Page 8 of Love Off Course

“Not saying anything,mijo.”

“I hate you,” I grumble.

“Nah,” he argues with a laugh. “You love when we’re scheduled to fly together. I’m your favorite. Admit it, CZ.”

Smug bastard is right.

We cut out the playfulness to iron out the flight changes. That’s the thing with Carson. We’re in tune enough that we can joke one minute and handle shit in a serious, professional manner the next.

“I do not look forward to this announcement,” he mutters.

“You’re a crowd pleaser, Captain Klein,” I taunt. “Do the honors. I sure as hell won’t. That woman out there hates me.”

“You could always announce it in Spanish. Maybe they’ll be too confused to care.”

I snort. “Fuck no. This is all you, buddy.” I flash him a pitiful look and shrug. “No hablo inglés.”I don’t speak English.

“You’re a real asshole, Camilo Zaragoza,” he says, shaking his head. “You know that?”

“Mamá cree que soy maravilloso.”Mamá thinks I’m wonderful.

“She’s the only one,” he argues. Then, with a heavy sigh, he grabs the speaker, too chicken shit to face them. “This is your captain speaking…”

Chapter 3

Sheridan

Isit up, dazed, my eyes darting around the small jet cabin as I take a moment to realize where I’m at. Headed for David and Daddy. Breathe. My heart continues to race, though. So often I wake in a panic. As though the time ticks faster in those waking hours—something I can’t control. Not enough time to do everything.

Momma didn’t have time.

It fell through her grasp all too quickly.

“Miss Reid,” Lawton, the steward, says, squatting beside my chair. “Please fasten your seatbelt and prepare for landing.”

I frown as I buckle my belt. “We’re already there.”

He grimaces. “Not quite.”

“Not quite?” I demand.

“If you’ll please excuse me, I need to make sure the other passengers are ready,” he says, rising to his feet and scurrying away.

“Wait! Why are we stopping? Where are we going?”

He ignores me and I see red.

“Tahueca, Mexico,” the beautiful woman says from nearby. She smiles at me. “Rodrigo has changed course.”

“Mexico?” I croak out. “We can’t be going to Mexico. I have to get to Costa Rica for my father’s wedding, lady!”

She recoils at my tone and I feel like crap. It’s not her fault. “Estefania,” she says softly. “I am sorry, Sherrie.”

“Sheridan,” I snap, making her wince. My eyes sting and I swallow the big ball of emotion in my throat. “For how long?”

“The captain did not say,” Estefania says.

I’m fuming as we descend. The loss of control over the situation quickly morphs from despair to anger. At least anger gets me answers. I glare out the window. On one side is the Pacific Ocean, beautiful and blue. Trees line the beachy coast. It’s beautiful, but I’m at the wrong paradise. Worse yet, there’s not a cloud in the sky.

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