Page 10 of My Fair Player

“You got it,” he nodded, “Thank you.”

“Go sit down, and I’ll get you something to drink or snack on since the cart missed you,” she chuckled, feeling almost bubbly down inside because this had to be the craziest thing she had ever done in her entire life. She was marrying some stranger who had the biggest bank account she’d ever seen in her entire life, with no hesitancy from either of them.

The moment he’d left, she shook her head and chastised herself under her breath, pouring him a ginger ale and grabbing a packet of pretzels.

“Unbelievable. I’m a gold-digger. Me?”

Almost three hours later, Ashley was saying her ‘goodbyes’ to the passengers who had just flown with them, ignoring Adrian’s repeated requests for details on what she and Liam had discussed… and turned to see him sitting patiently in business class, waiting. His bag was perched in his lap as he watched her. He raised his hand slightlyas if to acknowledge her and gave her a small smile.

“Oh, you dirty-dawg… it’s about time you took my advice!” Adrian crowed with delight, elbowing her. “You go get your ‘drink,’ girlfriend, and enjoy! I’ll finish up here.”

“Are you sure?”

“Heck yes,” he replied emphatically. “You go play with your ‘boy-toy’ who is waiting for you, and I’ll handle ‘Captain Crotchety’when he emerges from his lair.”

Ashley laughed nervously and looked at Liam once more – signaling him. Sure enough, he stood up and moved toward her. She nodded, pulling her bag from where it had been secured for the flight, and exited the plane with Liam.

“Say nothing, let’s just go,” she whispered to him.

“Are we in trouble?”

“No. They are gossips,” she countered quietly. “Act like you don’t know me and then follow me in the airport toward the exit.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Ashley pretended like nothing was going on; like this was some ordinary day just like any other. She waved at a few familiar faces, smiled at a few others who were rushing to their gates – faces she’d passed probably hundreds of times over the last few years and made her way to the ‘Alternate Transportation’ area – and clicked the button on her app. She had left her truck because Connie needed it to haul wood, and what was one more Uber charge, right?

Standing inside, she stared straight ahead, waiting, and then looked out the corner of her eye toward Liam. He was doing almost the same, his bag beside him, but he was scrolling through his cell phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to look nonchalant.”

“Oh.”

“What are you doing?”

“Waiting on a car – oh – that’s us,” she began, reaching down to grab his wrist without a second thought. “Let’s go.”

“We’re going?”

“Yes.”

They rushed out the door to the waiting vehicle – only to have her bag lifted behind her, causing her to stumble. She turned slightly, pausing, and saw Liam was picking up her bag.

“Go ahead,” he began, his eyes grateful. “I’ll put this in the trunk. You get in the car, and I’ll be right there.”

Ashley gaped and then closed her mouth, bewildered. He was already acting like they were a couple, acting like her husband and trying to take care of her… and it was nice.

It was really nice.

Her feet were killing her in these high heels that were part of her uniform, and she just wanted to slip them off or get off of her feet for a few moments. Sitting down in the car, she hesitated as the driver slid into the vehicle and Liam a moment later.

“Where to?”

“The municipal courthouse,” Ashley said nervously – and felt Liam’s warm hand touch hers unexpectedly as he leaned toward her.

“Thank you again.”

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