Page 100 of Where We Bloom

“Okay.” I kiss him once more, then climb off his lap, sit in my seat, and buckle the belt, relieved I don’t have to ask for an extender. I usually don’t, but sometimes airlines like to fuck with big girls and their self-esteem, and the belts wouldn’t fit a toddler.

“Before we take off,” Bethany says, carrying a glass of ginger ale on a tray, “I wanted to make sure you have this in case we have bumps like the pilot said.”

“Thank you,” I reply with a genuine smile this time. “I appreciate it.”

“Would you like anything, sir?” Bethany asks Connor, keeping her face perfectly bland.

“No, thank you,” Connor replies, not even looking her way.

Bethany nods and returns to the front of the plane as I happily sip my drink and eye-fuck my man.

He reallyisgorgeous with all that dark hair, those green eyes that burn right into me, and a body made for sin.

An hour later, with a bowl of popcorn at my elbow and more ginger ale, I’m typing away on my computer, deep in thought. I reached out to a few graphic artists this week to see about working together on special edition hardcovers for some upcoming books, and I’m glancing through samples they’ve emailed when my screen goes black.

I narrow my eyes and hit the keys, but nothing happens. So I pick it up and shake it.

Still nothing.

Maybe the battery died? I pull out the cord, plug it in and connect it to the laptop, but still nothing.

“No.” I drop my face in my hand and whine. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My computer died.”

“I can keep you occupied while you give it time to charge.”

I lift my eyes to Connor, who’s working on his own computer, looking sexy as hell in his glasses, but I don’t return his smirk.

“No, I mean, itdied.I’ve only had it for three years, dammit.” I slam it shut and lift it over my head like I want to throw it, but instead, I slip it into the bag and flag down Bethany. “I need a glass of wine, please. White is good.”

“Of course.” She nods and heads to the kitchen.

My gaze returns to Connor. “I’m going to assume that Bethany isn’t going to drug me and indulge in one glass of wine so I can mourn the computer properly. Thank God everything on that laptop is also on my desktop at the store.”

He hides his smile behind his hand. “I’m quite sure there are about sixty Apple stores in Manhattan alone.”

“Yeah, but I can’t migrate my information over if this laptop is dead. It’s a huge pain in the ass.”

I pout for a minute, and Bethany delivers the wine. I eye it for a minute. I didn’t make a friend with the flight attendant, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t slip anything into it.

I shrug and take a sip, and notice that Connor’s still grinning at me.

“Am I amusing you, billionaire?”

“Always.”

My phone pings with a text. Thank God for billionaire Wi-Fi on this flight.

Brooks: Your car is ready. Changed the brakes.

You’re the best brother ever! Don’t tell the others.

With a smirk, I put my phone away and Connor lifts an eyebrow.

“It was Brooks. He changed the oil and brakes in my car today.” I hold the bowl of popcorn out to him. “Want some?”

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