Page 22 of Puck, Marry, Thrill

“Do I look like I fly coach?” he said flatly, teasing her… and sure enough – she laughed.

“C’mon Zachary,” she invited, clasping his son’s hand. “We’re gonna have fun and touch everything on the plane!”

His son’s smile was brilliant, and Kenneth swallowed, wondering if she was including him in that statement, before shaking his head. No, he needed to keep his mind straight and not become involved with a woman who would take him to the cleaners again.

This was amarriage of convenience,and he needed to focus on the ‘convenience’portion of that statement a whole lot more.

Following them up the steps of the private plane, he nodded at the attendant and fought back a smile. His son was currently testing each seat with Jamie. They were sitting in seats beside each other, moving to two other seats, laughing, before moving to two others. The two were getting along so well, and it was a joy to see.

This woman, his neighbor, was more than he ever expected – and he felt a twinge of guilt for keeping to himself for so long. When he and his ex-wife had split, he’d gotten the condo right away but never imagined how his life would change. It wasn’t just rumors and her requesting to be free, but he’d found out about her sleeping around. That was not something he would ever condone in his life because if you couldn’t control yourself, couldn’t respect the person you’d chosen, it was telling.

Jamie was almost… rambunctious.

She was playful, teasing, and had taken to Zachary right away – and his son was just as excited to be around her. He looked at Jamie with wide affectionate eyes, smiling, and seemed to be so happy. It made him realize just how down his son’s eyes, his very expression, had been, and he felt like a bad father for not seeing any of this before.

Candi had given up and had been so wrong for the two of them. But maybe he was damaged from the fallout, too. He couldn’t let his past, his scars, affect his son and would do everything he could to bury those feelings.

“Zachary,” he asked, interrupting the duo. “Did you see the pilot? Do you want to meet them before we take off?”

“Can I?”

“You sure can,” Kenneth replied easily and smiled at Jamie. “We’ll be up in the air shortly if you want to use the restroom or need something to drink. This is going to be a nice, relaxing flight – and I hope you enjoy it.”

“I’m not gonna lie,” Jamie said, giving him an enchanting smile that raced up his spine. “I feel like a spoiled princess right now – and it feels pretty darn good.”

“Champagne for my princess?” he asked, fighting back a smile.

“Uh, absolutely. Like you even have to ask,” she laughed. “Feel free to wine me, dine me, and treat me like I need a tiara. I am A-okay with this… all of this, Kenneth.”

“Will do.”

Kenneth walked his son to the front of the plane, and the attendant gave him a little pin that looked like silver flight wings as Zachary stared wide-eyed at the controls. He rested a hand on his son’s back and leaned toward the attendant so he could whisper.

“Could you bring us two glasses of champagne when we get in the air? My wife and I are celebrating…” he began and looked back over his shoulder to make sure Jamie wasn’t listening. She’d disappeared into the restroom at the back of the plane. “And if you have any chocolate, cookies, or anything else to surprise her with, that would be amazing.”

“Of course, sir.”

“Thank you – and an apple juice for him.”

“Certainly.”

Zachary was moving, already bored, and looking for Jamie. Kenneth followed his son back to the seats as Jamie emerged, and he swallowed. Man, she was really pretty, and that lip gloss was everything. He had never fantasized about something so silly as that, but the idea of tasting it or smearing it off her lips hit him like a two-by-four right between the eyes. Yeah, he was going to kiss his wife properly and not that little quaint peck she’d given him when they exchanged their vows.

He watched as Jamie took her seat, and Zachary sat beside her. She immediately turned to make sure he was buckled, and he caught himself reaching for the buckles at the same time. Their eyes met, and he saw her soft smile as she gave him a slow wink.

“Are we checking each other’s buckles?” she whispered, and oh man, that voice, combined with the imagery that exploded in Kenneth’s head, sent shockwaves up his spine as his breath caught, making a little noise in his throat. His knees collapsed under him, landing in a seat opposite Jamie, facing her. “Need any help?”

Everything in him wanted to say ‘yes’ just to see what she would say… and to his shock – he did. He wasn’t aware of the word escaping him until Jamie’s eyebrows shot up in surprise and then her expression –oh mercy– her expression seemed to melt before him.

He sat there frozen, his heart slamming against his chest harder than any workout he’d ever performed as she moved, leaning over him, and reached down the side of the seat to get the buckle. Never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that he would have fantasies about buckling up – but he would now. He stared at her, mute, as she fastened the belt and then met his eyes. Her brilliant, bright eyes held his dark ones.

“Thanks,” he managed to strangle out and heard her soft chuckle.

“Thankyou,” she countered, whispering, her voice just as hoarse, making him shiver as another sensation raced up his spine again. Man, just seeing her, hearing her voice, imagining that she was interested in him was doing all sorts of things to his head.

There was no way she was interested in him like that – was there? And what happens if things progressed between them from strangers to friends to something more… and what would that look like?

She hadn’t held back once – openly admitting she was marrying him for money in exchange for securing this new spot on the Wolverines. Marrying someone for money was about the lowest thing you could do, wasn’t it?

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