Page 21 of The Kiss Keeper
He patted her thigh. “Is that you, Heels? You’re Callahan?”
“Yes, Natalie Callahan. That’s me,” she answered, from somewhere near his lumbar spine.
He stopped in front of the gate agent and handed her his ticket.
The woman raised an eyebrow. “Do you mind putting your girlfriend down, sir?”
“Yeah, Jake, I’m good to walk the jet bridge on my own, and I’m getting a little woozy with all the upside-down running.”
He stared down at the dangling red stilettos—a stark reminder that he had an actual person slung over his shoulder.
“Sorry,” he stammered and removed the woman from his body.
The agent took their tickets. “All right, you two, go! The pilot is not going to be happy if we keep the plane waiting any longer.”
“Lead the way, Heels,” he said and followed half a step behind his crazy line lady who had a name.
Natalie Callahan.
It suited her—the lightness of it. It made him think of the sun peeking in from the blinds, cutting through the darkness.
He pushed the pussy-poetic musing out of his head and ran his hand down the scruff of his jaw. After that mad dash, he needed a stiff drink and a few hours of quiet.
“Welcome to First Class, Miss Callahan. You’re in seat 3B.”
He glanced at his ticket.
2A. Thank you, Universe!
At least he wasn’t going to be stuck sitting next to her. He stowed his bag, then settled himself in the window seat next to an older gentleman.
He nodded to the man, and the man nodded back, and relief washed over him. That minute exchange was international man language forI won’t bother you if you don’t bother me.
This gentleman was most likely another business traveler who’d know better than to engage in a round of twenty questions. Jake sat back, closed his eyes, so ready to just breathe for a damn second when a woman’s voice cut through the hum of conversations buzzing inside the plane.
“Gary, this lovely young woman said she wouldn’t mind switching seats so we can sit together.”
Jake opened his eyes to find his crazy line lady standing in the aisle.
Jesus! He could not catch a break. Come on, karma. He’d helped her get through security and catch a flight! Now, all he wanted was some damn downtime to work.
Natalie sat down next to him, all smiles.
“I’ve never flown First Class,” she said as the flight attendant handed them each a flute of champagne.
He glanced at his new seatmate. “I’m going to need a Jameson on the rocks. Make it a double.”
Natalie downed her glass then gestured to his. “Do you want it?”
He shook his head, and she polished off his champagne in no time flat.
Perfect! He was seated next to a newly dumped, recently unemployed alcoholic.
“You may want to go easy on the bubbles,” he offered.
He had to get her out of his head. That paint on the cheek bullshit and their googly-eyed antics could not happen again.
She gave him a weak smile. “I’m a little nervous. I thought it might take the edge off.”
