Star of His Heart - Brenda Jackson [90]
“I’ve extended my leave for another couple of weeks. Why?”
“Just curious. Do you have any idea where your next assignment will be?”
“Not yet. Does not knowing bother you?”
“No, not at all. Rainey has proven she can do a pretty good job of running Sisters without me. I think I’d like traveling around the country with you for a while.”
A huge smile touched Ashton’s lips. “I know I’d like that. So how about if we sneak away tonight? What do you think?”
Netherland placed her husband’s hand in hers, feeling all the love she had for him flow freely from her heart to every part of her body. “I think it’s a wonderful idea, Colonel. Let’s go.”
Rainey was pretty sure she had gotten her emotions under control by the time she and Howard arrived at the airport. After leaving Trevor and Corinthians’s baby’s christening party, they had stopped by her apartment long enough for Howard to kiss her with a thoroughness and expertise that had taken her breath away. The chemistry between them was unbelievable. Even now she was having a problem breathing just thinking about it.
“Do you have time to walk me to the security check-in point?”
Howard’s question invaded Rainey’s thoughts. She looked into the darkness of his eyes and smiled. “Yes, I’ll make time.”
He took her hand in his, and they began walking. “I’ll call you this week, all right?”
“Okay. I’ll look forward to hearing from you.” Because of his help with Jada’s rescue they’d spent very little time together during the entire week he’d been in town.
“When was the last time you visited Chicago?” he asked, looking down at her as they continued walking.
“It’s been quite a few years. Probably at least five.”
“Would you come visit me if I were to send for you?” he asked in a husky voice.
Without hesitation she said, “Yes.”
“How soon?”
She smiled. A part of her wanted to think things were moving too fast between them but she immediately dismissed the thought. “How soon do you want?”
“How about this coming weekend?”
She lifted her eyes to study his. “You sure?”
“Yes. I don’t think I can wait any longer than that.”
“Me, either.” She could tell her response pleased him.
His hand on hers tightened. “Knowing I’ll see you again this weekend won’t make it so hard.” He stopped walking and didn’t say anything for a long moment as his dark gaze probed deep into hers. Finally, he spoke. “I know this sounds crazy, Rainey, but I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Rainey blinked. They were standing in the middle of the airport terminal. People were coming and going all around them. But her complete attention was on the man standing in front of her who had just confessed to having feelings for her. She felt something for him as well, and had from the first. But she had convinced herself it was nothing more than a strong physical attraction, pure and simple. Now she knew that wasn’t true because of the depth of her feelings for him. “No, it doesn’t sound crazy, Howard, because I’ve fallen in love with you, too.” She looked into his eyes, saw the smile that extended to his lips. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Long and thorough.
Afterward, out of breath, she stood before him smiling. “Saturday seems like a long time away.”
“Then come with me now.”
“What!” She pulled out of his arms.
“You’re off work this week, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Nettie had given her some extra time off because of all the extended hours she’d worked at Sisters when Nettie had been in Oklahoma with Ashton and then at Deadpan Hollow awaiting Jada’s rescue. “But I don’t have a ticket.”
“That won’t be a problem.”
“I don’t have luggage, which means I don’t have clothes or toiletries.”
“We’ll buy anything you need when we get to Chicago.”
Rainey looked up at him. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
His gaze met hers. “Yes. I’m very serious.”
The desire that flamed from the dark depths of his eyes touched every part of Rainey’s body. She caught herself wringing her hands together understanding