The captain went back to the cockpit. A minute later, the flight attendant came in holding two travel mugs with the Apex logo. She smiled. “Black for you, Mr. Langston, and cappuccino with one sugar for you, Ms. Holland. I’ll serve breakfast after we’ve leveled out.”
“Thank you, Renee.”
She smiled at Jagger and passed me a mug.
“Thank you so much,” I told her.
“I hope you don’t mind, but I have a few more emails to get out,” Jagger said. “Once the girls are with us, I won’t get five minutes again until they crash tonight. The first day they’re with me, they’re always extra hyperactive. I think it’s their nerves, because they usually settle within a day or two.”
“Not at all. Do whatever you have to do.”
I didn’t particularly love the take-off part of flying, so once the plane started to move, I shut my eyes and kept quiet, focusing on taking deep breaths and staying calm. After we leveled out, my grip on the armrest of my chair loosened, and I opened my eyes.
Renee returned with a tray and sat it in front of me. “Breakfast. Would you like another cappuccino?”
“No, I’m good. Thank you.”
She looked to Jagger. “I’ll be back with yours, and I don’t have to ask if you want more coffee.”
He smiled. “Thanks, Renee.”
I waited until we both had our trays to take the silver dome off the plate. Jagger’s had a big omelet and sausage links, while mine had yogurt with a side of blueberries and honey. I’d thought it was coincidence that the flight attendant had brought me my coffee exactly the way I took it, but this couldn’t be one, too.
“How did they know what I like for breakfast?” I asked Jagger.
“I texted them this morning after you left to go to your apartment and get ready.”
“But how did you know? We’ve never had breakfast together?”
Jagger smirked. “The eye in the sky in the office. I’ve spent waaay too much time watching that damn feed.”
Wow. Just wow.The busy CEO who not only watched me butrememberedwhat I liked too. “What else did you learn about me from that thing?”
“Other than a member of my legal team has too much time on his hands and needs to be reminded of the no-fraternization policy in the employee handbook? I noticed that you often put your palms flat on your desk.”
I blinked. “You noticed that?”
Jagger’s eyes met mine. “I notice everything about you, whether I want to or not.”
My chest tightened. “Miles has never even noticed that I do that. Honestly, I didn’t realize it until a therapist pointed it out to me. Dr. French noticed after two visits. The night I was drugged, my hands were at my sides, and I kept thinking if I could only get my palms flat, I could push up and bang my head against his and try to get away. I sort of hyper-focused on it during the whole thing, but of course, I couldn’t move.”
Jagger’s jaw flexed. “I’m sorry I brought it up.”
I smiled sadly. “It’s fine. I just can’t believe you picked up on it. My therapist said it’s called grounding. I actually do it with my feet as well. I don’t even realize it most of the time. But it helps me relax.”
Jagger nodded. He was quiet for a moment. “I used to shower four or five times a day when my mother would stoptaking her meds and go off the deep end, ranting about the government watching us or some other paranoia tirade.” He smiled. “I don’t do it that often anymore, but it’s one of the reasons I picked an office space with a shower. Every once in a while, when I’m feeling overly stressed, I take a shower mid-day at the office.”
I smiled. “You must be clean as a whistle this week.”
“Actually…” His eyes dropped to my lips. “I think I’ve found something better to relax me these days.”
I knew Jagger was just talking about sex, but I liked the thought of being something that could help ground him. “Are you…feeling stressed now?”
His eyes darkened as they swept over me. “Finish your breakfast. Quickly.”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Have you ever…on a plane?”
He shook his head. “No. I’ve never traveled with a woman other than a business associate.”
