Page 47 of Plane Passion

17

Dinner was torture. Ernie had never felt so awkward in his life. Jack meant well. Maybe. Or maybe he just wanted to watch Ernie squirm. Jack was playing the consummate matchmaker, getting them to talk about their families and swap flying stories. Unfortunately, the more Ernie learned about Millie, the more he wanted the impossible.

One night. She’d been very clear. And she thought that one night was a mistake. She had regrets.

He had none. Worries, yes. Regrets, no. It would be a disaster if anyone ever found out, but he couldn’t bring himself to feel bad about the best night of his life. It felt so good, so right to be with her. How he was going to survive another night without touching her, he had no idea.

But he’d promised to respect her wishes. He would have to content himself with memories and dreams.

Millie retired as soon as dinner was over. Ernie stayed up late into the night playing chess with Jack and losing over and over. He couldn’t concentrate, knowing what awaited him upstairs, but he wanted to delay the torture of sleeping next to her without touching her for as long as he could manage.

“You seem distracted tonight,” Jack said as he took Ernie’s queen. “You’re usually not this bad.”

“I do? I think I’m just tired after all that digging.”

“Maybe you should get some rest, then. Gotta fly tomorrow.”

Ernie groaned. “Yes, we do. Hell’s Stretch.”

“You’ve got to fly Hell’s Stretch. I only have to get back to Newark.”

“Lucky bastard.”

Jack laughed. “You love the challenge, and you know it.”

“I do. It’s trying to get Millie safely to Cleveland that has me worried.”

Jack took his rook. “Check. She’s an excellent pilot. You said so yourself. She’ll be fine.”

Moving his bishop to protect his king, Ernie said, “You’re right, but I can’t help worrying.”

If anything happened to her, I don’t know what I’d do.

“Checkmate. Go to bed. You’re too lousy to keep playing.” Jack started gathering the pieces into a cloth bag.

“Fine. I’ll go to bed.”

Where I will not sleep a wink.

Ernie trudged his way up to the room and knocked lightly before turning the key. No response. Was she asleep already?

Tiptoeing in, he found her sound asleep with the lamp still on, a book still clasped in her fingers. And no wonder. It had been an exhausting day after an exhausting night.

Maybe he would manage to sleep after all. Stripping down to his boxers and turning out the light, he climbed into bed. Sleep took him more quickly than he thought possible, and he descended into dreams of Millie.

He had no idea what time it was when he jerked awake as another body stretched against him, warm and inviting. And naked.

“Millie?”

“Shh.”

“I thought this was a terrible mistake you regretted,” he whispered, as she hooked her leg over his hip and her hands roamed over his back. His own body responded despite his best intentions.

“I don’t want to talk. Just do.” She reached her hand down into his boxers to stroke him. It was suddenly very hard to form words.

“Millie,” he pleaded. “God knows I want you, but I don’t want to add to your regrets.”

She stretched against him and placed one of his hands on her breast. “This won’t add to my regrets. Last night was a mistake, but I don’t see how tonight makes it any worse. The damage was already done. We might as well enjoy ourselves.”