Chapter Twenty-Four
Blake
"Where are we going?" We'd said a quick good-bye to my mother, with Lucas promising to be in touch soon. After we’d both showered and changed clothes, Lucas threw together an overnight bag and hustled me into the car.
"You'll see soon." He smiled and reached over, taking my hand and squeezing it. He hadn't said much, but he'd kept his hands on me since we'd been back together, making me feel wanted, making me feel confused. Even though he said we didn't need to be married anymore, he'd come back for me.
And as evidenced by the grin on his face, he seemed really, really freaking happy that I'd gone willingly.
We drove out of the city. Lucas was quiet but still holding my hand. "Will you please tell me where we're going?" I asked.
He smiled at me, flashing that damn dimple. "I have a promise to keep," he said cryptically. If I hadn't been so happy that he'd come back for me and was holding my hand, I would've smacked him.
After almost an hour, Ian turned off at a sign for Hanscom Field. "We're flying somewhere?" I asked.
The dimple peeped out again.
"What? What?" The suspense was killing me. Then Ian pulled up right next to a lot filled with helicopters. Lucas donned a pair of aviator sunglasses and handed a pair to me, too. Suddenly, I understood. "We're flying in your helicopter?"
"Next stop, Seal Harbor." Lucas leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. "You look hot in those sunglasses, by the way."
He brought me to a beautiful blue copter and ushered me inside. After he harnessed me in and explained the safety precautions, he put on his headset. He started talking to the aviation tech, and I just watched his handsome profile. So beautiful. I loved every line on his face. I'd been lying to myself when I'd thought this could ever go back to being just a job.
He said he wanted to protect me. I wasn't sure from what exactly, but I'd never had someone say that to me before. It made me feel safe, treasured, and loved.
Maybe it was finally time for me to be brave, to take a chance. To risk… everything.
"Lucas," I said, as he started up the engine.
"What, babe?"
"I love you!" I shouted over the noise.
He gave me a thumbs-up.
Ugh. I sulked in silence for the rest of the trip, looking at the beautiful scenery as we flew to Maine. It was very loud inside the copter, so we both had headphones on. "Babe," I saw Lucas mouth at one point, "are you okay?"
I just gave him a thumbs-up.
Later, after we'd flown over miles of green forest, as far as the eye could see, he started to descend. I could see a tiny airstrip coming up with a lone helipad. He headed toward it and landed the copter expertly. After he'd turned off the motor and taken his headphones off, he looked at me with an excited glint in his eye. "Babe?"
"Yes?"
"Welcome to Maine." He opened his door but then turned back. "And babe?"
"Yes?"
"I love you, too."
I felt my cheeks heat up. "Well, thank you for letting me know!"
He came back into the cockpit and pulled me close, crushing his lips to mine until I was dizzy. "Anytime, Mrs. Ford. Anytime."
Unlike on the islands, no driver was waiting for us, just Lucas's old Jeep SUV. He threw our bag into it, and we drove through Bar Harbor on a tiny highway, over a bridge and across a bay. Seagulls and eagles soared together over the dark water. With the windows down, the sea air blowing through my hair, and Lucas at my side, I finally felt something I'd never felt before: truly happy.
Realizing this, I laughed out loud.
"What's so funny?" he asked.