Love at First Flight by Marie Force Read Free Book Online Page A

eyes were wide, her lips swollen,
and it was all he could do not to drag her back against him for more.
    “Good night.”
    He waited until she was inside before he
returned to the car. Arriving at home nearly an hour later, he could still
taste her on his lips. What was it about
her?

    ***

    A second round of applause pulled
Michael back to the engagement party. He looked down at Paige and was surprised
by a flood of tenderness. Thinking back to the day they met reminded him of why
he was here tonight celebrating their engagement. He had loved her since that
first day, maybe even from that first moment when their eyes met across the
crowded room at the dean's house.
    He kissed her as the orchestra played
the final notes of the song he quoted in his proposal when he'd asked her what
she was doing the rest of her life.
    Responding to his unexpected kiss, Paige
seemed almost startled.
    The Admiral's booming voice ended the
moment. “Don't they make a fine-looking couple?”
    Their guests applauded.
    Eleanor, lovely in a mauve evening gown,
stood next to her husband.
    “Paige's mother and I would like to
propose a toast to our daughter and future son-in-law. I'm proud to say I was
with Paige when she met Michael four years ago. He's a fine young man, and we
look forward to welcoming him into our family. Eleanor and I were delighted by
their engagement, and we're pleased you all could join us tonight to celebrate.
Now, you know Paige is our only child, so we've been known to dote on her a
bit.”
    That's
putting it mildly ,
Michael thought, keeping an arm around her.
    “The idea of her getting married and
moving away breaks our hearts, especially when there are sure to be
grandchildren before too long,” the Admiral said with a guffaw. The guests
applauded again.
    Michael looked down to find Paige's
cheeks pink with embarrassment.
    “Anyway, I think we might have a
solution to this geographical problem, but before we get into that, I ask you
to raise your glasses in a toast to Paige and Michael. We wish you a long and
happy marriage that's blessed with many, many children!”
    “Hear, hear,” the guests chimed in.
    Because he knew he was expected to,
Michael touched his champagne glass to Paige's and kissed her. His stomach took
a nervous dip when the attorney general joined Admiral and Mrs. Simpson on the
stage. What's this?
    Derek Gantley shook hands with the
Admiral and stepped up to the microphone. “Congratulations to the happy couple.
Michael, I've been impressed with your work in Maryland, especially on the
Benedetti case. There's an assistant attorney general position opening up in
Jacksonville, and I'd love to have you come to work with me. What do we think?
Wouldn't Michael make a fine addition to the Florida team?”
    As the guests applauded, Michael's arm
dropped from Paige's shoulders.
    “I know you've got more important things
on your mind tonight, Michael, but I look forward to talking with you soon,”
Gantley said, shaking hands again with the Admiral.
    “How about that?” the Admiral asked with
glee.
    Michael heard nothing but the roar of
anger. “Did you know about this?” he asked Paige.
    “I thought you'd be happy about it.”
    “You thought wrong,” he said, making no
effort to hide his fury. “I need some air.” He headed for the French doors that
led to a terrace overlooking the golf course. One person after another called
out their congratulations. Nodding politely, he didn't stop until he was outside.
On the terrace he paced back and forth, trying to control the anger. Goddamn it! What a fucking operator the
Admiral is! He knew that by having the A.G. offer the job publicly, he made it
all but impossible for me to say no.
    Paige joined him on the terrace. “Michael?
Michael, honey, please don't be mad.”
    He shook her hand off his shoulder. “This
is how it's going to be, isn't it?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Your father will say 'jump,' and I'll
be expected to ask, 'how