Further still, she didn’t want to try.
Chapter 13
Sloane couldn’t take her eyes off Emmitt as he navigated another flawless landing. Today’s flight had been truly magical. The land was covered in a fresh layer of glistening snow, which made their journey beyond Haven Hill’s peaks a sight to be had.
Even still, Sloane had to admit that Emmitt rivaled every beauty nature had to offer. At times it seemed Emmitt and the helicopter he so skillfully managed were one. As if it was an extension of him—of the soul that longed to take in the wonders of the world, and help others do the same.
She shifted in her seat, watching his familiar ritual of wiping down the dashboard before exiting. A smile crossed her lips as she mused it couldn’t have gathered much dust since last time. But there he was, his brow furrowed with focus. If she hadn’t seen for herself that he was, in fact, not the tidiest person in other aspects, she’d be certain this was a way of life. The fact that this helicopter was so dear to him was endearing. And it raised a question.
“Have you named this?”
Emmitt tore his gaze from the task and shot her a guilty look. “Huh?”
“The helicopter—have you given it a name? People name cars and boats,” she pointed out. “It is obvious you have a relationship with this thing. I am just wondering what her name is and if I should be jealous.”
He coughed out a laugh. “Is it bad that I sort of like the idea of you being jealous?”
She laughed now too. “Yes, that is very bad. What is her name?”
“It’s…” He stopped there and let out a groan. “Her name is Black Velvet.”
Sloane felt her eyes go wide. “Like the song?”
“Like the whisky,” he corrected. “Okay, okay,andlikethe song.”
She held his gaze, enjoying the sheepish smile on his face. Savoring the connection that pulsed between them. Loving the way he looked in that pilot’s seat.
“Shall we?” he asked, moving to crack open his door.
But Sloane reached out and grabbed his arm. “Wait.” Now she was the one wearing a sheepish grin. “Maybe I want to make Black Velvet a little jealous.” She cast a pointed look at his mouth before meeting his gaze once more.
Enlightenment flashed through his eyes. “I think I can go along with that.” The grin slowly drifted off his face as he reached over, cupped the side of her cheek with his warm hand, and moved in for a long, lingering kiss.
Mmm…so, so good.
His strong hand smoothed down her back, warm and alluring, as he came in for a series of deeper, more sensual kisses. Sloane tuned into the heavenly heat of his mouth, the gentle pressure behind his lips, and the soft caress of his tongue as it met hers.
Ecstasy—that is what this was, pure and simple. Sloane let her hands move from around his neck, up into the back of his hair, gripping slightly as the sensations heightened even more.
A groan resonated deep in Emmitt’s throat. “Sloane,” he rasped between kisses.
The sound of her name in his low voice caused a new layer of bliss to ripple through her. She hoped returning the favor would do the same for him.
“Emmitt,” she breathed, resisting the words that threatened to trail after his name. Three words to be exact—I love you.
The awareness distracted her for a beat; had she almost really said that aloud? She had not even admitted to herself that she loved Emmitt. And wasn’t this going to complicate her job even more?
But as Emmitt’s passion-laced kiss lured her back into the moment, Sloane decided she would save that question for another day.
* * *
“We’ve got to talk about Christmas,” Andie said as the group gathered at the roundtable.
Emmitt knew exactly where this was going, but he played dumb anyway. “Okay…”
“What about Christmas?” Maverick asked.
Memphis tipped his head toward Richard and Ava’s empty chairs. This time, the two were joining them via speaker phone, which stood propped by a scented candle on the table in front of their regular seats.
