39. Chapter 39
Chapter 1
T aylor
The plume of cologne surrounding Mister Leatherjacket is enough to make me choke on the already stale recycled airplane air. The fact that it’s my favorite scent doesn’t make things any easier. What kind of self-centered person douses themself in anything that strong before getting into a tin can with strangers for four hours? Strangers that you sit elbow to elbow with no less.
The attitude he had with the airline as we were delayed boarding was also a major turn off. Yes, we’re all frustrated that our flight has been pushed back by over two hours, but what good does throwing a fit do?
When he fidgets in his seat for the five hundredth time, I can’t help but tear my eyes from the book I’ve been trying fruitlessly to read and turn to him. With a narrowed glare, I clear my throat until he looks my way.
When he does, my breath halts in my lungs as icey blue eyes meet mine. He raises one dark eye brow sharply. “What? Do you have a problem?”
“You won’t stop moving and it’s distracting.” My voice is a touch meek as I’m completely taken aback by how attractive he is. But from what I’ve experienced so far, even this charming exterior can’t beautify his insides.
“Well we’ve been sitting in this damn plane for over forty five minutes. We were supposed to take off twenty minutes ago. And that’s just from being pushed back and delayed hours.” There’s a true disgruntledness to his tone. Agitation that this is not going the way he expected.
“It’s snowing.” My voice is calm as I point out the window behind me.
“No shit, it’s been snowing all day. Horrible.” His lip cocks up as he shakes his head and a shiver runs through his body.
“Yeah, it tends to do that in the winter, especially in New York. We’re in Syracuse, we get a lot of snow here.”
“I’m not a child, you don’t need to talk down to me.” His head jerks back as he scoffs. Though he may not be a child, he’s certainly acting like one, pouting and being rude because he’s not getting his way.
“You just seem surprised that it’s snowing in central New York in early February. It snows here from like October to April most years.” And every now and again even longer. We’ve been lucky so far and it’s been a relatively dry winter so far.
“I’m not from this horrible place.”
“Oh. I guess that explains it. Maybe.” I choose to move past the fact that he called my beloved town a “horrible place.” Upstate New York isn’t for the faint of heart. Especially in winter.
“I’ve been here for about a week and it hasn’t stopped snowing. Today’s just the worst of it. Every morning I’d have to wipe off the car to get any work done.” It can’t have been that annoying to him. It’s been a dusting each morning. Mostly. Tuesday was closer to two inches, but still, that’s nothing here.
“Yeah, that’s Syracuse for you.” My gaze goes back to my book, still open in my lap.
“Why would anybody want to live in this insipid place where you have to deal with weather like that all winter?”
Now I put my hand in my book and close it, crossing my legs at I turn toward him. “Excuse me? This happens to be my home, and the entire area is filled with culture and excitement. Not to mention universities. Just because you’re too self-righteous to see its charm, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have any. Maybe the looker is just too blind to see it.”
A small smirk plays across his lips “Oh I’m sorry, did I insult you snowflake?”
With an eyebrow raised, I put my book back in my bag on the floor by my feet. “Snowflake?”
“Yeah, as in ‘delicate as a’.”
“Why, because I don’t appreciate you insulting the city I grew up in and love? So sorry that paints me as a delicate snowflake in your eyes.” I’ve heard worse, been called worse. And this asshole that I’ll never see again after what will arguably be the longest flight ever, isn’t going to rattle me.
“It’s just a town. Everybody has one, everybody grew up in one. Not everybody gets bent out of shape when theirs is not loved by all.”
“It’s not about being loved by all . You’re putting it down. For the weather. It’s upstate New York there, dumbass. It’s the northeast. It snows here. A lot. I don’t know where you’re from, but this whole area, several states worth, gets a lot of snow all winter. Something you should probably be aware of if you’re going to travel for business.” While I don’t know that he’s traveling for business, I can’t imagine somebody so aggravated by the snow would come somewhere like this for pleasure. At least at this time of year.
He lifts one corner of his mouth and the eyebrow on the same side as he trails his gaze over me. While normally this may make me self-conscious and want to shrink into my seat—especially with the yoga pants and oversized sweatshirt I’m wearing—I’m not going to let this asshole intimidate me. Not even for a second.
I draw my shoulders back and raise my chin. If he has something to say, he can go ahead and give it a shot.
But he doesn’t open his mouth, turning to face forward and slouching in his seat. His jacket makes the leather creak as he crosses his arms with a huff.
Rolling my eyes that this interaction is finally over, I grab my book and flip it back open. I give a quick glance in his direction, a little disheartened that the back and forth is over. It’s been a while since I’ve verbally sparred with a worth opponent.
But at least now I can get back to the smut in front of me. It was just getting to the good part. Talking with him just reminds me why I only give my heart to the men in romance novels. The ones in real life all suck.