Page 59 of Bossman

“It was a last-minute thing.”

I squinted, wondering if he had planned this all along. “How last minute?”

He looked me straight in the eyes, and I could see his apprehension. “I don’t even have an overnight bag.”

“What do you mean, you don’t have a bag?”

“I left my house this morning with every intention of going to the office.” He paused and ran a hand through his hair, muttering the rest. “Not even sure how I got here anymore.”

“Are you serious?”

Shaking his head, he said, “You’ll be the one sharing your shirt with me this time.”

“I don’t think my shirt would fit you.”

“So you want me shirtless, then? I knew it.”

The flight attendant came by and gave us menus. “Can I get you something to drink?”

Chase answered without looking at his menu. “We’ll take two mimosas.”

I looked at him. “It’s barely nine in the morning.”

“It’s a special occasion.”

The flight attendant smiled and took the menus. “Are you celebrating something?”

Chase’s hand still covered mine on the armrest. He lifted them, linked my fingers with his, and brought my hand to his mouth for a kiss. “It’s our honeymoon.”

“Wow. Congratulations! That’s wonderful. Are you connecting through Kansas or is that your final destination today?”

“We’re staying in Kansas. The new Mrs. is a huge Wizard of Oz fan and wants to hit the museum.” He pointed with his chin down to our feet. I happened to be dressed in all black and wearing red heels. “She gets a little carried away sometimes.”

The flight attendant managed to keep her smile, but I could see she thought I was a little nutty. I mean, who the hell in their right mind would go to a museum when they’d just married a man who looked like the one I was sitting next to?

After she walked away, I turned to Chase. “A Wizard of Oz fan?”

Chase grinned. “It’s more of a fetish, but whatever you’re into.”

“And who would you be? The scarecrow with no brain? Where do you come up with this stuff?”

“Was coming out of the bathroom when you walked onto the plane. Saw those sexy-as-shit red shoes, and I might have had a little role-play fantasy.”

“I really think you need help.”

“You might be right.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “But if you wanted to wear those shoes, pigtails, and nothing else, I’d be one happy Tin Man.”

After the flight attendant had brought our drinks (and called me the bride), Chase and I had a moment of honesty.

“How long are you staying in Kansas?” I asked, reaching down into my purse to grab my Chapstick for a quick freshen up.

His eyes followed along as I lined my lips. “You use that stuff a lot, huh?”

“What, Chapstick?”

“Yeah. I’ve noticed you putting it on a few times.”

“I’m kind of addicted to it.”