Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Bryn snorted from beside me, her shoulders shaking as she laughed silently.
It had been a long day of travel, and the cabin lights were dimmed because it was evening.
After an extended delay in Miami, we’d missed not only our flight to Anguilla but all of the few remaining flights from Miami to Anguilla.
So, we’d been rerouted on a flight bound for Sint Maarten and would then have to take a ferry to Anguilla.
Most of our fellow passengers were already watching something on the in-flight entertainment system or trying to sleep, but I was too busy watching Bryn. It was good to see her laugh.
I leaned over the armrest, inhaling her rich, amber scent. God, she smelled so good. “What’s so funny?”
“So, in my book…” And then she started laughing again, and I couldn’t help but smile as she struggled to get herself under control. But every time she tried to tell me what was so funny, she started laughing all over again.
I got the feeling she was a bit slaphappy from exhaustion. Originally, we were supposed to arrive in Anguilla this afternoon, and now we wouldn’t be getting there until well after dark. It wasn’t ideal, but fortunately, it wasn’t going to affect much, apart from our sleep.
Bryn bent forward, and her shirt slid up her back. Her yoga pants rested low on her hips, and I spied a sliver of her lacy underwear. Fuck me.
“Sorry. Sorry.” She swiped away a tear. “It’s funny, but it’s not that funny. I think I just got the giggles, you know?” She looked as if she was still fighting laughter.
I nodded, bemused. Travel delays sucked, but I wasn’t even all that bothered because it gave me more alone time with Bryn.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying the book,” I said.
My agent, Talia Winters, had definitely been intrigued by my request for an early copy, but it hadn’t been difficult to make it happen.
She’d reached out to Meghan Hart’s team, and they’d asked for an autographed jersey in return.
I’d thrown in some center ice tickets to a home game because I knew how much a signed, early copy would mean to Bryn.
I’d given her the book because it would make her happy. There were no strings attached. No expectations. But I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t part of Operation Woo.
Selfishly, I wanted to show Bryn what she meant to me. But I also wanted to do this for her. To remind her that she deserved to feel loved and desired. She might have lost the man she loved, but she didn’t have to spend the rest of her life alone.
Bryn grinned. “Like you wouldn’t believe. But I should probably switch to something else.” She closed the book before placing it in her bag. “Otherwise, I won’t get any sleep, and I’ll be exhausted when we land.”
“Do you want to watch something together?” I asked because I had a feeling I wouldn’t be sleeping anytime soon. Maybe I’d pass out at some point, but I doubted it. I was often on planes, and I rarely slept.
“I’d love that.” She grabbed her headphones. “What’d you have in mind? Nothing sad.”
I scoffed. “Trust me. I know better. And I’m not Georgia.”
“Right?” She laughed. “She always picks the tearjerkers.”
When I’d scrolled through the entertainment options earlier, I’d already favorited a few that I’d thought Bryn would enjoy. “That new comedy you wanted to see is on there.”
“Oh really?” Bryn perked up. “Let’s do that. Let me just get set up.”
She pulled a few things out of her bag, and I watched in fascination as she sprayed her face with something. Next up was lotion, and then she grabbed a blanket.
She turned to me, and when she caught sight of my expression, she laughed. “What?”
“You are very…prepared.” Not that it surprised me. Bryn was always thinking ahead. It was one of the things I loved about her. One of the many things I loved about her.
“My skin-care ritual makes me feel calm and centered, especially when I’m traveling.” She sighed happily. “I guess you could say it’s a glimmer.”
Ah. I should’ve known. A glimmer.
Lately, Bryn had been talking about glimmers a lot. It was a term she’d heard from her therapist. Bryn had explained it as a small moment of joy or peace that came from appreciating everyday experiences.
Every moment I spent with her was a glimmer. It didn’t matter how mundane the task was; spending time with her brought me peace and joy.
She shifted in her seat so she was turned more toward me. “What do you do for self-care?”
I nudged her. “That’s a bit personal, don’t you think?” I teased.
Her cheeks flushed with color, as if she’d only just realized how that sounded. “I mean…”
I chuckled, wondering if it was wrong that I enjoyed watching her squirm a little. She grabbed the spray bottle and aimed it at me, spritzing me with cool liquid.
“Hey.” I narrowed my eyes at her.
She was biting back a smile, and I wanted to kiss her so damn bad.
She held the bottle aloft once more. “Can I spray you for real?” When I didn’t respond, she added, “Please. I just want to make you feel good.”
I bit back a groan, imagining her saying that in an entirely different context. One with a lot fewer clothes. Maybe one where she was on her knees before me, pouty lips parted before my cock. Fuck.
“Sure.” The word came out strangled.
She leaned closer, smoothing some of my hair away from my face. It felt so good. Too good.
She seemed to linger for a moment, and then she removed the cap, misting it over my face. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected, but that felt…actually, really nice. Refreshing.
She opened the lotion. “Then, you need to moisturize,” she said, smoothing the thick lotion over my skin. It felt so good—to be touched by her. Cared for by her.
“There.” With her hands still on my face, she smiled softly. “How did that feel?”
“Amazing.” My voice was gravelly, and my body felt like a live wire. “Thank you.”
She smiled again, wider now. “You’re welcome.” She let out a happy sigh and settled back to her seat. Completely unaffected. “Now we can watch the movie,” she said, covering herself with the blanket.
I laughed to cover my discomfort, cueing up the movie on my screen. When we were both ready, we hit play at the same time. One minute, I was watching the movie—more like watching Bryn’s reactions to the movie—and the next thing I knew, I was blinking my eyes open.
I glanced around, surprised I’d fallen asleep in the first place. The plane’s engine was still humming and Bryn was asleep, so I took the opportunity to study her. Her hair was up in a messy, high bun. Her lips were parted softly, and she looked so peaceful.
I lifted my hand as if to touch her cheek, imagining how it would feel to touch her freely. To not hold back anymore. And then I lowered my hand and shook my head. What am I doing?
I stretched out my legs then got up to use the bathroom. As I was headed down the aisle, I could see the moment it happened. That spark of recognition when a woman a few rows back realized who I was. There was that pause, the widening of the eyes, and then the knowing smile that came after.
I ducked my head but not before I’d seen her scan me from top to bottom, her eyes lingering on my gray sweatpants.
I continued on, hoping to keep a low profile.
I’d gotten stopped by fans a few times at the airport in LA and Miami, asking for a picture or an autograph.
I appreciated them and their support, but also…
I just wanted to enjoy my vacation with Bryn.
And while I would never be rude to a fan, it was difficult to hide my annoyance when they inevitably asked Bryn to step aside and take their picture. She’d done so—graciously, of course. But I’d wanted her by my side, in front of the camera. Not hiding behind it.
I locked the bathroom door, taking care of business before washing my hands. I brushed my teeth, feeling more refreshed. When I emerged, the woman from a few rows back was standing outside.
I tried to tell myself that maybe she also needed to use the bathroom, but from the eager glint in her eyes, I feared that was wishful thinking.
“I’ve always wanted to join the Mile High Club,” she said in a sultry tone. “What do you think? Want to make this trip fly by?”
You’d think after all these years I’d be used to that by now, but sometimes I was still caught off guard by how brazen people could be.
And I cringed at the cheesiness of her lines.
Because that’s what they were—lines. She didn’t care about me as a person; she just wanted to be able to say she’d fucked an NHL player.
“I’m not interested,” I said, moving to bypass her. I wasn’t trying to be rude, but I wanted to shut this down quickly.
“Oh, come on.” She pouted, jutting out her hip.
Seriously? No meant no. That went both ways.
“I’m with someone,” I said, though I didn’t owe this stranger any explanation.
The woman stepped closer. “She’s asleep.” She placed her hand on my bicep. “It can be our little secret.”
“Please remove your hand,” I gritted out, just as a flight attendant joined us.
Of fucking course.
Her eyes bounced between us, taking in the scene. I could only imagine how this looked to her.
“Everything okay here?” she asked in an overly chipper voice.
“I was just returning to my seat,” I said, hopeful the flight attendant wouldn’t misconstrue the interaction. Regardless of what she thought she’d just walked in on, I was grateful for the interruption.
The rest of the flight passed without incident, but I didn’t fall back asleep. After that encounter, my guard was up, and I couldn’t seem to let it back down to relax enough to rest.