Page 88 of Plane Passion

“I want to see you too, Millie.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes, tonight. Meet me on the northwest corner of Sixtieth and Fifth Avenue at six o’clock. We’re going ice skating in Central Park.”

Millie giggled. Since when did she giggle?

“I’ll be there.” She twirled the phone cord around her finger, peeking out the window at the fresh snow on the ground. A Salvation Army Santa stood ringing his bell across the street next to a roasted chestnut vendor.

’Tis the season to be merry.

“Have you heard from Mr. Burleson yet?” she asked.

“I did. He gave me my job back. I hear I have you to thank.”

“It wasn’t right for you to lose your job over something so silly.”

She’d put on the show of a lifetime. Thank God it had worked!

“You either. Has Mr. Burleson called you yet?”

“No, why?”

“I won’t spoil the surprise.”

“Ernie!”

“You’ll just have to wait and see.”

What was he up to? Why would Mr. Burleson call her? Their deal was over. He’d given Ernie his job back and agreed to let women apply for airmail pilot jobs—not her, of course, but other women.

“Listen, Millie, I have to go. I’m expected at work, and I need to tell my boss I’m quitting and going back to the airmail. But I’ll see you this evening, all right?”

She bit her lip as a thrill ran through her at the thought.

“Yes, I’ll see you then.”

“I love you.”

Where did all the air in the room go?

“I love you too,” she whispered.

“I’ll see you tonight.”

“Tonight.”

The phone clicked.

For several minutes, all she could do was sit there with a ridiculous grin on her face. He really did have a special talent for turning her insides to goo.

She had a little over nine hours to kill before she saw him—a veritable eternity. Maybe Beth would have some idea how to distract her.

Her friend was sleeping in after a late night out on the town. It might be a while before she woke up.

What to wear? She opened her tall, burled walnut wardrobe with the soaring arch at the top. A rainbow of options appeared. And yet somehow, not one of them seemed quite right.

She had party dresses galore, but that wouldn’t work for ice skating. Her practical winter wear was in dull hues—brown, navy, dark green. Actually, the dark green wool with the pleated skirt could work quite nicely. Perhaps with her white cashmere sweater and a thin belt around the hips. Her white wool coat with the white fur collar would go quite well over that with a dark green cloche hat to match her dress.