Page 6 of Love Unexpected

“Okay, I’ll be ready to go at six then.” Disappointment flickers across her face and she blushes before turning her attention to the window. I feel like a dick. The pilot makes his announcements and then we are speeding off for takeoff, the roar of the engines drowns out the awkward silence between us.

I take my time looking at Emma’s profile as she stares out the window. She’s mesmerized by the view, yet I can see the tension in her body. Glancing down, a pang of empathy hits me when I notice her knuckles turning white as she grips the armrests tighter. I guess my assumption was right, she is afraid of flying.

Resting my ankle over my knee, I fidget restlessly with the urge to touch her. To comfort her. I clear my throat, trying to find something to say. “Have you ever flown before?”

She closes her eyes and leans back, releasing a long, shaky breath. “Yes, but I usually take something to calm myself down. I’ve also only ever flown commercial before. A private jet feels a little different.”

I nod in understanding. “I’ll ask if they keep something on board that can help,” I say, reaching for my seatbelt. But just as I start to unbuckle myself, her warm hand lands on mine, hovering dangerously close to my crotch. The closeness sends an electric current through my body.

“No, I’ll be okay once the plane reaches altitude and levels o—“ her words are cut off as we hit a sudden patch of turbulence that rattles the cabin. Her hand shoots from mine and grips my thigh on instinct. Her fingers curl on my leg tightly.Her hand is now even closer to my dick and makes me twitch. The heat of her touch ignites a wave of awareness that surges through my veins.

“S-sorry,” she stammers, her cheeks flush as she quickly removes her hand from my leg and places it back onto the armrest. I feel terrible for forcing her to come along on this trip when she has such a fear of flying.

“Let me see what they can give you; you clearly need it.” I move my leg to stand up, but before I do, she grips the back of my elbow.

“I don’t want to take anything,” she insists. “I promise I’ll be fine. Takeoff is the only part that bothers me.” Her gaze locks onto mine.

“Very well then,” I reply, leaning back into my seat once again, re-buckling my seatbelt with a reluctant sigh. I close my eyes and focus on the comforting hum of the engines. A small smile tugs at my lips when I realize her fear is precisely why she chose to sit next to me, even with so many other seats available on this plane. I have work to do, but there’s plenty of time on the flight to do it later.

I'm not sure how much time passes when I’m suddenly jolted awake. I must have been sleeping hard, my body feels heavy and it takes me a minute to realize where I am. Then I realize Emma's head is laying on my shoulder and my head is gently resting on top of hers. The first thing that registers in my mind is how delicious her hair smells, like she’s fresh from the shower, lathered with a sweet and citrusy shampoo. Iinternally scold myself for going down that path of inappropriate thoughts again. I cautiously sit up, trying my best not to disturb Emma. But as I sit up, my movement wakes her. She jerks her head up suddenly with a startled expression, and she blushes immediately—it’s cute, and I hate myself for thinking that it's cute.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she exclaims, wide-eyed.

Standing up to stretch my legs, I throw her a reassuring smile. “No worries at all. I’m going to the back of the plane to get some work done. Feel free to go back to sleep—you’ll need your energy for that event tonight. They can run pretty late sometimes. Also make time to familiarize yourself with the attendees’ list and what companies they are with, although our priority is Mr. Adachi.”

I move toward the back of the plane, needing to put as much distance between us as possible. Why am I feeling like a horny, love-sick teenager lately? Settling into a seat near the restrooms, I set up my laptop and dive deep into financial reports. But my thoughts betray me and keep drifting back to her. I only pause to eat a quick meal and pour myself a scotch to dull the nerves—just one at first, but then a second soon follows. The warming liquid helps ease the tension just a little bit. I tell myself it’s for the stress, for the workload, but deep down, I know it’s a weak attempt to numb my thoughts of her.

Chapter 6

Emma

The plane touches down in Tokyo around noon, just as scheduled. Noah didn’t come back to his seat for the remainder of the flight. I’m not going to lie, his absence hurt a little. We were finally making small talk and then it was like he couldn’t get away from me quick enough. I still can’t believe I grabbed his thigh like that. The moment played on repeat in my head nearly the whole flight and I wanted to die a little each time. I just stomped all over our professional relationship. But wow, his thigh was so firm underneath my fingers. He definitely works out.

Okay, hormones, calm down. This is your boss you’re drooling over, I remind myself. Yet, I still can’t help it. There is something about him that I’m drawn to. And then there’s his intoxicating, woodsy-scented cologne that pulls me in even deeper. It may be in my head, but I swear his scent helped ease my nausea. The tight churn in my stomach completely faded once I sat next to him. His presence is so soothing and comforting. And then somehow, I drifted off into the best sleep I’ve had in weeks.

Once we deplane, Noah and I part ways on the tarmac. He heads off to meet some acquaintances before his lunchappointment, while I head directly to the hotel which only takes about ten minutes from the airport.

This isn’t just any hotel though. I can’t even find the right word to define it—resort, castle, paradise? It’s enormous, and the architectural design is stunning. All of the fine little details have me in awe. The tall marble columns reach up to the ceiling and shine under the warm lights, while waterfalls flow down the carved stones. Everywhere you look, there are statues of ancient gods and beautiful figures, making the whole place feel like something out of a magazine.

As I walk through the grand entrance, friendly staff members take my luggage and offer me a refreshing drink that I find myself longing for, yet I can’t accept it. After a seamless check-in, I take the elevator up to the top floor. My own junior suite awaits me, right next to Noah’s. As the bellman places my bags in the cozy sitting area, he explains how to call for room service—words drift in one ear and out the other as I’m already lost in the luxury around me.

The moment the door swings shut behind him, a rush of excitement courses through me. I’ve never stayed in a hotel like this. I head straight to the bathroom, filled with natural light that pours in through tall windows. I waste no time filling the oversized tub with steaming water and add the luxury bath salts that sit on the edge. I sigh with relief as I step in and sink into the warmth. Lunch can wait. Ever since I stepped into my chilly house last night, I’ve been battling the shivers, the biting cold has lingered in my bones all day. Perhaps I'll call someone about the heat after this blissful soak, but for now, all that matters is this bath washing away all my problems.

I spend my afternoon sprawled out on the plush king-sized bed, watching trashy reality TV. Time quickly slips away from me and before I know it, it’s already time to get ready. Reluctantly, I leave the warm bed, knowing I need to look my best for this important dinner. I curl my hair into soft waves, deftly pinning one side back. Moving to my face, I take my time applying makeup; lip liner, lipstick, contour, blush, thick mascara—I go the whole mile. Just as I brush a coat of rich red lipstick over my lips, my phone vibrates on the counter.

Noah Lawson:Meet me in the lobby in 10. The car is here.

Emma:Yes sir. Heading down now.

I quickly slip on my heels, dart to the bathroom to unplug my curling iron, and then stuff my phone into my clutch. I double-check that my key card is in my bag before stepping out into the hallway. Hitting the button for the elevator, I find myself feeling very anxious while I wait for it to reach my floor. "This is it," I mumble to myself, feeling a rush of adrenaline. Tonight is the night I can prove myself to Mr. Lawson after the string of screw ups I’ve had over the week.

The elevator doors slide open to reveal the grand lobby, and I step out. My breath catches in my throat as I immediately spot Noah. He’s leaning against the wall across the room with his hands casually tucked in his pockets. Dressed in a sleek black suit that fits him to perfection, there are no words to describe how good he looks. A man in a suit is undeniably the sexiest thing in the world. My gaze makes its way up to his hair which is styled back in a perfectly messy way that makes me want to run my hands through it.

As if sensing my gaze, Noah turns his head in my direction and locks eyes with me. There’s an intensity in his stare that sends shivers down my body. His eyes travel slowly from my black stilettos, lingering on my form fitting black dress. The long sleeves and precise fit highlight all the right curves, while the thigh-high slit makes it both sexy and formal.

His eyes finally make it up to my face and I catch him stealing a glance at my lips. A flicker of mischief in his eyes makes me blush. Noah strides towards me, making my heart start racing in my chest. I mentally shake myself, reminding my fluttering heart that he was likely just assessing my outfit to ensure I was dressed appropriately. “He was not checking you out,” I whisper to myself. Yet deep down, the persistent flutter in my stomach tells me otherwise.

“You look great. Are you ready to go?” he asks, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.

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