Flight Risk

by Cara C. Putman

  “So what’s next?”

  “Write and pray. Figure out if I can stay at the paper, and then I want to forget everything about the last couple of weeks except meeting you. There’s a press holiday dinner Saturday. Would you come with me?”

  “That sounds like you’re asking me on a date.” Warmth flooded over her at the thought of dressing up for a night with him.

  “That’s because I am.”

  She allowed a smile to cross her face. “Then I would love to.” She glanced toward the front door. “I’d better get back inside.”

  As she walked back inside she paused to take in the sight of Addy curled into the corner of the couch, a zebra-stripe blanket pulled over her shoulders.

  Rhett had curled into the girl’s side and both dozed in a pool of sunlight. Addy stirred and then stopped when she noticed the cat. Rhett shifted and nosed the girl’s cheek. Tears began to stream down Addy’s cheeks, and the cat licked one and then another. Addy scooped her up and held her as she cried.

  Savannah settled next to her niece on the couch. She laid her head next to Addy’s and wrapped an arm over her as Rhett licked Savannah’s fingers. They sat there without words.

  Savannah silently prayed over her, but Addy must have sensed the direction of her concern.

  She twisted to look up at Savannah. “I’ll be okay, Aunt Savvy.”

  “Absolutely.” If I have anything to do with it. “I promise.”

  Chapter Forty-Two

  saturday, december 26

  Savannah had insisted on meeting Jett at the dinner, and now that she stood outside the hotel with the taxi driving away, she wanted to call it back and go home. The jewel-toned ruby color of her dress felt like too much now that she was here. In the store it had made her feel confident and strong. Now the dress seemed to scream look at me.

  The room was filled with people she didn’t know, though she spotted Tom Brokaw and George Stephanopoulos. What was she doing here?

  This was not her crowd, and she was out of her league.

  That thought stopped her cold. When had she accepted the idea that she was less than anyone?

  She used to walk into any space as if she belonged. She was an interesting person, one others enjoyed getting to know. But now she felt like she should crawl back to her town house and settle in with a good movie or book.

  No, she would not retreat. Not tonight. She would stay and hope Jett found her soon, especially as the latest blonde bombshell who co-anchored a FOX network show walked by. The woman’s understated mint gown emphasized her classiness.

  Would Jett take one glance and realize he’d made a bad decision asking her to be his date? The man could have anyone he wanted on his arm with his understated good looks and suave charm.

  Another woman walked by in a simple black dress that hugged every curve. Savannah looked from the chic elegance to her vibrant gown and groaned. She had tried too hard tonight. From her styled hair to her gelled fingernails, she had gotten the details wrong.

  She should have followed her gut, kept her walls high, and stayed home with Rhett and Addy. She was safe there. Her heart was safe there.

  All she had to do was turn and head home.

  So why wouldn’t her feet move?

  * * *

  The volume of swirling voices increased with each moment. Everyone vied to be heard over one another, and the movement and energy vibrated around Jett.

  Savannah hadn’t allowed him to escort her to the dinner, but she’d agreed to come. So where was she? Should he have insisted? Maybe, but he’d seen the hesitant longing in her eyes. And when he’d asked her to come, he’d sensed a wall come down.

  It was time she stepped into the freedom that was hers.

  While he wanted that freedom to include him, he most wanted her to understand how much she could be loved as she was, an amazing woman who served others wholeheartedly and fought for those she loved. She should understand her worth.

  No strings or expectations attached.

  As he watched the powerful people of his industry mix and mingle, her absence was a disappointment.

  And then there she was. A pop of breathtaking red in a sea of muted tones.

  She stepped through a doorway at the top of a staircase, and it felt like the room shifted from black and white to color.

  Her hesitation to venture deeper into the space was evident in the stiff lines of her form. He wanted to drink in the vision. She was beautiful from her wonderfully visible shoulders to her classy red heels. The dress skimmed her waist and cascaded over her hips into a waterfall of fabric that swayed around her calves.

  She stole his heart.

  Her uncertainty rested on her like a cloak.

  That was not who she was, so he pushed off the wall and headed her direction. Every woman wanted a Cinderella moment, and he would give her one that didn’t end at midnight with a pumpkin instead of a prince.

  A flash of relief crossed her face when she spotted him as he wound through the crowd. He liked that. Her spine straightened and she walked down the steps to meet him with the elegance of a beauty queen. A light floral fragrance wafted around her and a shy smile tipped her lips, tinted a rich red to match her gown.

  “You look stunning.”

  “Thank you.” She swayed, and he wondered if it was an unconscious movement the dress summoned as it swirled around her knees. “I’m sorry I’m late. Caroline insisted on helping me get ready.”

  “Well, it was worth every moment. You’re the most beautiful woman here.”

  Her gaze assessed him as if looking for any tone of untruthfulness or overstatement.

  “All you have to do is say thank you.” He gave her a half smile. “And then let me introduce you to the people you’ll want to meet.”

  “Thank you, but you really don’t need to take me around.”

  “Of course I do. You’re my date for the evening.” He watched the sparkle ignite in her eyes and hoped being his date would become her routine. “You’ll enjoy yourself, I promise. There are a lot of interesting people in this room. They’ll be fascinated by you. Someone who doesn’t work in government or the nonprofit world.”

  “Don’t forget the high-tech industry.”

  “Yep. You’re what we call ordinary.” That elicited a chuckle that warmed him. “Ready to mingle?”

  She straightened and morphed in front of him into a strong, vibrant woman. “Yes.”

  This was who she really was. And she was free to be herself with him.

  The speaker that evening was an improvement over the often-off-color comedians of the past, a biographer who wrote sweeping histories of tycoons and leaders. Jett enjoyed watching Savannah lean in and absorb the keynote just as she’d expressed intelligent interest in all the people he’d introduced her to. She’d refrained from fan-girling, but he could almost hear her inner squeal when Katie Couric stopped to say hello.

  But the magic happened when she let him take her home.

  He walked her to the door.

  She hesitated under the pool of light from her porch. Her hand slipped into her small bag to collect her keys, but she didn’t move to enter the town house, instead looking at him with an unfathomable expression.

  Was it a polite hesitation?

  He felt the weight of the moment. The importance of getting it right. Letting her know she was beautiful and desirable, yet affirming she was a treasure trove of value not to be underestimated.

  Her breath seemed to catch. Definitely an invitation.

  One he would accept.

  So he leaned in. Brushed her lips with the lightest of touches. And felt the jolt to the corners of his soul.

  Was this what the prince felt when he rediscovered Cinderella? The connection that cascaded from his deepest heart and threatened to flood his very being? If so, Cinderella had been a drug, and he would make Savannah his. He wanted to lean in and promise her forever, yet he held back. It was too soon, too quick, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t hint at w
hat was being unleashed inside him.

  She was what he’d imagined and so much more as he leaned in and deepened the kiss. Then she followed, and the invitation was sealed with an answering yes.

  * * *

  The world shifted and morphed, disjointed pieces sliding into place, all within the parameters of a kiss that felt like a homecoming for her weary heart. Could she believe the gift Jett offered? It felt like much more than a kiss. An invitation to trust and explore what could be with him.

  Her soul wanted to scream yes, but her mind warned that he was dangerous.

  Jett was the one who had written the article about Dustin.

  He’d gotten it wrong.

  Would he wake up and realize he was wrong about her too?

  Jett reached over and brushed her lip. “You’re doing it again.”

  “Doing what?” She could barely form a thought as electricity zinged through her at his touch.

  “You’re thinking too hard. Want to talk about it?”

  “No.” But then her lips betrayed her. “What happens when you realize you were wrong about me too?”

  He stepped back like she’d slapped him. “What? Where did that come from?”

  “You were wrong about why Dustin and his team were in Thailand. One day you’ll wake up and realize you were wrong about me too.”

  He shook his head, and a bit of hair flopped into his eyes. Her fingers itched to brush it back in place, but then she’d be lost in wanting forever with him.

  “You are one thing I am absolutely certain of.”

  “I’m not sure I can recover if you change your mind.”

  “I won’t.”

  She eased back and he leaned his forehead against hers, as she kept her gaze fixed on his chest and fiddled with a button on his shirt. Then she realized what she was doing and dropped her hand. With her other hand she unlocked the door.

  “Thank you for a nice evening.”

  His clouded gaze cleared at her words. “Nice?”

  “You were right. I had a good time.”

  “Good time?”

  “Is there an echo?”

  He gave his head a small shake and then stepped back. “I’ll be in touch.”

  “Yes.” She gave him a small smile, and then slipped inside.

  She closed the door and leaned against it, willing herself not to part the curtains to see if his world had been jolted as much as hers. What was she supposed to do with what had just happened? It was more than a kiss.

  She had felt its earthquake in her soul.

  She wanted to believe it was real.

  Could he love her well and understand what that meant? She’d given her heart to one man who hadn’t protected it.

  She wanted to risk. She longed to believe it was possible. But she was also a realist. Could she push beyond that to trust that more was possible?

  She wasn’t sure.

  She opened the door ready to race as fast as her heels would let her after his Blazer. Instead he was standing there, a slow grin spreading across his face and accenting his dimple. And she was gone. Lost in the circle of his arms and resting in his love. She tipped her face toward him and her heart toward the light of love that was worth every risk.

  Discussion Questions

  Savannah’s past is still affecting her present as the pain overshadows her. If you were her friend, what steps would you suggest she take to fully overcome the past and step into freedom today?

  Jett believes the truth is what ultimately matters and that belief is core to who he is because of what happened when he was a boy. How have events in your past affected you to this day?

  Jett says there are “some sins soap doesn’t touch.” Do you agree? What can touch and clean those sins?

  Family relationships can often be complicated in today’s world. What advice would you give Savannah as she tries to navigate the space between Addy, Stasi, and Dustin?

  How would you counsel Savannah to work with her sister Stasi? Is she too accommodating or do you think she’s struck the best balance she can in a difficult situation?

  Truth is a theme that runs through this book. How do you find truth in a fake-news world where so many platforms are dominated by everything but truth?

  Toward the end of the book Jett has to wrestle hard with how he’s going to respond to what he learns is truth. What would you encourage him to do?

  Savannah has a hard time letting people behind her walls. While she’s a great mentor and aunt, she only lets people in so far before she walls her heart off. Is love worth the risk? Why or why not?

  Rochelle is faced with a situation where her business may fall apart and collapse if she exposes the truth. If you were in her shoes, what would you do?

  Jett makes the statement that every woman wants a Cinderella moment. Do you agree?

  Acknowledgments

  Writing a book is a work that can feel very solitary, yet at the same time is done in community. Flight Risk was no exception.

  Many thanks to Bernie Wulle and Julius Keller for sharing their expertise on how to bring a plane down. Thanks for the people around us at the Chipotle on Purdue’s campus who didn’t call the police to alert them to three folks around a table discussing plane crashes. It was during a conversation in our IMPACT class that Bernie planted the what-if that got twisted and turned in this mind of mine to become Savannah’s story. Thanks also for making the IMPACT experience so fun. ☺

  It was a THRILL—and terrifying—to work with Erin Healy on this novel. She is well-known in Christian fiction as the queen of editing suspense, and this was my first time to work with her. Erin, you did an amazing job of identifying exactly what wasn’t working in the first draft while honoring the heart of Savannah’s story. Rewrites were WORK, but so very worth it. I’m delighted with the way Savannah and Jett’s story turned out.

  To the entire HarperCollins Christian Publishing fiction team including Amanda Bostic, Jocelyn Bailey, Becky Monds, Paul Fisher, Matt Bray, Allison Carter, Laura Wheeler, and the rest of the amazing team. It was a long-time dream to write for this publisher, and the experience has been everything I hoped for.

  Karen Solem is my agent and the woman who challenges me to dig deeper and do more with each book. Her rock-solid support and encouragement have been key to my career. Thank you for always believing I could write these types of books.

  Colleen Coble, Robin Caroll, Rachel Hauck, and Denise Hunter have always been quick to brainstorm when I need it. They have helped me add the layers that keep the tension moving across the page. I love you, ladies!

  And thank you for reading this book. When I started out, Savannah was the mentor character, but after reading the draft of Beyond Justice Amanda told me Savannah needed her own story. It wasn’t until I was writing Flight Risk that I realized as much as Savannah had appeared in other books, who she was at the core was a mystery. I knew she had a story and that I wanted to crash a plane into the 14th Street bridge. The rest evolved as I tried to imagine what would keep you engaged with so many other books pulling for your attention. Every time you read one of my books, I am grateful. The gift of your time is the greatest gift, because until you read this story about these characters, it’s not a living, breathing book. Thank you!

  About the Author

  Cara Putman is the author of more than thirty legal thrillers, historical romances, and romantic suspense novels. She has won or been a finalist for honors including the ACFW Book of the Year, Christian Retailing’s Best Award, the Holt Medallion, and INSPY Short List in Mystery/Thriller/Suspense. Cara graduated high school at sixteen, college at twenty, received her law degree at twenty-seven, and her MBA in 2015. She is a practicing attorney and teaches undergraduate and graduate law courses at a Big Ten business school. She lives with her husband and children in Indiana.

  Visit her website at CaraPutman.com

  Facebook: Cara.Putman

  Twitter: @Cara_Putman

  To stay up-to-date on all her writing news, be sure
to join her enewsletter at caraputman.com/contact

  Acclaim for Cara Putman

  Flight Risk

  “Cara Putman’s new novel, Flight Risk, is more than an unputdownable legal thriller. This rich, multilayered story features real characters finding their way through a morass of problems that add to the depth of this compelling story. Flight Risk is Putman at the top of her game. Highly recommended!”

  —Colleen Coble, USA TODAY bestselling author of the Lavender Tide series and Strands of Truth

  “Cara Putman skillfully weaves a current-day story of intrigue and suspense in Flight Risk—sure to be a hit with her tribe of followers.”

  —Creston Mapes, bestselling author

  “Only Cara Putman can create a legal thriller that keeps me up all night. Flight Risk is her best yet!”

  —DiAnn Mills, bestselling author of Fatal Strike

  “Putman does it again! Flight Risk is a gripping page turner with three-dimensional characters and real drama.”

  —Rick Acker, bestselling author of Guilty Blood and When the Devil Whistles

  “Cara Putman does it again. A plane crash, murders, a traumatized teen, and a crack lawyer who will do whatever it takes to protect her family and her clients. Throw in a little romance and Flight Risk is a brilliantly woven story that takes the reader on a breath-stealing ride. I highly recommend this book.”

  —Lynette Eason, award-winning, bestselling author of The Blue Justice series

  “I thought I’d sit down and get a feel for Cara Putman’s newest novel, Flight Risk. Oh. My. Word! The story snatched me up on the first page and raced me breathlessly though the pages. This is a don’t start-before-you-go-to-bed suspense story. Cara has penned her best novel yet.”

  —Carrie Stuart Parks, award-winning author of Formula of Deception and Portrait of Vengeance

  “In her legal thriller, Flight Risk, Putnam weaves a story that proves what you read in the news isn’t always what it appears to be. Separating truth from what is perceived to be true takes her characters on a journey with twists and turns that will keep the reader turning the pages, anxious to see how it all fits together.”