Free Through the Night by Janelle Denison

interest and made him want to get to know her better—quite an unusual feeling when it came to him and the females who’d come in and out of his life over the years.
    Then again, he’d never felt such a strong, overwhelming connection to any one woman before, and Chase was curious to know if it was all about their psychic bond, or whether there was something more at play.
    “I’m not one to follow rules, ” he said in a lazy, teasing drawl. “But for you I’ll make an exception.” He winked at her.
    “Uh, it’s not like I’m giving you a choice in the matter.” Her smile was sweet, even as her words put him in his place.
    He held back a chuckle. Another thing Chase enjoyed about Valerie—she wasn’t shy about stating her opinion, even at the risk of putting a dent in his ego.
    “I need to concentrate on the case,” she went on, oblivious of his amusement at her expense. “And our attraction is too much of a distraction. If you expect me to perform at peak levels, then I need a clear head that’s completely focused on my psychic abilities.”
    As explanations went for avoiding the sexual chemistry between them, it was a nice, simple, plausible excuse. She obviously needed to be in control of the situation, and he had no issues letting her believe she was in charge. “Okay.”
    She blinked, clearly thrown by his quick acquiescence. “Well, that was easier than I thought it was going to be.”
    He shrugged. “I get where you’re coming from, and it’s not like I’m going to force myself on you,” he said as a charming smile eased up the corner of his mouth. “However, if you change your mind about this thing between us, I’m not going to say no, either.”
    To his surprise, she laughed, relaxing with him for the first time that afternoon. “Now, that sounds more like something you’d say.”
    “Am I that predictable?”
    “Predictable, no,” she said just as their car drove through a private gated area at the airport. “A flirt, absolutely.”
    She glanced out her passenger window and frowned when she realized that their driver had steered the car onto the tarmac and away from the main airport terminal. “Where are we going?”
    He realized she thought they were boarding a commercial flight to San Francisco. “We’re taking Steven’s private jet.”
    Her head swiveled back toward him, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Get outta here!”
    “Swear. It’s right there,” he said, pointing to the Learjet parked on the tarmac in front of where the town car came to a stop. Most of the clients he dealt with were multimillionaires, if not billionaires, and traveling via private jet had become the norm for him. He was used to the extravagant lifestyle, and it was fun to watch Valerie’s reaction to all the fringe benefits that came with his job.
    “Holy … wow, ” she said, still stunned at their mode of transportation. “I’m used to providing VIP treatment, not being on the receiving end. You get the best perks.”
    He grinned indulgently. “For now, my perks are your perks, so enjoy yourself.”
    Her bright brown eyes, flecked with gold, sparkled with unabashed delight. “Oh, I plan to.”
    They boarded the plane, met the pilot and copilot at the entrance, then headed into the midsection of the jet, where they were surrounded by rich wood-grain paneling, plush leather seats, an advanced entertainment system, and even a fully stocked wet bar.
    Valerie chose a comfortable-looking seat, and he sat down across from her so they were facing each other, and they both buckled their seat belts. Fifteen minutes later, they were taxiing down the runway and taking off.
    As the jet accelerated and lifted into the sky, Chase looked out his window to see the city of Vegas growing smaller and smaller. When he glanced back at Valerie, he found her sitting upright with her eyes closed, her hands clasped in her lap, and her head resting against the back of the chair. She was inhaling deep, even breaths, as