Page 20 of Dream Chaser

Footfalls thudded in the hallway, then my boss appeared, followed by Asher Williams—his friend and one of our biggest clients I’d met last week. So far, we’d only talked about his marketing strategy and the sponsors’ requirements, but I was looking forward to getting to know him better.

“Nova.” He smiled. “Ready for Barcelona?”

“I am. Are you?”

He raked a hand through his dark hair. “Ready to win, as usual.”

“More than the usual because Kaia will be watching,” Alejandro said.

On cue, a tall girl with her light brown hair in a ponytail stepped into the room. Asher’s face lit up. He reached for her and jostled her to his side, kissing her temple. “Nova, meet Kaia.”

I smiled. “Nice to meet you.”

“You too, Nova,” she said, gaze shifting from Asher to me. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Are you traveling to Barcelona too?”

“Yes,” I said. “I’ve always wanted to see it.”

“You’ll love it. I’d love to be your guide if we have time to see the city.”

“Probably not this time,” Alejandro said. “Too many events to attend. Do you need to go home to pack, Nova? We’re leaving for the airport in two hours.”

Everyone was still on their lunch break, and I’d stayed behind as usual, using work as an excuse. I hoped Eleanor hadn’t taken my refusal to go out to eat with her and the rest of my colleagues the wrong way.

“No,” I said. “I’ve got everything.”

I pointed to my duffle under the desk. Alejandro eyed it for a beat. Thankfully, he didn’t know the bag contained all my belongings.

His shoulders lifted and dropped under the white button-down clinging to his muscles. “Okay then. Come on, Ash, let’s go over the Aeterno contract.”

Asher said goodbye and followed Alejandro to the meeting room.

I eyed the apples in the bowl. One hadn’t been enough, but I couldn’t eat them all. Hopefully, there’d be food on the plane.

***

There was not only food in business class, but also a comfortable lie-flat seat—although anything was more comfortable than the back seat of my SUV.

After we finished dinner, Alejandro pulled out his laptop and started typing, his mouth set in a focused frown. My gaze slid over his profile. A neatly trimmed beard, sharp cheekbones, straight nose. . .

Scarlett had been right—he was attractive in a way that made you do a double take. I was sure women were constantly vying for his attention.

Did he have a girlfriend? He must have. And it was none of my business.

I allowed myself one more glance. He was ruggedly handsome; so different from Preston with his smooth jaw and clean-cut look.

In the townspeople’s eyes, Preston was approachable. Someone they could ask for a favor. A man with a perfect reputation who gave speeches about family values and morals.

A man who was completely different behind closed doors.

The tapping of the keyboard stopped, and Alejandro closed the laptop. I quickly grabbed the blanket the flight attendant had handed me earlier and unfolded it over my legs, my cheeks warming. Shit. Had he noticed I’d been staring at him for the past few minutes?

A jolt rattled the plane, and my stomach flipped. The seat belt sign lit up overhead, and the speaker crackled before the captain’s voice drifted into the cabin.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re expecting some bumps ahead. Please fasten your seatbelts and remain seated.”

Fear gripped me. Was this normal? It better be. I shoved the latch plate into the buckle, but it slid right out. My face heated from my clumsiness and my boss’s eyes on me. He must’ve been having lots of fun watching me.

“Here. Let me.” His whisper fanned over my cheek as he leaned toward me and grabbed the belt. The buckle let out a click.