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Leo lets out a huff, nodding.
“While that may be, I’m sure there are some things you don’t know about.” It sounds like a dare. His voice drops to a husky whisper, and it shoots straight through to my veins, making my blood warm and my face flush.
“I’m sure they’ll be looking for answers to more… intimate questions.” His words shoot straight to my lower abdomen, setting off a herd of butterflies.Intimate questions.I only hope that if the fire wasn't successful, the fluttering butterflies will be.
"Here, shove over." Leo comes over to sit beside me to take a better look at the binder. The scent of his cologne, woodsy and masculine, floats around me.
The boyishness is immediately replaced by the alluring scent of a grown man. I try to not let myself get lost in it, but it’s kind of hard when his neck is right there. I swear I can see his pulse. If I just leaned in, my lips could touch his neck.
“Like what?” My voice sounds far away, like it got stuck in the daydream that threatens to take over my brain. I’m beginning to feel overwhelmed by Leo as he crowds my personal space. But I find myself tilting sideways, just slightly, into him.
“Maybe I have a secret tattoo you don’t know about,” he answers, and he sounds so casual, yet so intimate at the same time.
My heart beats rapidly as my imagination begins to run wild.
God, Isa, you need to stop.
"I do have a question for you though." Uh oh. I'm a little worried at what he's going to say next. "Why don't you have much of an accent?"
I laugh as I recall the reason. "The simple reason is that I have practiced a ton. We get a lot of American shows in the Philippines so while I was growing up, I wanted to speak English like an American. It's almost like I knew my destiny was to work in America and I wanted to be prepared. I don't want to be thought of as an outsider. I know that can make things difficult."
"And, I don't mean to be ignorant, but you're so tall."
"… for my race. Sure. I'm 5'8" which makes me average in America, I think. But yeah, I'm tall for my race." I laugh, as that's the on-going joke with me and my friends. "Apparently my grandfather was super tall and a basketball player. I guess I got some of his genes. My sister tells me I got the legs and she got the brains."
Leo smiles. "Well, I think you're doing pretty good in the brain department too. You are usually more on top of things than I am."
I blush at his compliment. I think I knew he was happy with my work, but he didn't often praise me. Besides, I don't need it. I heard from people at the office that I have stayed the longest in this position. Leo can be demanding and he has a million things going on in a day, but I find that energizing and challenging. I love making his day easier and organizing seems to be something I'm naturally good at.
“Well, thank you." I blush a little. To relieve my discomfort, I pull the binder a little closer to me and peer into it. "How about we start on the simple stuff? Do you even know my favorite color?” I try to sound as casual as possible, as a whole host of semi-filthy thoughts are flooding my brain. I can't stop thinking about whether Leo has a tattoo and where it might be. I fight down the blush that threatens to take over.
Leo pulls away slightly, looking up at the ceiling in thought.
It’s then that the plane finally starts taking off. As the whirr of the engine starts and builds to a roar, I realize I'm slightly anxious at the thought of finally going home to the Philippines. I haven’t even told any of my family members that I’m on the way back, much lessengaged to my boss. I look out of the airplane window, seeing the mesmerizing orange tint of the Californian sunset gently kissing the countless buildings on the ground. I remember the first time I landed in the U.S. years ago. I had this same exact fast heartbeat that felt like my heart was about to jump out of my ribcage. I never would have thought that I’d be leaving under these circumstances. But the thing that’s the same today as it was then is how breathtaking the sunset is.
“It’s orange,” Leo answers, taking away my attention from the sunset with a shocked expression.
“That’s right. How did you know? I don’t think I ever told you.” I can’t take my eyes from the window, completely lost in how the orange hues mix in the sky.
I finally turn away, and Leo shoots me a warm smile, shrugging a little. “Maybe I just guessed.”
I roll my eyes, maybe just a little dramatically.
“Beginner’s luck,” I say, shifting my attention back to the binder. “There’s so much more you don’t know about me.”
“And I’m ready to learn,” Leo says, leaning in to me, smiling. This is closer than I've ever been to him. My breath hitches with realization that I could happily stay here with him and his attention on me for a long, long time.
Chapter 11
Isa
Thetimehasfinallycome to deal with The Bed.
We spent the last eight hours working through the binder, but we’re barely halfway through our flight and we’re exhausted. The thought of sleeping in the same bed as Leo has kept my resting heart rate going consistently at least twenty beats per minute faster. I'm exhausted.
But it’s well past dark now and the cabin lights have dimmed. My eyes are heavy with sleep and all I can think about is curling up in the back.
Leo stretches his arms high above his head in his seat, exposing a sliver of toned skin dusted with hair. I can’t help but wish the lights were a little brighter, so I could better appreciate the view, but I force myself to look away.
