The rest of the flight is uneventful, and I can’t decide if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. As I gather my belongings, I wonder if I’ll see Olive more here than I did in LA, and how I could make that happen.
Ian heads off the plane ahead of Jenny, her entourage, and myself. He’s ensuring the transportation is ready, and that there’s nothing concerning to prevent us from leaving. As I’m waiting for the all-clear from my partner, I watch Olive chatting with the pilot. He’s a handsome guy, if you like pretty boys. I ground my teeth as he gets a little too close for my liking, but I mentally do a fist pump as Olive leans back to put some distance between them.
She didn’t have the same reaction to me.
Ian’s text comes through before I have my fill of watching her. Tamping down my frustration at having to leave Olive, I command the small group to head out of the plane and to the waiting cars. As I follow the last person down the aisle, I steal one more glance on my way out.
My stomach does a somersault when my eyes meet dark ones. Olive is watching me intently, a small smile playing on her lips. I throw her a wink, and my breath catches in my chest when I see a blush immediately darken her cheeks.
After loading the group into the two SUVs, I climb into the front seat of one, and Ian takes the other.
Now, I can focus on my new objective for this job—getting closer to Olive.
I need to figure out what it is about her that has me in a chokehold.
5
Olive
Iwipe down the counters in the galley now that the passengers have left the plane.
It was hard not to notice the two tall, handsome men at the gate when Cade and I walked up the other day. The electricity that zipped through me when my gaze met with the eyes of who I now know is Nate was shocking. I haven’t been attracted to a man that viscerally in my entire life.
When we were in LA, I kept hoping that I would run into him. I never did, but that didn’t remove him from my mind. I found myself wondering what he was doing and who he was with. It was obvious Jenny was interested, and while he made an attempt to deflect her at the airport, who knows if that was just for show. I’m annoyed at how sad that thought makes me.
It would be no surprise if Nate and his coworker, Ian,each found someone to spend time with while on the road. Both men are very attractive, but in different ways. Nate’s shaggy brown hair would give him a slightly wholesome look if it wasn’t for the defined masculine jawline that gives him an edge, even with it being clean-shaven. Especially when it’s paired with his broad shoulders and muscular build. He’s probably a little over six foot and is maybe two inches taller than Ian, and while Nate is muscular and fit, he’s nowhere near as bulky as his coworker. Ian looks like he spends hours in the gym every week. Nate looks like he spends maybe half as much time there. Both times I’ve seen them, they’ve worn black pants and tight black t-shirts with a matching small logo. I didn’t get a good look at it, but I assume it’s whatever bodyguard company they work for.
Correction, personal security company.
A shiver runs down my spine as I recall what it was like to be pressed against him when he caught me. He was solid and warm. And he smelled so good, like sandalwood, musk, something all man. I’m embarrassed by how turned on I still am by that encounter.
“Okay, so I know I said we would go out, but that will have to wait.” Cade’s statement pulls me from my memory.
“Yeah, that’s no problem. What do you have going on?” I busy myself by finishing cleaning so we can head to the hotel.
“Well, there’s this guy...” Cade trails off as he helps clean.
I laugh. “Say no more, my friend. I support you getting some.”
“Dang, I sure hope I do.” He closes the cabinet he’s putting something away in and turns to me. As he leans against the counter, there’s a smirk on his face. “Speaking of getting some…”
I know exactly what he’s going to say. “Don’t.”
He throws his hands up defensively. “What? I was just going to say, those two guys were really freaking hot. That one who caught you when you fell… What was his name?” He fans himself with his hand.
“Nate,” I mumble as I turn away from him to start collecting my belongings.
“Oh yes, that was his name. Nate and Ian. I wouldn’t mind being a bodyguard sandwich between those two hunks.”
Chuckling, I push his shoulder gently. “Have at it, buddy. They might be into you instead of me.”
He shakes his head emphatically. “No way, lovey. If looks could burn clothes off, you would be naked as the day you were born.”
“I don’t think that’s how that saying goes.” I try to deflect his comment. I don’t even want to fool myself that someone as hot as Nate would be interested in me.
“It does now. I think you should also try to get some.” He bumps my shoulder with his as we exit the plane.
As much as I would like that, it doesn’t seem like a great idea. For multiple reasons. The first is that this tour is for multiple months, so if things got weird, it would make coming to work every day challenging. I’m already stressed about working while worrying about Benny. I don’t need to add worrying about the post-hookup awkwardness, especially if he doesn’t enjoy it and wants to pretend it never happened. My already shaky ego couldn’t take that.
