Harbour Falls (A Harbour Falls Mystery #1)(28)

Nothing could have prepared me for the breathtaking sight of Adam dressed in an impeccably tailored black suit; crisp, white button-down shirt; black silk tie; and a pair of what I was sure were exorbitantly expensive black dress shoes. I looked up and caught Adam’s deep blue eyes darkening as they oh so slowly descended down the curves of my body appraisingly.

After a moment of pretty much blatantly ogling me, Adam raised his unapologetic gaze to meet mine. A surge of warmth coursed through my veins, while a crooked, knowing smile played at his lips. “Maddy,” he said in a velvety voice, “you look absolutely ravishing tonight.”

“Thank you, Adam,” I replied, thinking the same thing applied to him. But I kept it to myself; he was cocky enough.

Adam’s eyes stayed on mine for a beat longer than necessary, making me wonder if he could guess all the sinful things I’d already dreamt of doing to him. See, cocky enough, I thought, looking away.

Adam extended his hand in a formal gesture. “Are you ready?” he asked. “Walker is back at the hangar, and Boston awaits.”

“Walker?” I questioned, picking up my black velvet clutch in one hand, while placing the other in Adam’s. The name was familiar; Oh yeah, I read it in the case files. Walker was the name of Trina’s boyfriend back then. Could it be the same guy?

“Walker will be flying us to Boston tonight,” Adam answered as we walked to his car.

He opened the passenger door for me, moving his free hand to the small of my back. “Would this be the same Walker who once dated your sister?” I asked, sliding into the car.

Adam looked down at me, scrutinizing my face briefly. Oops, Adam had never mentioned that bit of information before. As he closed the car door, I heard him mumble under his breath in annoyance, “Helena.”

Nope, Adam, it wasn’t Helena who told me, I thought to myself.

Adam slid into the driver’s seat and turned the ignition. As the powerful engine roared to life, he responded, “Yes, it’s the same Walker, but he’s not just my sister’s boyfriend anymore; he’s her fiancé. In fact, they’re getting married in the spring.”

“And he’s your pilot?” I asked. “I thought you flew your own plane?”

“I do, usually. Walker’s a commercial pilot by trade, but he helps me out when I’d rather be focusing my attention…let’s say, elsewhere.”

“Oh,” I said, fidgeting slightly.

“Like tonight,” Adam added, flashing me a dazzling smile before placing the car in reverse and peeling out of my driveway.

Driving to his private runway, which was located on the far east side of his property, took only minutes with Adam behind the wheel.

“Maddy,” he chuckled when we pulled to a merciful stop at the end of the runway. “I sure hope you’re more comfortable with flying.” Adam nodded to my iron grip on the passenger door handle.



“You’re not flying the plane tonight, right?” I inquired, only half-mocking.

“Ha-ha. Funny girl,” Adam replied as he smoothly exited the car, just as graciously as he’d gotten in.

A Gulfstream III corporate jet sat idling on the runway, bright lights blazing against the backdrop of a teal and charcoal-streaked twilight sky. A smaller Cessna aircraft, most likely the plane Walker flew in on, was visible in the open hangar to the right of the runway.

Adam opened my car door and once again offered me his hand. “Nervous?” he asked.

“About?”

“Flying, of course.” Adam caressed the back of my hand with his thumb. “What else would I mean, Madeleine?” he added with a wink.

“Ha-ha. Funny boy,” I retorted, throwing his earlier words back at him as I swung my legs out of the Porsche in such a way as to afford him an eyeful of thigh. He sure was in fine form tonight, but so was I.

Adam’s eyes raked up the full length of my body. A wicked grin spread across his face as I steadied myself on my heels. “Are you coming, Maddy?” Adam asked in a low, husky voice, leaning in close enough for me to see the mischievousness in his eyes.

Guess two could play at the innuendo game. I blinked up at him as he straightened to his full height. “Coming?” he asked again, this time with no hint of sexual innuendo. But my mind was still replaying the way he’d said it the first time.

“Uh-huh.” I nodded weakly.

Adam laughed, and then we made our way across the runway. “So you really own this jet?” I asked as we reached the base of the aircraft’s metal stairs.

“I really do,” Adam replied.

“Impressive,” I whispered to myself because, really, it just was.

Walker met us at the top of the stairs, and while Adam engaged him in weather condition and flight path-related conversation, I craned my neck so I could glimpse into the cabin interior.



Wow! The jet was equipped with all the expected—as well as some unexpected—passenger luxuries. Plush, oversized leather seats lined the sides of the cabin, some with small tables between them, bolted down to the floor of the plane, of course. Fresh-cut flowers in crystal vases topped most all of the tables, an obvious addition for tonight.

There was one longer table situated in front of two connecting seats that bore a closer resemblance to a loveseat than to any kind of standard aircraft seating. Atop that particular table, a bowl of fresh fruit, a bottle of iced champagne, and two flutes rested.