“It’s fine, I was the one who brought it up. But we can talk about something else if you’d rather. How about you tell me where you’re going? Are you going home or visiting somewhere?” I know full well that she’s not going home, she lives in some town near the city border. Rents somewhere with a friend. Edward was annoyed she didn’t get a place with him, but seeing as he still lives with me at home, and doesn’t have a job, that would be a little impossible. Although, he probably wanted her to pay for everything, little shit that he is.
“Oh, I’m visiting,” she sounds surprised I’ve continued the conversation, if only she knew. “My friend is getting married just outside of Inverness, so I’m here for the weekend. What about you?” The world cannot be this small; there is no way that we are both heading to the same place. Right?
“I’m actually going to a wedding too, my friend's daughter is getting married. Some village in the middle of nowhere.”
“Glencoe?”No. Fucking. Way.
“Yes, Chloe's wedding. Chloe Miller.” I swear to God, her face lights up; it lights up like she’s a fucking tree at Christmas.
“Chloe is my closest friend. We’ve known each other since we were kids. I can’t believe we’re going to the same place!”Neither can I, sweetheart. Neither can I. I had no intention of pursuing her, I honestly didn’t. I walked on to this plane thinking not only was she my son’s girlfriend, but also that she was too young and that she wouldn’t look twice at me. But that’s changed. Not only is she attracted to me, but she’s no longer his. Yes, she’s still half my age, but I honest to Godcouldn’t give a shit about that right now. I want her, and if I’m not mistaken, she wants me too.
***
Paige
Oh my goodness. I have never been so attracted to someone before. The minute I saw him walk towards me on the plane, I couldn’t stop staring, and what’s worse is that he saw. The last thing this man needs is some girl half his age annoying him all flight. I’ve never been bothered by age, to me it really is just a number, but I’m also aware that not everyone thinks that. That said, he was the one who started the conversation and it would be weird if we didn’t talk considering we’re going to the same place. I still can’t believe he’s going to Chloe’s wedding. What are the chances of me sitting next to a guy on the plane going to the exact same place as me?
“Chloe’s father, Angus, and I met back at university,” he continues talking to me. “We’ve been friends since. How did you meet Chloe? Did you meet at uni, she went to St Andrews right?”
“No, we met on holiday actually, when we were eight and became email friends, or whatever you want to call it. Then as we got older, those emails turned to text messages and then phone calls and then each of us was flying down or up to stay with the other for a week at a time during the holidays. Chloe’s the sort of friend that I might not see all that often anymore, but when we do meet up, it’s like we only saw each other yesterday.” His smile is infectious and I can’t help thegiggle that escapes me, he may be older than me, but he has a certain boyish charm about him.
“That is one of the strangest, yet possibly cutest friendships I think I’ve heard about. You must be good friends.”
“Cutest? Really, that’s what you’re going with?” I internally cringe at his words, could he make me feel any younger around him.
His smile only grows wider. “You don’t think you’re cute?”
My cheeks heat, is he flirting with me? Oh God, please, please let him be flirting with me. “Do you?”
“I think you’re really fucking cute.”Holy shit!He is definitely flirting. Okay, okay, breathe Paige. You can flirt, it’s been a while, but you used to be good at this.
“Well, that’s good to know. I think you’re pretty cute yourself.” Okay, so maybe I’m not so great at flirting. My pulse is hammering. I can feel it pounding at the base of my throat. He must be able to see it; I can practically hear it beating around the plane. His gaze drops to my lips, I instinctively lick them on reflex and his gaze darkens, the blue around his pupils practically disappearing. His gaze flicks back to mine.
“Sweetheart, you do not call a forty-something-year-old man, cute.” Sweetheart? I didn’t know I had a thing for pet names, but sweetheart definitely makes me swoon. Or maybe it’s just the man that’s saying it. I saw the women at the front of the plane turning as he walked past, he seemed oblivious to their attention, probably so used to women throwing themselves at him that most don’t even register now.
“Are you staying at the estate?”
“Yes, you?” I can only nod my response, words deserting me at the heat in his eyes.
“Good.” One word. He uttered one word, but the promise in it is everything. “How are you getting to the venue? Angus has arranged a car to collect me; it makes sense for us to share.”
“I was going to get a cab at the airport, but if you don’t mind then that works better.”
“Oh, sweetheart, I don’t mind sharing with you.” I blush again, just when I think I can’t possibly blush any more than I already am, I go and blush further. Is he still talking about the car? Do I want him to still be talking about the car? I haven’t felt this attracted to someone in, well, never. I’m not used to guys being this forward, but God, do I like it. He’s not even touched me and I swear I’m on edge. I can feel myself leaning closer to him, being drawn to him inexplicably. His eyes drop to my lips again and he licks his own, goose-bumps break out over my body and I visibly shiver.
“Cute, so fucking cute,” he mumbles under his breath, leaning back in his chair, he takes my hand and holds it to his thigh. “Tell me more about you. Let’s start with your name?”
Chapter 2
Grayson
Six months, it’s been six months since I first saw a photo of her from her graduation that Edward attended. There’s been a couple of times since then that I’ve seen her in person too, well, I’ve seen her, she’s not seen me. She came to the house in the summer, Edward had some friends over and I was in my home office. She was laughing and joking with them all and I was hooked, I don’t think I took my eyes off her the whole time she was there. Then there was the time she popped into the office to drop off something at reception for Edward, I was in the conference room and had a clear line of sight to her. If she’d turned around, she would have seen me, but she dropped the parcel and left immediately. I don’t understand it, this draw to her, how I can be affected so quickly by someone I’ve only seen twice and had never spoken to before today. But I am. Maybe this weekend willcure me. Hopefully we’ll fuck, we’ll get it out of our system, I’ll lose this infatuation I seem to have with her and I can go back to being me. The one who has never felt the need to settle down, who lives for his job, for the company he built. Not this pathetic excuse of a man pining after some girl half his age.
“Checking in?” The receptionist of the resort startles me out of my thoughts. The rest of the very short plane journey was spent getting to know each other. I had a conference call during the drive from the airport, though I spent the whole journey touching her in some way. I want this woman standing next to me, everything about her draws me in. The sexual chemistry between us is off the charts.
“Yes, please check in Miss Andrews first.”
“Of course, Sir,” he taps away on his screen.
