“Yes, you are,” Tom repeats himself as we take off for Huntsville and are currently flying over Clover.

“No, I’m not,” I say as I look down and see the beauty of this town.

“You doing okay back there, buddy?” Tom asks.

Last night when we got back, I let Tom give Mason the news about today. Mason was first just excited to see Tom, but was overjoyed when he told him we would be flying today to the museum. I don’t know which he was looking forward to more, the museum or the flying.

“Yes, this is awesome. Mommy, look how small the town is now,” Mason says.

“I see that, sweetheart.” I smile, looking over at Tom.

“Olivia, it’s perfectly safe. Don’t you trust me?” he asks, taking us back to our discussion.

“Trust you, yes. Willing to jump out of a plane with you? No,” I joke. Only it’s no joke, really. I’m too chicken.

“Why not?”

“It’s dangerous.”

“No more dangerous than driving a car or walking down the street.”

“You’re a pilot. Why would you want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane?” I try the logical approach.

“Because it’s fun.” He grins.

“I’ll jump with you, Tom, I’m not scared,” Mason says. Sometimes I wish I had my son’s courage.

“Thank you, buddy. We will one day.”

“No way. He’s too young.”

“Then you go, so you can tell him all about it when he is old enough to go.”

“Please, Mommy, I want to see you jump out of a plane,” Mason pleads. Now it’s two against one.

“That is so not fair.” I look at Tom.

“Please, Mommy,” Mason says again. He knows just the right tone to use, to get his way. I’m a pushover.

“I can’t believe this.” I smile, shaking my head.

“Believe what?” Tom chuckles.

“That I’m about to say yes.” I shake my head and look out the window.

“Yay, Mommy!” Mason cheers.

“I agree with you, Mason. Yay, Mommy!”

Monday morning comes too quickly after a great weekend. Earlier in the morning, the local florist dropped off a beautiful bouquet of flowers. I quickly look at the card—they are from Tom.

Thank you for the wonderful weekend. I look forward to many more. Love Tom.

Mason, Tom, and I had a wonderful time in Huntsville on Saturday, visiting the rocket museum. As I held Mason’s hand, Tom held my other hand. It was like we were a family. Hardly a moment went by where Tom and I wouldn’t touch each other. Whether it was holding hands, a casual touch on the shoulder or back, a side hug or a full hug, we grew more affectionate the longer we were in each other’s company. He even joined Mason and me at church on Sunday, as we made yet another appearance together in public. It would definitely be confirmed now that Tom Sullivan is seeing Olivia Kennedy.

But we haven’t kissed yet, which I have to admit, is both interesting and extremely frustrating. I know I pushed the whole let’s take things slow deal, but there were so many moments that were perfect for that first kiss. Yet Tom has not made a move.

It had me wondering if my breath was bad, so I made sure anytime I was in his company this weekend that my teeth were freshly brushed or I was at least chewing gum or had mints in my mouth. I had minty fresh breath all weekend and he never once took advantage of it.

Maybe he wants me to make the first move? I wonder as I try to check back in returned books. Since he knows I haven’t been with a man since my husband, maybe he is unsure if it’s okay yet to kiss me. I look over at Amy who is helping our romance book lover, Ms. Riley find a book she has been hunting for. Maybe I should ask her opinion. It’s obvious with her growing family that there is a lot of kissing going on at her house.

“You won’t believe what Ms. Riley just told me a second ago,” Amy whispers as she comes up to me at the counter. She is using the voice she has anytime she hears some juicy gossip.

“Okay, I’ll bite. What did she tell you?” I figure it’s probably something about one of the many residents who I know nothing about.

“It seems that Tom Sullivan was overheard saying to someone how he is going to marry you.”

“What?”

“Have you been holding out on me? I didn’t even know y’all were that serious yet.”

“I’m not. I mean, we’re not. We just started seeing each other. Who told her that? Who did he say this to?” I start interrogating her.

“Joe who owns the hardware store downtown was telling her. I don’t know where he heard it. I didn’t ask. Want me to go ask?”

“No, don’t do that.”

“So, is it true?” Amy smiles.

“No, it’s not. We are not getting married,” I declare to her.

“Too bad, I think y’all make a great couple. You look good together,” Amy says as she heads to the back.

Tom has been teasing me with marriage talk since our first date. It’s our little game, though. Someone must have overhead us and thought it was serious. Maybe Ms. Riley has it wrong. I have to go out and meet more townspeople today for donations, maybe I can do a little investigating while I’m at it, too.

“Amy, I’m out for the afternoon. Can you handle things here?”

“Sure, I got it. More donation collection for the auction?” she asks.

“Yes, hopefully. We need many more items to auction.”

“Good luck. I hope everyone chips in to help.”

“Thanks. Call me if you need me.”

As I stop by and visit local merchants, I am warmly welcomed and everyone is excited to donate something for the auction. Not only do I manage to get donations, but I am able to set up a hair appointment, a mani-pedi, and purchase a new laptop for myself.

My last stop is the local florist. I figure they can either donate a nice house plant or maybe fresh flowers each week for a month. Jeanette, who owns Clover Florist and Gift Shop, is very friendly and agrees to a donation. To show my gratitude, I buy a nice arrangement to send to Holly as congratulations on the baby. As I am paying for the flowers, Jeanette asks me a question.

“I guess you will be coming to see me again very soon?”

“I will?” I laugh at first, but not wanting to offend her, I stop. “I mean, if I need more flowers, I will most certainly come in.”

“Don’t worry, I have beautiful flowers coming in just in time for a fall wedding or even a winter wedding if you decide to wait for December. Christmas weddings are so beautiful.”

And here we go. Amy was right, people are talking. I just wonder who is spreading this gossip. I decide to play along and not act upset. This way, maybe I can get a name of the person spreading the gossip and deal with them personally.

“I haven’t decided quite yet. So, how did you hear I was getting married?”

“Tom Sullivan was in here earlier to order your flowers. He was inquiring on pricing for wedding flowers. He said he would be back soon when he decided.”

“Tom? Tom told you that?”

“Well, yeah. I mean, he didn’t really come out and just say it, but I mean, why else would he be asking about wedding flower prices, right? I also saw him walk across the street to Hawthorne Jewelers after he dropped by here this morning. I hope he is buying you a nice ring.”

“Thanks, Jeanette. We will be sure to get back to you on the flowers, and thank you for the donation.”

“Please do. Like I told Tom, I will get you guys a great price. I can’t wait for the dinner and auction. When you have flyers ready, let me know and I will put one on our door.”

“I will. Thanks again.”

I get in my car and set out for the airport. What was our private little game has taken a different turn. It seems Tom Sullivan knows how to spread more than just fertilizer.

“Tom!” I shout out in the hangar, my voice echoing my frustration. I look around but don’t see him.

“Damn, woman, you scared the crap out of me. I was working on the engine.” He walks from behind his plane, rubbing the top of his head.

“Are you hurt?” I walk toward him, my anger now subsided as worry sets in.

“Nah, just bumped my head on the cover when you shouted. No worries. Mom is always saying I’m hardheaded. I’d hug you, but I’m covered in grease. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this afternoon?” he says.

He’s being charming again, and even in dirty work overalls he is still very handsome. A part of me wouldn’t mind one bit if he got me dirty. I quickly shake my sexual frustrations off and address the reason I came by. “I need to talk to you,” I say, putting on my serious face.

“Okay, but I need to fix the trim. Can you talk while I work?” he says as he walks to the back of the plane and climbs the ladder.

I follow him, standing at the bottom of the ladder. “I need you to stop.”

“Do you want to talk in the office then?” He stops what he is doing to look down at me.

“No, you can keep working. I’m talking about you needing to stop telling people in town we are getting married.”

“I haven’t told anyone we are getting married,” he says as he makes a few adjustments.

“In this town, all you have to do is tell one person, and it spreads like wildfire.”

“I suppose that is true,” he says, obviously not as upset about the rumors as I am.

“So, please stop, okay?”

Tom stops working to look at me again. “Olivia, I haven’t told anyone we are getting married.”

“Well, you must have said something. Or someone heard us when we joked around.”

“Who cares what people say? I don’t understand what the big deal.” He laughs as he starts working again.

“Tom, I barely know you, and here you’re telling everyone we are getting married.”

“Like I said, I haven’t told anyone, and I still don’t see what the big deal is, anyway.”

“Tom, I want to believe you but Jeanette at the florist said you were asking about flowers for a wedding. She also saw you go across the street to the jewelers. How do you explain that?”

“I wish I could tell you, but I promised not to tell anyone, and I’m a man of my word. You just have to take my word for it.”

“Okay, fine, it’s some sort of misunderstanding. I just barely started dating and the whole town thinks we are engaged. You haven’t even wanted to kiss me, yet.” I accidently let that part slip out in my frustration, praying he is too busy to catch that part.

He isn’t. He stops and looks at me. I see a look in his eyes, I’ve never witnessed before. Slowly, he comes down the ladder to face me. I start stepping back slowly, but end up with my back against the wing as he continues to inch closer. I have a sudden urge to run from him, but it’s not a look of anger that I’m seeing in his eyes. It’s a look of desire. Finally, he puts his hands on the wing on each side of me, to block my escape.

“Olivia Kennedy, I have wanted to kiss you the moment I first laid eyes on you that night of the retirement dinner. You were so beautiful that night and I was immediately smitten with you. Then I saw your rings,” he says, looking down at my right hand. “That night, they were still on your left hand. I thought you were married and it was like a gut punch. I left that night, thinking I finally found the one and she was not available. Of course, my Aunt Sylvie set the record straight the next day, but I seriously thought I lost my chance.” He pauses again, stepping closer.

“Then you came to the air show with your wonderful son and I thanked God for another chance. I prayed so hard for you, and I would be devastated if I did anything to mess us up. I know you have been without your husband for a while now, but I also know you were not ready to let him go. I am hopeful as each day you show me in little ways you are ready to move forward with us.” He pauses, looking into my eyes as they start to tear up.

“First the rings.” He looks down at my hand again. “While you won’t put them away, you at least put them on your other hand. That’s a step. The fact you will let me hold your hand, softly touch your shoulder, or pull you into a hug—these are all small steps.”

He carefully reaches with his finger to touch a curl next to my face, softly touching my cheek. “Do you think it’s been easy for me? Wanting you so badly, wanting to kiss those gorgeous lips of yours? Well, I’m here to tell you, sweetheart, it hasn’t been. Trust me on that. As a pilot, I always have to focus on timing so I don’t crash and burn. It’s not time to kiss you yet, but we’re getting closer. When I feel the timing is right, I will kiss you more passionately than a man even dares to ever kiss a woman.” He pauses, leaning closer to me.

“You want to know why?” he whispers. His warm breath blowing softly on my face.

“Why?” I swallow, trying to relieve the lump growing in my throat.

“Because, the day I kiss you, there will be no turning back. You will be mine, one hundred percent, and wedding rumors will be the least of your worries.”

“What about Mason?” I whisper and break the spell he has me under.

He lets go of the wing and takes a step back. “I love that kid. I know you’re a package deal. I consider it an honor to be in his life.”

“He’s growing very fond of you, too.” I smile, wishing he would just take me in his arms right now.

“I better get back to this plane for Pops. I promised to help him spray tomorrow.”

“Tom,” I call to him quietly with a yearning that I haven’t felt for a man in a long time.

“Yeah?”

“Would you like to come to dinner tonight?”

“Love to.”