“Well, you said thank you,” I say, playing with what’s left of the dessert.
“I was being polite,” he said, but he had a very quirky smile on his face.
“The invitation included me, and you didn’t even ask. That was rude.” He laughed, like actually laughed, and I found myself grinning in spite of it. “I’m sorry, do you want an invitation?” he asked, eyes catching mine.
“To her bed, or to yours?”
“Well,” he said, finishing his glass, “I can’t offer hers. She already did. And besides, I only extend invitations to my bed.”
I swirled the spoon in the melted sugar, meeting his gaze. “So, are you extending one or…?”
His voice was low, steady. “Do you want me to invite you to my bed, Sam?”
The way he said my name. It did something to me.
I felt the heat between my legs and down in my stomach. I held his gaze for a beat, let the tension stretch just long enough to feel it settle in my chest.
“I’m flattered,” I said, soft but playful. “But I don’t sleep with my passengers.”
“Good thing I’m not one anymore.”
“I’m not cleared for technicalities.” He smiled again, slower this time. A bit measured. Like he knew exactly what he was doing.
My phone buzzed against the bar. I glanced down.
Rose: We’re heading to the tower, come sparkle with us
I smiled and looked back at Theo, still tracing the rim of his wine glass with one finger, like he wasn’t in a rush to be anywhere else. “Wanna go watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle?” I asked, casually, like I wasn’t fully expecting a polite no. He looked at me like he was recalibrating. “When?”
“Erm… right now?” I grinned.
He paused, then nodded. “Sure.”
I blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah. Let me grab the check.” He slid his card onto the bar and looked at the bartender. “Can we take a bottle to go?” She blinked, surprised, but nodded. “Sure.” He turned back to me and winked at me.
“Figured you weren’t done judging my wine preferences yet.” I shook my head, smiling as I grabbed my coat and the dessert spoon one more time for good measure.
We met the rest of the group just outside the station. Rose spotted me first, practically bouncing in her boots.
“Yay, you came!” she waved, then narrowed her eyes at Theo beside me. “And …you brought?—”
“Rose,” I said with a grin, interrupting her, “Meet 1A. Or well, Theo.” He gave a small wave, warm but cool. “Nice to meet you.”
Rose’s eyes flicked to me, amused. “You’re taller outside the plane.”
“So I’ve been told,” Theo said, ever the diplomat. We didn’t linger too much. We just shared a few smiles, brief introductions, and a little awkward shuffle as the rest of the crew clocked in on who he was and how closely we walked.
But no one asked about it.
We strolled toward the Tower, passing glowing streetlamps and couples wrapped in scarves and nighttime plans. The bottle of wine was tucked under Theo’s arm, and when I glanced up at him, he looked… relaxed. Lighter.
Just two people, in Paris, waiting for the sparkle.
CHAPTER SIX
theo
