Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 98469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98469 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 492(@200wpm)___ 394(@250wpm)___ 328(@300wpm)
Once the rows have emptied, I take my briefcase and make my way toward the front. Only, instead of heading through the loading bridge, I wait for Peyton since there is only one exit she can go through.
Sure enough, a few minutes later, Peyton rounds the corner with the asshole on her tail. When she spots me, her eyes widen in shock.
“Is everything okay?” she asks, her tone professional even if she appears to be uncomfortable.
“Peyton, is this guy giving you a hard time?” the guy asks, making me chuckle at the irony.
“I feel like I should be asking her that question about you,” I say, eyeing him as he glares my way.
“Excuse me?” He reaches up and places his hand on Peyton’s shoulder, and his wedding ring catches my eye.
“Come,” I say to Peyton, ignoring him. “I believe you owe me a drink, one that goes down a bit smoother.”
I smirk, and she flushes that beautiful shade of peach.
“She’s on the clock,” the asshole says.
“Shouldn’t you be focused less on your flight attendant and more on your wife?” I ask him.
The guy’s face reddens as he takes a step back.
“Now, if you don’t mind, Peyton and I have plans.”
He looks at her, hoping she’ll deny it, but when she doesn’t, he huffs and storms away.
“Ugh, thank you,” Peyton says, her shoulders sagging in relief. “Dale is such a douche. He’s the first officer, and he thinks he’s God’s gift to women. He’s married with three kids, and he tries to sleep with every attendant like he’s single.”
“No problem,” I tell her. “Have you considered reporting him?”
“So many attendants have, but the airline is short-staffed.” She rolls her eyes. “So, of course, they do nothing about it because it would mean firing a pilot that they need.” She shrugs. “Anyway, I appreciate you saving me. We’re off the clock until our trip back to Harbor Point later, so he was trying to convince me to go back to his place in Coral Bay.” She visibly shivers. “I’d rather dry up from lack of use and risk getting attacked by spiders from the cobwebs that have developed down there than consider letting that man inside me.”
The second she realizes what she just said, her face flushes in embarrassment. She looks like a fish out of water, with her wide eyes and mouth agape, as she tries to backtrack, but when she can’t come up with anything, she shakes her head and laughs.
“Okay, now that you know I’ve gone so long without sex that I’ve dried up and I have cobwebs, I’m just going to go.” She points to the airport exit, and I chuckle at how adorable this woman is when she’s flustered.
“You said you’re on the flight back to Harbor Point?” I ask, walking with her down the gangway.
“Yeah.” She smiles and nods, then stops when we get to the gate. “Maybe I’ll see you on another flight.”
With a playful wink, she takes off, rolling her small bag behind her, while I stand in my spot, watching her walk away. For the first time, I want to get to know a woman beyond how deep her gag reflex goes.
But then my phone goes off, reminding me of my meeting, and I shake the thoughts away because I don’t have time to get to know a woman, especially not one who isn’t a part of my world.
“I look forward to doing business with you,” Jaimie Sanchez says, shaking my hand.
The meeting went better than planned, and if all goes well, in a few weeks, several investors and I will be signing a contract to partner on one of the biggest real estate projects Coral Bay has ever seen. With over fifty acres of land that we own between the two of us and three other investors, the project will include two office buildings, a shopping mall, five residential buildings with high-end condominiums, as well as dozens of restaurants and a hotel. And the best part is that this project has nothing to do with my father. It’s the first business deal I’ll make without him.
“I’ll see you soon,” I tell him before getting into the town car.
When I arrive at the airport, I have time to spare before my flight, so I head straight to the lounge to get some work done. But before I enter, the sound of a woman in distress hits my ears, and I find myself walking toward where the commotion is coming from.
I’m usually one to keep to myself, but I have a sister I’m protective of and a mom who’s been abused by my father for years—while I had to sit by and watch or risk being killed—so women tend to be a soft spot for me.
The door reads PRIVATE, but I ignore it as I swing it open and come face-to-face with the pilot from earlier, towering over Peyton. Her eyes are filled with a mixture of anger and fear as she stands helplessly against a wall while Dale corners her, his fingers wrapped around her throat.