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I watch helplessly as they escort Connor from the gate and, as my hand hovers over my phone, I find myself delaying the call I promised. I’m not sure why, but my eyes flick to the window, and I notice the man has gone and for some reason a huge wave of disappointment hits me.
Then a sexy husky voice whispers behind me, “It appears that your guard was carrying drugs. Shocking when you think of his blatant disregard for airport security.”
My heart beats erratically and yet my voice is calm as I reply, “We both know he is carrying nothing but a bag, Mr…”
“Romanov. Alexei Romanov, Miss…”
I ignore him and a shiver of expectation passes through me as his lips brush against my ear and he whispers, “It’s a long flight to Australia to take alone.”
“I’m not alone.” I say, his breath against my skin causing me to shiver.
“I have a proposition for you.”
“I’m not interested.” I am aching to turn and stare at the stranger who is doing something strange to me inside. His voice is husky and loaded with promise as he whispers, “I think you are extremely interested. I think you are searching for an adventure. Aching to do something reckless and against the rules.”
“You don’t know anything about me, Alexei.”
I turn and stare into the darkest eyes that are loaded with power, and it takes my breath away.
I know those eyes.
I live surrounded by them, but none excites me in the same way that these ones do. Up close, he is even more handsome. A rugged beauty that tells of hard beginnings. A real man. The kind of man I’m used to. A man who takes no shit and doesn’t care about the consequences and I smile as I stare into those eyes and whisper, “It was you.”
He raises his eyes with amusement and shrugs, not even bothering to deny it.
“You called the cops on my companion.” I shake my head. “You’re a wicked man, Alexei. I kind of admire those qualities.”
“I thought you might.”
We hear the announcement to board and Alexei glances at the exit.
“It appears your friend may be some time.”
“Apparently so.”
He leans forward and whispers, “It turns out I won’t be traveling on this flight after all.”
I hate that my heart crashes with disappointment, but I give nothing away and he whispers, “You have a choice. Board this flight, or my private jet that is waiting nearby.”
“You’re crazy.” I stare at him in disbelief, and his eyes flash as he nods in agreement. “Crazy for adventure. What do you say, my mysterious woman? Go on an adventure with me or endure twenty-three hours of boredom alone.”
He stares at me with the hottest look I have ever had directed my way that sends delicious flutters through my entire body.
I picture my grandfather and my brothers, their furious faces urging me to walk away from him. I picture my mother’s shocked expression when I arrive in Sydney on a different flight, and I picture my one shot at adventure disappearing in a jet stream as I take the easy, safe option.
I grin. I’m not that girl. I’m not a Vieri by blood for nothing and the safer option is nowhere near as appealing as the one in front of me now.
In the extremely short time this man has captured my attention, I have experienced so many emotions I’m struggling to keep up. So, I lean forward and tiptoe to whisper in his ear, “I kind of like the idea of an adventure. Make it a good one.”
He nods and reaches for my hand and as we walk to the exit, I have a feeling this is going to be one adventure I may never recover from.
CHAPTER1
ALEXEI
It doesn’t take much to inform the staff of our decision and head to the exit. I’m aware the flight will be held up while they offload our bags, but that doesn’t concern me. What does is passing the next twenty-three hours with a stranger. A pretty stranger who has impressed me with her sense of adventure.
As we head back the way we came, I carry her bag despite her insistence she can carry it herself.
