“It wasn’t hard, considering we’re on the same flight.” He said it so simply that it took her a moment to process.
“You’re going to Washington, DC, too?” Her effort to tamp down her excitement was unsuccessful.
“That’s what the ticket says,” he grinned, holding up the boarding pass for her to read.
“It also says ‘pre-check’.” He looked abashed as she pointed to the words in the corner.
“Hey, you’re the ones who were looking for each other in line. Do you want to change seats?” The overly helpful man next to her asked, confirming her hunch that Ethan had done some arranging for them to be in line together. Not that she minded.
“If it’s cool with you…” His soulful brown eyes sought her answer to his unspoken question. Her friends would probably tell her to be cautious of the man who inexplicably appeared everywhere she went. But as a master marketer, no matter her boss’s accusations, she had done her research on him after covertly taking a picture of him. Once she knew her white knight worked for a security firm, it was just a question of whether hewas investigating her or protecting her, for which she still didn’t have an answer.
She wasn’t sure how long he had been following her, but he had become more transparent about it after the coffee shop mix-up, even giving her a nod or a smile the times he caught her gazing at him. When her life felt upside down, he seemed to be the only constant, giving her a sense of safety and grounding.
“Uh… sure. I mean, we’re going to be boarding soon, but it would be good not to have to twist around to talk to you.” She stumbled through her thoughts. Another type of person might be concerned that he was a stalker. “It’s nice to be able to look directly into those beautiful green eyes, London,” he said, sliding into the seat next to her.
“No coffee for you?” She felt her cheeks flush at his compliment.
“I hit my limit earlier today,” he responded, stowing his bag under his legs.
“You went out of your way just for me?” She held the drink a little tighter, feeling like it was even more precious.
“Things that are important are worth it.”
“Ethan, all those mornings at the coffee shop, you had to have seen how crazy my days are. I’m a hot mess when I start, and things go downhill from there. I can’t be anyone’s anything right now.” She may have admitted how often she noticed him, but that didn’t undermine the fact that she didn’t have time for herself, let alone anyone else.
“I don’t mean it like that. I’m in a similar situation. I want to get to know you, talking and hanging out.” Did he have a boss who judged his every move and hunted him down if he wasn’t ten minutes early for a meeting, like hers? Or was it a more general thing, like his life was hectic?
“You mean like… friends?” If she were honest with herself, there’s no way she could be just friends with Ethan, not even if itincluded benefits. It wasn’t just that she found him sexy as hell, but he was the epitome of the kind of guy she had always hoped for: smart, kind, and attentive. She couldn’t reciprocate all of that while her career was in shambles.
“Maybe we don’t put a label on it just yet.” He rubbed one of her braids between his fingers before moving it behind her shoulder. The intimate gesture seemed to say so much more, but she refused to think about it.
“Passengers on Flight 1122, direct to Washington DC, Reagan National Airport, please be advised that your flight has been delayed. If you need assistance, please go to the airline’s customer service desk.”
“What?” The crowd seemed to exclaim in unison.
CHAPTER 4
If anyoneever wanted to create chaos in an airport during the winter holidays, all they had to say was ‘flight delayed’. Ethan leaned back in his chair and observed the panicked passengers storming the desk, making demands. It was like every frayed nerve in the room snapped at the same time.
Brielle appeared levelheaded and was scrolling on her phone for answers. With her legs stretched out across her carry-on bag, she seemed calm and relaxed in the moment. However, her expressive face belied her every thought, whether she was furrowing her eyebrows or biting her lip. He yearned to do that, to taste those full lips and feel her warmth. He would kiss her slowly and deeply, treasuring every sensation. Her long nails would scrape his scalp as she raked her fingers through his hair, sending his arousal skyrocketing, but he wouldn’t change the pace. He would take the time to ignite every spark of passion in her until she was begging him to touch her.
“Mechanical issues! That could mean anything!” Bri’s head snapped up at the same time as his, hearing the rant of a man stomping away from the harried attendant.
“How much of a hurry are you in to get to DC?” he asked, leaning across the armrest. This opportunity was too good not toseize. A little forced proximity was the perfect way to spend time together while they had the chance.
“What did you have in mind?” She shot him a sly smile, looking at him through her long, dark lashes.
“There’s no other direct flight out tonight. If we try to find an alternative, we’re competing with everyone else. They’ll tell us when they’re ready. It’s up to you, but if you’re going to stick around for this one, would you have a drink with me while we wait?”
“Alright, Americano, let’s see how this plays out.” He held his hand to her and helped her up. Then he spun her around and brought her into his chest. Maybe he was cheating, but holding her in his arms, if only for a moment, was like a dream.
“Just to be clear, we’re only hanging out until the flight. There’s nothing else to this. Right?”
“Sure. But we could pretend for a little while.” He wouldn’t deny he was disappointed she was friend-zoning him. With more time, he might be able to convince her otherwise. For the moment, he would relish any time she gave him. With his bag slung over his shoulder, he rolled her case off the carpeted waiting area and onto the tile of the main walkway.
“Okay, I’ll play, but only until we get on that plane.”
“Hmm, a lovely night in the city.” He offered her his elbow, like they were going for a stroll in a park.
