Reilly's Woman Read Free

before it does. If not, it might get a little rough, but we'll make it." With his free hand, Grady motioned toward the open door of the plane. "Climb aboard."  
    The two small steps made it easy for Leah to climb on the wing even in her skirt. Maneuvering past the front seat to the second seats was more awkward. Reilly Smith followed with an ease that she envied.
    He sat down in the seat beside her. Considering the apparent friendliness between himself and the pilot, Leah had partially expected him to sit in front with Grady. As she fastened her seat belt, she noticed the brief case hehad brought on board and realized he probably intended to work.
    Grady climbed agilely aboard and swung himself into the pilot's seat directly ahead of Leah. His quick glance encompassed both of them before he buckled his seat belt.
    "Did you two introduce yourselves?" The question didn't break the rhythm of his pre-flight checklist.
    "More or less," Leah answered.
    "She's flying to Austin to visit her brother." The information was given as the first of the plane's engines growled to life, the propeller hesitating, then spinning into a blur.  
    Leah cast a sideways glance at her companion. "My brother works for a mining company. He's part of a team that's been temporarily assigned to survey the Austin area." This seemed like an excellent opportunity to see if Reilly Smith was a member of the same company or with a rival firm. "Grady mentioned that you had connections with some mining interests. Perhaps you know my brother. His name is Lonnie Talbot."
    There was a disconcerting levelness to his jade eyes as they briefly met her look. The grooves at each side of his hard mouth deepened into a faint smile.
    "No, I don't know him."
    The roar of both engines made conversation impossible. Leah was forced to set aside her curiosity for the time being. At least she felt secure in the assumption that Reilly Smith did not work for the same company as her brother.
    In the pilot's seat, Grady was on the radio. "McCarren Ground Control, this is 92 George requesting taxi instructions."
    Excitement danced in her veins. After all the waiting, she was finally on her way. Looking out the window, Leah smiled with secret amusement at what Lonnie's reaction would be when he learned she had flown to be with him on his birthday.
    Blue lights flashed outside her window as the plane rolled along the taxi strip to the airport runway. At the edge of the runway, the engines roared with thundering force as Grady made his run-up. Then the tower radioed permission for them to take off.
    Grady half-looked over his shoulder, a grin on his otherwise serious face. "Nowwe'll get this bird off the ground."  
    Smoothly the plane pivoted on to the runway, the engines building power. Leah felt the surge of acceleration as the brakes were released and the throttle opened to full power. The nose was lifted off the ground. Seconds later the plane was airborne and climbing, the landing gear thumping into the belly.
    Outside her window, Leah could see the blaze of city lights in the pre-night darkness. The brilliant neon lights of the hotels and casinos on Las Vegas's famous strip were like an iridescently colored ribbon.
    Cool night air from the vent above her head ruffled the light brown wings of her hair. The infra-red lights on the instrument panel kept the darkness at bay, those lights and the reading light shining down on the seat next to hers.
    Her fellow passenger was not gazing at the diminishing world below them, Leah noticed. His briefcase was opened on his lap. Common courtesy ruled that she shouldn't try to resume their conversation when he was obviously working. The urge was strong to look over his shoulder and see the contents of thepapers he was studying. She resisted, averting her attention again to the window. Eventually the only thing she could see was her own reflection.
    She considered taking out the paperback book she had brought in her bag, then decided