Page 17 of Arrogant Arrival

“You know her?”

“Yes. She’s a royal bitch. At one time when I was younger I thought she was hot, but as soon as I got to know her, I started thinking with the right brain. No. Just no.”

“Hello. Anything I can get you to drink?” I look up into the flight attendant’s blue eyes, wishing they were Jolene’s brown eyes. For such an enclosed space, she sure has managed to avoid me.

Dex and Bianca give their orders while I scan for my sexy stewardess. When I spot her, an idea forms. A rather brilliant idea. Jolene could easily pass for a Greek woman. She could be my girlfriend for the trip, and then go back to hating me. Let’s be honest, there’s not much difference between love and hate, is there?

“Excuse me,” I leap from my chair and hurry toward the other section of the plane where I had spotted Jolene with her drink cart.

“I need to speak with you.”

“I’m busy, Jim,” she growls through her teeth.

“It’s important.”

“Sir, please, take your seat and I’ll have the first-class stewardess come to you in a moment.”

“I can’t take a seat, and I don’t want or need the other stewardess. I have to get this off my chest. Now.”

Jolene’s eyes widen as her smile remains plastered on her face, “Okay. Let me finish here and I’ll be right with you.”

I grin to the two elderly ladies who are in their seat waiting for their drink. Jolene hands one of the women her club soda. As she takes it, she blushes and says to me, “I wouldn’t keep you waiting, hot stuff.”

“Ummm, I appreciate that.” I give her a full smile and then turn to Jolene and wink before I turn around to go back to my seat.

My leg nervously bounces while I wait for Jolene. Bianca turns to look at me and frowns. “Are you okay? I didn’t peg you to be a nervous flyer, considering your profession.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “Don’t be ridiculous.”

“Is it Thea and Yia-Yia? You still have a couple of hours before you have to deal with them. At least they’re not seated with us.” She nudges me with her elbow. “You’re welcome.”

“Couple of more hours,” I mumble to myself.

Jolene

What the hell could Jim possibly need that’s an emergency? My stomach flips the closer I get to him. I plaster a smile on my face and in my most professional voice, say, “Sir, can I get you anything?”

Jim’s eyes widen, and he quickly looks at the woman sitting next to him holding the little girl. He turns back to me and whispers. “Let’s go somewhere more private?”

His cousin must’ve heard because she hisses. “You’re on a plane, Jimmy. Where do you think you’re going to go that’s private? The cargo hold?” I see the exact moment her mind wanders to the wrong idea. Her eyes widen in horror and her jaw drops. “You better not, Jimmy Georgakopolous!” The other gentleman with them snickers.

Jim rolls his eyes. “Not for that. Have you seen the size of lavatories on planes?” He stands and I follow him toward the back of the plane to where we keep our supplies. Two of my co-workers are standing back there, so Jim and I stand there awkwardly until they take the hint and walk away. I cross my arms and wait expectantly for him to tell me what it is he needed to speak to me so badly about.

“Fancy meeting you here. How ya been?” His playful smile gives him such a boyish charm…but I’m not falling for it again.

“Really? Cut to the chase. What is it?”

“Right.” Jim claps his hands and swallows. “I need you.”

I can’t deny that my heart skips a beat and I feel myself getting warm in all the right places just from his raspy voice saying those words to me.

Jim takes a step closer. “Stay in Greece with me. Spend nine days with me there…” he searches my eyes “…as my girlfriend.”

“Your girlfriend? Surely you’re joking. What part of me saying I wouldn’t date a pilot again did you not comprehend?” Is he serious about wanting to have a relationship? I want to scream right now. “Why now? Because you saw me and decided you needed a little extra fun while there?”

“Well, I saw you and decided I needed you to be my girlfriend. My Greek girlfriend, to be exact.”

“What? Go sit back down now, you asshole.” Did he just ask me to be his Greek girlfriend? Hellllooo, I’m not even one-tenth Greek. This is beginning to sound like he just wants to use me as a prop, and I’m not buying what he’s selling.

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