“So you sleep draped in your states flag.”
“When I sleep…yes.”
She heard the inference for what it was. “Cheesy, Gelderman.”
“Want to try it out? We could roll around on top a little before we leave.” He gave her a leer accompanied by a sly smile that made her laugh.
“When do we need to leave?”
“Now, so if you’re finished invading my privacy, we’ll go.”
“I wasn’t invading, I was checking it out. It’s what women do. New places intrigue us.”
“Ha. Funny how that works. I’m the same when I meet a woman. I love to investigate her fully too.”
“Will you stop that?” Annabelle crossed the room and slapped his shoulder.
“It’s what guys do.”
He gave her an innocent look, then ruined the lighthearted atmosphere by kissing her, just brief and soft, a brushing of the lips and no more, and she felt it to her toes.
“Thanks for coming with me, Annabelle. I’m saying that now, because things will probably get messed up, and I may even get mean, but I just want you to know that I do appreciate this…really.”
He turned and walked out and she followed on unsteady legs.
Distance, Annabelle. She needed to keep her distance from him for the next few days. She was here to support him, nothing more.
CHAPTER EIGHT
They flew first class, which made Annabelle uncomfortable because she wasn’t used to such luxury. Her seat could fit another person and they’d be comfortable, and there was so much leg room she could recline and not touch the one in front. There were only two seats in her row and a nice little table between her and Ethan.
“I could have flown economy.”
He made a sound that she thought could be teeth grinding.
“Smith, I’m only going to say this once,” Ethan said after he’d stowed her bag and seated himself. “I have a lot of money, and while you may have a problem with that, I don’t, so I fly in a seat that affords me, a six-foot-four-inch man, some comfort. So suck it up and enjoy the ride.”
“It’s considered rude to talk about your money, Gelderman, no wonder none of those women ever stuck.”
“I was being honest, Smith. There’s a difference.”
Annabelle watched as he buckled his belt before stretching out his legs and making himself comfortable. “I’ve never flown in a plane,” she said, gripping her armrest as the plane started moving.
“Not that again. Christ, Annabelle, you’ve flown in my bird. This is a walk in the park compared to that.”
She swallowed. “I’ve seen those movies. What if we need another pilot because ours has a heart attack?” Annabelle looked out the window at the ground as it moved slowly by. She closed her eyes as other planes took off, blocking their progress. “Your face could be the last one I ever see.”
She felt his hand grab hers, turn it and lock their fingers together.
“I’m really hoping the pilot doesn’t have a heart attack, Annabelle, but if he does, I can probably bring this thing down without killing anyone and you can keep him alive until we can get him to the hospital.”
She turned from the window to look at him. “Really, you could fly this?”
“I’m a handy kind of guy to have around. You should remember that before you go at me again. And I can name a dozen women who’d be happy if my face was the last one they ever saw.”
“I have no doubt. And they all giggle constantly, right, and gaze at you adoringly?”
The engines began to roar and suddenly Annabelle was pinned back in her seat.
