Page 7 of Love Beyond the Illusion
Roxy has always been beautiful and knows it. She’s had a way with men that, as a child, I couldn’t understand. Her natural allure allows her to seduce them into doing everything she wants, which is utterly fascinating. More so once I became an adult.
By my eighteenth birthday, my eyes had lightened to a vibrant shade of hazel with green more prominent, and with my strawberry blonde hair, I had become a dead ringer for my mother. By then, she’d taught me how to use guys for my benefit without getting attached. I don’t want to be the wife who has to look the other way while my husband cheats. I don’t want to fall completely in love with someone only for them to leave me one day. All men have affairs. All men will eventually leave. I don’t get attached.
I add soap into the compartment on the left of the washing machine, then punch the button to turn it on. “Whatever. I’m getting off the phone with you. You’ll have your money tonight.” I hang up the phone before she has the chance to respond.
Chapter Four
Piper
BaileyandIarewalking through the loud slot machine-filled airport to catch our new flight back to Phoenix. Yesterday, we should’ve arrived back home after working for three days, but our flight out of Las Vegas was canceled. We had to stay an extra night.
“You know how much I hate unexpected overnight layovers,” Bailey says as we walk through the airport. “But at least I get to deal with it with my best friend.”
Unexpected changes in travel plans have never bothered me. I roll with it because it’s part of the excitement of the job. I feel the most comfortable on the go, spending most of my time traveling. I put more flight time in than any other flight attendant I know. Lina takes a close second.
I link my arm through Bailey’s. “I do enjoy the unpredictability of it all. When you grow up in an unstable environment, I guess you get used to it.” I shrug. “What would my world be without chaos and unstructuredness?”
She flashes me a lopsided grin. “You have to admit, it’s so much better dealing with it with your three best friends.” She nudges her shoulder into me as we walk.
I smile. “True. I don’t know what I would do without you, Lina, and Avery. You ladies are like my sisters.”
“We are sisters, babe—” Her head quickly jerks in the opposite direction. “Jack?” Bailey stops and turns to a tall blond man briskly walking past us. It looks like he’s headed to the second floor of the airport.
“Bailey, hello.” The man in a black collared shirt and matching dress pants, with a strong jawline and windblown hair, pauses to greet my friend.Damn.
“How are you?” she asks.
“I’m doing well. You?”
“I’m great. Our flight was canceled last night, so we’re finally flying out this afternoon,” she tells him, then gestures toward me. “Oh, Jack, this is my friend Piper. Piper, this is Jack Bradley. He does restaurant concept marketing and works with Mason and my brother.”
He shifts his focus to me. “Hello, Piper.” When Jack’s eyes meet mine, I blink several times.
“Hi. It’s nice to meet you,” I reply. My eyes locked with his, forcing me to hide a smile too wide. I get a flutter in my stomach.
His arm comes out to shake my sweaty palm, and thankfully, he doesn’t seem to notice the damp feel of it. “I believe we met at Harry’s wedding last spring.”
“That’s right,” Bailey interjects, bouncing her eyes between Jack and me.
“I was there, but I don’t believe we met.” I don’t look directly at him, trying to avoid embarrassing myself with my inability to keep a straight face.
Jack smiles. “I’m sure we did. You were one of the bridesmaids.”
“Yes, but I would’ve remembered if we met.”
“I rememberyou,Piper.”
I blush. We’re shaking hands longer than acceptable.
“Alright. Okay, so it was nice to run into you.” With her best effort, Bailey attempts to break the tension between Jack and me.
He nods, letting his hand slip from mine and back to the top of the extended handle on his suitcase. “Yes, it was. Tell Mason and Harry I said hello,” he tells her, but then his eyes end up back on me.
What the hell is going on?Why can’t I look this man in the face? He probably thinks I’m so awkward. Yes, he’s ridiculously attractive, but that does not explain the embarrassing physical reaction that I’m having.
Jack turns to me, grinning. “It was niceformallymeeting you,” he says before walking away.
I nod. “You too.”
