Carly sat on the airplane in the cushy leather seat, waiting for Jeff. She’d never flown business class before and had been shocked when the flight attendant directed her to that section. Only two seats per side, plus a complimentary digital tablet, drinks and food. She could get used to this.

She sipped a dirty martini, getting more nervous by the minute, wondering if Jeff had decided not to go with her.

Correction. He wasn’t going with her. He had provided her with a flight over, but he was staying in a hotel and Carly would be going to the Airbnb apartment she’d booked on the Net. They might not see each other again until the flight home.

Geez. When had she become such a wimp? She’d been on her own since she was eighteen, because her mother had to rely on her completely when she got sick. Carly didn’t need Jeff to hold her hand.

Not that she wouldn’t like it. She smiled to herself replaying the way he’d wrapped his two hands around hers when he thanked her for getting him home.

“Bonsoir.”

Carly looked up to see Jeff headed her way. She’d never seen him without a suit jacket, since he usually came directly from his medical office to The Sandcastle. Today he wore jeans and a casual button-down shirt and she could clearly see his slim hips and tapered torso. He moved like an athlete and emanated a sex appeal that made her pulse race and unfortunately also froze her brain.

He’d never made any kind of flirtatious move toward her, and she hoped that was because he’d been in a committed relationship up until now.

But had he made up with his fiancée? Not likely since he didn’t ask for the ticket back and he was here alone.

Jeff put his carry-on bag in the overhead cabinet and slid into his seat. He smelled great, a combination of lavender and citrus, and she had trouble trying not to imagine him in the shower. His sleeves were rolled up and his forearms were so sexy. She’d noticed his hands before. They looked strong but skilled, articulate, if a person could say that about hands. She bet he was a good surgeon.

“Did you do a surgery today?” she asked.

He grinned, white teeth and full lips stealing her attention. “Yes, I did a knee replacement this morning.”

“Eek. That sounds scary. But I’ll bet you’re good.”

She hadn’t meant for her voice to dip into double entendre with the last comment, but apparently it had, because Jeff held her gaze a moment with a sultry look the likes of which she’d never seen from him. Then he said, “I am,” in a tone that woke up all her lady parts.

The flight attendant came by and asked Jeff what he would like to drink. He ordered a beer, then turned to Carly. “You’d think after Wednesday night I’d never drink again.”

She shrugged. “I’ve learned to never say never. Hell, I thought I’d never make it to Paris, and here I am going there. Thank you, Jeff.”

“Hey, you saved my butt. I owe you.” The attendant brought his beer and he held it up to her. “Besides, I hate to see good things go to waste, like that extra ticket I had.” He tapped her glass. “Here’s to Carly in Paris.”

“And Jeff,” she added. They drank, eyes on each other, and she had to ask… “How did the dinner with your parents go? Did you tell them what happened?”

Jeff recounted some things from the tense dinner at his parents’ house. “Finally I asked her to come outside with me to talk. Let’s just say it wasn’t the friendliest of discussions. But in the end I agreed to give it a week before making any final decision.”

Carly’s heart sank. She managed to say, “That’s a mature way to approach it.”

“Maybe. Some of the things she said during our conversation made me certain I will never change my mind.” He smirked. “But as you said: never say never.”

“Yep, gotta watch out for those nevers,” she joked.

The captain announced they were ready for takeoff, and as Carly fastened her seatbelt, her silly dream of Jeff falling in love with her during this trip already smashed to bits, she reminded herself of the one “never” that had become the theme song of her life—never wish for things you know you can’t have.

Jeff’s emotions churned inside. He felt guilty for the strange combination of affection and desire that surged through him sitting so close to Carly. But as the night wore on and they talked about anything and everything, his idea of this trip to Paris being a gift to her transformed. He realized having Carly here was also a gift to him. After the mud he’d been rolling in thanks to Peyton, Carly was like a fresh mountain spring that was miraculously healing his wounds. Not to mention opening his eyes.

A conversation he’d once had with his sister came to mind:

“It’s so one-sided, Jeff. Peyton never gives back. You’re always the one nurturing her and taking care of her.”

“I like to take care of people. That’s why I became a doctor.”

“Sorry, bro, but that doesn’t work in a relationship that’s supposed to last forever. Not getting what you need from your partner will mean trouble down the road.”

After only a couple hours with Carly, the give and take and easy rapport between them made him question his judgment over the last couple years with Peyton.

Of course, he’d been around the block enough to know the danger of a rebound relationship and told himself to be careful of that, to not use Carly in any way. She deserved better.

That didn’t mean he couldn’t appreciate the way her skin glowed and her wide-set gray eyes sparkled. She didn’t have an athlete’s body, but he could tell she jogged or something since she had a fit and healthy look. Okay, so he couldn’t take his eyes off her pretty legs. He told himself it was because he’d never seen her in a dress before.

The first time he’d walked into The Sandcastle he’d gone straight for her place at the bar, her beauty and sunny glow drawing him with such force. At the time he believed it was just the effect of being tired after a stressful day, but as the weeks passed he often got himself through a tough day by dangling the carrot of seeing Carly as he reward. Imagining sitting near her and basking in her great vibes and watching her sexy body move around behind the bar, listening to her take on the latest movies or music or sports event. She was so intelligent, funny, and warm.

Most of all, he loved that Carly had an appreciation for simple day-to-day things that most people just didn’t have.

Like the way she savored each bite of the salmon dinner they were served. The problem for Jeff was that her lips looked more delicious than anything on his plate. Well, he wasn’t sure how to deal with that.

She noticed him watching her and blushed, which only made her more beautiful.

He dodged the awkward moment by asking, “Did you grow up in the North Fork?”

“Yes, I’m from Greenport where I live. I share an apartment with Taylor. Remember the redheaded waitress at the bistro?”

“Sure. Do your parents still live there?”

She patted her mouth with her napkin, a funny look in her eyes. “My father died when I was ten and my mom passed away when I was twenty.”

“I’m so sorry.” His hand automatically touched her forearm. He meant the gesture to be sympathetic, but the jolt of something much more going through him had his mind going to places it shouldn’t. He pulled back and cleared his throat. “Didn’t you say you had no brothers or sisters?”

“Right.”

“So, did an aunt or uncle take you in?”

“Nope. Been on my own since then.” She shrugged and Jeff worried that he’d touched delicate territory.

“I’m sorry if I brought up a painful subject.”

“It’s okay. It was a long time ago, five years,” she said, but her voice was a mere whisper.

He stared at her, unable to hide his respect. “No wonder you have such a strong character. You’re amazing.”

There was that blush again, making her cheekbones pink. Her lips parted and he wanted so badly to lean forward and kiss them.

She must have sensed it because she broke the moment, saying, “You grew up in the North Fork too?”

“At the other end. In North Cove.”

“Tell me about your family.”

Jeff swallowed the last of the quinoa that was served with the salmon, but he left the green beans. “My dad was the son of a struggling farmer, but after winning Olympic triathlon gold and a few lucrative product endorsements, he turned the family potato farm into a thriving vineyard, married his high school sweetheart, and bought up neighboring farms over the years.”

“Wait a sec. I’ve been to Rocklyn Winery. In the summer the girls at work get together and we do stuff like the vineyard wine-tasting tours. So that’s your family’s place?”

He nodded. “I was lucky to have a childhood on about seventy acres. There’s also a small orchard and some vegetable crops. And a path that leads to a small beach on the Sound.”

“Wow. But you didn’t want to go into the wine business yourself?”

“Nah. My oldest brother, Matt, lives it and breathes it. He studied viticulture and enology at Cornell and runs the vineyard and winery with my father. He even married a NoFo girl who’s the child of another local vineyard family.”

“How many siblings did you say you have?”

“Three brothers. My twin sister, Kendra, and I are the youngest, although I’m not so young anymore.”

“Actually, I was thinking you look kind of young to be a surgeon.”

He tilted his head. “In a family of rabid athletes, I was the egghead, although my dad’s version of boot camp was mandatory for all of us. I graduated high school at fifteen and went directly into pre-med and med school and then my ortho residency.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty. You’re twenty-five?”

“Uh-huh.” The attendant cleared their trays and set down the apple pie and coffee they had ordered for dessert. “This is as good as a real restaurant.”

He loved the way she dug right in. “The perks of flying business class.”

“So, what do your other brothers do? Are they still in the area?”

“We all stuck close to home. Grant has a cottage at one end of the vineyard that’s his. He helps my father market the wines, but his true love is working with animals.”

“Is he a vet?”

“No. He hated school. He’s more a hands on type. He keeps a stable and corral for rescue horses.”

“He sounds interesting.”

“Uh-oh. I’m getting jealous.”

She laughed. “I’ve heard you mention a brother named Tucker?”

“Yeah. Tucker’s half charmer, half clown and so hyper he has to run or bike several miles a day just to wind down. He lives in a small beach house on the Sound and runs a shop where he rents out bikes and kayaks and paddle boards and gives lessons and tours.”

“And your twin was the only girl?”

He nodded. “Kendra was a real tomboy. Guess she still is. She was a gymnast and a pro dancer, but she injured her knee.”

“A replacement candidate?”

He chuckled. “No, at least not yet. She quit and is just teaching dance and studying marine biology, so maybe her knee will heal and she won’t need one as she ages.” He stirred sugar into his coffee. “Not sure if I want this coffee to keep me up or if it would be better to sleep.”

“I can drink ten cups and still sleep. Maybe I’m immune from drinking so much of it tending bar at night.”

She wasn’t exaggerating. Twenty minutes later, Carly was fast asleep. The best part? She’d drooped toward him and her head lay on his shoulder. He could feel her silky blond hair on his cheek if he turned his head.

He asked the attendant for a blanket and he covered her, trying not to imagine what it would be like to lie next to her in a bed. To hold her in his arms. To have her sleek legs wrapped around him as he plunged into her.

Whoa. Stop.

Where was he going with this?

That was the question his sister had asked him on the phone when he called her from the limo on his way to the airport. He’d originally just thought to do something nice for Carly and nothing more. That was what he told Kendra. She was the only one who knew about Carly taking this trip with him. And Kendra had responded to the news with a mix of caution and encouragement.

“You know I’d love to see you find someone other than Peyton,” Kendra had said. “Don’t ask me why you are even considering giving her a second chance after what she did. She’s never been good for you and I guarantee if you go back to her you’ll only end up sliced and diced. That said, I can hear in the way you talk about this Carly that you already feel something for her. So keep your eyes open, bro. Your emotions are raw and ready. This kind of thing can ignite into flames quickly, taking you either to heaven or hell.”