by Rachel Lacey
Nate’s first day back in the real world had not gone at all as expected, but with any luck, it was going to end well. Blowing out a breath, he raised his fist and knocked. The door to the hotel room in front of him swung open, and he found himself facing an attractive, middle-aged woman with Isa’s eyes and smile.
“You must be Mrs. Delgado,” he said.
“Yes.” She offered him a warm smile. “And who are you?”
“Nathaniel Peters, ma’am. I’m the pilot who spent the last week stranded with your daughter.”
Mrs. Delgado’s eyes brightened. “Oh, she’s been looking for you all afternoon. Come on in.”
He stepped inside, finding the room filled to bursting with Isa’s family. Isa herself was sitting in bed, looking fresh-faced and ridiculously gorgeous in a pink T-shirt and matching pajama pants, talking to a woman who had to be her sister. As he watched, she turned her head in his direction, and her mouth fell open.
“Nate!” She leaped out of bed and was halfway across the room when her gaze dropped to the dog at his side. “Oh my God, Maya!”
“We made it,” he said as she flung herself into his arms and planted a quick, chaste kiss on his lips—her whole family was watching, after all. “All three of us.”
“I am so happy right now.” She dropped to her knees to hug the dog. “I’ve been so worried about you, Maya, thinking you were still out there in that fire.”
“She made it out before we did,” Nate told her. “Spent last night in the shelter.”
“How did you find her?” Isa stood to face him, smiling, her eyes shining with happy tears.
“I asked around while we were at the hospital, and they called the shelter for me. But by the time I’d gotten her, you’d already been discharged.”
“I was afraid you’d left.” There was something fragile in her smile.
“I promised I wouldn’t.” He looked her straight in the eye. Leaving had crossed his mind, though, and frankly, he was terrified to be here in her hotel room with her family, because what if things were different now that they were back in the real world? Except every time he looked at Isa, he knew they weren’t.
“Is that what I think it is?” Her gaze fell to the big paper bag in his left hand.
“Burgers and fries.”
“With pickles? And mustard?” Her smile grew even wider.
He nodded. “You said it’s what you wanted for your first meal. I wasn’t sure how many people were here, so I brought a dozen.”
“Isa, we love him already,” one of her sisters commented from behind them, and the whole room erupted with laughter.
And so they all gathered on the two double beds, and they ate burgers and fries. They laughed, and they shared stories. He and Isa told her family about their week in the woods, and they in turn embarrassed Isa by sharing childhood stories about her with him.
They were warm and funny and obviously loved her to pieces. He didn’t know how much she’d told her family about their relationship, but they obviously knew something, and they seemed to have welcomed him with open arms.
When all the food had been eaten and stories shared, her mother stood from the bed. “Okay, I know you two need a few minutes alone to catch up, but only a few minutes.” She gave Nate a meaningful look. “She needs her rest, and I’m guessing you do too.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled at her, grateful for the opportunity.
Isa’s family shuffled toward the door.
“We’ll be in the adjoining room,” her father said with another pointed look at Nate.
As soon as the door shut behind them, he grinned. So did she. And then she was in his arms. “I’m so happy, Nate. I keep thinking I’m going to wake up and find out we’re still out there in the woods.”
“This is real, sweetheart.” He tightened his arms around her, tipping her face up to kiss her.
“They like you,” she said, nodding her head in the direction of the door her family had just left through.
“Thank goodness for that.”
“Are your parents here too?”
He shook his head. “The trip was too much for my mom, but I talked to her for about an hour on the phone this morning. I’ll go visit them in the next few days.”
“I’m glad. What happens next?” she asked, her eyes searching his.
“I’m flying home in the morning. I have to get things squared away with work. God knows what’s gone on this week without me.”
She nodded. “And then?”
“And then, I thought maybe I could fly down to Anaheim and take you on that date we talked about.”
“Yes,” she whispered against his lips. “Except the flying part.”
“You’ll fly,” he said, kissing her, losing himself in her taste, her warmth, every sweet thing that made Isa so damn special. “Because the Isabel Delgado I fell in love with doesn’t let fear boss her around.”
She inhaled sharply. “Oh! But—”
“Yes, I love you, Isa.” So much that his heart felt full every time he was in the same room with her. “You’ve turned the cynic into a believer.”
“I love you too,” she whispered, her eyes welling with tears. “So much that I’ll even agree to the possibility of flying with you on that date.”
“I like the sound of that. I’d better go now before your parents think we’re getting it on in here.” He winked at her.
Isa blushed adorably. “Okay.”
“Should I leave her with you?” He gestured to Maya, passed out on the floor by the bed in a burger-induced coma.
“Yes.”
He pulled Isa in for another kiss, then he walked toward the door. “I’ll be in touch about our first date.”
“It’s not our first date!” she said laughingly, following him.
“First official date. First of many.”
“Maybe even our last,” Isa said with a sly smile.
“Last?”
“Last first date.” She went up on her tiptoes to give him another kiss. “Because after everything we’ve already survived together, I’m not planning to give you up.”
Epilogue
As it turned out, their first date was at the big table in Isa’s parents’ backyard with her whole family joining them. She’d had to move back in with her parents until she could find a new apartment that allowed big dogs, because, after everything they’d been through, there was no way she could give Maya away.
As it also turned out, getting back on an airplane wasn’t nearly as easy for her as Nate seemed to have hoped. So, apart from one road trip to Fresno to meet his parents, Nate had flown his new plane to Anaheim once a week or so to spend time with her.
That was great…for now. But they needed a long-term solution to their long-distance relationship, and she wasn’t sure what it would be. She couldn’t imagine leaving the Los Angeles area and her family behind, but sometimes love involved compromise, and her love for Nate had only grown in the months since they’d been rescued.
The doorbell rang, and she hurried to answer it.
Nate stood there in khaki slacks and a periwinkle-blue button-down shirt, looking so handsome, her heart did a little dance in her chest. My man. How did she get so lucky?
“You look gorgeous,” he said, leaning in to kiss her. “I’m still not used to seeing you all dressed up like this.”
She blushed, running her hands over the front of her dress. “Thanks. I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yeah.” He’d called earlier and asked her to pack an overnight bag, and she couldn’t wait to find out where they were going.
“I’ve got big plans for us tonight.” He threaded his fingers in hers and drew her up against him. “And, if you’re willing, I’d really like to start by taking you up in my new plane.”
Her throat constricted painfully. “Nate, I don’t—”
“Just try. That’s all I ask. At least sit inside it. If that’s all you want to do today, we’ll d
rive instead of fly, but San Diego’s a two-hour drive.” He lifted his eyebrows meaningfully.
San Diego. “Our fantasy date.”
“It’s about damn time, don’t you think?”
She nodded, her throat gone dry. “Yes.”
“Flying time’s about forty-five minutes. We have dinner reservations at that Italian place I was telling you about, right on the waterfront.”
“Dinner, and then a romantic stroll on the beach,” she said softly.
“And then to our hotel room overlooking the ocean.”
“Ooh la la!” Andrea said from behind them, giving Isa a playful slap on the shoulder.
“Let’s get out of here.” Isa grabbed her purse and her overnight bag before her whole family barged in on them. “Bye!” she called over her shoulder to her sister.
“Have fun,” Andrea replied, still grinning.
Isa followed Nate to the car. Twenty minutes later, they were walking out onto the tarmac, headed for a shiny silver deathtrap of a plane. It all felt a little too familiar.
“We won’t be flying over any mountains today,” he said, hooking an arm around her shoulders. “In fact, I plan to take us down the coastline all the way. Beautiful views.”
“Mm-hmm.” She swallowed hard. “Nate—”
“Just sit inside, Isa.” He squeezed her hand the way he’d done so many times when they were lost in the woods together.
“Okay.” She walked toward the passenger door and climbed inside, her heart fluttering like a hummingbird. “It looks just like your other plane.”
“Nah.” He climbed into the pilot’s seat beside her. “This one’s got some snazzy new features. I’d love to show them off for you.”
She clutched the leather armrest, remembering the deafening silence once the engine had stopped over the Sierra Nevadas. The way her life had flashed before her eyes as they prepared to crash. The boom when he’d pulled the parachute. The hard slam of the plane into the lake. Her throat closed up, and a cold sweat broke out across her body.
“Isa,” Nate said quietly, giving her hand another squeeze. “The woman I fell in love with bravely faced every hardship that came our way out there in those mountains. You led the way even when things got so tough, most people would have given up. You survived crash-landing in the mountains in the middle of a forest fire. Today’s flight will be boring by comparison, I promise you.”
She didn’t speak, couldn’t speak.
“Sweetheart, you’re the strongest, bravest woman I know. You can do this, but I’m also happy to drive if you’re not ready.”
She looked over at him, seeing the sincerity in his eyes and the love stamped all over his face. “Okay,” she said finally. “Let’s do it.”
“You just made me a very happy man.” He leaned in to give her a scorching kiss. When he lifted his head, his expression had glazed over with lust. “I’ve never made out in my plane before. Need to do it more often.”
“Yes.” She managed a smile, her heart racing now as much from desire as fear.
He was right. She could do this. It was ridiculous to let herself be ruled by an irrational fear. She’d already lived through the worst-case scenario. Now it was time to learn to enjoy something that was such a huge part of Nate’s life.
She distracted herself by fantasizing about the evening to come while he talked to Air Traffic Control and guided them out to the runway.
“Hang on, sweetheart,” he said with a smile as the plane picked up speed. “It’s going to be worth it. Trust me.”
“I do,” she whispered, clutching at his arm as they barreled down the runway. When the plane lifted into the air, her stomach dropped, and her head started to spin. “Nate!”
“You’re doing great.” He gave her a reassuring smile. “I’ll take your hand just as soon as I get us up.”
“Don’t you dare take your hands off the controls,” she gasped, smiling involuntarily.
“I would never endanger you, Isa.”
“Did you order wine and chocolate-covered strawberries?” she asked breathlessly, trying to distract herself from the incessant flopping sensation in her stomach.
“Sure did.” He grinned at her. “And a few other things.”
“Other things?” She gasped as the plane banked to the left.
“I have a few surprises planned for tonight.”
Something about the way he said it made her stomach clench in a totally different way. “I like surprises.”
“Glad to hear it.”
After a few minutes, the plane leveled out. The California coastline glistened beneath them like something out of a painting, with miniature waves rolling against an endless stretch of sand. It was beautiful. She blew out several long, slow breaths as her heart rate returned to normal.
“Nothing sexier than the sight of you here in my plane,” Nate said, his voice low and gruff.
She laughed. “Now you’re being ridiculous.”
“I’m not.” He shot her a heated look. “Two of my favorite things, together again at last. Wasn’t sure when I’d get to see it.”
“You were right. It’s not so bad now that we’re up here.”
“Quite a view.” He nodded toward the crystalline coastline below.
“Yes.” She leaned over and pressed a kiss to his cheek.
“Hell, Isa. I had this all planned out, but I can’t wait.” He reached into his back pocket, sliding something onto his palm. “The sight of you up here…in my plane… I can’t think of a more perfect time or place.”
“For what?” she asked, her pulse kicking back up because the look on his face was more intense than she’d ever seen.
He turned in his seat, and oh my God, he was holding a ring box! Her heart swooped, much like the plane had done when it left the runway. He opened the box to reveal a dazzling diamond ring inside. “Isabel Delgado, I had no idea how my life was going to change when I took you and Maya on that rescue flight. We got thrown in over our heads, and a lot of people might have ended up hating each other after some of the things we went through, but every challenge only brought us closer together.”
Tears spilled over her eyelids.
“You convinced me to give love a second chance, and I’ve never been happier. Will you make me the happiest man in the world and say you’ll be my wife?”
“Yes.” She flung her arms around him, knocking off his headset as she kissed him like crazy. Her elbow whacked one of the plane’s controls, and it lurched beneath them. She squeaked in terror.
“No worries, sweetheart.” He reached around her to steady them. Then he slid the ring onto her finger. “Fucking beautiful.” He ran his thumb over her finger where his ring now sat.
“It’s gorgeous. It’s—oh.” On either side of the diamond, tiny butterflies had been engraved in the gold band. Like her grandmother’s ring…
“I went to see your parents, to get their blessing,” Nate said. “And your mother gave me that diamond. It had been part of a necklace of your grandmother’s. She thought I might like to have it for your ring.”
Tears splashed down her cheeks. “It’s perfect.”
“I’ve been making some changes at Sequoia Group this month, arranging to move our office space from San Francisco to Los Angeles. We can buy a house together in Anaheim, with a big backyard for Maya.”
“Yes.” Yes, yes, yes!
“She won’t have snow, but we can fly north for a vacation any time you like.”
“I think—” She blew out a breath, tearing her gaze from her new ring to look into Nate’s eyes. “I couldn’t imagine anything better.”
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Crash and Burn! Want to stay up-to-date on my upcoming releases and receive a free copy of my award-winning novella, Only You? Sign up for my newsletter for exclusive news and giveaways and receive a free copy of Only You just for subscribing.
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a great place for us to stay in touch, and I often ask for help naming upcoming characters and pets plus lots of other fun reader group exclusives.
Hope to see you there!
Rachel Lacey
Acknowledgments
Thanks as always to my family for supporting me, especially when I became a hermit for about two weeks while writing this book! Thank you to my wonderful agent Sarah Younger for your help with Crash and Burn. Thanks also to my editor, Linda Ingmanson, for making sure it shines. And to Annie Rains and Anna Shepherd for reading and critiquing for me.
This book required quite a bit of technical research. Thank you to Hope Freeman, Benjamin Paul, Rachel Velthuisen, and Brian Johns for your help with personal aircraft and especially how to crash one! Any mistakes are my own.
A big thank you to my loyal reader Gina Jones for letting me borrow her real-life Maya as the inspiration for the rescue dog Isa and Nate are transporting in Crash and Burn. I hope you love seeing Maya on the page!
And the biggest thank you of all to my readers and the bloggers and reviewers who’ve supported me along the way.
xoxo
Rachel
KEEP READING
If you enjoyed Crash and Burn, turn the page to read the first chapter of Lost in Paradise, another standalone stranded book.
Lost in Paradise
Chapter One
Nicole Morella rested a hand on the doorway as the floor shifted beneath her feet. It had been eight hours since they set sail from Naples in southern Italy, and she hadn’t found her sea legs yet. Was it called setting sail on a modern-day, engine-powered boat? Nicole steadied herself as she took in the lounge before her. Couples and groups lingered over drinks at the various tables and sofas filling the room. Laughter and conversation drifted on the air, undercut by gentle strains of jazz music.
Her gaze wandered to the bar, which was just as crowded. A man sat alone at the near end, watching her as he sipped from his drink. She looked away, determined not to lose her nerve and retreat to her cabin on her first night at sea. This trip was her post-divorce gift to herself, and she was going to make the most of it. Tonight, she was going to enjoy a drink at the bar—alone—and she was going to have fun doing it.
