My eyes don’t leave the mystery girl as she approaches the gate. She’s even more gorgeous up close, her lips full and pink. Eyes almost as dark as her hair meet mine momentarily before shifting away. I smile as a blush covers her high cheekbones, praying I’m not the only one experiencing this attraction.
“Nate!” Jenny calls out. “It’s so good to see you again!”
Ian snickers next to me when it looks like Jenny is about to come in for a hug. I promptly stick out my hand to shake hers and hopefully head her off. I’m grateful when she takes the hint, accepting my hand in hers, even if the touch lingers much longer than socially acceptable.
I nod to Jenny and her manager. I don’t know the other people who are with them, but I assume they work for or are friends with Jenny. “Good to see you both again. Looking forward to the tour.” My eyes find the goddess and the other man standing farther back from the small group. “Is this part of our flight crew?”
Jenny’s gaze barely moves over her shoulder to the pair before replying. “I suppose so.” She goes on to talk about the tour and how excited she is that I’m on her security team, completely ignoring Ian also being on said team. My eyes trail to the woman again and find her with an amused grin as she casually sips her coffee, taking in the scene in front of her.
An airport employee arrives at the gate to unlock the door. She politely informs us that the flight crews need just a few minutes for preparations, and then we can all board. I watch as the two flight attendants stroll past us. Disappointment fills me when the door shuts behind them, and I can no longer see the woman who has done nothing obvious to get my attention but has it, regardless.
Nine minutes later, I’m about to join Jenny in hercomplaining about having to wait any longer when the agent opens the door and welcomes us onto the plane. Ian and I follow Jenny and her entourage down the hallway and out onto the tarmac. Almost as soon as I step outside, sweat dots my spine in the early summer humidity. It’s only May, and it’ll get so much worse. I certainly won’t complain if we spend the summer in cities much drier than Nashville. I allow Ian to go in front of me up the stairs so I can take my time in case I have an opportunity to introduce myself to the crew.
More specifically, just one member in particular.
Climbing the stairs, I chastise myself for acting like a teenager. It isn’t a big deal. Gorgeous women are everywhere. I shake my head as I ascend the stairs and step onto the plane. My shoulders drop in disappointment when the other flight attendant greets us. Cade, according to his name tag. I fight the urge to search for her but, apparently, that’s impossible, because my eyes rove around the cabin until they land on the object of my instant fascination. My steps falter as I watch her reach up to a high cabinet in the galley, her skirt pulling tight across her ass as she leans forward.
“Can I help you, sir?”
When the words are spoken close to my side, I realize I stopped mid-step when I saw her. I turn toward Cade. “No, sorry. Just curious what’s for breakfast.”
Cade flashes me a fake smile. “Yes, sir. We’ll have breakfast served as soon as we’re in the air. If you take your seat, that’ll happen sooner rather than later.”
My smile is equally fake. “Of course.”
Just as I’m about to head down the aisle to do as he requested, the woman turns, and our eyes lock again. Her lips part as her tongue darts out to wet them.
“Dude, sit your ass down,” Ian whispers harshly as hesettles into one of the front seats of the plane. It’s spacious but not huge, with a few sets of seats on each side and a couch toward the back, with a small table and a bench seat on the opposite side. Based on the specs given to us, there’s also a small bedroom and a full bathroom in the back.
I sink into the seat next to Ian, doing my best to adjust myself discreetly so I’m not even more uncomfortable than I already am. I don’t understand why my reaction to this woman, one whose name I don’t even know, is so fierce. Relaxing in my seat, I work to clear my head.
Jenny’s manager’s voice carries through the plane, pulling me from my thoughts. “Do you guys want to do a security briefing while we’re waiting to take-off?”
Ian nods and stands from his seat. We move back to where the small group sits and spend the next fifteen minutes explaining the plans for the first stop and logistics once we land. The pilot’s voice comes over the speaker just as we’re finishing, letting us know we’re cleared for take-off and need to take our seats.
Buckling my seatbelt, I close my eyes, relaxing my head back as the plane rolls slowly across the runway. I must doze off, because the next thing I know, I hear the sweetest voice next to me.
“Can I get you anything to drink?”
It takes me a moment to realize the voice isn’t in my dream. When my eyes pop open, they’re level with the skirt-clad hip I’ve been mesmerized by since earlier. Slowly raising my gaze, I see her beautiful dark eyes are fixed on Ian as he gives her his drink order. I take that moment to spy her nametag pinned to her impressive chest.
Olive.
I finally have a name for my fantasy.
Holding my breath, I watch her jot down his order in asmall notebook. Even her fingers are turning me on. I release my breath as she slides her gaze to me. Raising her eyebrows in question for my drink order, my attempt at being charming and clever fails me miserably. “Olive. As in, Popeye’s wife?”
Her face is expressionless as she replies tartly, “Olive, as in, my mom loved dirty martinis.” A wide, fake smile graces her face as Ian snorts a laugh beside me. “Anything to drink?”
“Coffee, please.”
Well, that didn’t go as I hoped.
After she writes my order down, she shuffles past me to the rest of the passengers.
My arm gets knocked off the armrest when Ian elbows me.
“That was smooth.” His laughter grates on me. I think this is the only time the bastard has smiled today.
