Page 6 of Three Pucking Wedding Dates

“Free shampoo and conditioner,” I deadpan, smirking at his laughter. “But seriously, there’s something about helping people find comfort during their travels that appeals to me. I might not be chasing my passion like you are with hockey, but it’s a satisfying job.”

“Oakley, you’ve always had the gift of making people feel at ease,” Gray says, his voice filled with genuine admiration. “And I’m glad you found a way to use it in your career.”

“Thanks, Gray,” I reply, feeling a warmth in my chest at his kind words. “You know, sometimes I think about what it would be like if I had followed my passions instead of focusing on comfort and stability. But then I remember how much I love free toiletries, and the decision is clear.”

Gray chuckles, shaking his head. “You never cease to amaze me, Oakley. And for the record, I believe you could do anything you set your mind to, passionate or not.”

“Aw, you’re too sweet, Gray. Stop it before I get a cavity,” I tease, playfully swatting at his arm.

The hum of the plane’s engine vibrates beneath my feet, making my heart race faster. I can feel every ounce of blood pulsing through my veins, and it’s getting harder to breathe as the flight attendants finish their preflight checks.

Gray glances over at me, concern etched on his features.

“Hey, Oakley,” he says softly. “You’re going to be okay. I promised, remember?”

As the plane starts to move, my fear takes over, and I impulsively grip onto Gray’s arm. He doesn’t hesitate for a second, wrappinghis arms around me and pulling me close. “Just focus on me, Oakley. I’m right here. Breathe.”

I try to steady my breathing, inhaling the familiar scent of his cologne and feeling the reassuring rise and fall of his chest. My rational mind knows the statistics, that flying is safer than driving, but memories of my mother’s death still haunt me.

“Gray, I—” I begin, but before I can finish my thought, Gray pulls me even closer and presses his lips against mine.

My initial shock leaves me frozen, my eyes wide and my mind reeling. But then something inside me snaps, and I surrender to the kiss, allowing myself to get lost in this unexpected moment.

His lips are warm and tender, evoking emotions I didn’t know I was capable of feeling. The world around us seems to fade away, and Gray deepens the kiss.

When he finally pulls away, he does so with a gentle smile that makes my chest ache.

“See? We’re in the air,” he says softly, his warm brown eyes meeting mine.

I hadn’t even realized we were airborne, my fear momentarily forgotten while he was kissing me. The realization hits me like a ton of bricks—Gray was just trying to help me get my mind off of takeoff.

“Thank you,” I whisper, not knowing what else to say.

“Anytime,” he replies, his voice barely audible over the hum of the airplane’s engines. “It’s a short flight, but try to go to sleep. It’ll make it go by even quicker.”

I rest my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes as I try to process the whirlwind of emotions coursing through me. Our kiss was nothing short of electrifying, igniting a fire within me that I can’t seem to extinguish. It isn’t the first time we’ve kissed, but this time it felt different than it did all those years ago.

As the plane ascends higher into the sky, I allow myself to drift off into a fitful sleep, lulled by the steady rhythm of Gray’s breathing. Despite the lingering taste of fear on my tongue, I can’t help but feel safe and secure in his arms.

He’s always managed to make me feel safe.

4

OAKLEY

Asudden jolt ripples through the plane, the vibrations causing me to jump in my seat, waking up instantly. I grip the armrests, trying to steady myself as the aircraft rocks with the turbulence during the descent.

“Whoa there,” Gray chuckles, his warm brown eyes sparkling with amusement. “Calm down—unless you think you need me to kiss you again.”

“Very funny,” I retort, rolling my eyes at him. The truth is, I wouldn’t mind another one of his soul-stirring kisses, but I don’t want to think about what the complications would be afterward.

“Relax, Oakley. We’ll be on the ground soon.” Gray reaches over and places a comforting hand on mine. His touch is like a balm to my frazzled nerves.

As the plane finally touches down, I let out a sigh of relief. Gray grabs my carry-on and hands it to me. “You know you could have packed more.”

“Maybe I would have if I hadn’t been kidnapped.”

That makes him laugh. “Kidnapping, huh? I’ll kidnap you any day, Oaks.”

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