Page 22 of Come Fly with Me

My heart begins to race, and my thoughts are a scattered mess, making me admit that I want to spend more time with him. “Can I exchange my two hours for a few more hours with Jake’s Tour Company?”

He looks over at me, a smugness to his face as he sits a little taller and when he speaks his voice booms above the wind that’s rippling through the car. “I’ll have to check, but he may be fully booked.” His confidence is cute as he pulls his phone from his pocket and pretends to scan the screen while his eyes shoot back and forth between the road and the screen.

“If you’re too busy I’m sure I can find someone else to spend the rest of my day with.” I cross my arms over my chest and focus my eyes out the window at the car in front of us. My attempt at feigning nonchalance fades fast when Jake reaches over and draws a few simple circles on my thigh with his finger.

“Oh, wait. It looks like I’ve had a cancelation, but the booking is for the rest of the day and into the evening. Lots on the agenda.”

I clench my teeth and suck in air, as if I’m contemplating his offer. He obviously knows I have nothing going on and the idea of going back to the hotel instantly pulls a feeling of boredom into my head. But I mull over the idea for a few minutes, letting him think I have far better things to do than traipse all over Sydney and its suburbs with him.

“I think I can fit it all in,” I reply casually, shrugging my shoulders.

“Perfect.”

Jake suddenly cranks the steering wheel, causing my body to shift unexpectedly and practically fall into his lap as he takes a hard right turn and barrels down an alleyway. Pulling into what can only be described as an employee parking lot, he kills the engine and we both climb out of the car.

I follow him to a door that leads into the back of a restaurant, but as we walk in, the din of the diners fills the room. There are quiet conversations buzzing, and Jake pays no attention to the waitress who scrambles over to where he’s standing and scanning the room.

“Excuse me, sir? Can I help you?” she asks, but Jake just shakes his head and walks straight to the bar with me trailing behind. I don’t follow him when he steps behind the bar, and interrupts a tiny blond bartender, a woman who looks a little bit older than me.

“Oh my god!” she squeals, stamping her feet like she’s running in place before she throws her arms around his neck. I watch as he hugs her back with just as much intensity, his arms around her waist, lifting her off the floor as he whispers something in her ear. They eventually separate, and she says, “Go find a table, and I’ll be over in a few minutes.”

I hate the feeling of jealousy that slaps me in the face, but that’s what happens when you’ve watched your marriage crumble at the hand of a cheating spouse. I have no reason to be jealous. He’s a flirt, and he probably does this with any woman who would be stupid enough to spend the day with him.

He grabs a bottle of red wine and two glasses from behind the bar and returns to where I’m waiting for him, tipping his head in the direction of a booth that sits at the front of the restaurant by a large floor-to-ceiling window.

It’s more secluded than the other tables, and it pulls us away from the lunch crowd that is already beginning to dissipate. The place smells of warm bread and garlic, and I bask in the smell, closing my eyes and taking a deep inhale.

“Smells amazing in here,” Jake says, obviously aware of the possible drooling that might be happening.

“Totally.”

When I open my eyes, Jake is watching me, a self-satisfied smile on his face. He was far more right than I ever thought possible. He is winning. I have no idea how he knows everything I love and how he’s conning me into thinking he’s different, but fuck, it’s working.

“A friend of yours?” I ask, tipping my head a little so I can see the perky blond behind the bar. She’s laughing and chatting with a few customers, but I catch her looking in my direction, and I pull myself back in.

“You could say that.” His response is cryptic, and I narrow my eyes at him. “Do I sense a hint of jealousy in your voice, Captain?”

“No,” I scoff instantly, but that’s exactly the reason for my question.

He opens the wine and pours us each a glass, and then hands me a menu but prefaces it with the fact that he will be ordering for us.

“What if I don’t want what you order?”

“Have I failed you yet?”

I pause before answering, letting him think I’m weighing his words. But before I can answer, Barbie Bartender is at our table, squeezing in next to Jake and planting a kiss on his cheek.

“What are you doing here?” she asks, her body turned so she’s facing Jake.

“Three-day stop before we head back,” he replies casually.

“And what? You didn’t think to call me?”

“Had other plans.” His answers are short and to the point, acting as if he’s put out by her intrusiveness.

“I see how it is.”

“Settle down, I was planning to come by tonight, but we had some free time.” He motions to me sitting across the table from him. “Taylor, this is my sister Elise. She’s loud and demanding, and this wonderful place we are in is her restaurant.”

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