Could she?
The view out the window on the TV wobbled, but Lance’s hand was sure and solid around hers.
He guided her other hand to the controller too. His skin was hot, his legs propped on either side of her, his chest pressed against her back. Her belly quivered.
She needed to focus. She was here for help getting over a little discomfort flying so she could go to Germany. Not for a tumblewith a flyboy.
But he was obviously interested.
What was the harm in having some fun on the side?
“Little more speed,” he murmured.
His thumb pressed hers against the thrust button. The view on the TV became nothing but blue sky. Her belly dipped.
His arms tightened at her sides. “Beautiful.”
“This supposed to teach me how to fly that dang plane when my pilot has a heart attack?”
“You’ll be telling people you defied death and landed that bird even though it’s all autopilot these days. Don’t pretend you won’t.”
“Says you.” The man had figured her out. And she couldn’t decide if that was comforting or terrifying.
Most days, even her own momma didn’t understand her. Kaci understood herself.Since her second semester of college, when she’d finally stood up for what she wanted to do with her life, she was the only person she’d ever truly counted on.
“You’re all talk, Dr. Boudreaux.”
“And fire and catapults. You forgot that part.”
“And hog thief.” He chuckled again, that warm, delicious sound going straight to her core.
“Now you’re making stuff up.” She felt a smile growing.
Huh. Smiling while her body and mind were half-convinced she was flying. No small miracle there.
“Level her off.” He touched her thumb again, and she released the pressure on her throttle control. Spots of land appeared in the distance.
“That doesn’t look like Germany.”
“All right, smarty pants. You take us toGermany.” Lance released her hands.
She shrieked. She jerked the controller, and the view pitched and wobbled. A giant mass of sea loomed beyond the plane’s nose.
“Making it too easy, Dr. Boudreaux.” He covered her hands again, and with three easy flicks of his thumbs, the screen righted itself again.
Her heart flung itself against her ribs as though it had been launched out of a cannon. “Don’t do that again.”
His chest shook against her back.
“Are you laughing at me?”
“No.” But there it was again. That vibration. Along with a suspicious cough-snort.
She twisted around.
He dropped his gaze, but not before she caught the amusement dancing in his dark eyes. His lips wobbled, and he seemed to be sucking in his cheeks.
Kaci launched to her feet.
