Page 14 of The Lies I've Told
There wasn’t much to the place. Just a small hut of a building that made up the entirety of the airport and a large parking area for planes and cars.
No fuss. No frills. Only the basics. I had a feeling that was going to be the theme for this little adventure.
I began to gather up my things when a small SUV pulled into the parking lot.
“I have a feeling that’s my ride,” I said, pointing to the vehicle as the pilot helped me out.
“Ah, yes, I flew her in from Greenville about an hour ago.”
“Her?” I said, taking another look out the window.
Unfortunately, the mystery woman kept herself shut inside, preventing me from catching a peek before I headed outside.
“Jesus,” I said, the moment the hot air hit me. It was like walking into a sauna. Sweat instantly beaded across my brow, and the air felt thick in my lungs.
“That’ll be the humidity.” He chuckled. “I’d say you’ll get used to it, but I never have. Still sweat like a damn pig and beg for fall every time June rolls around.”
“I can see why,” I replied, immediately removing my blazer as I stepped onto the pavement. I was no stranger to humidity. I’d been living in New York so long, I considered it my hometown, but this? This made the sweltering summer heat in the city seem like a nice sunny day at the North Pole.
A car door slammed nearby, causing my eyes to jolt forward.
“Be careful with that one,” he said under his breath. “I think she’s had a bad day.”
I let out a sort of muffled snort. “Haven’t we all?”
I didn’t know what I had been expecting when I saw her step toward us. Maybe a beach bum, like the friendly pilot. Maybe a plain Jane—this was the middle of nowhere after all—but definitely not a sophisticated goddess in heels.
“Fuck me.” The words were barely a whisper under my breath, but the pilot caught them all the same and I heard him chuckle beside me.
My eyes narrowed to get a better look, zeroing in on the subtle sway of her hips and the causal confidence she seemed to carry. Everything about her—from the long blonde curls that framed her face to her startling blue eyes—seemed to mesmerize me.
“Jimmy, we’ve got to stop meeting like this. People will begin to talk,” she said to the pilot, stepping up to greet us.
“Aiden Fisher,” I said, holding out my hand like a damn fool. In the few seconds since she’d dropped into my world, I’d become completely fixated on her.
A slight curve to her lips sent shivers down my spine, making me wonder what they’d feel like against mine.
Or wrapped around my—
“Okay,” she replied, sounding less than enthused. “As you can see, Aiden,” she said my name with distaste, “I was having a conversation with my buddy Jimmy. You know Jimmy, right?”
“Uh,” I uttered, slightly dumbfounded by her out-of-the-blue animosity toward me.Couldn’t she feel the connection? The heat?“I don’t believe we had the pleasure of exchanging names while I was on board.”
A satisfied grin spread across her face. “You mean, you didn’t bother to ask for his, did you?”
Jimmy, clearly uncomfortable with our conversation, stepped back. “I’m gonna go lock up. You two have a good night.”
And then the man scurried off like a damn weasel, leaving me alone with the crazy-hot chick of my dreams.
“Look, I know you’ve had a rough day, but I don’t think it’s exactly fair for you to take it out on me,” I said, hoping to clear the air.
Her eyebrows rose as she crossed her arms in front of her. “You know I’ve had arough day? What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
Whoa.
I shrugged, finding my bearings once again. She might have surprised me with her less than perky mood, but I wasn’t about to back down from a challenge.
Especially when it was so damn good-looking.
