He looks at me over his coffee and says, “Start from the beginning, because I’m clearly missing half the story.”
I lean back in the chair and look toward the bathroom door Ethan disappeared behind a minute ago. “You are.”
Maksim waits.
I say, “I met her on a flight.”
He blinks once. “A flight.”
“Yes.”
“That sounds promising already.”
“It wasn’t meant to be anything.”
“That’s usually when it becomes something.”
I ignore that.
“There was a mix-up with boarding passes,” I say. “She ended up in business by accident. First time flying. Nervous. Trying very hard not to show it.”
Maksim says nothing, but I can already see where his mind is going.
“I moved her into a private cabin,” I say.
“Of course you did.”
“She was panicking.”
“I’m sure that was your only motive.”
I give him a look.
He lifts one hand. “Fine. Continue.”
“We spent the flight together.”
“And slept together.”
“Yes.”
Maksim exhales softly through his nose. “You really do make efficient use of travel.”
I continue before he can irritate me further. “I never got her full name. When we landed, she was gone before I could find her again.”
“And then she turns up here.”
“Yes.”
“At your son’s wedding.”
“Yes.”
That finally gets the full weight of his attention.
He sets the cup down. “That part you might have led with.”
“I’m getting there.”
