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A warm hand covers mine and I jump, my eyes flying open to find Emrys gazing at me intently. "I've got you." His gravelly vow is somehow audible over the chaos. His touch is a brand, searing into my skin. My breath catches as we lock eyes, the rest of the world fading away for a suspended moment.
Then the plane pitches again and I grip his hand like a lifeline. Adrenaline and awareness rush through me all at once as we weather the turbulence. His sturdy presence keeps me steady amidst the buffeting winds and shaking cabin.
After an eternity, Avery’s voice returns, soothingly announcing the worst is over. My heartbeat begins to settle and I slowly peel my fingers from Emrys', my cheeks warming. His eyes crinkle knowingly, a glimpse of the protective alpha beneath his gruff exterior.
Okay, so maybe I do read too many romance novels. Protective alpha, really?
Clearing my throat, I smooth my clothes and avoid his gaze, needing space to regain equilibrium, when I notice Wilder studying me curiously from across the aisle, an indecipherable look in his bright blue eyes. I raise a questioning eyebrow at him and his trademark grin returns as he drawls, "Quite a grip you've got there, darlin'. Remind me to stay on your good side."
I roll my eyes dramatically to hide my flustered reaction. "Who says you're not already on my bad side, cowboy?" The teasing words slip out before I can overthink them.
His smile widens, incandescently bright like sunlight after the storm as he lets out a low whistle. “If you’re trying to scare me away, darlin’, that’s not the way to do it. I like a challenge, especially a feisty, beautiful one.” His wink sends my stomach into little flutters.
Get it together!
Rattled, I decide a trip to the bathroom to freshen up is in order. After passing through the large, luxurious bedroom, I enter the ridiculously opulent bathroom that really doesn’t belong on a plane. Gripping the counter, I take a deep breath and stare at my reflection. What am I doing? I came on this trip to support my sister, not start some deranged love...square? Triangle? Trapezoid? Ugh. I’m so off kilter, I don't even know what shape this is.
I splash cold water on my face and give myself a little pep talk. I've got this. So there are three disarmingly charming men glued to my side for the foreseeable future. It's fine. I'm a grown ass adult. I'm in control here.
Except, I'm clearly not. I'm out of my depth in uncharted waters. And I'm not sure if I'm terrified or exhilarated. Maybe both.
When I get back to my seat, Mom and Annabelle are both gone. I glance around, noting them having a drink at the bar, which leaves me alone with the three admittedly intriguing tagalongs. A charged silence fills the air around us as I retake my seat, gripping my book in my hands like my life depends on it.
“So…Kat.” Wilder says my name with a Cheshire Cat grin overtaking his face and my heart forgets to beat for a second. That can’t be good.
“Wilder.” I feign an unaffected air as I lean back in my seat, but I feel the weight of Emrys and Wyatt’s gazes as they also focus their attention on me. It’s making me twitchy. I’m not a twitchy person.
“I’m curious, really. Why go through the trouble of hiring a boyfriend for all this?” He spins a finger in the air lazily, as if reminding me of the situation. I don’t need reminding.
Sensing my reluctance to respond, Wyatt interjects with a smooth lilting tone, "You don’t have to answer that. You’re not required to give any reason behind your decision to hire our company. Nor are you under any obligations to spend time or speak to us outside of the events you’ve described on the intake form.”
My eyes bug out as I watch him professionally recite this as if he’s read a great deal into it. He reminds me of the lawyer that I keep on retainer for my company. Except, you know…so much hotter. I shoot him a grateful smile, even as Wilder scoffs and rolls his eyes. “Where’s the fun in that?”
Now I’m rolling my eyes.
"No shortage of real options for you, I'd wager," Wilder drawls with a grin, his electric blue eyes bright with interest as he pushes the subject. The man needs a lesson in boundaries for sure.
Somehow, though, I can’t find it in me to mind.
I shake my head ruefully, mumbling under my breath in a way that’s impossible for them to hear. "Not options that meet my standards."
I tap my french manicured fingers on the armrest before opening my mouth, intending to spout a line about being too busy for dating, or whatever other bullshit I can think up, but I pause. What’s the point in lying? They are under a strict NDA and they technically work for me. There’s really no one else safer to divulge all my darkest secrets to. Right?
"I guess...I'm a bit of a romantic. My expectations are unrealistic. So hiring someone seemed easier than disappointing my family with another failed relationship." I shrug my shoulders as if I don’t give a shit, but there’s a pang of sadness behind my ribcage that reminds me I’m still a softy beneath my overconfident, ice queen exterior.
"A romantic?" Wilder looks intrigued by the notion. His eyes flick to the book still sitting forgotten on my lap and I quickly try to hide the cover. No need to let him know exactly what kind of expectations I have.
Malice by Coralee June is not for the faint of heart.
Emrys grunts and I slide my book into the large purse at my feet before eyeing Wilder once more. “Nothing wrong with knowing your worth and holding out for something real.” I shoot him a glare in challenge and he cocks a single brow that has a tumble of fuzzy fuckers flipping around in my stomach.
I blush. Blush!
“Never settle. Any man would be fortunate to earn your affection.” Wyatt’s simple statement warms me more than flowery flattery could.
“How could you possibly know that? You guys don’t know anything about me.” I narrow my eyes as they all seem to subconsciously shift in their seats. “You don’t know anything about me, right?”
Wilder simply slumps in his seat and starts snoring, pretending to be asleep on the spot. What the hell? A snort escapes me as I struggle not to laugh and reinforce his bad behavior.
