Wrong.
He grinned as he helped her get in. “It will be my pleasure,” he said with a bow before jogging to the other side of the car and getting in.
When they arrived at the airstrip a few minutes later, she turned with suspicion. He said nothing as he jumped from the car, then came around to her side. It wasn’t until they were heading toward the helicopter that she realized he planned to take her up in the air in that death trap.
“No way!” she yelled and began to back away.
“Oh, you really need to live a little,” he said, chuckling as he lifted her into his arms and carried her the rest of the way, unceremoniously plopping her into the seat.
Before Haley could protest any further, he had her strapped in, and soon the miserable, claustrophobic contraption was lifting off into the air. She just closed her eyes and prayed they wouldn’t end up as food for the Pacific Ocean fishes.
Chapter Twelve
Haley’s arrival at Santa Catalina Island had been by ferry — a nice, safe way to travel across an ocean, she insisted to herself. And she had endured the thirty-seven-hour train trip from Seattle to Long Beach, not tempted by any airlines that promised to get her from Point A to Point B in less than three hours. She had vowed never, ever to fly in a helicopter, never wanting to have that feeling of not being in control. On the ground, if you fell, you didn’t have far to go, but way up in the sky… Splat!
She wasn’t as terrified of huge airliners as she was by tiny helicopters, which had a far higher fail rate than jets, but still, she would only fly if it were a life and death matter. Going shopping on the mainland was certainly not an emergency. It could, however, end up being a death matter if the pilot screwed up in even the smallest way.
A shudder raced through her as she listened to the rotors spin. Luckily, the ride didn’t take long. She didn’t care what Crew would attempt to say — she wouldn’t even listen. There was no way she was going back to that island unless it was by boat.
She glared at him as he assisted her from the chopper. But because her top priority was to leave those lethal wing blades far behind her, she decided to wait before letting him have it. She wanted no chance that he might force her back into that mean machine if she made him so angry, he decided to call the whole day off.
“If you ever, ever, ever even attempt to put me back in that thing, I will lose all vestiges of civilization and subject you to a quick but agonizing death,” she told him, wishing her voice had more thunder and less quiver.
When Crew stopped and looked at her, really looked, she watched his face fall, and all her outrage melted away. Dang the man for actually caring.
“I’m so sorry, Haley. I thought you just had a normal fear of flying, like most people. We’ll return by ferry.” His sincere apology soothed her, and what was better, she wouldn’t have to go back up into the sky!
Haley tried telling herself that her fears were irrational, but she just couldn’t let go. Even knowing that the chance of her plummeting to her death in a spiraling, smoking helicopter was almost nonexistent, it would still be her luck to be that one-in-a-whatever number.
“OK. Where are we?” She finally realized that they must have returned to the mainland, but she had no idea what city they were in.
“We’re in Long Beach. There are some great boutiques on the island, but I want to take you to some better stores to find a few knockout outfits, and most especially a killer dress,” he said.
Haley was worried. She’d been acting like a brat when she told him he’d have to pay, but she knew the prices in some of the stores in this area, and she didn’t want to end up blowing ten grand on some glad rags. She’d feel much better just heading to a mall and finding a Macy’s. They had great clothes and wouldn’t cost her a fortune.
No matter what she’d said on the island, she wasn’t making him pay for her clothing.
As he took her hand, leading her to another car, a nice Mercedes GL with a driver holding the back door open, she felt a knot in her stomach. She wouldn’t fight with him again unless there was a reason to.
An hour later there was definitely a reason!
*****
“Are you kidding me?! There is no way we are shopping on Rodeo Drive. I may not be the most worldly of people, but I’ve watched enough movies to know that I can’t afford to look at even the panties in any of these shops!” Haley thundered.
Crew figured he might want to let the panty comment go. Haley was fit to be tied. Anyway, he found the fire flashing from her eyes rather amusing. He also wanted to get her the perfect dress, and there was no better place than the beautiful and celebrated Rodeo Drive.
“You’re not paying, remember? That was the deal,” he reminded her.
“I wasn’t serious, Crew. I demand that you call the driver back right this minute. I don’t think people like me are even allowed to walk in front of these stores,” she hissed while tapping her foot. “Even though I’m not a hooker with a heart of gold.”
Damn, the woman was hot when she was fired up. He could press her against one of the pristine storefront windows right now and take her — well, he could if he were an exhibitionist. And wanted to have his mug shot plastered all over the Smoking Gun website.
The day was warm and her cheeks were flushed, and with her hair slightly mussed, she looked as if she’d just crawled from one hell of a lucky man’s bed.
Ignoring her Pretty Woman comment, he tried to reason with her. “Look, Haley, I’m on a mission. You can come easy or hard, but this is going to happen. I don’t change my mind once it’s made up, so what will it be?”
He waited while she seethed. She had no real choice — he’d kidnapped her for the afternoon. He’d just see whether she got over it or threw a tantrum. It was as much a test of her temperament as a mission for the perfect dress, and some indecent lingerie if he could sneak it in.
Finally, she blew out her breath, sent him one final glare, and then uncrossed her arms. It looked as if the battle was over.
“Fine. I’ll go, but I insist on paying.”
“No.”
“Then I’m not doing it.” He looked into her eyes to try and intimidate her into backing down, but it wasn’t happening. He liked her spunk. However, if she insisted on buying her clothes, he couldn’t take her where he’d originally wanted to. He wasn’t about to let her stubborn pride break her bank account.