Page 172 of Tangled with the Tight End

He laughs. “Well, now you make me feel like I shot too low.”

“No.” I shake my head. “I would have actually fainted if you were taking me to St. Thomas.” Then I add, “You do know I’ve only flown once before.”

“I do know that. And you’re not afraid of flying. Cass told me.”

“Cass.” I picture my sister, trying her darndest to keep Declan’s secret plans from me.

“... was very helpful,” Declan says. “I owe her, big time. She threw herself into helping me plan all the details.”

The driver opens Declan’s door and hands him his crutches. Then he opens my door and I tug the coat around me to fend off the chill night air. A medium-sized airplane sits just a short walk away, with the stairs out.

“We’re flying in a private jet,” Declan says, as if it’s no big deal. “It’s a Dassault Falcon 6X.”

“Oh, good,” I say. “I never fly the five-X. Always the six.”

Declan laughs.

“Do you own this too?” I ask.

He smiles an amused smile. “No. I don’t own it. I just charter it.”

Declan makes light work of the stairs in his boot. At the top, a woman in a navy pantsuit greets me. “Good evening, Miss Carter. Welcome aboard.”

I grin at her and look at her name tag. “Thank you, Martina.”

I try not to show my complete awe once we’re inside. You can see straight through from the front of the plane to the back. It’s so posh—like Declan’s mom did the decorating.

Martina gives me a quick tour of the club seating area, the dining area and the rear lounge.

“These couches can convert into beds for longer or later flights,” she says. “We’ll only be in the air twenty minutes to Nashville tonight.”

“Nashville!” I say, glancing up to the front of the plane where Declan is settling into one of the club chairs.

His eyes meet mine and he smiles at me.

I return his smile and walk toward him, his eyes on me the whole way. I’m not even sure what to do once I reach him.

“The secret’s out,” Declan says, looking up at me. “But I’ve still got some surprises.”

“You’re incredible,” I say, softly.

No one knows. They might know bits and pieces. But I see the whole man. He lets me see so much more. It feels like the greatest gift I’ve ever been given.

I take my seat next to him and he reaches out and grabs my hand, smiling at me and leaning in to whisper, “You look amazing. And doing this—for you? It’s the most fun I’ve had in as long as I can remember.”

He settles back into his chair.

I squeeze his hand and stretch over to place a kiss on his cheek. “This is a dream. I don’t know how you plan to ever top this.”

When I pull back, Declan has a red mark on his face from my lipstick. I rub it off with my thumb and then I buckle into my chair.

The captain introduces himself, and Martina asks us if we want any refreshments before she retreats to her seat for takeoff.

I’m next to the window. I watch the scenery as we speed up, lift off the ground, and soar over wide open land and the small town of Waterford with its lights on in shops and homes. I think of all my friends and family down below me. I try to make out the locations of all my Winona for Hire jobs. The further away we fly, everything seems to meld into one encapsulated piece—my hometown, my people, my life. It’s all down there. And yet, tonight I’m up here, next to Declan, flying into Nashville. This is my life too, as unbelievable as it is.

Declan gives my hand a soft squeeze. “What do you think?”

“I’m speechless.”