There was no pretending Roger didn’t know what they were about to do.
The question Angelina mulled over was did she care? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t had sex since being with Whitney’s father. She’d been with two other men, but sex hadn’t added depth to either relationship. If anything, it had weakened them.
Not because they judged me for sleeping with them, but because I did. She turned and met Connor’s gaze. Is he right? Should we wait?
She glanced at Roger. His expression was politely blank.
A helicopter full of white rose petals.
Connor wants to whisk me away into the sky and just said he can imagine forever with me.
It’s almost—magical.
“Don’t let me mess this up,” she said to herself.
His expression turned tender. He couldn’t have heard her, but he said, “If it’s too much, we can catch a movie instead. No pressure. No worries. Your choice. Roger can fill the helicopter with roses every day until you’re ready. Or not. What do you want, Angelina?”
He was the first man to ask her that question and really want the answer.
Angelina leaned forward, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him. His arms came around her, but he merely held her to him, their breathing finding a common rhythm. It was a moment of gratitude, of friendship, and that was when she first imagined what happily ever after could be like.
She wanted a man who could love her son, a man she could be herself with, someone strong enough to lean on, but kind enough to never use that strength against her.
Connor was that kind of man.
She hugged him tighter. “I want to do this.”
His playful smile reassured her that she hadn’t ruined the mood. “Then get the hell in.”
She laughed and released him, stepping inside the cabin and sliding all the way down to one end of the couch. He joined her and secured both of their seat belts.
As soon as the door closed, the noise of the rotors fell away—replaced by a soft jazz melody. The cabin tipped as the helicopter took off and Angelina grabbed Connor’s hand.
Connor dipped his head down to near hers. “I thought you said you weren’t afraid of flying.”
She tipped her chin higher and tried not to look out the window. “I’m not afraid, it’s just my first time.”
“Helicopter virgin,” he joked. “If it makes you feel better, I’m still figuring out the logistics of how this could best work.”
“Really? And what have you come up with?”
Desire flashed in his eyes. “Come here.” He gave one of his thighs a pat.
It wasn’t a command.
It was an invitation and one she was willing to accept. She released her seat belt and hiked up her skirt so she could straddle his lap on her knees which brought her nearly face-to-face with him. “Yes?” she asked playfully.
He ran his hands up the back of her thighs, beneath the back of her skirt. “I asked Roger. No one can see inside the windows.”
“That’s a relief,” she said with a chuckle as she balanced herself by holding on to his shoulders.
His strong hands slid higher and his smile widened as they were not impeded by more than a thin strip of lace. “Angelina Kroll, were you thinking of me when you dressed this morning?”
It was impossible not to smile back and there was no reason to lie. “I was. I don’t want to brag, but the bra matches.”
“Nice.” He ran his hands down then up her legs again, a warm, easy, erotic caress. “I didn’t think you’d see mine, but I chose one with a message that is fitting anyway.”
Her hands explored his upper body as they spoke. His thick, muscled neck. Those amazing arms of his. She brought her hands between them and ran them over his well-defined chest. “What does it say?” She leaned forward, kissed his neck, and breathed in the clean, intoxicating scent of him.
His breathing deepened and he cleared his throat. “Possibilities are infinite for those who believe.”
For those who believe.
She froze and raised her head. “I’m starting to believe.”
He cupped her ass gently. “But you’re scared.”
She looked deeply into his eyes. “You’re not?”
He held her gaze for a long moment. “Not with you. Something clicked in me when we first met. I saw forever with you. It was crazy. I imagined our kids, a house, the whole thing. Then you nearly bored me into a coma which almost convinced me I was wrong, but I’m glad I gave you a second chance.”
She sat up straighter and gasped. “Bored you?”
He did an impression of her voice if spoken by an old English librarian. “Reemsly was founded in 1912 by the Amish. This building is made entirely with bricks. Let’s count them together. One. Two. Three.”
Angelina flicked Connor on the shoulder. “I didn’t say any of that. You weren’t even listening, were you?”
He laid his head back and pretended to snore.
She tickled his side, which jolted him back up straight. “I was trying to impress you. My job depended on it.”
“It doesn’t anymore.” He caught her hands in his and his expression turned serious. “And stay clear of anything to do with that place, at least for the time being. Mr. Svete won’t be there much longer and the more you distance yourself from that situation, the better.”
“What’s going to happen to him?”
“My guess? Whatever he deserves. Most likely prison. You weren’t fired because you gave crappy tours. He’s dirty.”
“What do you mean dirty? Like guilty of something? Of what?”
Connor shrugged. “Not my place to say.”
“And how do you know?”
Connor shrugged again.
Angelina guessed. “Bradford.”
“Don’t tell him I said anything.”
Angelina ran the last few weeks over in her head. “I knew it wasn’t a coincidence that he ran into Linda at the market.”
“We needed to make sure you and your son were okay. When she told us what had happened, we knew she couldn’t stay there either.”
“So you hired her.” Angelina traced his lips with her fingertips. “I’ve never met anyone like you.” A thought occurred to her that spilled out. “What exactly is Linda’s job in your office?”
Connor’s smile turned sheepish. “She’s Kimmie’s editor.” When Angelina arched an eyebrow, Connor’s wrinkled his nose. “Every office needs an assistant, but I didn’t actually have anything for one to do. When Kimmie interviewed and said she was looking for something temporary because her goal was to becoming a published romance author, I hired her on the spot. It was perfect. She needed a quiet place to write, and I needed someone who would look busy.”
“You’re serious.”
“She’s an amazing writer. And her plan to put three out, each a month apart, is a solid strategy to get them noticed. Linda is spicing up her sex scenes—”
“Of course she is.” Angelina met and held Connor’s gaze. “So, you’re not only paying Kimmie to work for herself, but you’ve also hired an employee for her.” No one she knew would have done either.
“It’s just money. I can make more of it. Kimmie’s goal is to earn enough to stay home and have a herd of children. When you meet her husband you’ll understand why they need to procreate. The world needs more of both of them. Whatever you do, though, don’t tell Javier you like spicy food. I made that mistake once and there are parts of my intestines that are still charred from the experience.”