Page 13 of Soaring Sweethearts

“I know Jack is very close to your family,” he continued. “Practically an honorary member. And I want to make a point of getting to know the people you care about.”

Was Doug finally getting ready to take the next step with her? First he was talking about buying a house to raise a family, and now he wanted to get to know the people close to her. All of this seemed quite promising.

“That’s very sweet of you.” She tightened her hold on his arm and gave him a lingering look. He leaned in as if he was going to kiss her, then patted her hand instead, looking suddenly flustered.

Disappointing.

“I like you a lot, Constance.”

Like? That was all? She would have to try harder.

“I like you too,” she said, not sure how else to respond.

They arrived at the restaurant. Thank God. The waiter led them through tightly packed tables with red-checked tablecloths. Candles burned in glass holders on every table, and the soft light flickered on the shining tin ceiling. A wooden radio shaped like a peacock sat on a table at the corner, playing an Al Jolson ballad.

Doug pulled out her chair and helped her be seated before sitting down himself. Always the perfect gentleman. The table was so small their knees brushed, sending a little shiver up her spine.

This was the time to plant some seeds to see if she could nudge him into admitting something more than liking.

“You’re right that Jack is a very good friend. Do you know he invited me to go flying with him next Saturday? I’ve only been up once with my brother, and it was very quick. We didn’t do much more than circle the runway. Jack wants to show me the Long Island Coast from the air.”

Doug froze. “He does?”

She nodded, trying to decipher the look on his face. Was this working?

“You’re not going to go, are you?”

“Well, I hadn’t decided,” she said coyly.

“Don’t you know how dangerous those things are? I don’t like the thought of you so high off the ground in one of those death traps. I’m shocked he’d propose anything so risky.”

Not exactly the response she’d been hoping for.

“I’m sure he wouldn’t do anything unsafe. He’s a very good pilot.”

“I’m sure he is, but that’s beside the point. He has no right to—” He stopped midsentence, pursing his lips.

“Yes?” she prompted.

“Well, you and I⁠—”

“Yes?”

Maybe it was working? He seemed on the verge of some declaration.

“I…well, I… It just doesn’t seem safe.”

A discouraging finish. So much for hurrying him along. If anything, she seemed to have alarmed him.

The next table over, a couple was completely ignoring their dinner, lost in each other’s eyes. What would it take to be more like them? Not that Constance needed passionate romance. She had pragmatic reasons for wanting to get married. But she hoped her marriage would be based on something stronger than mere liking. If there was even going to be a marriage. Despite the promising signs, she wasn’t sure Doug would ever summon the courage to ask. He couldn’t even bring himself to stake a claim in the face of an obvious incursion by a rival.

A pretend rival.

An unwilling rival.

Jack was as skittish as Doug. The way he reacted when she asked him for help was so mortifying. What was wrong with her that made everyone want to keep their distance? She’d always thought of herself as personable and at least modestly attractive. Obviously, Jack wasn’t actually interested in her, but that was beside the point. Why was she so off-putting that even pretending interest made him balk?

A waiter arrived and took their orders.