BLAKE pressed “end” on his cellphone and scratched a line through another name on his list. Four down, sixteen or so left to go.
He’d been to hell and back during the three weeks he’d been away from Unalaska, but he’d also done a lot of thinking. He’d been selfish—and foolish—to expect Molly to change her whole life to accommodate his wants and needs.
This morning he’d come to a decision. Yes, he’d given up things for a woman before, but he’d resented each and every instance. Whenever Sharon asked for something more, his root of bitterness had dug in a little deeper. And although he’d appeared to give in to her, he’d always held back part of himself. Not consciously, maybe, but he’d done it just the same. It was possible Sharon had sensed that. Maybe that was why she’d never been satisfied with what he’d offered her.
He swallowed. Molly, on the other hand, hadn’t asked him for a damn thing.
And that was exactly what he’d given her. Nothing.
He’d expected her to change her whole life for him. And when she’d blinked, what had he done? He’d stormed out of there without giving her a chance to think, without giving them a chance to come up with a solution.
But that was about to change.
If she’d have him back.
He loved her, dammit. If she felt the same way, they could work something out.
He knocked the back of his head against his plane’s fuselage a couple of times. If he hadn’t already screwed this up completely, that was. His eyes searched out the next number on his list and flipped open his cellphone, turning to face the plane for privacy. The dial tone gave way to ringing once he finished punching in the buttons. He waited a second or two.
“You promised to teach me to fly.”
“Hello?” His mind went deadly still when he realized the voice hadn’t come from his phone, but from somewhere behind him. He shook the instrument just to make sure, then put it back to his ear. Still ringing.
“Blake.”
He knew that voice. Clicking the phone shut, he turned around slowly, expecting to see empty space. Instead, his gaze fell on the person who’d driven him to call every major hospital in the United States looking for another Care Flight job.
Molly. Green eyes shining, something gripped between her fingertips. The apparition took a step forward.
“I’m sorry?” He had to be sure he wasn’t trapped in some kind of stress-generated delusion.
“I said, you promised to teach me to fly.” Her hand came up, holding a small plastic case. He recognized his computer simulation game. “I should buy my own copy, though, so I don’t have to keep borrowing yours.”
“You want me to teach you to fly?” He drew a careful breath. “Why?”
She licked her lips, a hint of hesitancy behind her eyes now. “I’ve decided to stay on the island. Or go back to Alaska Regional if my contract isn’t renewed. Either way, I’ll be doing a lot of flying back and forth.”
“What about Gary? You said you couldn’t go back because of him.”
“I know, but I’ve spent my whole life trying to avoid conflict, trying to keep the peace. First between my parents as I was growing up, then in my relationships as an adult. When I couldn’t avoid conflict, I backed away from it. I’ve never run toward anything in my life.” She looked at him. “Until now.”
A rush of moisture gathered behind his eyes, and he tried to force it back. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
“It is. I love you. I want to be wherever you are, or as close as I can get.” A frown appeared. “Unless you don’t feel the same?”
“I do.” He held up his list with a laugh. “I’ve racked my brain trying to remember all the hospitals you had in that folder of yours, and I’ve been calling every single one of them, looking for a job.”
“You have? That’s just…” She closed the space between them. “I’m sorry, Blake. I should have told you about the letters. It just seemed so far off at the time. And I didn’t want to make waves.”
“It’s okay. All I want to know is one thing. Did you mean what you said?”
“About staying on the island?”
“No. The other thing.”
“Yes. I meant it.” The merest trace of a pause. “I love you.”
“Thank God.” He hauled her against him and kissed her with everything he had in him.
When they finally broke apart, she pulled in a couple of quick breaths. “Does that mean what I think it does?”
“Yes, I love you, too.”
She leaned against him, her arms going around his waist.
Everything in his world righted itself at her touch.
Unable to resist, he bent down to kiss her again, a melding of mouths and spirits that held the promise of a bright future. “Can you handle living on an island and being involved with a pilot? If not, I can change. Do anything you want me to do.”
“All I want you to do is come back to Unalaska with me.” She paused, tightening her arms. “When Sammi told me you’d left, I panicked. Wondered if I’d ever see you again.”
“Mark knew where I was.”
She smiled. “I know. He’s the one who helped me find you.”
“Remind me to thank him.” This time there was no jealousy involved. Only a grateful heart. Maybe there was hope for his friend after all.
“I will, once we get back.” She pressed a kiss to the underside of his jaw.
“Sure you don’t want to stay here for a few days?”
“I’m sure. I just want to go home.”
He stroked his fingers down the side of her face. “Even though it means we have to fly?”
“That’s why I brought the program with me.” She let go of him long enough to glance at the case she still held in her hand. “I know how much you love your job. I want to be a part of it. That means facing my fears instead of running from them.”
His heart threatened to burst out of his chest. “We’ll work on it. Whether it takes twelve steps or two thousand, I’ll be there.”
“That’s good, because you never know. If something happens, I might just need to find us a safe place to land.”
He smoothed her hair back from her cheeks and leaned in for another kiss. “I think we’re already there.”
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