bells going off in her head. This was a terrible idea, and she should never have agreed to it. But it was too late now.

After a few words from Ernie through a black door cracked slightly open, a muscle-bound bouncer in a black suit opened the door, and they entered. Dim, electric sconces along the dark walls provided the bare minimum of light to the crowded speakeasy. Tea lights on the tables bathed everyone in a golden light as a jazz combo played popular tunes on the stage up front.

Ernie led her to a seat at the long, polished-wood bar. He’d shed his jacket, and his shirtsleeves were rolled up, revealing those powerful forearms that she itched to touch.

Good Lord, he was an attractive man. Something inside her did a little flipflop as she took in his movie star silhouette and that unruly blond mop. He leaned against the bar, watching her take her seat, his eyes full of a strange intensity as she settled in.

Focus, Mildred.

His lazy grin was not helping one bit. “Well then, Aldrich, what can I get you?”

“I’ll have a martini, please.”

Yes. Drink. Now.

She was suddenly very warm and couldn’t wait for the cool beverage to slide down her throat.

Ernie flagged down the bartender. “My date will have a martini, and I’ll have a whiskey, neat.”

She elbowed him in the side. Hard. “This isn’t a date, Pritchard.”

“Don’t worry. I was just trying to get a rise out of you.” A twinkle in his eye said otherwise.

“I mean it. You promised no funny business.” Never mind that her body might welcome a bit of funny business. Her brain knew better than to give in.

“All right. All right. I’ll behave.” He winked, and she wanted to smack him. Or climb on top of him. Maybe both.

She needed to steer the conversation to something safer. “Speaking of dates, why exactly didn’t you want to settle down with Vera? I liked her.” She’d been dying to ask but hadn’t dared. But having him call her his date sent her over the edge.

He raised his eyebrows and shook his head. “Has anyone ever told you that you are relentless?”

“Everyone, since I was a child,” she said, giving him a level look.

“What a shock.”

Their drinks arrived, and they raised their glasses in silent cheers.

“Vera was cute and sweet. I liked her a lot, but I’m not ready to marry. It’s not her. It’s me. I can’t afford to settle down yet,” he said, then took a sip of his whiskey.

“What do you mean you can’t afford to settle down yet?” She wasn’t about to accept his excuses for his bad behavior.

“My pop had a factory accident eight years ago that chewed up his right arm. He became a preacher, but we could barely get by on what he made. So I had to pick up the slack. The whole family relies on me. I’ve been supporting them all since I was seventeen.”

“Oh.” She wasn’t sure what to say. That was a lot of weight for him to carry on his shoulders. Sympathy seeped into her, diffusing her righteous anger.

He took a long sip of his drink and continued with a frown. “I can’t afford to marry until my sisters are grown and out of the house. In the meantime, all I can do is date women who don’t want more than I can give them. And I don’t see how that’s any of your business. I’m sure God will judge me when the time comes, but the state of my soul is hardly your concern.”

Millie was speechless. He was so close to her that she could feel the heat radiating from him, and his impassioned defense only made him look all the more handsome, which was not helping at all. Was this all another excuse for his bad behavior, or was it true? She didn’t like being wrong, but he seemed so earnest.

“I’m not as concerned with the state of your soul,” she said at last, “as with the young ladies you’ve been dating. Vera got hurt, and I don’t like it.” If she was protesting too much, it was only because she cared about Vera. It had nothing to do with her inconvenient attraction to Ernie. Nothing at all.