Page 8 of Forever Fallen

She was alone… well and truly alone. There was no one left in her family now that her grandmother was gone. No one to run to, talk to, or reach out towards – and it hurt.

“Okay. We won’t then,” he said gently and leaned slightly towards her. “But doingthatwill only make your headache worse.”

“Thanks, dad…” she winced, realizing he was right.

“I’ve never had a stranger call me ‘Daddy’before… and that’s not half-bad. I see why all the weirdos like it,” he said dryly – and Sophie turned to him quickly in shock and alarm, her eyes wide.

Was he some sort of freak?

“What? You can make snide jokes, but I can’t?” he taunted, his lip twitching, as she realized he was trying not to laugh.

“You’re a mess, aren’t you?” she hissed quietly, trying not to draw attention to their seats or have her voice overheard by anyone nearby.

“In more ways than one…” he admitted. “And we are off the ground now. How’s your head?”

Sophie blinked in surprise.

She didn’t even notice that they’d taken off because she’d been so distracted by her seat companion for the flight. Glancing out the window beside him, she heard him chuckle lightly again.

“You didn’t believe me?”

“Just double-checking…”

“Let’s make your drink now,” he offered politely, a faint smile touching his lips. “There shouldn’t be too many air pockets this early in the morning… and yeah, I’m a pilot.”

“I’m in human resources,” she volunteered unexpectedly and hesitated.

“Hiring? Firing? Training? Or do you just specialize in harassment of any kind… or prefer certain ones?” he grinned.

“I can certainly recognize it, if that’s what you’re asking,” she replied, feeling herself smile for the first time in a few days.

He obviously had a very droll sense of humor… and it kind of suited her, now that she recognized it. This was something she could handle –and enjoy– now that she knew he wasn’t mocking her.

She watched as he plucked the can of soda from her hand and the cup of ice, deftly moving and pouring it for her. He had tanned skin and long fingers – and it was weird to notice his hands, but they were nice.

And no wedding ring,she noted absently.

Ryan handed her the cup back as the fizzle dotted her skin, bouncing over the rim for just a moment before he poured in the rum. The effervescent bubbles disappeared almost immediately at the addition of alcohol.

Holding up his cup towards her, he held it for a toast.

“To unexpected travels, locations we aren’t sure if we really want to go to, and making new friends along the way… cheers,” Ryan said quietly – as Sophie stared at him in surprise.

“How did you even know that?” she whispered painfully. “Did the lawyer send you to follow me?”

“I didn’t,” he replied, swallowing his sip, looking at her in confusion and surprise at her words. “Are you okay, Sophie? Should I order that second round of drinks – but stronger, if you’re in a bind where a lawyer is involved? Or is your liver wanting to sing in tune with mine to drown out what happens when we hit the ground in Dallas?”

“I need to get married…” she muttered.

Ryan choked.

CHAPTER4

SOPHIE

“I’mgonna need that second drink – a very strong drink,” Ryan sputtered and gasped. He quickly began pushing the button in the overhead console several times, in rapid-fire succession, for the stewardess… in a panicked manner.

Sophie sat there, staring at her own glass, and felt tears welling up. This was all just a horrific disaster of epic proportions and there was no way she was going to keep her grandmother’s house. Even as she said it aloud, it sounded crazy, and Ryan’s immediate reaction just confirmed how insane it all was!

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