His Secretary's Surprise Fiance

She squealed, scarcely able to take her eyes off the huge balloon that looked as if it would burst into flames any moment from the blazing blasts that shot into the bottom, filling it with air. Or helium. Or whatever did that magic trick that made it go from half on the ground to a big ball in the sky.

“Yes!” She risked her lipstick by kissing him through a shocked laugh. “It’s amazing! I’ve never seen anything like it.”

“Here.” He produced a satin drawstring bag as the car rolled to a stop and their driver came around to open the door. “Better wear these for now and save your pretty shoes for later.”

Opening the sack, she pulled out a pair of silver ballet slippers. Just her size.

“You thought of everything.” She had to have him help her because she fumbled the shoes twice, distracted by the sight of yellow, blue, red and orange silk rising higher just outside the car.

“I would have tried to get us here earlier if I’d known you wanted to see this part.” His warm hands tugged her shoes into place before he helped her out of the car. He reached back in the limo and withdrew a length of fuzzy mohair and cashmere that at first she thought was a blanket, but he unfurled it and laid it around her shoulders. A burgundy-colored pashmina fell around her. “The pilot said it will be cooler once we’re up there.”

A red carpet lined her path from the car door to the balloon basket. While the limo driver exchanged words with the crew that operated the balloon, Adelaide had a moment to catch her breath and take in the full extent of her surprise. Blasts of heat passed her shoulders in rhythmic waves each time the pilot pulled the cord to unleash flames into the air that kept the balloon filled.

“I just can’t believe how huge it is up close.” She’d seen hot-air balloons in the sky before and admired their beauty, but she’d never dreamed of riding in one. “And I can’t imagine what made you think to do this tonight, but I’m so excited I feel...breathless.”

He tucked her close to his side as they walked the carpeted path together. “The best part hasn’t started. I hear it’s incredible to go up in one of these things.”

“You’ve never done this either?” That made it feel all the more special, that she could share a first with him. She felt like a medieval princess, traipsing through the countryside in her designer gown, the layers of handkerchief hem blowing gently against her calves as they walked.

“No. This is just for you, Adelaide.” He stopped as they reached the balloon basket, his eyes serious. Intense.

“Any special occasion?” Curious, she wasn’t sure why he’d put so much effort into a special night for them now.

As much as she wanted to believe that he’d planned a fairy-tale date just to romance her, a cynical part of her couldn’t help but wonder why.

“I’m sorry I put you on the spot when I announced our engagement. Consider this my apology, since that’s not how I should have treated a friend.” He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed the back of it.

Her heart melted. Just turned to gooey mush. She would have swooned into his arms if the pilot hadn’t turned to them right then and introduced himself.

While the pilot—Jim—went over a few safety precautions and briefly outlined the plan for their hour-long flight, Adelaide stared at Dempsey and felt herself falling faster. She’d tried to keep herself so safe with him, from him. But her mother was right, and this man had always had a piece of her heart. How on earth could she maintain her defenses around a man who bought her a Versace gown to take her on a hot-air balloon ride?

She hadn’t heard any of Jim’s speech by the time Dempsey lifted Adelaide in his arms and set her on her feet inside the basket. He vaulted in behind her, their portion of the basket separated from Jim’s by a waist-high wall. Moments later, the ground crew let go of their tethers and the balloon lifted them into the air so smoothly and silently it felt like magic.

Her heart soared along with the rest of her.

Impulsively, she slid her arms around Dempsey’s waist and tucked her head against his shoulder. He’d said he wanted to apologize for not being a better friend. Could that mean he wanted to be...more?

“Do you like it?” His hand gripped her shoulder through the pashmina, a warm weight connecting them.

They stared out their side of the basket while Jim took care of maneuvering the balloon from his own side. It felt private enough, especially with all the open air around them.

“I love it.” She peered up at him as the world fell away beneath them. “I’ve never had anyone do something so special for me.”