Page 24 of Too Much In Common
Candace returned with her own float. “She’s your roommate too, right?”
Tian’s brows raised in surprise, Tian looked up. “How did you know?”
“Zoe Gooding is my cousin. Your cousin applied for one of her grants. I reviewed the application, as I always do for our building.”
“Oh, I wondered how we got the apartment. I mean, I knew about the grant, but not the process.” Once they realized Simone’s stalker had located the building where they rented a crash pad with other pilots and flight attendants, they’d searched for a place with more security. The grant offered by Mrs. Gooding’s foundation made it possible for them to move into a place that would have cost almost as much as their combined monthly salaries at a rate they could afford. “The ongoing local media and social media attention to your cousin was a factor. The rest is confidential. Not even these two know about it. I didn’t tell Chris your name, which I understand now may have been a mistake.”
Chris answered quickly. “Not your mistake.”
Dana looked from one person to another. “Why do I feel I missed out on something?”
“Tonight isn’t the first night someone confused me and Chris since we have the same names.” Tian finished her drink and set the glass on a coaster.
“Oh, you’re the woman Chris got the bear for! I hadn’t made the connection,” said Dana.
“You know about that?” asked Tian.
Candace tapped Tian’s knee. “In the world I married into, they tell jokes about the maid and or the butler knowing too much. But let me tell you about the bodyguards...”
* * *
Until now, Chris had been content to observe the conversation. Before he could defend himself, Dana jumped in.
“Chris told me.” Dana grinned. “He had to, or I wouldn’t give him a bear.”
“Any information I pass on is on a need-to-know basis.” Chris tried to glower, but Candace’s smile was too big.
“What I was going to say is that the bodyguards are really close, so they don’t have many secrets.”
“Thank you for the float. I feel bad about Chris sleeping on the couch”—she looked at her hands— “when there is a second bed in my room.”
After what the manager had said about pilots, Chris wasn’t going to suggest such a thing. He looked at Dana, hoping she’d bail him out.
“What if I take the extra queen?” Dana took his hint. “That gives Chris the second king over here and with the adjoining door, we’d be back to the same security scenario, and everyone gets an actual bed.”
Dana’s question was aimed as much at him as it was at Tian.
Tian’s phone buzzed.
While she checked her screen, Chris nodded at Dana. “That works for me.”
“It looks like I have a 6:00 a.m. shuttle to the airport so we can play musical gates. Your flight will be at 7:25.” Tian stood. “Thanks, again for the float. I’m going to go to bed. Dana, don’t worry about being too loud when you come in.”
“I’ll grab my stuff right now.” Dana hurried into the other room.
Tian left the adjoining door open a few inches when she left the suite. After a moment, Chris realized he was staring at the door. He turned to find Candace studying him. She raised one painted eyebrow as she finished her float. “If you ever need another bear, she is definitely worth it.”
Chris stood and took the empty glasses to the kitchenette. He didn’t need a matchmaking principal when he was already trying to fight the pull of attraction. Tian wouldn’t appreciate knowing how much more he wanted to do for her.
8
The aftermathof the closing of Sea-Tac left Tian having to deadhead back to Chicago from Denver on a cargo plane late at o-dark-thirty Sunday morning as she’d run out of allotted flight hours. The first to board, she chose one of the window seats in the four-chair cabin. Chaz and two pilots from a competitor joined her. One pilot was the same one who’d offered to share his bed.
He stored his luggage and turned, obviously intent on sitting next to her.
Still holding his rolling bag, Chaz dove in front of him. “Thanks for saving this for me.”
Tian stifled a laugh at the pilot’s expression. “Anytime.”
