Page 23 of A Lot Like Love
“Sure did. And I booked us in to the Bellagio. If we’re going to do this, I wanted to at least make sure it looked legit.”
“Oh, because you’d normally whisk new girlfriends away on your jet for naughty vacations somewhere?”
He laughed. “No, if you were my real girlfriend I’d be making sure you became a member of the mile-high club first, then take you somewhere more”—he shrugged—“I don’t know, more relaxing maybe. Probably an island, sure as hell not Sin City.”
“Mile-high club, huh?”
Ryder grinned and enjoyed the view as she went up ahead of him. As far as fake girlfriends went, it couldn’t get much better than Chloe.
“Out of curiosity, have you ever had a real girlfriend?” she asked.
That made him laugh. “When I was sixteen.”
“Welcome, Mr. King,” the flight attendant said. “Ma’am.”
Ryder couldn’t remember her name, but he was guessing either Nate or Chase had personally selected her for the job. He winked as she spoke, holding eye contact instead of letting his gaze drop to her ample chest. If Chloe hadn’t been here… He looked away. But she was and that meant he had to be on his best behavior.
“How many times do I have to tell you ladies to call me Ryder?”
The flight attendant giggled and gestured into the jet. “Please make yourselves comfortable. Once your luggage is stored we’ll be cleared for takeoff as scheduled.”
He turned to follow Chloe and received a smack to the back of his head.
“Ouch!” He rubbed where she’d whacked him. “What the hell was that for?”
Chloe raised an eyebrow, one hand on her hip. “My boyfriend just ogled another woman, what did you expect?”
He shrugged. “Well played. Just don’t hit me again.”
“Or what?” she asked, walking a step closer and letting her carry-on fall to the ground.
“Or I kiss that pretty smile from your face,” he replied, wrapping an arm around her, palm to the small of her back, and pushing her forward. “Okay?”
She didn’t blink, didn’t pull away, just thrust her chin up defiantly. “I won’t hit you, you don’t threaten me.”
“Sweetheart, it ain’t no threat,” Ryder murmured.
“I—.”
He didn’t let her finish her sentence. Ryder was done with talk—he wanted action and he wanted it now. He dropped the bag he was carrying and cupped her cheek, his other hand still firmly on her lower back, pushing her forward. Her breathing was shallow as he leaned in, brushing her lips softly with his.
When he thought she was going to pull away, her hand found its way between them and landed firm on his chest. Ryder drew her closer, deepening their kiss. He tasted her mouth, his tongue bold against hers when she parted her lips, unable to stay gentle any longer. Chloe’s hair was soft against his fingers when he cupped the back of her head, her body supple as she slipped her fingers around his neck, no longer trying to push him back.
“Sorry to, ah, interrupt, Mr. King but…”
Ryder sighed against Chloe’s mouth, reluctantly breaking their kiss. He touched his forehead to hers for a second before taking a step back.
“We’ll be seated in a moment,” he replied, without taking his eyes off Chloe. Her smile was infectious, eyes shining as she dabbed the corners of her mouth to wipe her smudged lip gloss.
“Thank you, Mr. King.”
He no longer gave a damn that she’d forgotten to call him by his first name. The only woman he had eyes for now was Chloe, and the sooner they were left alone the better.
“Ready to take your seat?” he asked.
Chloe’s cheeks were flushed as she let him take her bag and store it before taking a seat in one of the big chairs.
“Amazing,” she said, shutting her eyes and stretching out.
