And it had nothing to do with food or flying.
CHAPTER 13
Jannie
“So, having less fun as a brunette? Or is that a myth?”
Jannie touched the wavy chestnut tresses of her wig. “I’ll let you know after we get through this dinner undetected.”
She gathered the fabric of the teal gown, adorned with shimmering sequined patterns, lifting it above her ankles to maintain her stride in her nude block-heeled sandals. They had exited the Uber, choosing to walk the rest of the way because of bumper-to-bumper traffic on the strip.
She shook her head, still in disbelief that she was wearing this crazy getup. “This is nuts, you know?”
“Hey, you were the one who suggested it. I understood the assignment.”
“I didn’t mean I’d actually do it!”
Nick’s smirk was sexy and oh-so-devilish. “Yet, here you are.” His quick scan over her face held fake confusion. “Who are you again, ma’am?”
Jannie couldn’t hold back a little laugh. The brunette disguise was a joke she’d tossed out in passing, which Nick turned into reality this afternoon when he showed up, twirling the long, poker-straight thing on his finger. He also brought a gray eye shadow palette and a tube of M.A.C. Ruby Woo. She didn’t ask him how he knew about that popular lipstick shade or if he preferred it.
When she was all done up and looking in the mirror at the brown hair, the striking red lip she never wore, and the dramatic smoky eye, she had to admit she couldn’t even recognize herself. But she didn’t lookbad either. In fact, she thought she looked kind of sultry.
She didn’t do sultry; her entire adult life, she’d been the opposite. But looking in the mirror, she saw someone so different from her real reflection that it was kind of fun. “It feels like Halloween.”
“Good. That’s my favorite holiday.”
“Not Christmas?”
“Definitely not Christmas.” That muscle in his jaw tightened, and Jannie’s stomach clenched. Clearly, that was a sensitive topic for him. She searched for something to say to quickly change the subject.
“How is it already Monday?” They passed the undulating fountains of the Bellagio, Jannie lagging slightly behind him.
Nick glanced back and immediately adjusted his pace. “Because what they say is true.”
“What’s that?”
“Time flies when you’re having fun. And if you happen to be flying while it’s flying, it flies even faster.”
“That’s a lot of flying,” she deadpanned. “And tragically corny.”
“I know, but you think it’s funny.”
Jannie had to grin. It wasn’t just Nick’s ridiculous statement that made her smile but also the feeling of accomplishment.
Instrument training had gone well today, and to her delight, she’d made very few mistakes, discovering she could quickly absorb everything he attempted to teach her.
“Constantly scan your instruments. Move only your eyes, not your head, because that can cause spatial disorientation and airsickness.”
“Fly with your fingertips. Trim the aircraft gently—no dramatic wheel turns or holding down the electric trim button.”
“Treat your trim like garlic; check if the plane is in trim before adding more.”
That last one made her laugh. He’d given her Tic Tac mints to suck on to keep her stomach calm. Good thing she hadn’t needed the Ziploc bag, which he’d tucked down the front of her shirt with care.“Just in case.”
The more she practiced, the easier it became and, consequently, more fun.
And, oh, had this week been fun.
