"I'll just grab my bag.I brought a few things for our picnic."
She started to move away from him, but he curled his arm around her waist and reached up to turn his ball cap around, putting it on backward.
She looked up and laughed."What's up?Are you trying to make a fashion statement?"
His eyes twinkled as he shook his head and said, "No, I just don't want anything to get in the way of this."
He slid his fingers into her hair, sending shivers down her spine.As he leaned in, he held her gaze the whole way — and hesitated when his lips were almost touching hers.
Her hands came up to his shoulders, and she closed the final distance between them herself.
Damn.The man could kiss.
It started out tentative but didn't stay that way for long.They'd only kissed a couple of times, but there was already a familiarity about it.She melted against him as he took it deeper, and slick heat trickled through her veins.
When he finally lifted his head, he winked, and she wafted her hand in front of her face."Phew.I'm going to have to watch myself.If you're going to start kissing me like that..."
He chuckled."Start?I don't ever want to stop kissing you like that."
A rush of warmth filled her chest.Never stop.Wouldn't that be something?
He seemed to feel as though he'd said too much and dropped his gaze, grabbing her hand as he said, "Come on, let's get your things from the truck and get out of here.We're burning daylight."
Once they were in the air, Callie couldn't stop smiling.The coastline stretched out beneath them, rugged and wild.From up here, she could see the waves rolling in, white foam against dark rocks, and the forest pressing right up to the edge of the cliffs.
"It's so beautiful," she breathed.
Ollie glanced over at her."It is.I forget sometimes, flying in and out of airports.It's easy to stop noticing."
"Don't stop noticing," she told him."This is incredible."
He smiled."You're right.I won't."
They flew in comfortable silence for a while, and she watched the landscape change beneath them — the coves and headlands, the occasional stretch of sandy beach, the tiny towns clinging to the coast.
"How long until we get there?"she asked.
"About another forty minutes.We're making good time."He shot her a look."Do you want to take the controls for a bit?"
Her heart leaped."Really?Again?"
"You did great last time.Just keep us level and follow the coastline.I'll handle everything else."
She took the stick, her grip lighter this time, more confident.The plane responded to the smallest movements, and she found herself relaxing into it.
"You're a natural," he said.
"I don't know about that, but I love it."
"That's half the battle."
When they started their descent toward Gold Beach, he took the controls back and talked her through what he was doing — checking the wind, lining up with the runway, adjusting their speed.She absorbed every word.
The landing was smooth, and as they taxied toward a small cluster of hangars, she looked around.The airport was tiny — just a strip of asphalt nestled between forest and coastline.
"This is perfect," she said."It feels like the middle of nowhere."
"That's kind of the point."He cut the engine and turned to her with a grin."Ready for part two?"
