He nodded to the pilot as he boarded the plane. His support staff always sat at the front of the plane while he and his family occupied the back. He hadn’t traveled with much staff on this venture, just Giles, a few security personnel, and an aide to help with Penelope. Most of them were already on board and inclined their heads as he passed.
As he made his way back to his section, the aisle was blocked with a huge piece of luggage that would never fit into the overhead compartment. A woman with a shapely figure struggled with another case that was of similar size, trying to shove it in.
As Leo reached up to help her, her case fell. Instead of reaching for the case, he reached for her, pulling her out of harm’s way and into his arms. The moment his skin touched hers, warmth spread through him at the contact, like the sun dawning on a new day.
“Esme?”
“Hey, Leo.”
Chapter Fourteen
Esme saw stars. Tiny little bits of fireworks rained down before her eyes like those handheld sparkles on the Fourth of July. Little, blue songbirds chirped a lulling love song in her ears. Her entire body tingled with electricity. All from being back inside Leo’s embrace.
He gazed down at her. In his hazel eyes, she saw sparkles reflecting back at her. He let out a tiny sigh that sounded every bit like a bird’s song. The touch of his finger pads on her bare skin made her wonder if they were flying too close to the sun.
Esme hadn’t imagined it. There it was, standing between them. The thing.
Leo’s gaze dipped to her lips in the universal language of I desperately want to kiss you.
But he didn’t kiss her. He blinked. Then he righted her, placing her feet firmly back on the ground. He took a step back until he was on the opposite side of the aisle from her.
Behind him in the window, Esme saw that night had fallen. Lights of other planes taking off and descending lit up the sky. Chirps and beeps came from the pilots preparing in the cockpit. The air had come on in the private plane producing the goosebumps on her arm.
“What are you doing here?” Leo asked.
“Alex invited me.”
Something in his face changed. His gaze narrowed. His fingers gripped the tops of the chairs. “You’re here with Alex?”
“Alex invited Jan. The pie maker. For the baking contest.”
Relief flooded his face. “You’re just here dropping off your friend.”
Esme’s breath stuck in her chest, never quite reaching her belly. It was just as well because her belly was tensing in knots. Uncertainty begged her to keep her mouth shut. But her heart ignored the thought.
“Well,” she said, “I’m coming, too.”
“Coming to Cordoba?”
She nodded.
“For the weekend.”
She nodded again.
Leo gulped. His Adam’s apple rose and fell along his throat column. He looked back to the front of the plane as though searching for an escape.
“I hope I’m not intruding or overstepping any bounds, your majesty.”
His attention snapped back to her at the mention of the honorific. Hope blossomed. But he didn’t insist that she call him Leo like before.
Instead, they stood staring at one another. Esme with hope in her gaze. Leo with something that looked very much like wariness in his.
“Evening, brother. Hey there, teach.” Alex ambled his way down the aisle, followed by Jan. Neither got far with Esme’s suitcase still blocking the path. “You need help with that?”
Before Alex could reach for her case, Leo came out of his sequestered spot in the opposing seats. He hefted her bag up and over his head. Esme had worried the piece of luggage wouldn’t fit, but Leo maneuvered it until it slid into place. His muscles bulged and flexed as he did so. Esme did not look away.
“You all set there?” Alex asked her.