Being in the elevator with him at her side took her right back to the urgency of their earlier encounter, making her tingle with anticipation for an entire night with him. She was trying not to think about him leaving again in the morning. That was hours from now, and she’d deal with that when she had to.

As they walked, she was careful to step properly around the art-deco design on the hotel rug that made it difficult to keep to her rituals.

“I was thinking about something on the way here earlier that I wanted to run by you,” he said when they were in their room.

“What’s that?”

“You were saying how your OCD and fear of flying are about feeling anxious when you don’t have control of a situation. What if I taught you how to fly? Then maybe you wouldn’t feel out of control when you’re on a plane.”

Erin removed her coat, hung it over the back of the desk chair and turned to him. “You want to teach me how to fly?”

“If you’d like to learn. I was joking about being an instructor last night, but I really am a qualified flight instructor, and I’d love to teach you, if you think it would help.”

“I’ve never considered that possibility.”

“Well, think about it, and let me know.” He slid his arms around her waist and looked down at her, a sexy grin making his eyes glow with mischief. “I’ve got some more errands to do. You want to help me out with that?”

She smiled up at him. “I’d love to.”

Chapter 26

Erin cried the next morning when it came time for him to leave. She wasn’t proud of the waterworks, but she couldn’t seem to help it.

“You’re killing me,” he whispered as he held her close to him. He was fully dressed and smelled delicious after a shower and a shave. She was still naked in bed, disheveled and distressed after a night she wouldn’t ever forget.

“I’m worried about you flying. You didn’t get much sleep.”

“I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me.”

“That’s like asking me not to breathe.”

Cupping her face, he kissed her. “I’ll see you soon.”

He said what she needed to hear, but they both knew it would be a while before they saw each other again. His schedule would be hectic when he went back to work, and there’d be no more sweet, sexy stolen nights for quite some time.

“Let me know when you get home?”

“You’ll be the first to know.” He wrapped her up in his strong arms and held her for a long moment.

Erin clung to him, breathing in the subtle scent of his cologne, committing it to memory.

“We’re going to figure this out. I promise you that.”