Page 94 of Wilde Hearts

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “You realize this isn’t starting our second first date off on a very good note, right? Seeing as I’m afraid of heights even in the biggest planes.”

His voice was both warm and serious as he said, “Ensley, I would never put you in danger. I promise you, Judd is an amazing pilot.”

“Are we staying at the ranch?”

“Oh no, you don’t.”

I mentally cursed. I was hoping he’d slip and tell me.

“I’m not telling you where we’re staying.”

“Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

He chuckled. “We have to leave early, so get some sleep, Pip. I’ll be by around seven.”

“You know I’m not going to be able to sleep.”

“I could come by and keep you company…”

I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. “Remember, no sex before, or on, our first date.”

“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”

Laughing, I said, “Good night, Colt.”

“Good night, Pippa. I love you.”

Biting my lower lip, I let those words settle around my heart before I whispered, “I love you, too.”

The call ended, and I couldn’t help but grin like a fool as I hugged my phone to my chest. It took everything I had not to kick and scream like a middle-school girl who’d just been asked out by her first love.

Colt motioned for me to precede him up the steps into the private jet that would take us to Banff. The moment I stepped inside, I drew in a sharp breath.

A dark wooden cabinet was fixed to one wall of the plane, with a TV mounted on top. A round silver tray held a few different bottles of alcohol, and my first thought was to wonder how none of it fell when the plane took off. On the other side, opposite the cabinet, was a long white leather sofa. Beyond that were eight single leather seats, four on each side of the plane.

“Wow,” I whispered, as I moved forward and dropped my purse and backpack onto the sofa.

“Pretty nice, isn’t it?” Colt moved around me and placed his backpack on one of the single seats. “Drink?”

I glanced up and looked at him. “What?”

“You’re staring at the booze. Do you want a drink?”

Shaking my head, I said, “It’s not even nine in the morning.”

Colt laughed. “Hey, you were looking at it, so I thought you wanted one. I know you’re nervous about flying.”

“I’m trying to figure out how it doesn’t fall over when the plane takes off.”

Smiling, Colt walked over, pulled me into his arms, and kissed me on the forehead. “The flight attendant puts it up before we leave.”

I felt my cheeks grow hot. “Well, that makes sense.”

An older man, probably around the age of fifty or so, stepped onto the plane. He was good-looking for his age, with his salt-and-pepper hair and eyes so green, they reminded me of a meadow we had on the ranch. In the spring, the grass turns almost emerald. The same startling shade as his eyes.

The second he saw Colt, a wide smile erupted across his handsome face. He held out his hand, and Colt gave him a few firm shakes.

“Colt, it’s good to see you.”