Chapter 36
Loch
This is fun.
This Carter guy is oblivious to who I am. As much as it’s tempting to flip into caveman mode and claim Tuesday as mine, it’ll be fun to fuck with him.
Am I her friend?
A guy she’s dating?
Work for the airline?
He has no fucking clue, and it’s glorious to be in the power position.
I’ve encountered plenty of assholes who think they’re smarter and better than I am—from prosecutors to random guys scared to lose their girlfriends when I’m around.
I’m not blind. I know I’m an attractive man.
Fuck, look at Tuesday. The woman is drop-dead gorgeous, and she looks at me like she’s the lucky one.
How does that make sense in any universe?
She doesn’t see herself clearly, but I do.
She’s so much more than a pretty face. She’s sweet to the point that people will try to take advantage of her.
Trusting when she probably shouldn’t be after all she’s been through.
Smart. So fucking smart that I know whatever she sets her mind to, she’ll achieve.
And whether I deserve it or not, she’s loving.
Openheartedly, she loves me without conditions, taking care of me when she’d have every right to be selfish, considering what’s going on in her life right now.
Inside and out, the woman is nothing less than spectacular. And I’m the lucky bastard who gets to be with her.
So the last thing that’s going to happen is this jerk-off taking her from me. Fine, I went a little caveman. Staring me down like he can intimidate me is a joke. If he keeps it up, his ego will get his ass kicked. I take another drink of orange juice and glare at him.
Tuesday comes down the short aisle of the jet wearing pajama pants, a T-shirt, and a baggie hoodie. She makes it hard to take my eyes off her even when she buries her body under layers of clothes.
As cute as she looks, there’s a reason I’ve never given her pajamas. Naked is my preference for her when she’s in bed with me. Funny that I didn’t even notice what she wore when she hopped out of the SUV. I only saw that beautiful mouth of hers smiling for me.
An hour after our reunion, she drops into the seat next to me after sitting with Allison since we took off. I’m happy to have her back. “How are we playing this situation?” I ask, stealing a glimpse of her eyes.
“Truthfully, I’m not sure how I should be playing it. What do you think?”
“Is he useful for knowledge?”
She bends her knees and wraps her arms around her legs, resolve forcing a sigh from her. “I’m afraid so. After chatting with Allison, he has information that I need.”
“Like?”
Leaning closer, she looks around to see if we have privacy. Allison is still in the backseat with her legs spread across another while Carter has been keeping his head down for the most part, except for the occasional staring contest he has with me. “You ready for this?”
“If it’s about you having sex with anyone else, I’m not.”
“It’s about him having sex with someone else . . . on our wedding day.”
My gaze shoots up to look at the fucker. “He did not fuck another girl on your wedding day.”
She shrugs. “He did.”
“I should go thank him for fucking up the best thing he ever had.”
Laughing, she elbows me. “You’re ridiculous, you know that?”
I nudge her gently right back. “I actually do know that.”
She goes on to say, “I left him at the altar, so that was his karma. But there’s more to the story. ”
My gaze shoots to her, not giving a damn if he sees me staring at her anymore. She’s worth it. “Whoa. Back up. You left him at the altar?”
No remorse is found when a slight grin wriggles onto her face. “So I hear.”
I fucking love her. “You naughty girl.”
She takes a ragged breath as she wiggles in the chair. “We need to stay focused, and you calling me a naughty or good girl won’t help.”
“What happens if we don’t stay focused?”
A laugh escapes her pretty, pouty lips, and she rolls her eyes. There’s my girl. “You get laid, and I don’t get any answers.”
“I’m not seeing the problem with the first part.”
Her elbow finds my bicep much harder this time. Fortunately, assface isn’t watching. There’s no way we don’t look like we’re fucking. She says, “Be serious, babe.”
“Who said I wasn’t?” This time, I’m quicker than she is, moving out of her reach, and chuckle. “I’m kidding. Kind of . . .” I lean over again. “What did you tell him about me?”
“Nothing. He doesn’t know about us yet.”
“We can show him.” The plane is loud enough to keep anyone outside of the two of us from hearing, so why hold back? Let’s taunt the fucker who’s now glaring at us again.
“You’re so bad, Loch.”
“But so good that you can’t resist me.”
“No lie told.” Her gaze slips across the jet to this guy claiming to be her fiancé.
I’m calling bullshit that it was reciprocal.
If she loved him, it was in another lifetime, not the one she’s living now.
So no stakes are being claimed other than mine.
She says, “He still doesn’t know I have amnesia. ”
My eyebrows shoot to the top of the aircraft. “How’d you manage to pull that off?”
“We’ve barely spoken, and when we do, I’m the last topic he seems interested in discussing.”
“Could have fooled me by how his eyes are glued to you.”
She angles toward me, but I notice she restrains every part of her body from touching me. Fucking sucks. She says, “I didn’t expect to see you.”
I trust her. I have no reason not to. So maybe it was a mistake to come with her. “It’s not fair for me to be here, but living without you is the worst.”
“I’m glad you came.” She rests her hand on my arm, but I see how she glances across the plane at him.
That I’ve put her in a position to walk this precarious line between Carter and me makes me feel like shit.
It also angers me because she should never have to do that.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought you’d be here.
I love that you are because I know the sacrifice you’re making. ”
“It’s not a sacrifice. This is where I want to be.”
Her hand slips away too soon and lands on her lap. Resting back, she briefly closes her eyes before rolling her head my way. “And I want you here, Loch.”
I nod. Her lids hang heavy, and her smile is slight, but she’s no less beautiful. “I’ll be here as long as you need me. Now get some rest. I have a feeling you’ll need your energy once we land.”
Closing her eyes, she grins as if the image behind her lids is too good not to. “Don’t worry. I’ll save some for you.”
This woman . . . She’s the gift that keeps giving. That’s my whole fucking heart right there. “I’ll make sure to burn through every last ounce of it.”
“Promise?” she whispers, exhaustion seeming to kick in.
“I promise.”
“How is he so hot?” Tuesday’s voice ribbons through my consciousness, pulling me from sleep.
“I bet the sex is incredible,” Allison whispers loud enough for me to hear. “He’s so, mmm, deliciously big. Big hands. Big, broad shoulders. Big feet.” She giggles.
Amusing, but I keep my eyes closed to see how Tuesday responds. She moans, and it goes straight to my pants. “Yep, big everything. If you only knew the half of it.”
“If I knew the half of it, I wouldn’t be able to walk in the morning. I have to say I’m jealous, girl, but I’m also happy that someone here is having big experiences.” Allison laughs again.
As entertaining as it is to hear their private conversation about me, I open my eyes, revealing I’m awake. The two of them are quick to point at a photo in the album on Tuesday’s lap like they weren’t just ogling me. Tuesday asks, “Did I like my job in marketing?”
“Hey,” I say, my voice still groggy.
She looks up from the seat across from me. “Hi, sleepyhead. I never knew anyone could sleep so deeply on a flight, but then again, I don’t remember either. Looks like you got some needed rest.”
“I did.” I sit up and stretch my back. “Did you?”
“A little.”
Glancing out the window, I ask, “How long until we land?”
“Less than an hour.”
I grab a bottle of water from my cup holder and down half. Looking up, I catch Carter’s eyes still on me. There’s less anger in them than before, but I’m not sure what’s changed. I still won’t let my guard down with him.
Deciding to stretch my legs, I get up and walk to the back of the plane and then to the front, stopping to look out the emergency door’s window. Not sure why I’m relieved that we’re over land when we could crash there just as we could in the ocean.
“So you’re not the porter?”
I stand and turn, coming toe-to-toe with the enemy.
He thinks I can’t see who he really is—insecure little rich boy.
This coming from being a rich kid myself.
Insecure . . . not so much, though. I spent years disproving the people who think I live off handouts.
I had an in with the law firm, but I could have gone to work anywhere after graduating top in my class.
I’ve made my own fortune from hard work and solid investments.
This guy . . . I’d be shocked if he’s worked a full day in his life. He looks weak, and he’s definitely spineless.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I reply, “No. I’m not the porter.”
“Do you own the jet?”
“I have no need to own a jet, but I paid for the trip.”
He glances over his shoulder to the ladies, who are currently looking very nervous that Carter and I are talking. He turns back, and asks, “Why?”
“Because Tu—Céline needed to get to Europe.”
“She tells you to jump, and you ask how high?” He chuckles under his breath. “Now I know why she keeps you around.”
“You don’t know shit.” Smirking, I lower my arms to my sides, trying to keep myself from popping him in that smarmy grin of his. “Trust me when I tell you that’s not why she keeps me around.”
“I’ve met plenty of guys like you. You meet a pretty girl and suddenly get a little possessive. Surely, you realize that Céline and I are engaged.” Reaching over, he flicks the collar of my shirt.
Fuck his engagement to Céline. I jerk my shoulder back and lower my voice. “Touch me again, and you’ll lose that fucking hand.”