was a little more than intimate. We both know more about each other than couples who meet after two dates. I know you’ve been checking me out and researching all about me and I’ve been doing the same with you. I just didn’t know we would meet so soon in this way.” “ Yes, which brings us back to your needing a wife.” His jaw clenched and he looked away disgusted. Had she said the wrong thing? She’d hit a nerve hadn’t she? They were having fun and she had to bring up this wife thing. Was he in some kind of trouble? Oh, why did she open her big stupid mouth? When will she learn to shut up? “I didn’t mean…” “It’s nothing,” he said as if trying to save the moment. “What are your plans for the next couple of weeks?” “I…um…well, I was hoping to start working at the new job.” “ The official opening is not until next month, and besides you’re not qualified.” “What makes you say that?” “Because I know.” “How do you know?” Elsie felt her muscles twitch in her face. “In the back seat, grab the Home Pleasures catalogue.” “ Sure,” Elsie said reaching back to feel the smooth heavy catalogue with pictures and descriptions of toys to pleasure its customers. “Now…when we board the plane…” “The what?” “The plane, my dear. Do you really think I’m going to drive to Niagara Falls now?” “Um…no.” He stifled a grin as he parked near a hanger of the private airport. All Elsie could think to herself was—Oh. My. God! She was going on a private plane. “ It’s 400 mile s to the Falls from here. That’s a seven hour drive. We can fly on my jet in forty-five.” “Forty-five minutes?” He nodded as he drove closer to the hanger where the Kincade A2200 awaited. God, this man oozed money and power. The sun was setting beautifully and the darkness was settling in so romantically. Elsie didn’t know what to think. She felt as if she were in some sort of weird fantasy dream or something or a movie. “So this is how you live?” “ Like what?” he said as he walked briskly towards his destination after parking his car. One of his men in a nice suit met him and greeted her also. “ You do things on the spur of the moment,” she finished. “Life is to be lived when you’re alive, my dear. You can’t do too much from the grave and you never know when you’re going to leave this beautiful world. Enjoy every second of it while you can.” She grinned sheepishly as she boarded the plane. “I have my pilot’s licence but Andre will be flying us tonight.” “ Oh, okay.” Elsie was gobsmacked. Would she have been nervous if Carlos was flying? Probably not but at least his attention could be completely on her and not on the skies. There were two pilots and one flight attendant who seemed to know Carlos very well. How often did he do this? Was she the only woman he’d brought up there? Or was this a weekly or monthly thing? “ By the way, I don’t often bring women up here.” His salacious grin melted her insides and confirmed to her that he must’ve been some sort of mind reader. She felt relieved and her deep sigh was obvious. So obvious, Carlos chuckled. His dimpled grin and smiling grey eyes sparkled and made her feel so warm in her heart. She was really beginning to enjoy this. When was the last time she’d ever done anything exciting like this? Oh, boy, Dee would be shocked if she knew what Elsie was up to now. It was true that Elsie’s mother’s last days were horrible and to think her mother worked her butt off her entire life as a single parent to provide the best for her and hadn’t lived to see the fruit of her labor. Working two jobs and never taking a vacation. Elsie squeezed her eyes shut and tried to dull the pain. That was not how she wanted to live her life. She loved her mother and wished she could have given her everything she’d deserved, including a nice long vacation…but… “What’s on your