Chapter 68

Evie

"N

ow boarding flight five-three-two to Reno."

Finally.

I rub a hand over my face and yawn, glad to see an airplane waiting at the gate. The snow has let up and only a few straggly flakes swirl in the wind. A group of passengers are already lining up to board. Exhausted from too little sleep, I must have dozed through the deplaning process.

I review my plan, such as it is. I'll show up at Adam's house and hope he still wants to see me. After a week of ignoring his calls and messages, he has given up. Hopefully not forever.

I grab my purse and pull out my boarding pass, getting in line behind a young Spanish-speaking couple. And hear a ruckus behind me.

The gate agent and couple lift their gaze, focusing their attention over my shoulder.

"Evie!"

A shiver goes through me and I turn around.

To my utter amazement, three people are running toward me.

Steph, Brad, and —

I must be hallucinating.

"Adam?"

Steph and Brad hold back while Adam, gasping for breath, approaches, keeping a respectful distance.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, stunned.

"I needed to see you."

I shake my head in disbelief. How is Adam here?

I find my voice. It's weak. "Why?" I whisper.

Adam runs a nervous hand through his hair. "Well, for two reasons."

Everyone in our immediate area is watching us, the boarding line has slowed with passengers caught up in the soap opera.

"First," Adam says, "I need to apologize. I should have intervened when my family blamed you for the hoax we pulled on them. I'm so sorry for letting you down."

He looks achingly vulnerable. Just like me. Tears sting my eyes. "I forgive you. We were faking."

Adam shakes his head. "I stopped faking a long time ago."

The words are a direct shot to my heart. I pause, unsure if all of this is a dream. If it is, I would stay asleep forever.

I take a tentative step forward, testing reality. "What's the second reason you're here?"

In a millisecond, Adam closes the gap between us, his expression intense. "I am madly in love with you, Evie Lawson. For real. I only hope you feel the same way."

I can't believe what I'm hearing. I swallow hard, "You do?"

Adam's face is inches away from mine. He smells of minty toothpaste. He's staring at my mouth.

"When did you fall for me?" I ask. "When I nearly pushed you off the mountaintop?"

Adam's lips lift upward into that devilishly sexy grin. "Maybe a little after that."

A rush of warmth fills my insides. Something occurs to me. "I thought you don't fly."

His face is dead serious. "I don't."

"You flew across the country for me?"

Adam nods and lowers his voice. "In a snowstorm. I probably broke the hand of the old lady sitting next to me."

The gate agent speaks up. "Ma'am? We're about to close the boarding door."

I look up. Without realizing it all the passengers are gone.

I don't move a muscle. Adam's eyes are pinning me to the spot. "Why are you going to Reno?" he asks.

"Because . . . you."

"Me?" he says,

"I have a speech."

He raises an amused brow. Breathlessly, he says, "Please, let's hear it."

I sense the gate agent leaning in closer.

I gaze deep into his soulful eyes. "When I met you, I had just turned fifty. Up there on Cloud's Rest I was taking stock of what I accomplished in my life. Two remarkable sons, a successful career, a cute apartment, wonderful friends. But despite my good fortune, I knew deep inside that something was missing. Something visceral.

"I missed having a partner to share my good fortune. Not any partner. Someone who inspires me, believes in me, understands me. Someone to pull me from my comfort zone with new adventures, passion . . . and love."

"I do all that for you?" he asks, brushing a stray tear from my cheek.

I nod, amazed I just said all that aloud. "It sounded much better in my head."

In the background, I hear a heavy door being closed.

Adam and I stare at each other, the sense of anticipation nearing a crescendo.

"It was perfect," he says, "but there's one thing I need to do before anything else."

I feel butterflies in my stomach, every nerve ending on fire.

Instinctively, I place my hands behind his neck and draw him closer. "I love you, too, Adam. With all my heart."

Adam's gaze turns fierce as he wraps his arms around my waist, causing goosebumps up and down my arms as he lowers his head.

And then the dam breaks open. Adam's mouth is on mine, his hungry lips insatiable.

I kiss him with every ounce of my being, my heart taking flight. Passion flames within me, my fears engulfed as if they never existed.

When we pull apart, the gate agent is staring at us, her jaw on the floor.

Steph and Brad are grinning broadly. They wave enthusiastically and walk away, heading for their gate to Madrid.

I am still in Adam's arms when I say, "Looks like my flight is leaving without me. So, what now?"

Adam takes my hand and brings it to his lips. "Any chance I can talk you into another road trip?"

Laughter mixes with tears as Adam guides me away from the gate.

"Sounds like another adventure. Lead the way."