Page 49 of Get Lost

Chapter Eighteen

Because the gods clearly hated Kelsey, and her seatmate was the mostannoyinghuman being on the planet—who apparently was also, like, the best person alive with his whole Arroyo restaurant tribute to his parents, and his dark, smoldering eyes, and his stupid hands that couldn’t seem to stop touching her, and his lips that were, like, reallyreallykissable—once the plane landed and everyone else began to stand, stretch, and collect their things from the overhead compartments, Alexander remained in his seat.

Like,reallyremained in his seat. Like, no-intention-of-ever-deplaning remained in his seat.

He busied himself with packing and unpacking his laptop bag, as if he’d misplaced something important.

But Kelsey knew better. Because she knew Alexander. This was just another one of his ploys to get a rise out of her.

So she sat quietly, her expression one of neutral calm.

She sat quietly while the people in the rows ahead of them began to exit the plane.

She sat quietly while the people in the rows around and behind them began to exit the plane.

She sat quietly, still, as Alexander pulled out a notebook, then put it back in again.

He checked each zippered pocket—multiple times.

Sat quietly as he checked the seat, as if he’d lost something important that may have slipped through the cracks.

He opened and closed the tray table, as if he’d miraculously folded his important something up in that.

Alex reached across her, then proceeded to run his hand down around her ass and thighs, as if he’d somehow lost his important items beneath her butt. She purposely ignored the sensations his touch sent through her body because this was a pompous asshole seated beside her and his pompous assholery was rubbing her last nerve raw.

And still, she sat quietly, because getting a rise out of her was his only intent.

When Nessa and Lucky reached Kelsey’s aisle, they paused, looking at Kelsey with eyebrows raised.

“You coming, Kels?”Nessa’s eyes widened comically when Alexander turned around to look up at her, then her gaze flicked to Kelsey’s.

Kelsey forced a smile. “It appears that the gentleman in the seat beside mine has misplaced something.”

Nessa frowned, then looked behind her at the waiting passengers. As she resumed walking, she said, “We’ll wait for you at the gate,” her words laced with wariness.

Kelsey just gave her a tight-lipped smile and nodded, then focused on Alexander.

Oh, for the love of God.The man had his laptop out again.

Forgetting herself momentarily, and her desire to not let him get a rise out of her, she groaned loudly.

Alexander looked up at her, eyebrows drawn. “Are you all right?”

Her gaze followed the final two passengers as they passed by in the aisle, then she focused on Alexander. “All set?”

He returned his focus to his bag, then pulled out a ballpoint pen, holding it up in the air in presentation. “Phew. Found it.” He grinned proudly.

A fucking pen?

Kelsey smiled sweetly. “I’m so glad. Mind if I exit the plane now?”

His eyes widened comically. “Oh, wow, I’m so sorry. Have you been waiting long?” He rose and quickly moved out of the way so Kelsey could leave the window seat and step out into the aisle. She did so with a huff of annoyance, then grabbed her bag from above and swung it down in a purposeful arc toward Alexander. He had to quickly sidestep to avoid getting smacked, which made her smile inside. She turned away from him without another word and headed for the passenger bridge without a backward glance.

She’d be hard pressed to maintain her forced calm much longer, so she had to put some distance between them. And she didn’t care what she had to do on the next flight—she’d fly below with the suitcases if it meant not sitting beside Alexander Arroyo.

And his stupid testosterone, his stupid self-righteousness, and that awful—okay, fine,delicious—cologne.

Or deodorant.

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