Page 41 of Mile High Ruin

Vadim boards ten minutes later. His eyes find mine immediately.

“Again,” he says.

I lift one eyebrow. “Private aviation is a very small world.”

“Apparently.”

Marek passes behind him. “Remarkably small.”

Vadim turns his head, but Marek walks away before being addressed.

I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from smiling.

The flight is overnight. The cabin lights are dimmed after dinner. Iosef falls asleep with his glasses still on. Anton spends most of the flight reading. Marek disappears into the rear seating area with headphones.

Vadim remains awake.

So do I.

At two in the morning, I’m standing alone in the galley preparing tea when I sense someone behind me.

I turn.

Vadim.

Of course.

“Do you need something?”

“Water.”

“There’s bottled water beside your seat.”

“I know.”

I look at him. He looks back. Neither of us says anything for several seconds.

The galley is not as small as the restroom on the first flight, but it still feels too small with him in it.

I reach for a bottle.

He doesn’t take it when I offer it. Instead, his gaze drops to my hand. Then to my mouth.

My breath changes. I hate that he can probably hear it.

“You have been avoiding me,” he says.

“I’m working.”

“You said that last time.”

“It was true last time too.”

His mouth almost curves.

I hold out the bottle again. He takes it.

Our fingers brush. Again.