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“As a matter of fact, sweetheart, I’d love it if one of you girls could fetch me another drink.”
I rolled my eyes. Apart from his patronizing tone, the guy had obviously had quite enough to drink. “I’m afraid we don’t serve alcohol or soft drinks this close to landing, sir. We’ll be in Florida within—I checked my watch—half an hour, maybe a little more. Once you get there, there’ll be plenty of bars at the airport and—”
The guy waved his hand. “I guess you’re just as stupid as the last one,” he said, slurring his words. “Goddammit, can’t someone get me a drink?”
“Please don’t talk to me like that,” I replied. “You can’t exactly expect me to help you when you’re calling me stupid, can you? And even if I did want to get you another drink—which, frankly, I don’t—you’re drunk, which means I can’t, and we’re landing soon, which means I double can’t.” Some customers were under the false impression that an airplane ride was an open bar.
“Jesus,” said the guy. “I feel sorry for any kids you’re gonna have.”
I froze when he said that. It was just an off-the-cuff remark. But it was one of many examples where an ordinary slight or insult meant so much more to me now that I was carrying Jake’s baby.
“What did you say?” I said quietly, hearing the hurt in my voice.
“Cold bitch like you,” said the guy, unpleasantly, “you’d make a terrible mother.”
He reached out his hand and lunged for me, and I stepped back in shock. A few of the other passengers around, who’d been watching the conflict brewing, gasped. “Derrick?” I called at the end of business class.
The guy whirled and spun. He’d almost fallen over in his seat. “Who’s Derrick?” he mumbled.
“Derrick Brower,” said a voice behind me, and I looked, seeing a tall man, well over six feet, bulky and broad, with steel-gray hair in a crewcut. He was dressed in a suit. “Sky marshal. I’m detaining you for your own safety and the safety of the crew and passengers, Mr. Conroy.”
I wish I could say it was satisfying to see the overweight, drunk guy cuffed and dragged out of the cabin by Derrick, but the truth was, I felt sad inside.
“It’salifelongbanfrom CAA, that’s for sure. There’s no way he’s ever getting on one of our planes again.”
I was on the phone with Jake. The incident had shaken me up, even though I still didn’t understand why. Air rage and excessive drinking on planes were pretty much the only downsides of the job, but they were ones I’d gotten used to. Still, the guy’s comment really stung me, and I found I was tearful and confused after we disembarked. I had just said goodbye to Ann-Marie after we planned to go grab dinner together when I remembered the last thing Jake had said to me after we left the rooftop.
Call me if you need anything, he said after that amazing day, after that mind-blowing kiss we’d shared by the helicopter.
“I know, it’s just …” I said nothing for a little while and then started to cry.
“What’s the matter, Alicia?” said Jake. I could hear the tension in his voice was back. He was nervous for me and wanted to make sure I was all right. Did he want to make sure the baby was okay too?
“He said something about me being a bad mom,” I said. “Of course, there was no way he could know I was pregnant. But it shook me up.”
Jake sighed on the other end of the phone, realizing this was the reason I called him. “I’m coming down to see you,” he said. “You’re still in Miami tomorrow, right? We can spend the day together before you work for the return flight in the evening.”
“Jake …” I said. How could he drop everything in Chicago just because I was upset?
“No, Alicia,” he said. “I’m coming.”
Twohourslater,Iheard a knock on my motel room door. I was staying in a motel by the airport, so I wasn’t exactly keen on opening the door to just anyone. “Who is it?” I said nervously.
“You know who,” said that warm, rich, gravelly baritone.
I opened the door. Jake was standing in front of me, wearing a blue, open-necked shirt under one of his customary dark suits. I felt practically weak in the knees when I saw him.
“How did you get here so fast?” I asked. I was dizzy at the sight of this handsome, strong man who’d come straight to my side just when I needed him.
“Easy,” said Jake, as he took me in his arms and gave me a hug. “Half an hour to the airfield, an hour and a half to Florida on the HondaJet.”
My fears and panic had subsided since the incident on the plane that morning, but I was still jittery. The comfort of his strong, warm arms was just what I needed. And I felt myself flush a little as I realized what I wanted from Jake.
I looked up at his face and reached out, shutting the motel door behind us. I looked into his eyes, willing him to kiss me, to take me once again and explore me as he’d done two months ago.
He didn’t disappoint me.
Jake lifted me off my feet in his arms, and I giggled, feeling my high heels fall from my feet to the floor. Within a few sure, steady movements, he’d peeled off my stockings and was busy kissing my legs, my knees, and the soft skin on my thighs. “I’ve missed you,” he said breathlessly, his voice animalistic and dark in between motions.
