“Absolutely not,” said her mom. “What a stupid way to spend the day. Those Hotts are such a pretentious family. A
balloon ride…how ridiculous. You’ll thank me if their balloon crashes to the ground and they all die.”
Two short months later, Ashton’s mom was dead.
Carly shivered away the bitter memory as a burly man shot them a friendly wave and ambled over.
“Howdy, folks. You Maverick?”
“Sure am.” The two men shook hands. “Kevin, right?”
“Last I checked. I’ll be your pilot today. Hang out for a bit while I help my guys get this balloon airborne.”
Once the craft lifted into the air and sailed away, Kevin pointed to a giant nylon balloon lying fifty feet away. “You guys ready to soar like a bird?”
Over the next thirty minutes, they learned about balloon safety while assisting Kevin and his team prep for their flight. Once the lemon-yellow and peacock-blue nylon balloon was fully inflated, they climbed into the gondola and Kevin’s team disconnected the cables.
“Here we go,” the pilot said as the basket lifted into the air.
Carly grinned up at Ashton.
“It’s a great day for a balloon flight,” Kevin said.
Carly’s heart soared as they sailed above the treetops. “Beautiful.”
Ash dipped down and stole a kiss. Her heart swelled and she threaded her fingers through his. Save for the roar of the burner, the flight was silent. The majestic Blue Ridge Mountains lay before them, a breathtaking sight from the air.
“This is amazing. Thank you, Ash.”
“You’re welcome, babe. Glad you like.”
“Are you guys celebrating an anniversary?” Kevin asked.
“This has been on my wish-list since childhood,” Carly replied.
“Been married long?” Kevin asked.
“Oh, we’re—”
“First year.” Ashton grinned.
Her heart flipped. If only…
“The wife and I were high school sweethearts,” Kevin added. “Three kids later and we’re still going strong. Got kids?”
“Not yet,” Ash replied.
Thinking about little Hott babies made her smile.
The wind shifted and the balloon sailed westward. From every direction, the views were spectacular. Rolling farmland and pastures framed by a jutting mountain range. The sun beamed down in a cloudless sky and the mild breeze carried them for miles. More than the scenic vistas and the stunning beauty of the Virginia countryside, the man beside her had captured her heart, fully and completely.
Even with all the stress and pressure he’d been under, he’d arranged something special just for her. As she shifted her gaze to him, she felt so incredibly loved. He anchored his arm around her and she leaned into him. If this isn’t love, I have no idea what is.
“This is perfect.” She stood tall, and kissed him. His tender kiss was his only reply.
An hour later, Kevin landed in an open field. The chase vehicle waited on the dirt road and the crew ran over to secure the lines. After Carly got out, she threw her arms around Ash, then kissed him again. “You are the best. Thank you. This was so much fun.”
“I wanted to do something special for you, something I knew you’d enjoy.”
