Epilogue
As it turned out, their first date was at the big table in Isa’s parents’ backyard with her whole family joining them. She’d had to move back in with her parents until she could find a new apartment that allowed big dogs, because, after everything they’d been through, there was no way she could give Maya away.
As it also turned out, getting back on an airplane wasn’t nearly as easy for her as Nate seemed to have hoped. So, apart from one road trip to Fresno to meet his parents, Nate had flown his new plane to Anaheim once a week or so to spend time with her.
That was great…for now. But they needed a long-term solution to their long-distance relationship, and she wasn’t sure what it would be. She couldn’t imagine leaving the Los Angeles area and her family behind, but sometimes love involved compromise, and her love for Nate had only grown in the months since they’d been rescued.
The doorbell rang, and she hurried to answer it.
Nate stood there in khaki slacks and a periwinkle-blue button-down shirt, looking so handsome, her heart did a little dance in her chest. My man. How did she get so lucky?
“You look gorgeous,” he said, leaning in to kiss her. “I’m still not used to seeing you all dressed up like this.”
She blushed, running her hands over the front of her dress. “Thanks. I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah.” He’d called earlier and asked her to pack an overnight bag, and she couldn’t wait to find out where they were going.
“I’ve got big plans for us tonight.” He threaded his fingers in hers and drew her up against him. “And, if you’re willing, I’d really like to start by taking you up in my new plane.”
Her throat constricted painfully. “Nate, I don’t—”
“Just try. That’s all I ask. At least sit inside it. If that’s all you want to do today, we’ll drive instead of fly, but San Diego’s a two-hour drive.” He lifted his eyebrows meaningfully.
San Diego. “Our fantasy date.”
“It’s about damn time, don’t you think?”
She nodded, her throat gone dry. “Yes.”
“Flying time’s about forty-five minutes. We have dinner reservations at that Italian place I was telling you about, right on the waterfront.”
“Dinner, and then a romantic stroll on the beach,” she said softly.
“And then to our hotel room overlooking the ocean.”
“Ooh la la!” Andrea said from behind them, giving Isa a playful slap on the shoulder.
“Let’s get out of here.” Isa grabbed her purse and her overnight bag before her whole family barged in on them. “Bye!” she called over her shoulder to her sister.
“Have fun,” Andrea replied, still grinning.
Isa followed Nate to the car. Twenty minutes later, they were walking out onto the tarmac, headed for a shiny silver deathtrap of a plane. It all felt a little too familiar.
“We won’t be flying over any mountains today,” he said, hooking an arm around her shoulders. “In fact, I plan to take us down the coastline all the way. Beautiful views.”
“Mm-hmm.” She swallowed hard. “Nate—”
“Just sit inside, Isa.” He squeezed her hand the way he’d done so many times when they were lost in the woods together.
“Okay.” She walked toward the passenger door and climbed inside, her heart fluttering like a hummingbird. “It looks just like your other plane.”
“Nah.” He climbed into the pilot’s seat beside her. “This one’s got some snazzy new features. I’d love to show them off for you.”
She clutched the leather armrest, remembering the deafening silence once the engine had stopped over the Sierra Nevadas. The way her life had flashed before her eyes as they prepared to crash. The boom when he’d pulled the parachute. The hard slam of the plane into the lake. Her throat closed up, and a cold sweat broke out across her body.
“Isa,” Nate said quietly, giving her hand another squeeze. “The woman I fell in love with bravely faced every hardship that came our way out there in those mountains. You led the way even when things got so tough, most people would have given up. You survived crash-landing in the mountains in the middle of a forest fire. Today’s flight will be boring by comparison, I promise you.”
She didn’t speak, couldn’t speak.
“Sweetheart, you’re the strongest, bravest woman I know. You can do this, but I’m also happy to drive if you’re not ready.”
She looked over at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes and the love stamped all over his face. “Okay,” she said finally. “Let’s do it.”
“You just made me a very happy man.” He leaned in to give her a scorching kiss. When he lifted his head, his expression had glazed over with lust. “I’ve never made out in my plane before. Need to do it more often.”
“Yes.” She managed a smile, her heart racing now as much from desire as fear.
He was right. She could do this. It was ridiculous to let herself be ruled by an irrational fear. She’d already lived through the worst-case scenario. Now it was time to learn to enjoy something that was such a huge part of Nate’s life.
She distracted herself by fantasizing about the evening to come while he talked to Air Traffic Control and guided them out to the runway.
“Hang on, sweetheart,” he said with a smile as the plane picked up speed. “It’s going to be worth it. Trust me.”
“I do,” she whispered, clutching at his arm as they barreled down the runway. When the plane lifted into the air, her stomach dropped, and her head started to spin. “Nate!”
“You’re doing great.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll take your hand just as soon as I get us up.”
“Don’t you dare take your hands off the controls,” she gasped, smiling involuntarily.
“I would never endanger you, Isa.”
“Did you order wine and chocolate-covered strawberries?” she asked breathlessly, trying to distract herself from the incessant flopping sensation in her stomach.
“Sure did.” He grinned at her. “And a few other things.”
“Other things?” She gasped as the plane banked to the left.
“I have a few surprises planned for tonight.”
Something about the way he said it made her stomach clench in a totally different way. “I like surprises.”
“Glad to hear it.”
After a few minutes, the plane leveled out. The California coastline glistened beneath them like something out of a painting, with miniature waves rolling against an endless stretch of sand. It was beautiful. She blew out several long, slow breaths as her heart rate returned to normal.
“Nothing sexier than the sight of you here in my plane,” Nate said, his voice low and gruff.
She laughed. “Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m not.” He shot her a heated look. “Two of my favorite things, together again at last. Wasn’t sure when I’d get to see it.”
“You were right. It’s not so bad now that we’re up here.”
“Quite a view.” He nodded toward the crystalline coastline below.
“Yes.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Hell, Isa. I had this all planned out, but I can’t wait.” He reached into his back pocket, sliding something onto his palm. “The sight of you up here…in my plane… I can’t think of a more perfect time or place.”
“For what?” she asked, her pulse kicking back up because the look on his face was more intense than she’d ever seen.
He turned in his seat, and oh my God, he was holding a ring box! Her heart swooped, much like the plane had done when it left the runway. He opened the box to reveal a dazzling diamond ring inside. “Isabel Delgado, I had no idea how my life was going to change when I took you and Maya on that rescue flight. We got thrown in over our heads, and a lot of people might have ended up hating each other after some of the things we went through, but every challenge only brought us closer together.”
Tears spilled over her eyelids.
“You convinced me to give love a second chance, and I’ve never been happier. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and say you’ll be my wife?”
“Yes.” She flung her arms around him, knocking off his headset as she kissed him like crazy. Her elbow whacked one of the plane’s controls, and it lurched beneath them. She squeaked in terror.
“No worries, sweetheart.” He reached around her to steady them. Then he slid the ring onto her finger. “Fucking beautiful.” He ran his thumb over her finger where his ring now sat.
“It’s gorgeous. It’s—oh.” On either side of the diamond, tiny butterflies had been engraved in the gold band. Like her grandmother’s ring…
“I went to see your parents, to get their blessing,” Nate said. “And your mother gave me that diamond. It had been part of a necklace of your grandmother’s. She thought I might like to have it for your ring.”
Tears splashed down her cheeks. “It’s perfect.”
“I’ve been making some changes at Sequoia Group this month, arranging to move our office space from San Francisco to Los Angeles. We can buy a house together in Anaheim, with a big backyard for Maya.”
“Yes.” Yes, yes, yes!
“She won’t have snow, but we can fly north for a vacation any time you like.”
“I think—” She blew out a breath, tearing her gaze from her new ring to look into Nate’s eyes. “I couldn’t imagine anything better.”