He matched her laugh, then nodded out the window at the water rising up to meet them. “Ready?”
She raised her eyebrows. “Do I have a choice?”
“Not unless you feel like parachuting.”
“Then by all means, Mr. Miller, take us down.”
Water landings were always choppy, but this one was smoother than most, and C.J. congratulated himself for not shaking Kyra up any more than necessary. He taxied to the dock, then killed the engine as the staff moored the plane and opened Kyra’s door. C.J. slid out of his seat and climbed into the back of the plane, gathering her luggage and passing it out the back door to Stuart, one of the college kids who did odd jobs during the summer months.
Ducking to keep from whacking his head on the doorframe, he climbed out of the plane, careful not to slip on the wet dock. When he stood up, there she was.
His Merrilee. Standing right there in front of him. Just as beautiful, just as vibrant, as he’d remembered her. Over the past few weeks, he’d seen her, sure. But not this close, so close he could almost smell her perfume. White Shoulders. For decades, his eyes hadscoured the room whenever he caught that scent, but never once had he found Merrilee. Until now.
He realized she was smiling at him, one hand held out for him to take. He grasped hers firmly, glad for the glasses and cap, wondering if she had even an inkling as to who he really was.
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” she said, the curl of her fingers over his wreaking havoc with his head. “I’ve been trying to come by and welcome you to the Fantasies family, but we seem to keep missing each other.”
“Fancy that,” he mumbled.
“Yes. Well…” She took her hand back, then cocked her head slightly, her eyes lingering on him before she finally blinked. “At any rate, please come by the office later and let’s schedule a time to talk. I like to take every employee through an orientation, and you’re long past due.”
“Of course,” he said, intending no such thing.
Her smile was a little shaky, but when she turned to Kyra, her professional demeanor was back in place. “I’m sure you’re going to enjoy your stay.”
“I know I will,” Kyra said. She nodded toward C.J. “And thanks again, Mr. Miller. I especially appreciated the landing.”
With a grin, he tapped the brim of his cap, his finger hesitating there when he noticed the puzzled expression on Merrilee’s face.
“Ma’am?”
Her cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. It’s nothing. You just…you remind me of someone. But, no, that’s silly. It’s not…” She trailed off, then shook herself, standing straighter as C.J. marveled at the poised, confident woman she’d become. “Never mind,” she said and took Kyra’s arm. “Stuart will take you to your cabin. After you’re settled, we’ll have dinner and I’ll give you a brief orientation.”
C.J. watched Merrilee guide the younger woman down the dock toward the waiting Jeep, his stomach in knots. There had been a spark of recognition in her eyes, extinguished by disappointment when she remembered what she believed to be the truth—that her Charlie was lost to her forever.
He took a deep breath, trying to calm the dogfight going on in his stomach. Soon, he’d tell her the truth. And maybe, just maybe, they still had a chance to make both their fantasies come true.
