Page 12 of In Bed with the Ice Queen

She peered over the seat, taking a quick look at Helena. The red-haired woman was settling in her seat, fiddling with her tray table. She saw Helena glance around, her gaze sweeping over the first-class passengers. Sloane ducked down even lower, her heart racing. She felt like a creep for staring, but her eyes just wouldn’t leave Helena.

The flight attendant leaned close to Helena, and Sloane could hear Helena chirp back, “Ooh, I’ll take a glass of the Chardonnay, please. And can I get the chicken salad with a side of fruit?”

Even her drink choices sounded elegant and composed. Sloane took a sip of water, trying to calm her nerves.

Sloane’s mind drifted to their last encounter, flashing back to Helena’s surprised expression the moment Sloane had stepped out of her comfort zone. Flirting had always been awkward for Sloane, and she remembered how Helena had glared at her.

“Do you need anything else?” the flight attendant asked as she delivered Helena’s order.

“No, thank you!” Helena replied cheerily and began scrolling through the in-flight entertainment options, her fingers moving nimbly over the screen.

Sloane found herself captivated, stolen moments slipping by as she watched Helena make selections, giggling softly at a comedy and shaking her head at a romance film. She felt like a voyeur, caught between delight and embarrassment. Just then, Helena stretched her arms high above her head.

Sloane's heart sank when Helena turned slightly and caught sight of her. “Callahan!” she shrieked, her eyes wide.

Sloane stumbled into the open space, rising up quickly as if she had been caught stealing cookies from a jar. “Oh hi, Ms. Wolfe! I didn’t realize we would be on the same flight.” Her cheeks flushed crimson.

“What a coincidence!” Helena replied. “If I’m honest, I’m a bit annoyed that this whole trip was thrown on me.”

“Yeah, that’s Mr. Thompson for you,” Sloane agreed, feeling slightly more relaxed now that they were speaking. “I just wish I were there for vacation instead of business, but you take what you can get.”

“Indeed,” Helena said. “I was thinking, maybe while we are on this trip we should drop some of the formalities outside of the boardroom. You can call me Helena.”

Sloane smiled to herself. Maybe she was getting somewhere. “OK, Helena. Nice to meet you. You should call me Sloane.”

“Nice to meet you, Sloane.”

Helena chuckled softly before turning her attention back to her screen. Sloane tried to stay busy reviewing merger documents but gave up and watched a movie instead.

Six hours after takeoff, the plane landed in Honolulu, and Sloane waited for her turn to disembark. After being given the all-clear from the flight attendant, she stepped into the aisle and reached up to grab her carry-on luggage. Every step she took toward the exit, she felt lighter.

Hawaii, here I come, she thought as excitement flickered in her heart when a flight attendant placed a lei around her neck in greeting.

The warm Hawaiian breeze greeted her like an old friend, the salty air tangling in her hair as it lifted her spirits. She didn’t take long to grab her check-in bag before heading toward the car rental desk. She needed to get to the hotel and prepare for the business meetings that would consume her mind and schedule for the next few days.

Just as she was sliding into a bright red convertible with the top down, Sloane caught sight of Helena across the parking lot loading her bags into a black luxury SUV.. “Of course,” Sloane murmured, rolling her eyes.

With a light tap of her fingers, Sloane pulled out of the parking lot, her heart racing with anticipation as she followed the winding roads toward the resort. Palm trees danced in the wind, and the scent of salt and flowers filled the air. “I could get used to this.”

By the time she reached the resort, her mood was dramatically better. She parked, took a deep breath, and stepped out, ready to absorb every ounce of Hawaiian beauty surrounding her. But just as she walked up to the grand entrance, Sloane spotted a familiar figure. Helena was already there, standing at the check-in desk, her arms crossed tightly around herself. Sloane noticed she wasn’t wearing a fresh-flower lei.

Sloane blinked, half-amused and half-exasperated. “Well, look who finally made it,” she called, a teasing lilt to her voice that floated over the warm air.

Helena looked over her shoulder, her expression as hard as the stone walls of the resort. “Oh, it’s you again,” she snapped, straightening up as if she was trying to regain her authority in this laid-back atmosphere.

Sloane chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. “Maybe we should’ve carpooled, huh? One less car on the road.”

Helena’s lips twisted into a tight frown. “That’s unrealistic, Sloane. We both have our own agendas.”

Sloane raised an eyebrow, the edges of her smile turning downward slightly. “Right, because sharing a ride would have messed up your strict schedule.” She tried to keep her tone light, but something inside her tightened. The relentless determination in Helena was tiring.

“I’m just being practical,” Helena replied, tapping her fingers against the counter. “There’s no time for jokes when there’s so much at stake.”

Sloane nodded, trying to push down her irritation. “Sure, I understand. But, hey, we’re in Hawaii, right? Lighten up a bit. Maybe try a pineapple drink. You know, relax?”

Helena simply turned her gaze back to the front desk attendant, her jaw set as her irritation thickened the air between them. “Business is business, Sloane.”

Feeling thwarted, Sloane moved to the side, rolling her eyes as she took out her phone. “Business is better when you’re not a square,” she muttered softly, not caring if Helena overheard.

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