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“It’s a lovely plane,” she says, looking around. “Not bad for a first timer.”
I sip my coffee. “No, you don’t normally get served champagne in cattle class.”
She gives me a wry look. “When have you ever flown cattle class?”
“As a teenager. My dad was a big believer in teaching his kids the value of money, and when I did my OE, he made me fly economy and backpack around Europe.”
“Slumming it,” she says, in a tone that suggests she’s thinking Jesus, this guy’s a knob. Of course, if she hasn’t flown, she hasn’t traveled either.
Henry comes back, and she gets up to let him in, then slides back into her seat. “I guess you’ve flown all around the world,” she continues saying to me, fastening her belt again. To be fair, she doesn’t sound resentful.
I nod. “I’m Kia Kaha’s international liaison, so if any business needs doing abroad, they send me.”
“I can see you as a sales rep,” she replies. “You could sell Christmas to turkeys.”
Henry coughs into his tea, and Gaby giggles.
I meet Aroha’s beautiful hazel eyes. She lifts an eyebrow, challenging me to dispute that. I have a choice now—take offense, or make a joke and let it slide.
Her lips curve up a little. I was with Cassie so long I’d forgotten that not every woman is spiteful. She’s teasing me.
“I could sell sand at the beach,” I reply.
Her smile broadens. “Fire to the devil?”
“Salt to a slug,” I say, and she laughs. Yeah, that’s better.
Andrea brings over plates of chocolate biscuits and mini muffins and leaves them on the tables. Aroha looks at me and Henry. We both gesture for her to choose first. She blushes, then examines the options. My gaze lingers on the curve of her Cupid bow, and the way she’s sucking her plump bottom lip. I can remember how soft her mouth was. The way she moaned when I teased her tongue with mine.
I glance at Henry. He smirks. Surreptitiously, I give him the finger, and he stifles a laugh.
Aroha chooses a chocolate muffin, and Henry and I dive in. Gaby starts talking about what’s happening over the next few days, and Aroha listens, chipping in with questions.
Well, it looks as if I might have diverted that crisis. She might not have forgiven me, but if we can get through the next few days without an unpleasant atmosphere, I’ll be relieved.
The rest of the flight is uneventful. I have some work to do, and so I get out my laptop and spend thirty minutes finishing off a report.
“James,” Gaby scolds after a while, “I hope you’re not going to be working while Damon and Belle are exchanging their vows.”
“I just want to get this finished,” I reply. “I haven’t had much chance to work over the past few days.”
“Oh, of course,” she says, “you’ve been with Maddie, haven’t you? His twin sister,” she says to Aroha as she glances at her.
Her eyebrows rise. “You have a twin?”
I nod. “I spent Christmas with her.”
“How’s she doing?” Gaby asks.
I shrug. When Aroha looks at me, I say, “Maddie’s got a four-month-old baby. She’s suffering from postnatal depression. Maddie, I mean.”
Her brow creases. “Oh, I’m sorry.”
“I imagine those first few months are tough anyway,” Gaby says, “what with being sore and exhausted, let alone if you have depression.”
“It’s been very tough on her.”
“What’s your niece’s name?” Aroha asks.
