Page 94 of Plane Passion

He had a giant wet patch on his knee, and he was certain he’d bruised it. But none of that mattered.

She said yes!

The famous Millie Aldrich was going to marry plain old Ernie Pritchard from Brooklyn.

He placed her hand on his arm, and together they skated around the rink, reveling in the congratulations from the crowd.

“Well, future Mrs. Pritchard, how do you feel?”

“Madly in love,” she said, batting her eyelashes at him. “And slightly terrified.”

Seeing the slight furrow in her brow, he led her over to the exit from the rink. “I’d like to buy you a hot chocolate, my love, and perhaps you can tell me what has you scared.”

If she had any lingering fears about him, he wanted to put them to rest as soon as possible.

Buying two hot chocolates from a vendor in a tiny kiosk, he led her to a vacant picnic table and sat down beside her.

“Now, what is it that has you worried?”

She took a sip of her hot chocolate and looked around at everything but him.

“I’ve been here before, you know. I said yes only to have my heart broken.”

Barney. Ernie wished he could punch the man in the face for what he’d done to her.

“Listen to me,” he said, taking her hand and catching her eye. “I would never, ever betray you. I am utterly yours for life.”

Something melted in her gaze. “I know. And that’s why I said yes. You aren’t Barney. You’re honest, and I trust you. Even when I disapproved of what you were doing, you were never dishonest with me. You never hid things from me. I know you won’t lie to me.”

“I swear, Millie, you can trust me with your heart. I won’t let you down.” He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, praying she would believe him.

“I know, and I do.” She leaned forward and touched her forehead to his. “I love you enough to let you in despite my hesitation. You have my heart for better or worse.”

Ernie smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. “In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death us to part?”

“Yes, all of that. I promise.”

He pressed a light kiss on her lips, his heart pounding so loudly he could hardly hear himself think.

“And so do I.”

She took hold of his collar and pulled him into a deep, soul-searching kiss. Opening himself, he let all the love he felt for her spill out and let her fierce love flow into him. It was more than a kiss, it was a joining, a melding together. When she finally released him, he felt transformed into something new, something better.

“We need to find a hotel room,” she said, panting as she released him.

He was about to argue when he noticed exactly how tight his pants had gotten.

“I swear I didn’t set out to get you into bed tonight. I wanted to⁠—”

“Ernest Pritchard, we are getting a room, or so help me God, I’ll⁠—”

“You’ll what?” He grinned wickedly.

She rolled her eyes. “Cad.”

“You obviously like cads.”

He rose to his feet, grateful that his coat hid the evidence of his intense arousal.