Alaska Home. Debbie Macomber

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      “Why?”

      “Because I don’t want to look!” she snapped.

      Christian chuckled and seemed to enjoy her discomfort. “I haven’t crashed in more than a year,” he teased. “But now that you mention it, I’m probably due for a big one.”

      Suddenly the plane began to pitch first to one side, then the other.

      “Don’t, please,” Mariah begged.

      “I’m not doing this on purpose,” Christian muttered.

      Mariah opened her eyes and saw that he was actually struggling to maintain control. “I’m trying to get us above the clouds. Don’t worry, everything’s well in hand.”

      The plane pitched sharply to the right and she swallowed a gasp. Although she’d flown in small planes a number of times since coming to work for Midnight Sons, she remained nervous about it—more than ever now, when they were flying directly into a storm.

      “Are you all right?” Christian asked a minute later.

      “Just fly the plane,” she said over the noise of the engine.

      “You’re pale as a sheet,” he said.

      “Stop worrying about me.”

      “Listen,” he returned, “I’m not going to be able to fly the plane and revive you.”

      “If I pass out—” she squeezed her eyes shut “—don’t worry about me.”

      The plane heaved. She gasped aloud and covered her face with both hands.

      “Mariah,” Christian said gently. “Everything will be fine in a few minutes. Trust me.” He patted her arm reassuringly.

      Usually when he spoke to her, Christian was impatient or sharp. Half the time she wasn’t even sure what crime she was supposed to have committed. But for reasons she’d probably never understand, today, when she needed it most, he’d chosen to reveal this softer side.

      Judging by the feel of the plane, Mariah knew they were increasing altitude. Within minutes they’d be above the squall and everything would be fine. Just as he’d promised.

      “You can look now,” Christian told her.

      She splayed her fingers and peeked through. Bright sunlight greeted her, and she sighed deeply, relaxing in her seat. The weather couldn’t be more perfect.

      They traveled in silence for a while.

      “Does your boyfriend know you don’t like to fly?” Christian’s question startled her.

      “My boyfriend?” she asked, genuinely perplexed until she remembered that he’d seen her with Duke.

      “In case you’re interested, lover boy made quite a stink when I told him he wouldn’t be flying you into Fairbanks.” The disapproval was back in Christian’s voice.

      Mariah looked out the side window. “No matter what you think, Duke and I are not involved.”

      “Yeah, that’s what he said, too.” The skepticism in his voice was plain.

      “It’s the truth,” she insisted.

      “Duke claims you kissed him.”

      He appeared to be waiting for her to deny or confirm the statement. “I did—in a manner of speaking.”

      Christian snorted a laugh. “I’ll say. You seem to forget I walked in on the two of you with your lips locked.”

      “It wasn’t like that,” Mariah said heatedly. “I’d been on the phone with Tracy—”

      “On company time?”

      “Yes,” she admitted reluctantly. He could dock her pay if he wanted.

      “Go on,” he encouraged.

      “Tracy and Duke don’t get along.”

      Christian laughed again. “That’s putting it mildly.”

      “She, Tracy, thought it would be fun if I kissed Duke and said it was from her, and that’s what I did. It was all teasing—a joke.”

      Christian didn’t comment.

      “Do you believe me?” she asked. It was important that he do so. They had their differences, but trust was a vital factor in any relationship, whether it was work or personal.

      “Yeah,” Christian admitted grudgingly, “I guess I do. But you should know something in case you have any, uh, romantic feelings for Duke. He’s got a girlfriend in Fairbanks. And he swore to me he’s a one-woman man—one at a time, anyway.”

      “It doesn’t matter to me how many girlfriends Duke’s got.” Although Mariah was surprised. This was the first she’d heard of Duke being romantically involved with anyone. But then, he was a private person and not inclined to share such things with her.

      Just when she’d finally relaxed enough to be comfortable, they approached Fairbanks. As soon as the plane descended into the clouds, Mariah stiffened.

      “Hey, you aren’t going to tense up on me again, are you?”

      “Yes, I am.” No point in denying it. She closed her eyes as her fingers reshaped the upholstery.

      “Don’t worry, we’ll be down in no time.” He was busy after that, communicating with the tower and manipulating the controls.

      True to his word, they touched down in a textbook-perfect landing a few minutes later and taxied to the hangar where Midnight Sons kept a truck.

      Neither of them seemed ready to leave the plane. “That wasn’t so bad now, was it?” Christian asked, and his gaze settled on her. All at once the atmosphere was charged with excitement. Never had Mariah been so physically aware of him, and he seemed to be experiencing the same reaction to her.

      “You’re right. The flight wasn’t bad at all,” she said, realizing how breathless she sounded. “Thank you,” she murmured.

      She meant to open the door and climb out, but Mariah found that her body refused to function. Suddenly Christian leaned close, so close the distance between their mouths became too slight to measure.

      She wasn’t sure what to think, what to do. She stopped breathing and was convinced Christian did, too. Gradually he eased forward until his mouth grazed hers. His touch was tender. Light. And all too brief.

      The effect was, somehow, more devastating than if they’d engaged in a lengthy, passionate kiss.

      Christian reared back as if she’d slapped him.

      Mariah savored the exquisite sensation of that kiss. This was what she’d wanted from the first, what she’d been longing for.

      Christian opened the door just then, СКАЧАТЬ