Page 56 of Plane Passion

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Ernie’s note was burning a hole in Millie’s pocket as she set out for her second trip to Chicago. She didn’t know whether to be upset or relieved that she would no longer see Ernie at work. But would she see him outside of work? That was entirely up to her, it seemed. She’d avoided giving Ernie her contact information, but now that she had his, would she use it?

Through the entire flight to Bellefonte, she thought of little else. As she checked into the Brockerhoff, heated memories assailed her. Everything reminded her of Ernie, his knowing touch, the sinful feel of his body against hers.

When she’d bumped into Thompson at Heller earlier, he said Ernie was in hot water with Mr. Dickson for standing up for her. Did Ernie really do that? Did he risk his career to argue for her to stay? She never would have thought it possible when they first met, but Ernie surprised her, and not for the first time. It seemed he placed a lot of faith in her. Was she going to repay it by leaving him hanging?

On the other hand, continuing to see him would be madness. A clean break was for the best. No one ever needed to find out what had happened between them. Maybe Beth. She couldn’t lie to her best friend for long. Beth would never tell a soul. But no one else, especially no one at work.

At dinner, she saw Turk Bird sitting alone and decided to go over to speak to him. She’d only met him a couple of times, but he seemed nice enough. He had a friendly, welcoming face and cropped brown hair that was still plastered to his head from wearing an aviator cap all day.

“Turk, it’s good to see you. Where are you flying in from?”

“Cleveland. Join me. It would be nice to have some company.”

He gestured toward the chair across from him.

“With pleasure,” she said, sitting down.

“How were conditions yesterday? I’m flying to Cleveland tomorrow.” With luck, this would be her last practice flight before she made a record attempt on the flight back. She’d already made arrangements to have access to a plane with the necessary fuel capacity.

“About as good as one can expect this time of year. It was sunny and clear, though still cold enough to freeze your…” He cleared his throat. “Freeze your fingers off.”

Funny how they all suddenly felt the need for propriety when she was around. “Just your fingers, Turk?”

He chuckled. “Unlike some of my colleagues, I haven’t lost all my manners. I’m not going to go mentioning unmentionables in front of a lady.”

“I’m not a lady. I’m a pilot.”

He shook his head. “You’re a lady pilot. An aviatrix, as they like to call you in the papers.”

The waiter arrived and took their orders. When he was gone, she asked, “You’ve read about me in the papers?”

“Sure, I have. Hasn’t everyone? My wife can’t read enough about you. She keeps begging me to ask you home for dinner. We’d love to have you, by the way, if you’re ever in the mood. I warn you, though, that she’ll hardly let you eat with all her questions.”

Sometimes she hated being a celebrity. It would have been nice to have dinner with the Gardners, but she didn’t want to be given the third degree all through it. Still, it was only polite to give an answer.

“If our flying schedules allow…”

“Ah. That might be the tricky bit. I think I’m on the opposite schedule of you. We only overlap in the middle, here in Bellefonte.”

Saved by Mr. Dickson. Thank heavens for small miracles.

“Oh, well. If anything changes, we can give it a try.”

Their food arrived, and for several minutes, they ate in companionable silence.

“You know, Pritchard has nothing but good things to say about your flying,” Turk said, breaking the silence.

“Oh?” She couldn’t help but be curious about what Pritchard told his colleagues about her.

“He couldn’t stop gushing about how you landed safely in Cleveland on your first trip without a guide. Did you know I did the pathfinding mission to establish the route? Flying Hell’s Stretch without a guide is no joke.”

“So I’ve learned,” she said, trying not to dread tomorrow’s flight. And the flight home when she’d have to fly over Hell’s Stretch without a break.

“And I heard the weather was against you too. No visibility.”

“That’s the truth. I ended up flying above the clouds, following my compass without being able to see anything below.” It was, frankly, terrifying. And here she was about to attempt Hell’s Stretch again, this time solo.