Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
“No modeling for me.”
“What do you do then?”
“I run an organization, I suppose you could say, which means I do a bit of everything.”
“Your tattoos—” I trail off, realizing that what I was about to say could be misconstrued as rude.
“What? Don’t fit?” He must hear that often. “I typically have long-sleeve button-up shirts on so they’re mostly hidden, but I’m on vacation.”
“Right.”
“Didn’t we all have our rebellious years as teens?” he teases me.
“My idea of rebelling was going to college early, where I went to zero parties and on a handful of dates.” I don’t know why, but I have this need to warn him how boring I really am.
“Dates.” He grabs on to the singular word. “When was the last one you went on?”
I hold my fingers up. “Two days ago.”
“Peace back at you.” I jerk my head back to see one of the drunk guys from the bar flashing me a peace sign. I drop my hand. “What?” he asks.
“Keep moving your ass.” One of the guys pushes at his back to make his friend keep walking. “I got you.” Then he winks at me. “See you when we land.” Is that a warning, or is that his idea of flirting? Caldwell must take it as a threat because he grabs the man’s forearm and yanks him down close to him. I can’t hear what Caldwell says to him, but I can see that the blood drains from his face.
“So?” Caldwell says loud enough for me to hear this time.
“I’m sorry, from all of us. We apologize,” the man says.
“Oh, okay,” I respond, and Caldwell releases his hold. I notice the flight attendant watching this all play out, and I worry that Caldwell might get in trouble, but she simply turns around. “You didn’t have to do that,” I tell him. “I don’t want you to get in trouble.”
“I won’t get in trouble,” he says with utter confidence. “But it wouldn’t matter. I refuse to sit here and let him either try to flirt with you right in front of me or allow him to make you uncomfortable because he’s not getting the reaction he wants.”
“Thanks.” Shyness fills me. It’s sweet he’s sticking up for me when he doesn’t have to. I take another sip of my champagne, and the flight attendant starts to do her spiel about safety.
“Did you bring anything to do on the flight?” Caldwell asks, stretching his legs out as he leans back in his chair.
“My eReader. You?”
“I have my laptop. This was all very last minute.” He gives a small shake of his head, but he’s smiling.
“You’re close with your brother?” I ask, wanting to know more about him.
We fall into easy conversation. I find out he is close with his brother but doesn’t get to see him as often as he’d like. Caldwell also sounds like a workaholic. That’s what he spends most of his time doing, at least from what he’s told me.
“So this is a much-needed vacation.”
“I suppose, but I enjoy my work. It keeps me busy.”
Then he starts asking questions of his own.
“Your mother and mine are night and day.” Caldwell chuckles.
“Are you saying I’m like your mother?” I tease.
“Oh, God no.” He shakes his head harder. “But there must be a plan.”
“Yeah, that’s kinda me.” I laugh. “Except now. No plans. I’m going with the flow. See, I’m laid-back.” I try to lay the seat back, but it doesn’t work. It takes me a few tries.
“What’s changed? This need to jump and not know how far the ground is.”
The flight attendant stops next to us, asking which meal we each want for our dinner. When she steps away, I answer him.
“I’m boring,” I admit. I might as well let him know this if by chance he is flirting with me. I don’t need another disastrous date in my future, except this isn’t a date. We will part ways in a few hours’ time, and I may never see him again.
“Who told you that?” I can tell he’s annoyed at whomever did it.
“A few dates. Boring, cold, plain, prude, and you know what? I’ll stop there.” I give a forced laugh, trying to lighten things so I don’t become emotional.
“That’s fucking ridiculous. Sounds to me like they knew you were out of their league and would never reach the bar that would let them find out if you are boring and cold, which I doubt. You give your all. I can see that in you in the short time we’ve known each other.”
“You’re sweet.” I know the heat on my cheeks isn’t because of the drinks. “But they’re right. I mean, I’m still a virgin.” I snort a laugh but quickly cut it off. Why did I say or do any of that? If it were possible, I’d climb under this seat, but it’s not, so I have to deal with the words I released out into the world.