Page 3 of Polestar
About to take his first sip of the hot brew, rapid footsteps amid the sound of rolling wheels drew his attention to a tiny brunette dressed for a boardroom, hauling two suitcases.She could have fit into either of them with space to spare.
The coffee was too hot, but he drank some anyway as he observed the hangar official with his passenger.
It was going to be a long flight.
He considered the rest of the brew, gulped it down, and tossed the paper cup in the trash bin.
“I’m already late.Please tell the pilot I’m here and we can take off right away—unless someone else is traveling with me?Is anyone else expected?”
“No ma’am.Just you.”
Her narrow shoulders lowered a fraction.“Okay, just watch that one doesn’t roll away while I bring this one up.”She motioned toward the bright teal case as she tightened her grip on the lime green one.
“But madam, I can take those for you.Just leave it here.”
“No, it’s okay, I’ve got it,” she insisted, dragging it up the first step as though she were a champion weightlifter pulling a maxed bar.
Magnus smirked.
He patted the official’s shoulder as he moved toward the steps locked below the opening and grabbed the case with one hand, then mounted and grabbed the second case with the other.
“No, it’s okay, really, I—Oh.”She said, when she turned to stare into Magnus’ face, who still stood taller than her despite being lower on the steps.Her gaze shot down to his easy grasp of her oversized luggage.
“You should go in,” he suggested.
“I really could take one.”
“I insist.We’re already late.”
“Right.Okay.”She nodded and scurried up the steps and into the charter.
Magnus sighed as he followed.
I bet everything she owns is in these two cases.
She reappeared in the door, preparing to descend again.
“Agent Ortega?”
“I forgot my laptop bag by the front door.”
Thankfully, the official had noted the oversight and was already trotting back with the bag.
“Thank you so much.”She smiled and disappeared inside.
Deciding to ignore the dimples her cheeks made when she smiled, Magnus secured the cases in the back, then did final checks as he moved toward the cockpit.
“Is the pilot ready?”Agent Ortega asked, fastening her seatbelt.
“He is,” Magnus said, closing and securing the door.He nodded to the official below.
“But I didn’t see him up front.”She glanced toward the back of the plane.
“I’m the pilot,” Magnus said, stepping into the cockpit.“Anything else I can do for you before we get on our way?”
She blinked.
“Uhm.No.Thank you,” she said.“Sorry about all the luggage.Perenga said ‘pack warm’ and I panicked a bit.I don’t like the cold.”
