In Too Deep Read Free Page A

more like a date than two strangers flying over the Atlantic Ocean. They had changed seats. Blake had his back against the window while she lay in his arms. Her soft fleece blanket was draped over them. She closed her eyes. But when she felt him moving around, she opened them. He had shut off the movie and placed the tablet in the seat pocket.
    “Is something wrong?”
    “No. That movie was getting boring and I’d rather just hold you.”
    Analeigh snuggled against him. “That’s fine by me.”
    Blake fell silent. Minutes ticked by. “What if we don’t see each other after today?”
    She glanced up at him but couldn’t make out his features in the darkness. “Is that the plan?”
    “It may have to be. In my line of work, I can’t afford to get too close to a woman like you.”
    Analeigh straightened her posture. She moved out of his arms. “What does that mean?”
    He lifted his hand to cup her cheek. “It means that my work puts me in danger and I’ve created some enemies. These people might use you to get to me.”
    “What kind of danger can a lawyer be in?”
    “You’d be surprised. I’ve already told you more than I should.”
    Analeigh paused to process his words. Did that mean there could be no future between them? A part of her wanted to question him about it, but what was the point? At least Blake was being honest with her. She couldn’t be upset about that.
    A commotion a few seats ahead of them drew her attention. When she leaned into the aisle, she saw the flight attendants gathered around a man. One of the attendants was checking his pulse. The woman shook her head as another rushed to the front of the plane, Analeigh assumed, to alert the pilot.
    “What’s going on?” Blake asked.
    “I think something’s wrong with one of the passengers.”
    Blake stood. “I’ll check it out.”
    Analeigh stepped into the aisle to let him pass. She bristled as she watched him speak to a pretty attendant with deep cocoa skin. Just the sight of him talking to another woman sparked jealousy, and it startled her. Really, she had no right to be upset. Blake turned and moved back toward their seat. He retook the aisle seat while she scooted into the middle seat.
    “The man is gravely ill,” Blake said. “We may be making an emergency landing in London.”
    “What’s wrong with him?”
    “They don’t know. Only that his pulse and breathing are very faint. He might not make it to the airport.”
    Analeigh shook her head in sorrow, unable to imagine losing a loved one in this manner.
    “That’s such a shame,” she said.
    “Aye. Reminds me of how precious life is,” Blake said as he turned toward her. “I wish we had more time together.”
    She smiled. “So do I.”
    Blake leaned toward her to touch his lips to hers. When he pulled away, he gathered her into his arms. Analeigh closed her eyes and found herself drifting off to sleep.
    Six hours later, Analeigh awoke as the plane was taxiing to the terminal at Heathrow International Airport. Blake was gone. In a panic, she searched the aisle for him, thinking he had gone to the bathroom, but she didn’t see him and the unoccupied lights over the restrooms were lit. Where could he have gone? And why didn’t he say good-bye? Her heart sunk as the EMTs rushed onto the plane to attend to the passenger. The grim expressions on their faces told her that the man had died.
    Analeigh ran her hands through her hair. Maybe she’d been right the first time. A man like Blake was too good to be true. She was probably better off that things had ended this way. Settling back into her seat, she braced for the last leg of her trip and tried to forget about her handsome savior.
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
    Blake hated leaving things with Analeigh this way. He wished he’d had the chance to at least tell her good-bye, but there wasn’t time. His mission came first. So, when she fell asleep, he slipped out of her embrace. After gathering