Page 16 of Sexting the Single Pakhan

“Coffee,” he says without looking at her. “Laurel?”

“Coffee, please. Thank you.”

She nods, lashes fluttering in his direction again before she disappears toward the galley. I bite the inside of my cheek. She’s stunning, long legs, glossy blonde hair. I’m sure she’s his type.

Leonid doesn’t even glance her way though. His attention stays locked on me as we settle into the wide leather seats facing each other across a small table.

Minutes later the attendant returns with a tray containing croissants, fruit, and two steaming mugs. She leans forward to set Leonid’s cup down, cleavage on display, smile dialed to full wattage.

“Anything else I can get for you, Mr. Volkov?” Her voice is syrup-sweet.

His eyes are now focused on his iPad. “No.”

She lingers one heartbeat too long, then retreats. I stare into my coffee, stirring it unnecessarily. Jealousy twists in my belly, but I quickly push it away. I have no claim on him. He can be with whoever he wants.

I raise my head from my cup to find Leonid looking at me. “You’ve got something on your mind,” he says as a matter of fact. “What is it?”

The reasonable part of me says to shut up, but I ignore it as always. “I think she likes you.”

He blinks, a flicker of confusion crossing his features. “Who? The flight attendant?”

I nod.

A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth. “And how did you figure that out?”

“I saw it in the way she looked at you… and the way she shoved her chest in your direction.”

He leans back, unconcerned. “You don’t say. And I didn’t notice. Are you jealous?”

Heat floods my cheeks. “Of course not! I—just… noticed. Can we talk about your son now?”

His grin widens, teasing. “What’s the rush, Laurel? We have the whole weekend.”

I sense a teasing innuendo in his words, but I shove it aside. The captain steps in, announcing we’ll be wheels up in five minutes. Leonid nods without a word, and the man retreats to the cockpit.

I fish out my phone and text Tasha, letting her know we’re about to take off. Her reply is instant. Send pictures!

The engines hum louder as we begin to taxi. A low vibration travels through the cabin, up through the seat, straight into my spine. My fingers curl instinctively into the armrest. I shut my eyes, only daring to open them when the plane begins its ascent, the pressure shifting.

I glance toward the window despite myself. The world tilts. Buildings shrink, the sky stretches endlessly, pale and open and unreal.

“Oh,” I breathe.

Leonid watches my reaction instead of the view.

“Beautiful,” I whisper.

“Yes,” he agrees softly.

I don’t know if he means the skyline. Or me.

The cabin air is chillier than I expected. I hug my arms to my chest, shivering, silently cursing Tasha for convincing me to wear just a dress and skip a coat.

Leonid notices immediately. “You’re cold,” he says.

Before I can answer, he’s up, moving toward me. He takes off his coat and drapes it over my shoulders. The heat of his body presses just enough against mine to make my pulse skip.

The smell of him hits me, faint cologne, soap, something masculine and warm that feels like it seeps under my skin. I inhale sharply, catching a little too much, and my cheeks burn.