Page 52 of Love Off Course

Her brown eyes flare with anger and her neck turns splotchy red. She’s wearing some fancy robe thing over her pajamas, but her hair is flawless and smooth.

“Get out,” she snaps. “Now.”

“Yes!” Estefania chimes in. “You are not welcome here, handsome pilot!”

“Stop calling him handsome,” Sheridan grinds out. “It’ll go to his head.”

“Too late,” I reply. “She said it and I’m feeling rather handsome.”

Sheridan rolls her eyes. “What do you want?”

“You.”

Both women grow silent, stunned by my answer.

“You can’t have me,” Sheridan finally says, her voice cold as ice. “I’m unavailable.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’ve heard the story. You ready to go see all of Tahueca? I may be partial, but I think the state of Oaxaca is the most beautiful.”

“I need to wash my things.” Sheridan shrugs. “Raincheck.”

“I could wash your things,” Estefania offers. “Kyle will keep me company.”

Estefania is Team Handsome Pilot.

“I only need today,” I urge Sheridan. “That’s all we have, Sher. Just today. Our flight leaves in the morning.”

A multitude of emotions pass over her features. Relief. Sadness. Happiness. Regret.

“I’m not going because I like you,” she tells me in a prim tone. “I’m going because I’m a world traveler and I would like to see these beautiful places you speak of. There will be no funny business. No kisses. No…other things.” Her face burns red. “One day to see the sights as friends.”

“Friends, huh?” I arch a brow at her. “That’s it?”

“Take it or leave it, buddy.”

“Fine. As friends.” I step close to her and stroke my knuckle along her jaw. “But it’s not my fault if you fall in love.”

“We’re more likely to get hit by another hurricane than for that to happen.” She smirks and then high-fives Estefania.

“Stranger things have happened,” I say with a grin. “And, Sher, I think you just issued a challenge. I never back down from a challenge.”

“I always win them,” she tells me in a smug tone. “Not falling in love with you. You’re lucky I’m even agreeing to do this. I’m only using you to see the sights.”

“I’ll show you some sights…”

“Get out of my villa while I get dressed, asshole!”

I laugh all the way out the door.

“I still can’t believeyou have a car.”

We bounce along the road and she has to hold on so she doesn’t fly out of the Jeep.

“Pilots can’t have cars?” I ask with a smile.

“You have planes.”

“I fly them for a living, but I certainly don’t have planes. They’re fucking expensive.”

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