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"Enough," I mutter.
"Excuse me?" Travis asks from the cockpit.
"Nothing."
I undo my seatbelt and move to the small table with my laptop. The air is a little stuffy. I take off the black jacket and carefully drape it over the arm of the sofa. I don't want to be wrinkled when I meet our potential new client.
As I power up my laptop and begin sifting through the documents, I can't shake the feeling of Travis's gaze on me. Glancing up, I catch his eyes through the open cockpit door. There's a hint of a smile playing on his lips as he watches me work. A surge of irritation mixed with something else - something warmer and unfamiliar - courses through me.
I clear my throat, attempting to break the tension that is building between us. "Do you mind keeping your eyes on flying the plane, Captain?" I say, injecting more sarcasm into my tone than I intended.
Travis chuckles, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he focuses back on the controls. "Don't worry, I've got everything under control," he reassures me with a grin. "I couldn't help but notice you seem a little tense. Is everything okay?"
I hesitate, caught off guard by his perceptiveness. "I'm fine," I reply curtly, turning my attention back to the laptop screen. But the truth is, Travis's observation has hit closer to home than I care to admit. I focus on the document in front of me and give it my full attention. I don't need to make nice with the pilot. It's not like we're going to be friends.
Chapter 4
Travis
The hum of the engines fills the cockpit as I guide the Learjet through the mostly cloudless sky, my mind drifting lazily to thoughts of white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters. There’s something intoxicating about being in the cockpit and flying thousands of miles above the ground. It’s freeing. The weight of the world below are down there. I can let my mind drift a little. The autopilot has things under control, and I don’t see anything on the radar.
Hawaii awaits, a paradise of relaxation and indulgence, and I can practically taste the sweet tang of a Mai Tai on my lips. I packed swim trunks and shorts and plan on wearing just that for the next couple of days. I want to be barefoot with my feet buried in the stand. If things worked out the way I hoped they would, I might find a little female companionship.
Nothing serious. I didn’t want a relationship. It was the last thing I needed in my life. I was always out of town. I have spent the last ten years working in the airline industry. I couldn’t begin to count the number of relationships and marriages that ended because of the constant travel. We spent most of our time in other cities and countries with a group of people. It was inevitable for things to happen. I wasn’t innocent. I had my fair share of affairs with flight attendants. You’re away from home in a hotel with a beautiful woman in a room next door. The temptation was real.
My daydreams were interrupted by the sound of Paige scolding someone. I turn back to see if we had a stowaway on board. Nope. She’s on her phone. Her laptop is open and there are files spread across the table.
I can’t help but cringe. The woman is wound way too tight. She's one of those anxious clients who prefer to keep to themselves. She’s not the first one, but she’s easily one of the prettiest. I've learned not to take it personally. After all, I'm just the hired help—a means to an end.
Even though she clearly thought I was far below her social status. The woman dressed for a six-hour flight like she was going into a courtroom. The heels, the tight skirt and the severe ponytail were all a little much for what should be a relaxing flight. The skirt wasn’t all that short, but from what I had gotten to see of her legs, she looked like she was a runner. Her body was fire. I liked that she didn’t wear a lot of makeup. Her stunning green eyes and plump lips didn’t need any help. I would like to see her let her hair down.
I could see her desire to control everything, even the way she carried herself showed it. She was straight-backed and elegant. It was intriguing to watch her work, even though she clearly didn’t think much of me. I couldn’t help but admire the fire in her eyes when she spoke, how her voice commanded attention.
But there was something beneath that icy exterior. I could sense it, a loneliness that mirrored my own in some ways. Maybe that's why she set my teeth on edge — because in her, I saw a reflection of the walls I built around myself. I understood her type, the ones who thought they could control everything. They were always the first to lose it when things went awry. That's why she was so angry with me. I didn't show up on her schedule.
Paige was like a tightly wound spring, ready to snap at any moment. But there was something about her, a vulnerability that she tried so hard to conceal beneath those layers of professionalism and distance. I had checked her ring finger...she wasn't married or engaged. I pegged her to be in her late twenties. She was on the career track. Probably had a serious boyfriend but only saw him when they could pencil it in on their calendars.
"What do you do for a living?" I ask casually. I know the rule is I'm not supposed to be seen or heard, but I'm curious. It's a long flight. Without a flight attendant, it's just a little quiet.
"Lawyer."
I almost laugh. I pegged her for a lawyer or Wall Street type the moment I laid eyes on her.
"Working on a case?"
"Yes," she snaps, clearly not happy to have me trying to make small talk.
I glance back and see she's buried in her laptop. I suppose she's lost in a world of legal documents and corporate jargon. I would pull my hair out if I had to spend my days staring at laptop screens or trying to find clever ways to get my clients out of trouble.
It's none of my business, really—I'm just here to fly the plane and get us safely to our destination. But as the minutes tick by and she remains eerily quiet, a flicker of curiosity tugs at the corners of my mind. I haven't heard her on the phone yelling at anyone in a while. Maybe she passed out.
It's not until Paige appears in the doorway of the cockpit that I realize just how quiet she's been. "Hey," she says, her voice surprisingly soft. She startles me.
"Yes?" I ask.
"Do you want something to drink? I'm getting myself something. I assume that's okay. We did pay for the refreshments."
She just had to add that last bit. But I am surprised at the unexpected gesture of kindness. "Uh, sure. Water would be nice, thanks."
