With a glint of something unreadable in his gaze, he reached for the telescopic handle on one of her two bags. “Come on.” He spun the piece of luggage around on its three-sixty wheels before motioning toward one of the airport shops up ahead. “We’ll stop and grab some snacks for the trip on the way.”
One hourand forty-seven minutes later…
“Watch your step.”
Natalia took Jagger’s offered hand as she stepped down from the last of the jet’s metal stairs. The thick heels of her black leather boots created a soft, almost mutedclickas they met the private hangar’s smooth, concrete floor.
“Thanks.” She kept her smile tight and her expression perfectly schooled.
The last thing she wanted was to reveal just how much she loved the way his hand wrapped securely around hers.
“Hang tight. I’ll go grab your luggage.”
Natalia pulled the phone from her back pocket as she waited. Relief eased some of the tension in her back, neck, and shoulders when she saw the new text she’d been hoping to find.
“The car should be here any minute.” Jagger reappeared with her two suitcases in tow. “Just need an address to give the driver, and we’ll take you to wherever you need to go.”
“Oh.” Natalia’s lashes fluttered with surprise. “I, uh… I didn’t expect…” She held up her phone. “I have a colleague picking me up. She’s less than five minutes out.”
Something akin to disappointment flickered behind his gaze. But then, “You already arranged for a ride? Damn.” Jagger looked over his shoulder at the jet’s opened storage panel before bringing his confused gaze back around to her. “How long was I over there?”
A small, breathy laugh bubbled free. “I used the jet’s WiFi to text her before we landed.”
“Ah. Right.” Those strong hands of his slid into the front pockets of his jeans. “You know, it’s too bad you had to sit back in the cabin and work during the flight. Would’ve been nice, having some company in the cockpit.”
“Maybe next time.”
The words were out of Natalia’s mouth before she could stop them.
Uh…did I miss something? Since when is there going to be a?—
“Next time.” Jagger’s deep rumble was accompanied by an undecipherable gleam in the browns of his eyes.
It would be so easy to lose herself there. To give in to the aching need she felt anytime he was near. But this wasn’t the place, and it most definitely wasn’t the time. So rather thanfisting the front of his shirt and pulling his mouth down to hers like she wanted, Natalia pushed back her shoulders and offered him a hand.
“Thanks again.” The corners of her lips pulled themselves upward a tad more. “I won’t forget this.”
“Didn’t do it to collect a chit.” His warm, slightly calloused hand engulfed hers as it had before. “Just helping out a friend. And hey, if you happen to have some free time in your schedule over the next couple days, give me a call. Maybe we could have that lunch sooner, rather than later.”
The offer was more than a little tempting. Suddenly, Natalia found herself hoping for an opening in her upcoming schedule.
“I’ll see what I can do.” She released his hand to grab the handles attached to her suitcases. “Either way, I hope you enjoy your time in the city.”
Hints of mischief and secrets hid behind his slow, easy grin. “Don’t go worryin’ about me. I’ll get along just fine.”
“Take care of yourself, Jagger.”
After another quick, parting smile, she turned and made her way through the hanger, and down the long corridor leading to the airport’s main entrance.
Minutes later, Natalia was buckling her seatbelt as the car she was in pulled away from the curb. “Thanks for coming to get me.” She looked over at her friend.
Scarlett kept her gorgeous green eyes focused on the traffic up ahead. “No problem. Although, I will say, your timing was pretty lucky.”
“Yeah?”
The woman’s long, auburn locks slid along her shoulders and spine with a nod of her head. “I wrapped up my testimony in court this morning, which thankfully brings my part in the Atkins trial to a close.”
“That’s good.”
