Page 39 of Royal Pain
All other components of our morning were present and accounted for. The tenderness alone made the encounter free of the constraints of time. There’s no doubt Belinda feels the same. I see it on her face and feel it in my heart. Damn. Listen to me. I sound like a love song.
“Is that our plane?” she says, eyeing the sleek private jet on the runway.
“It is. It’s not ours, but my family has use of it whenever we want.”
“How’s that?”
“The richest man in South Africa is one of the king’s best friends. He owns three diamond mines in Africa. Desmond Thompson. One little jet means nothing to him.”
Her eyes go wide. “You live in such a fairy tale world.” But as soon as the words leave her mouth, she adds a caveat. “I mean, now. Of course I know you’ve lived the very opposite of a fairy tale.” She touches my hand. “I’m sorry. What a ridiculous thing for me to say.”
“Don’t worry about it. I understand what you meant.”
I kiss her discomfort away.
“They’re ready for us. Let’s go.”
Making our way to the jet I wrap my arm around her. That’s when I see the flight attendant. Crap. It’s Tilly coming to greet us. Shit. I hadn’t thought about this possibility. When she gets to the bottom of the steps she looks up and smiles. I know that smile. She’s amused and not surprised to see me. I make an executive decision right on the spot. Better to be transparent while I have the chance.
“By the way, that flight attendant and I have a history. I didn’t know she’d be on this flight. Just want you to know. There shouldn’t be secrets between us.”
That’s all the time I had to spill my guts, and Belinda has no time to react or respond.
“Good morning, Prince Zan,” Tilly says, holding my gaze a few beats too long.
“Good morning, Tilly. This is Belinda, my girlfriend.”
That one surprised all three of us. And pissed off only one.
“How lovely to meet you, Belinda. Please, make your way inside.”
Her professionalism belies what I know is true. Her head is about to blow off about now. Unfortunately, I was attracted to fiery women for a while. That’s the wrong word. Psychos. I was attracted to women on the verge of meltdowns. I mistook that for passion. Right about now that seems idiotic.
With Tilly I was too cowardly to return her many texts and angry calls that came when I walked away. I almost changed my number. Again. I’ve left a trail of angry women over the years. Eventually they would just give up. But today it’s coming back to bite me in the ass. I wanted a relaxing hour’s flight. Instead I’ll be on the lookout for a knife in my back.
Belinda leads the way. I thought she’d look back but she didn’t. That’s a secure woman. Of course she is. I haven’t seen one thing I don’t like about her. Once inside the jet we take our seats.
“Would you like a mimosa?” Tilly asks, speaking directly to me.
“Yes, I would,” Belinda says casually.
Neither woman looks at the other. Oh shit. Tilly turns and heads for the galley. Normally I would have been looking at her walk away. That was before I knew what a spectacular ass really looks like.
“So, tell me about it,” Belinda whispers.
I don’t even bother asking what she’s referring to. I know.
“Three months, four years ago. It ended badly because she’s crazy and I can be a dick. Correction. I could be a dick then. That’s the old Zan.”
She seems to be satisfied with my condensed version of Tilly’s and my romance. There’s a squeeze of my hand and a quick kiss. Interesting. I’m used to having to go into more detail to convince someone I’m over a prior relationship. Belinda knows. She’s confident of her own place in my life. She’s right, of course.
Belinda is an impressive woman. She saw the past has no hold on me, so didn’t punish me for having one. It’s the future that’s on my mind, and she saw that too. When it’s obvious, it’s fucking obvious.
