“Ohgod, I think the lack of oxygen has gone to my head.”
“Austin, are you gonna pass out?”
“No, but I’m babbling incoherently,” she replied feeling like she’d run her mouth too much.
“Then, you shouldn’t be surprised if I tell you I’m gonna marry you.”
Silence.
Her heart had taken flight, and she smiled. “Don’t you have to ask me first.”
“Caroline Austin, you are my Bella. I love you and want us to spend our lives together. Will you marry me?”
She wasn’t expecting a proposal. She hadn’t even gotten as far as fantasizing about one, but when the words filled her ears—and her heart, and then her soul—there was only one answer she would give him.
“Of course I’ll marry you,” she said with a smile. “Would you marry me if I’d proposed to you?”
“Hell, yeah,” he replied.
She couldn’t stop looking around at the magnificent earth below and the stunningly blue skies above. After several silent seconds, she said, “Are you for real?”
“Yes.”
The silence was broken when he said through the comm, “We’re gonna do a steeper climb.”
As he began the maneuver, she sank into her seat and little yellow stars floated into view, then they crowded her vision. “I’m passin?—”
“Austin, apply pressure.” Grey’s soothing voice calmed her, but she could feel herself passing out.
She came to feeling a little groggy. “I’m back.”
“There’s my girl. Take a few slow, deep breaths.”
After she did, she felt a little better. “How long was I out?”
“Forty-four seconds.”
“You were timing me?”
“Yeah, and I was talkin’ to you the entire time.”
“Love words?”
“No, Austin, I was trying to get you to come to.”
She could hear the smile in his voice and said, “Where’s the fun in that?”
“You wanna keep flying or are you done?” he asked.
“More,” she said. “This is incredible.”
GREYSTONE
He slowed to four-hundred,kept things steady, and wondered if she knew he’d proposed to her. He checked his gauges and confirmed the flight plan on his tablet.
Fifteen minutes later, he landed the jet on the runway, taxied back to the hangar, and killed the engine. Feeling invigorated, he paused to acknowledge that both his flights had gone smoothly. He never took his abilities for granted, he always respected the massive machine he’d learned how to fly, and he appreciated when his flights were emergency-free.
He tapped the button, the canopy lifted. He disconnected his oxygen mask, unstrapped himself, and removed his helmet as the crew rolled over the ladders.
