Finally stepping onto the plane, I find my row and take the aisle seat—silently hoping that the pilot will forego protocol and take off right away.
Adrian’s latest text is going to make me vomit: “Hey babe. Remember to look shocked at first, but not too shocked. Save your best face for when you actually SEE the ring...If you need an example, check out this video on YouTube. This woman nails it perfectly. Can you also pick up some beer on your way here too? Keep it in your sister’s trunk. The guys are coming over to celebrate with us later.”
I delete his text and damn near throw my phone out the window.
Please hurry the hell up and get this plane into the sky...
More passengers walk past me and I nervously bite my nails. I look at my watch and realize that the main doors are about to close. Since it seems as if everyone scheduled for this flight is already on board, I unbuckle my seatbelt and move to the window seat.
“Strawberries and champagne, Miss?” A flight attendant holds out a tray.
“No, thanks. I don’t have any cash on me.”
“No, Miss.” She laughs. “First class passengers get unlimited refreshments before takeoff and throughout the flight. Since it’s a little after the holidays, you can have complimentary champagne as well. The only thing you have to pay for is alcohol.”
My eyes widen and I happily take the food away from her, stuffing down everything within seconds.
“Ladies and gentlemen aboard flight number 743, the main flight doors will be closing in sixty seconds. We now ask that you stow away all portable electronic devices, as the pilot has been directed to begin taxi take-off once the doors close.”
I let out a sigh of relief and lean back in my chair, slipping a pair of shades over my eyes. I’ve turned off my phone, and I sincerely hope that Adrian’s embarrassment at my absence will be as brutal as he deserves for it to be.
Before I can drift into dreams of him getting hit by a bus, a deep voice sounds to my left.
“You’re in my seat,” it says.
“Am I?” I don’t look over at him. “Or are you just saying that because you almost missed this flight and want to sit in first class?”
“Excuse me?”
“I’ve tried sneaking into first class before, but just so you know, it doesn’t work. They’re going to put you out once they realize you don’t belong.”
He laughs and settles into the seat next to me. “Very cute.”
“Ladies and gentlemen...” The flight attendant begins her safety demonstration. “Please sit back and enjoy the flight.”
My heart starts to race as the plane picks up speed on the runway, as it launches into the sky.
I’m crossing my fingers and my toes, hoping that nothing will ruin this moment—that I won’t wake up seconds from now and realize that this is all a dream.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you are now permitted to retrieve your personal electronic devices,” a voice says over the intercom. “You are also free to move about the cabin.
Thank God! It’s definitely not a dream!
With my eyes shut, I reach up and twist the air nozzle above my seat—directing it away from me, but I feel a warm hand grabbing mine.
Annoyed, I use my other hand to slide the shades off my face. I prepare my best scowl and get ready to tell this ass**le to keep his hands to his side of the seat, but no words come out.
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
I feel my mouth dropping open and try to close it, but I can’t.
The man sitting next to me is utter perfection. Period.
He’s dressed in a flawlessly tailored black suit with sparkling silver cufflinks, a silk tie that’s worth my entire year’s salary, and I’m pretty sure his shoes are custom made.
His deep green eyes are currently piercing through mine—gleaming in the light. And his pearly white smile is damn near lethal. As he tilts his head to the side, I notice that his jet black hair is slightly curly, that his full lips are beyond tempting.
“Were you about to say something to me?” He smiles.
“Yes.” I manage to regain control of my mouth. “Can you let go of my hand please?”
“Can you admit that you’re in my seat?”
“Would you like it back?”
“No, but I think you can turn the air valve off instead of making it blow on me. That’s a bit rude don’t you think?”
“Sorry.” I switch it off and he lets my hand go.
“Where are you headed?” he asks.
I don’t answer. I’m still entranced; I’ve never seen anyone who looks this good in person.
Okay, this might actually be a dream...
“Are you partially deaf?” He raises his eyebrow and leans forward, talking into my right ear. “Where are you headed?”
“The same place you’re headed.” I manage.
“You don’t look like you’re dressed for a Washington winter.”
“You know,” I say, slowly coming back to my senses, “just because we’re sitting next to each other doesn’t mean we have to talk for the entire flight.” I point at the magazine in his lap. “I’m sure that Forbes is just begging to be read. That fiscal crisis headline looks fascinating.”