I kept my hands on the yolk for her nerves. “Why?”
She sucked on her bottom lip for a second, and I wondered if she would talk. Then she let out a breath. “I have friends, but I’ve never had a support system where you can just call someone, and you have family that knows what to do.”
I pursed my lips. “I wouldn’t go that far.”
She smiled. “So you said you wanted to be like Gerard and prove yourself.”
“Yeah?”
She patted my arm. “And your mother wants you to start your own business doing something you love.”
Hope’s idea of an airline sounded interesting. I shrugged. “She wants me to be happy.”
“So you should totally start your own airline. I’m good at advertising, so I could get you customers.”
The idea of running a business with her at my side sent my heart into double speed. “You’d stay with me?”
She nodded. “If I believed in you and the business that you’re actively building, why not?”
If I could, I would jump at this chance. I would have time to seduce her romantically too. “I like the idea. Let me mull it over.”
She shrugged. “It’s better than working for your brother.”
Kir wasn’t that bad, but she was right. I wasn’t happy at my father’s company, where I was in charge because of my last name. Generally speaking, though, he was the responsible one who could do anything with his eye for detail. She stared off and not at me, though, so I refocused on her. “So, what’s your plan when we get back to Manhattan?”
She smiled a little less brightly. “I’m going to go to the interview since you hate my idea.”
I reached out and took her hand. “I don’t hate it. It’s… me.”
She tilted her head, and I swore she saw something in me as she asked, “What do you mean?”
I froze. I never spoke about my faults, but I saw myself clearly. I blinked. “Starting a company needs a lot of focus and attention to detail, and while Gerard was good at it, I’m not sure about me.”
Her eyes brightened, and she cupped my face. “Well, that’s honest. Thanks for telling me.”
I turned and faced her. She stilled and pointed me to the sky. “Drive the plane.”
I shook my head. “We’re using autopilot for a few more minutes.”
She tilted her head. “So you think I’m going to kiss you on the lips, then?”
My heart beat faster. She was on the same page. I inched closer. “We both know you want to.”
“This doesn’t mean anything.” She ran her hands through my hair.
“Absolutely.”
We kissed. This time, no one cheered, but I didn’t need applause when kissing Hope.
Chapter Seventeen
Hope
* * *
Kissing Charlie was like tasting forbidden fruit. I knew exactly where it led and how he'd made me forget. Days and nights in Paris all blended as he’d driven me wild, fulfilling every dream of how a man could perfectly fill me. How we'd blended into oneness replayed in my mind between soul-searing kisses.
I’d came to my senses when I realized where we were. Flying wasn’t my idea of fun. I’d escaped out of the cockpit after our make-out session.
