Page 99 of Where We Bloom

“What’s your name?”

“Uh.” She frowns and glances over my shoulder, but I block her view of Connor. “I’m Bethany.”

“Are you new, Bethany? Or have you worked on one of Mr. Gallagher’s flights before?”

“This is my first flight with this crew.” Her face has gone to stone. She doesn’t like me.

That’s okay because I now don’t like her either.

“Listen, Bethany, I’m going to need you to stop eye-fucking my man. We have a long flight ahead of us, and I find itincrediblyunprofessional that we’ve been on board for roughly six minutes, and you already have him down to his skivvies in your brain. So here’s how it’s going to work. Either you keep it professional or we replace you. What do you think?”

“I … I didn’t … I’m so sorry that you thought?—”

“What’s it going to be, Bethany?”

“Of course, I’ll be completely professional.”

“Great.” I give her a toothy smile. “I appreciate it. Whenever you have a moment, I’d love some ginger ale, please. Sometimes my tummy gets a little off from the bumps.”

I wink at her and return to my seat, and Connor is lounged back in his seat, his hand over his mouth, watching me with hot, intense eyes.

“I didn’t like that,” I inform him.

“I heard,” he replies. “Come here, angel.”

Without hesitation, I move across the aisle, and Connor tugs me into his lap, cups my face, and kisses the hell out of me.

When I come up for air, I rest my forehead against his.

“What was that for?”

“I love your backbone,” he growls against my lips.

“She was being rude, and she’s an employee. That doesn’t fly, no pun intended.”

He smiles, then brushes his lips over mine again, gently this time, as if he’s soaking me in.

“I always want you to speak up for yourself.”

“Good.” I kiss his chin. “Because I will.”

“The cabin door is closed, and we’re getting ready to take off,” the pilot says through the speaker. “Should be a smooth five-hour flight to New York City this evening. There might be a few bumps as we climb to our cruising altitude of thirty-six thousand feet, but we’ll be quick getting through them. Enjoy your flight, Mr. Gallagher and Miss Blackwell.”

“I’d better get buckled in.” But instead of moving off his lap, I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him close, bury my nose in his neck and breathe him in. His arms tighten around me, and he whispers in my ear.

“Are you okay? Did she upset you that badly? We haven’t taken off yet. I can have them stop, and we’ll replace her.”

“Oh no.” I shake my head. “I’m not upset. I’m just enjoying you. Snuggling you is my favorite hobby.”

I feel him smile against my hair as he presses a kiss there. “You’re so sweet, bumble.”

“I don’t think Bethany would agree with you.”

He chuckles, making me smile. “Who gives a fuck?”

“Not me.”

I’m not lying. Snuggling up to this manismy favorite thing in the world. It’s even better than reading. Since we’ve been together, I’ve slept better than I ever have in my life. Nothing brings me peace like being held by Connor.

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