Page 36 of Hot in the City
He sat up, crossing his arms. "Right, do you need me to hunt him down?"
She shook her head. "No, I want you to come back and see me soon, not have to find bail money."
He nodded. "Fair point." He kissed her forehead, then her lips. "I will be back soon, you know. We can do this, have dessert, whatever you want."
Yuki smiled, her cheeks rosy and warm when he touched her there. "Oh, you'd better be back soon. I can hardly wait."
She leaned over and grabbed another little coloured packet from the bedside table. "Here, you'd better give me something else to dream about." She waved the packet in his face, as he flipped her over and growled in her ear.
"Yes, Miss Yuki. Anything you want."
Chapter Eight
Mermaid Airlines Head Office, London, UK
Two weeks later...
Yuki did her best to shimmy in time to the music along with the other airline recruits, but her belly was full of ninja-fighting butterflies and she felt like an uncoordinated loser. Who knew you had to learn a weird dance to be a Mermaid Airlines flight attendant? Apparently, everyone else who went for the job already knew. And they could dance.
Falling off her high heels as she did a twist to her right, Yuki slammed right into the pretty blonde girl in full uniform, standing behind her. She'd got her right in the stomach.
"Ooof, I'm so sorry!"
The Trainer at the front of the room shook her head, then threw her hands in the air. "Cut the music. Let's take a ten minute break."
The other girl had fallen, sprawling on her side on the polished wooden floors. Yuki dropped into a crouch beside her. "I'm sorry, again. Here, let me help you up."
The girl looked up, her blonde ponytail swinging behind her. "Thank you. I'm grand though, really. No harm done."
Yuki stared at her. "You're Irish! Do you know how much I love an Irish accent? I think we're going to be great friends."
The injured girl giggled, sitting up straight. "If you say so. I'm Sinead. Good to meet you." Sinead took Yuki's hand, and scrambled to her feet. Then she smoothed down her uniform and straightened up to show off perfect posture.
"I'm Yuki. It's good to meet you too, Sinead." Yuki tipped her head to one side, studying Sinead. She seemed to be full of confidence. "Have you been with the airline for a while?"
Sinead nodded, her pale blue eyes striking. "A few years. I said I'd help train some of you new recruits. Be a mentor if you like."
Yuki straightened her own dress, not as elegant as the proper uniform. She couldn't wait to try it on. But who knew if she'd even pass the exams? She dropped her voice so the other trainees didn't overhear her. "I'd love for you to be my mentor. I think I'll need the help."
Sinead smiled, and she looked genuinely kind. "Do you want to grab a coffee with me? We can have a chat. The café downstairs is pretty good."
Yuki nodded and followed Sinead towards the training room door. Sinead seemed like someone who would be a good friend. Yuki may not know much about emergency procedures or how to make sure the overhead compartments were secure, not yet. But she knew people, and often had a sense of what they were thinking. Working in the hotel had taught her that at least.
Yuki's phone buzzed in her jacket pocket, as they headed into the corridor. "Oh, I wonder who could be texting me." She grabbed her phone and read the message. It was Declan.
Declan: I'm heading to London for a few days. Be there Friday. :)
She was no doubt grinning like a kid on Christmas morning, because Sinead asked, "Was that your boyfriend?"
She shrugged, playing it cool. "It's very new, but I really like him."
Sinead's lips tipped up at the corners, then she sighed. "Good for you. I should be so lucky."
Yuki stopped walking to read Declan's next message.
Declan: Miss you, Miss Yuki.
She replied, before she got too excited thinking about the weekend coming up. She wouldn't be able to concentrate if she let her imagination run wild.
