The Hunt (28 page)

The pilot’s voice came on over the intercom before I could craft a diplomatic response. “We’re next in line for takeoff, ladies and gentlemen, and we’re looking at clear skies. It should be smooth sailing all the way to Las Vegas. Flight attendants, please take your seats.”

“Wait.” I grabbed Peter’s arm. “Stop them. We’re on the wrong plane.”

“No, we’re not.”

“But this plane is going to Las Vegas.”

“So are we.”

“But we’re supposed to be going to New York.”

“There’s something I thought we could do in Vegas, first.”

“What do you want to do in Vegas?” Had Peter developed a gambling problem without my noticing? Or a strange need to see Celine Dion in concert?

He reached over and took my hand, and then he cleared his throat. “Well, I thought we could get married.”

“You mean, elope?”

“Uh-huh. It’ll be fun.”

I looked at him, stunned and temporarily speechless. “One thing I learned this weekend is to be very, very nervous about anything you think will be fun.”

“This won’t involve any physical activity, I promise. At least, not the sort of physical activity you’re worried about. And you can wear your new dress.”

“Have you learned nothing this weekend?” I asked. “Peter. You don’t want to marry me. You just don’t realize it yet.”

“Of course I want to marry you. I’m in love with you. I thought we had that all settled. Have you changed your mind? Don’t you want to marry me?”

“No, I do. It’s just that I’m so wrong for you. You need someone normal.”

He stared at me in amazement. “Why do you think I love you?” he asked.

“I have no idea,” I admitted.

“Do you know how normal my life was before I met you? With my normal family and my
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normal friends and my normal job? It was like living in black-and-white. Until I met you.

Suddenly I was living in color, and I don’t want that ever to end.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he said.

He leaned in to kiss me, and the plane thundered down the runway, gathering speed before lifting off the ground.

THE HUNT

A Red Dress Ink novel

ISBN: 978-1-4268-0952-1

© 2007 by Jennifer Sturman.

All rights reserved. The reproduction, transmission or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission. For permission please contact Red Dress Ink, Editorial Office, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada M3B 3K9.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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