I tapped my fingers against my knee. “You got coffee?”
“Of course.”
“Black, two sugars. And—” I glanced at Violet. “She’ll have tea. Something ridiculous like chamomile.”
Violet turned her head so slowly it was almost impressive. “I can order for myself, thanks.”
I grinned and waited.
“Chamomile, please,” she said to the flight attendant, ignoring me.
I smirked as the attendant nodded and stepped away.
Violet shook her head. “I regret every decision that led to sitting next to you.”
I stretched my arms overhead, rolling out my shoulders. “So, what’s the plan? You gonna hover over Hazel the whole flight, or do I get a turn at playing responsible parent?”
“I don’t hover.”
I considered her. “You don’t sit still either.”
Her jaw twitched like she wanted to argue, but she said nothing.
I smirked. “That’s what I thought.”
She sighed. “You do realize you don’t have to fill every moment with noise, right?”
“Carter, this is conversation.” I gestured between us. “Two people. Talking. Perfectly normal human behavior.”
She arched a brow. “No, it’s you trying to get a rise out of me so you don’t have to sit with your own thoughts.”
That was… uncomfortably accurate.
The flight attendant returned and handed us our drinks. I knocked back a mouthful of coffee, burning the roof of my mouth.
“And here I thought we were bonding,” I muttered.
“I think we’ve bonded enough.”
I hummed, amused. “You think?”
She turned toward me properly for the first time since we sat down, crossing one leg over the other. “We live together, I manage your schedule, and I take care of your daughter. I think if we bond any further, we’ll have to start filing joint taxes.”
I choked on my coffee.
Violet pressed her lips together, fighting a smile.
I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth, forcing a grin. “Christ, you’re quick,” I muttered, my voice hoarse. “Warn a bloke before you throw something like that at him.”
She shrugged, casual, like she hadn’t just sent my brain into a tailspin. “Not my fault you’re easy to catch off guard.”
“Don’t let it go to your head.” I leaned back against the seat, my heart racing harder than it should have. Like I hadn’t spent a solid five seconds wondering why the thought of being tied to her hadn’t sent me running.
“I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Silence settled for a beat. A moment of rare, actual ease.
Then Hazel stirred.
