Page 26 of Landing Love

She stayed still for a long moment. If she had any sense, she would have asked to go home, but he’d gone to so much trouble to pick her up and arrange for Junior to stay with his family. And his friend was in the hospital. He had as many reasons as she did to flee, but here he was. Looking into his eyes, she couldn’t help but soften. “Yes, of course.”

He squeezed her hand and released it, exiting the car and hurrying around to help her out. Needing distraction from his proximity, she gazed up at the elegant hotel with a wraparound porch on the ground floor and yellow and white striped awnings above.

Bill followed her gaze. “This used to be the headquarters for the Vanderbilt Cup road race until a few years ago. Every year, all the swells would come out with their race cars and put on a show. I loved it when I was growing up. Did you know that Henry Ford worked as a mechanic for the race before he made it big?”

“I had no idea. Did you ever meet him?” She was grateful for a discussion topic that had nothing to do with her past or her feelings.

“He used to buy flowers from our shop. There was a girl in town he was sweet on. That’s my best claim to fame, you know. I sold flowers to Henry Ford. Or I suppose it used to be. Aurora Belmont living in my old bedroom might trump even Henry Ford.”

They walked inside, and a waiter seated them at a small table by the window. She couldn’t bring herself to look at Bill, so she gazed out and watched the people and cars go by on the Jericho Turnpike.

“Everything is excellent here,” said Bill, as if nothing had happened and they were simply two friends out for lunch on the town. “I’m particularly partial to the salmon loaf, but I think you might like the chicken salad sandwich. This time of year, they put slices of fresh strawberry in it, and it’s a delightfully unusual flavor.”

They ordered tea, salmon loaf, and chicken salad, as he’d recommended. The food arrived quickly. As they ate and chatted about Junior, a safe topic for them both, she finally began to relax. Perhaps they could be friends after all, now that she’d made herself clear.

10

She wanted to be friends. Of course, she did. He should have expected this, but it was a dagger to his heart. He wanted more, and he suspected she did too deep down, despite her protestations. But she wasn’t ready. So he would have to be patient. Friends.

He spent their lunch together trying to keep the conversation light and her distracted from the heavier thoughts of earlier. “What’s your favorite thing to sing?”

“I’m in my church choir.”

Of course, she was. He could just picture her at the front of the church, singing her heart out in her Sunday best. “And some of the hymns are quite lovely. My favorite is ‘For the Beauty of the Earth.’ It’s so simple and inspiring. In terms of other music, I hum along with the radio from time to time. You already know I like ‘I’m Always Chasing Rainbows.’ When Roger was with me, I’d sit at the piano, and we’d sing Gilbert and Sullivan songs together. And we’d laugh and laugh.”

Gilbert and Sullivan, eh? He laughed and sang softly so as not to attract notice. “‘I am the very model of a modern Major-General. I’ve information vegetable, animal, and mineral. I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical from Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical.’”

A smile burst onto her face. “You enjoy them too, I see.”

“Of course. Their songs are ridiculous, silly, and absolutely hilarious. I love them.”

“Maybe you can come by sometime and we can sing together.” She turned bright red. “I mean…as friends.”

The dagger in his heart thrust a bit deeper. “Of course. I would love that.”

No matter how much it hurt, he wasn’t going to turn down an opportunity to spend time with her.

“Out of curiosity, why are you so anxious to see my friend, Hank?” It was sweet of her to take an interest in his injured friend, but it surprised him, given her own history.

She looked thoughtful for a moment. “I want to tell him not to give up flying, or at least not to let this accident be the reason. One of my greatest regrets is that I never got a chance to tell Roger how much I respected what he did. When he was in the hospital at the end, he regretted his decision. It was in his last letter to me. I wish I could tell him I didn’t blame him for flying. I know he did what he felt inspired to do, even though it was dangerous. I loved him for his bravery, and I wouldn’t have changed it for the world, even though we didn’t get our happy ending. Because changing it would have changed him, and I loved him completely for who he was.”

The urge to reach out for her hand was overwhelming. He clasped his hands tightly in his lap to keep himself from doing so. “I’m sure Hank will be very moved to hear that, especially from you. Any pilot would be. We’ve chosen a dangerous profession, and it means the world to have supportive loved ones who understand.”

Ann Prince was too perfect to be believed. He needed to win her heart, however long it took. He’d never met another woman with such a thorough understanding of the risks he took and the potential costs who still believed in and supported his flying. His mother hated his chosen career. Most women he met found his being a pilot attractive but had no idea what it truly meant. Ann understood and cared despite it all. He had to make her his.

Bolstered by his new conviction, he ordered them strawberry shortcake for dessert.

“You spoil me.” Ann’s lips curved into a timid grin.

“Someone should. You deserve it.”

Her smile widened. Oh, he loved that smile. He planned to do everything in his power to see it every day for the rest of his life.

“Hawley, are you awake in there?” Bill peeked into Hank’s hospital room, Ann’s hand on his arm. He wrinkled his nose at the astringent scent of the place.

“I’m awake now,” Hank grumbled as he pushed himself up to sitting in the creaky metal-framed hospital bed. Boy was Hank in rough shape. There was a bandage around his head, and his leg was in a cast. He moved gingerly, as if every movement hurt.

Bill put on his brightest smile, not wanting Hank to know how worried he was. “Excellent. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”