Page 92 of Plane Passion

The people and the traffic and the cheerful holiday bustle all disappeared, and there was no one in the world but the two of them.

She paused for a moment to take him in, those loving caramel-colored eyes, his ridiculous too-long blond hair peeking out from under a dark gray fedora, the glorious shape of him—his power and grace evident even beneath a long gray winter coat. God, she’d missed him.

Then, some invisible force propelled her forward. She ran into his arms, and he kissed her. Never mind that they were in full view of crowds of people. Who cared if they were seen? In this moment, all that mattered were his lips crashing into her own with desperate intent. This kiss reached into her very soul and set a fire she could not contain. She melted in his arms, not caring if the world ended around them as long as they could be together.

31

Was there anything in the world as intoxicating as the taste of Millie’s lips?

Ernie could hardly believe it was real, but here she was, kissing him with all the fury and fire she possessed. It was a sweet smolder like fine whiskey, smooth and potent, burning away his inhibitions. They were in public, some distant corner of his mind reminded him. They could be seen or photographed. And yet he couldn’t stop. He’d never been able to stop with her.

“Hey, get a room,” a surly voice interrupted.

They pulled apart, laughing and blushing. A burly, balding man in a trench coat gave them a disapproving side-eye before moving on.

Ernie offered his arm. “Let’s walk, shall we?”

She took his arm, and they hurried together into the quieter paths of the park.

“I missed you terribly,” Ernie said as strolled along a shadowy lane.

Flecks of snow began to fall, swirling in the beams of light from the streetlamps that lit their way.

“I missed you too,” Millie said, squeezing his arm.

Then why did you leave me? he couldn’t help thinking.

“I owe you an apology,” she said as if she could read his mind. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away. I can see that now. I only made a bad situation worse.”

He’d been aching to hear those words, but now that she’d said them, none of it mattered. His heart forgave in an instant, despite the pain she’d caused him.

“All that matters now is that we’re together, no matter what Mr. Burleson does to us next.”

She laughed.

“I still can’t believe you made Mr. Burleson give me back my job,” she said, looking up at him adoringly.

“And I can’t believe you put on a whole air show to make him give me back mine.”

She looked down, and her cheeks reddened. “It was the least I could do after being so cruel to you.”

He stopped and turned towards her.

“Millie,” he said, tilting up her chin with his finger. “You were afraid. That’s completely understandable. I don’t blame you for what you did.”

As he said the words, he realized they were true. He was heartbroken, but he couldn’t bring himself to hold it against her, especially not now.

“Really, I don’t.” He caressed her cheek. “All that matters is that we’re together again.”

He wanted to kiss her, but he was afraid if he started, he wouldn’t be able to stop. And tonight, he had special plans. It was a night for romance, not seduction.

Releasing her chin, he placed her hand on his arm again, and they continued their walk. The lights of the ice rink appeared in the distance.

They walked in contented silence as the noise and music of the rink grew louder. A small brass band was playing Christmas carols, and half the rink was singing along.

Ernie loved the way she hung on his arm as they waited in line to rent skates. Her mere presence seeped into him and warmed his heart. There was some invisible connection between them, cocooning them. He could feel every movement she made as if she was an extension of him.

They reached the front of the line and rented their skates—plain black and much abused. They smelled of odor-eating powder. Millie looked delighted.