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`` i need my hand back .
i do n't feel like i have a good grip on the steering wheel like you said i should , '' she protested .
pesh sighed and released her hand .
`` how i regret telling you that tip now , '' he lamented .
she smiled .
`` that 's not fair to try and distract me .
i need to focus , so we do n't crash . ''
`` all right .
i 'll keep my hands to myself ... for now . ''
a shudder went through her at his words .
at that moment if there was any way possible to actually fly the plane and bang him , she would have tried .
shaking her head , she tried ridding herself of her inappropriate thoughts .
`` what 's that ? ''
she asked , pointing at a dark blip far down on the horizon .
pesh leaned forward in his seat , peering out the windshield .
`` looks like a storm cloud moving in . ''
`` we should head back then . ''
he chuckled .
`` i do n't think it 's going to affect us . ''
`` yeah , well , i do n't like the thought of trying to fly in a storm . ''
`` then we 'll head back . ''
`` which way should i turn the plane ? ''
`` let 's take a right , '' pesh replied .
megan bobbed her head and then turned the yoke at the same time she pressed on the right rudder pedal with her foot .
`` good .
keep it coming .
we 're almost turned around . ''
once they were facing the opposite direction , pesh said , `` now let 's bring up the speed . ''
she did as she was told and waited for him to give her any further instructions .
`` we 're good to go now .
when we 're about ten minutes out from mccollum , you need to let the atc know we 're coming in . ''
`` okay .
i can do that . ''
`` do you have plans for this evening ? ''
`` not that i know of . ''
`` would you like to have dinner with me ? ''
she nibbled on her bottom lip to keep from laughing at his formalness .
`` i suppose so .
do i get dessert afterwards ? ''
his body tensed beside her .
`` are you implying that i 'm dessert , or that after we finish dinner i should get you dessert ? ''
megan laughed .
`` no , i want you for dessert . ''
`` then you can have me .
always . ''
glancing over at him , she said , `` i might have to ask for a to-go box since i 'm assuming we 'll have mason with us . ''
`` i do n't mind .
i enjoy spending time with him . ''
megan could n't keep the smile off her face at pesh 's words .
`` he really likes being with you , too .
i 've never seen him warm up to a stranger as much as he has to you . ''
`` i 'm a likeable guy , '' he teased .
`` yeah , you are , '' she murmured , trying not to let the out-of-control fluttering of her heart make her think more than she should about him .
pesh interrupted her thoughts by motioning to the controls .
`` go ahead and start doing your landing checks . ''
megan vaguely remembered what knobs and meters she had looked at before they took off .
once she got through the landing checks with pesh 's help , they were getting closer to mccollum .
`` now radio atc . ''
`` um , okay , '' megan replied , nibbling on her lip .
after clearing his throat , megan glanced over at pesh .
he motioned to the yoke .
`` oh , duh , '' she replied .
with her thumb , she pressed the push-to-talk button .
`` this is cessna 172 coming in for landing . ''
before she could ask pesh if she had done it right , he relayed a different message over his push-to-talk .
the atc 's response crackled over her headset .
`` cessna 172 , this is ground control confirming you are clear to land . ''
`` now push on the yoke to start the descent , '' pesh instructed .
after she did what she was told , her eyes locked on the speedometer .
`` should we be picking up this much speed ? ''
`` yes and no , '' pesh replied .
`` what the hell does that mean ? ''
she asked , jerking her wild gaze to his .
he chuckled .
`` see the black knob there labeled 'throttle ' ? ''
`` yeah . ''
`` look at it this way .
you know when you 're in a car and you 're going downhill , you pick up speed ? ''
megan nodded .
`` it 's the same thing in a plane .
but if you pull on the throttle knob , it reduces the engine power so there wo n't be an increase in speed . ''
with her fingers grasping the black knob , megan asked , `` how hard do i need to pull on it ? ''
`` try pulling back half-way . ''
after pulling on the knob , megan eyed the speed .
`` we 're slowing down . ''
`` good . ''
`` are we at ninety knots ? ''
megan glanced down .
`` yeah . ''
`` okay , then lower the nose just a little bit .
that will give us a glide-path or a controlled descent . ''
megan eased on the steering wheel until the nose of the plane dipped below the horizon .
`` now put the landing gear in the down position , '' pesh instructed .
`` is that the button with the little tire on it ? ''
`` yep , that 's the one . ''
megan pressed it .
`` got it . ''
`` using the steering wheel , roll the wings a little to the right , so we 're lined back up with the runway . ''
megan turned the steering wheel to the right a little too abruptly .
`` oops , '' she replied .