Page 5 of Sweet Escape
When the hell did I get so damn nosey?
“Oh, um. It’s a romance book.”
“What’s it about?” I take a sip of my drink as I wait for her answer.
“It’s called Love Between Loathing by M.W. Hartley.”
“That doesn’t answer my question.” I pluck one bud out of her ear. “What’s it about, Livie?” The nickname slips out like we’ve been friends for years, but it’s too late to take it back. I’m overstepping so many boundaries.
She bites down on her bottom lip, not meeting my gaze. That’s all the response I need to confirm my suspicions. I place the earbud in my right ear, and the first thing I hear is an exaggerated moan, followed by a husky male voice.
“That’s it. You’re being such a good girl. Tell me how much you want this.”
Olivia scrambles to turn it off, but I reach out and capture her hands in my palm, trapping her phone between them. “Don’t you dare. It was just getting good.”
“Oh my God,” she squeals, placing the phone between her thick thighs as she hides her face in her hands. “Could this day possibly get any worse? Please just put me out of my misery.”
As if my hand has a mind of its own, I reach over to sweepsome of her honey blonde hair off her shoulder and lean in right next to her ear.“Why would I do that, when you could be a very good girlfor me and let me find out just how much she wants it?” I deliberately lower my tone, speaking slowly. “You know, because friends share things like that.”
My breath fans over the bare expanse of her neck, and she gasps, goose bumps erupting along her creamy skin.
“Mmm. You smell like cupcakes,” I murmur.
She shivers, and a deep blush crawls its way up her body from beneath the white tee. I wish I could find out just how far down it goes.
Fucking hell, Wilder. What are you thinking?
She turns slowly, pulling the earbud away from her ear. “You’re dangerous,” she whispers.
“How so?”
“With a voice like that, you could bring a woman to her knees.”
“Do you want to get on your knees for me, Cupcake?” We’re locked in a stare down as my words hang between us, her lips slightly parted.
Our stolen moment is interrupted when the pilot comes over the speaker for the second time.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We are currently experiencing a system malfunction. Out of an abundance of caution, we will be diverting to Memphis International Airport. We will be landing in approximately fifteen minutes. Please remain seated and with your seatbelts fastened. We will keep you advised about the continuation of this flight to our destination as information becomes available. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your patience and understanding.”
Hushed voices fill the cabin, and my knee bounces, shaking the seats as I try to contain my nerves. The motion doesn’t go unnoticed. Olivia slides her hand onto my thigh,her palm up in a silent offering of support. I don’t waste any time threading my fingers through hers. She squeezes my hand and rests her head on my shoulder, instantly calming my racing heart. If she’s freaking out, she doesn’t show it, and I don’t stop to consider why I feel so drawn to this woman who was still a complete stranger less than two hours ago.
“Tell me about your family,” she says. It’s clearly an attempt to distract me from the threat of impending doom, but I’m not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
“I have two younger brothers and a baby sister.” I don’t tell herwhomy baby sister is; that’s a story for another day.
Who am I kidding? I’ll probably never see this woman again.
“I have a two-year-old daughter,” I say. “Her name is Emmy Lou.”
She stiffens, and the grip on my hand loosens. It’s only then that I realize my mistake.
“I’m single. My wife —” I glance down at where our hands are joined and blow out a breath, stroking my thumb over her palm. “She passed away when Emmy was six months old. Car accident.”
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to assume,” she says.
“No, it’s fine. I understand why you’d be wary.”
We sit in companionable silence, waiting for the plane to land, and my thoughts drift back to Emmy. Jess’s parents stayed behind in Colorado to finish packing up the house while I get everything set up for us at the ranch. I’ll come back for her in about a week, and we’ll start our new life in the same place where I grew up, just like Jess and I always intended. Only it’s different because she’s not here, and I never planned to do this alone.
