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Chapter 3
FLYING FIRST CLASSwas like a dream come true. The direct flight was just under twelve hours, and I didn’t want to close my eyes for a single second. A flight attendant with bouffant hair and a scarf tired around her polo collar brought me alcohol and a plate of delicious food, and in the end, I ended up sleeping for a few hours. Not because I wanted to, but because the sleep pods were so comfortable, it just didn’t feel right staying awake.
When I woke, rested and slightly tipsy, we were landing. My stomach was jumpy and anxious, yet excited, and a squeal built in my throat.
The first-class passengers were allowed to disembark first, but I didn’t really want to do that. I shimmied down in my seat and looked around, watching everyone else leave.
I liked the idea of not having to push and wait in line with the rest of those in coach, but I also didn’t really want this amazing experience to end.
“Would you like help with your bags?” a different flight attendant asked, standing beside my little sleep pod.
I sighed and grabbed my satchel, throwing it over my shoulder. “No, I’m fine. Time to face the music, I guess.”
No one really understood what I meant, but I grinned at her and wove my way down the aisle, then out into the airport terminal. Up ahead of me, there was a young man in a suit, holding a white sign.
Erin Wright.
I pasted on a grin as I stepped up in front of the “servant” Henryk’s steward had sent to collect me. “Hey. I’m Erin.”
Much to my surprise, the guy’s face lit up, and that was when I noticed the hint of black eye liner around his big blue eyes. “Hello, Erin. I’m Raymond.”
“Hi, Raymond,” I returned, sticking out my hand to shake his. “Nice to meet you. Can I call you Ray? You can call me Erin.” If he called me Ms. Wright, I wouldn’t know to answer anyway.
Ray glanced down and then shook my hand. He smiled as his warm palm slid against mine. “You are going to be a breath of fresh air around here.” His accent wasn’t English, but I couldn’t place it. I guessed it would be German.
“Around the airport?” I asked.
Ray ignored my question and waved his other hand. “Luggage claim tickets, please.”
I handed them over and followed him to the carousel, admiring Ray’s fitted suit and gelled hair. This was a man who had style on top of swagger and some more style just because.
“So, tell me, Ray, what exactly do you do for Henryk?” I watched his shoulders from behind. They were broad but not too broad, and his hair hung over his collar just enough.
He grabbed my first suitcase and turned to raise an eyebrow at me. “Why do you ask?”
Did I dare say that he looked like someone’s personal shopper?
“Uh...” I didn’t dare.
Ray chuckled as he grabbed my second suitcase. “Is this everything?”
“Yeah, that’s it.” Two suitcases might’ve seemed excessive for a two-day trip, but it wasn’t nearly enough for the couple week vacay I was planning for after.
He took my bags, and we made our way through the airport to a waiting, chauffeur-driven stretch limousine. The windows were tinted and there were about three miles between the back door and the front.
“Whoa. Fancy.”
Ray laughed louder this time as he loaded my bags in the trunk, then came back to open the car door for me. “Hop in, Miss Wright.”
I rolled my eyes at him. “It’s Erin.”
His eyes sparkled in amusement. “All right, MissErin.”
Miss Erin. It sounded funny. “You don’t meet many Americans, do you?”
He shook his head and waved me inside the car.
I sighed. “Fine.”
