Page 23 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
“You must miss her. I’m sorry your grandmother died.” Those were the magic words to turn her waterworks back on. Good going Aidan! If you keep it up, she could cry all the way to Ireland! Thinking fast, he changed the subject as he handed her more tissues. “Do you regret making this trip?” He nearly added that it wasn’t too late for her to change her mind but didn’t.
Beth wiped her eyes but her tears were still falling. “I don’t know. All I know is I’m scared.”
Aidan looked for an attendant. Unfortunately, all he found was Helmet-hair. Oh well, she could bring a warm, wet cloth just as well as the others. And now that she believed Beth was his wife, surely, she wouldn’t try anything.
He was so wrong. When Helmet-hair delivered the warm towel, she bent down low, shoving her lack of buttons in his face.
Then again, once a bimbo, always a bimbo. Aidan shifted a little in his seat as he averted his eyes and sent her on her way.
“There now.” He spoke gently to Beth. “Wipe your face and dry your eyes,” he said, handing the warm cloth to Beth. He needed her to stop crying. NOW. One thing he could never resist was a woman crying. She sat forward and wiped her face, breathing in the steam from the hot cloth. “How is that? Better?”
Beth nodded from under the warm cloth.
“Thanks. I needed that,” she said with a sigh. She dragged the warm cloth down her face and wiped her eyes. When she was finished, Aidan held out his hand to take the cloth from her. She looked at the open hand then at his face.
He was very handsome with his bright blue eyes …
And thick dark hair …
And he had a lovely smile when he allowed it to curl his lips …
And a very sexy, although slightly unkept, beard …
Earth to Bethany! Stop staring!
She let go of the cloth and pulled her hand back. “You said you like to travel in silence. I’ll leave you alone. I’ll be fine now.”
Satisfied, Aidan leaned back and closed his eyes.
“And Aidan?”
He opened his eyes. “Yes, Spinner?”
“Thank you for the tissues, and the warm cloth.”
“You’re welcome.” He closed his eyes again and got comfortable as the plane positioned itself for takeoff.
Ahhh, peaceful silence at last …
It was quiet.
Too quiet.
Aidan opened his eyes and looked to his right to find Beth trembling and gripping one armrest so hard her knuckles were white and beads of sweat had appeared on her forehead. Good grief. So much for her feeling better. At least she wasn’t crying. “Are you all right?” Obviously, she was anything but all right but what else should he have said? ‘Hey you look awful—more nervous than a deer in headlights.’
In reply she pursed her lips together tightly and squeezed her eyes shut.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um,” she breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth. In through her nose, out through her mouth. Why was there never a paper bag when she needed one? How did you get that oxygen mask down again? “Nothing. I’m fine.”
He touched his hand to hers, poked her more like, and repeated his question.
She opened one eye. “I think I might be having a panic attack,” she said, trying desperately not to freak out, but the now spooling engines of the plane was a terrifying noise! Just then the static-laden voice of the captain came through the loudspeaker. Beth shushed Aidan and listened as best she could. “What did he say? I couldn’t understand him! I can’t do this!”
The slingshot was released and the plane rumbled as it roared up the runway to take flight. The force pressed her head back into the seat. Her eyes clenched closed.
“Well, it’s too late for that now!”
