by Robyn Neeley
An hour later, they were at cruising altitude and pouring through figures. Lauren flagged the flight attendant. “I think I need a cocktail if we’re going to make any sense of these numbers. Care to join me?”
Luke looked up from his paperwork. A drink might actually help him relax. “Sure.”
“Tomato juice and vodka.” She said to the flight attendant and turned to Luke. “No more piña coladas for me. What would you like, Luke? How about a tequila and tonic?”
“Sure.” He wasn’t a tequila drinker, but Drew always ordered it when he flew.
Within minutes, the flight attendant handed them their drinks. Lauren asked for a second bottle of vodka. “In case I get thirsty.” She chimed her plastic cup with his. “To bumpy flights with safe landings.”
Luke felt the hairs in the back of his neck rise. “What did you say?”
“Oh, nothing.” She went back to reviewing spreadsheets.
That was the toast he had given to Kate. Lauren couldn’t know that. He set his glass down on the tray. He didn’t really feel like drinking. “You ready to start over in New York City?”
“Am I!”
“You’re going to love working for JDL Toys. Wait until you see the view of Central Park from your office. It’s incredible.”
“Can’t wait. From here on out I am going to put one hundred percent into my career and not my love life.”
Luke touched her arm. “Drew will come around. He loves you. Give him some time.”
“Maybe … ” She laughed. “How funny is it that both of us were supposed to be married by now and here we both are … ” she held up her hand, “ … both single. Aren’t we a sad pair?”
“Speak for yourself.” Luke smiled. He was actually relieved that Drew had jumped in and shouted ‘I object’ when he did. Once the guests had settled down, Olivia had confessed to both Luke and his dad that the wedding was a lame effort to win him back. Luke apologized for being so careless with her feelings in the first place and for hurting her again.
His father promised Luke that he would not inherit her as his assistant when he became CEO and she’d be reassigned to the Asia Pacific office. Relocating Olivia to another continent sounded good to Luke. Let her be Drew’s problem when he takes over that region.
Luke had rushed from the beach to find Kate, but she had checked out of the hotel. Her mother informed him that she’d already left for Los Angeles. He decided he needed to give her some space and hoped that one day she would forgive him. He held onto the notion that this wasn’t goodbye forever. She was going to become his stepsister after all.
“Penny for your thoughts?” Lauren tugged on his blazer.
“I charge a dollar nowadays.”
“Change for a twenty?” She touched his blazer again. “Say isn’t that Drew’s?”
He laughed. “Yeah it is. I guess it’s our dad’s. He asked me to bring it back for him. Actually, he threw it at me and demanded I put it on just like — ” His thoughts wandered to his brother forcing him to wear the blazer the night he met Kate.
“Just like?”
“Nothing.” He changed the subject. He wasn’t going to talk about Kate. It hurt too much. “It was nice seeing you both together at the airport.”
“Yeah, you know … baby steps. Honestly, I think today was the first time that I didn’t want to haul out and punch him.” She swung her plastic cup toward Luke. It was angled directly at him. Within seconds her tomato juice splashed all over his shirt and blazer.
“Oh, my God, Luke!” Lauren grabbed her tiny napkin. “I am so, so sorry.”
He did his best to blot the stain. The juice instantly soaked his shirt.
Lauren unbuckled her seat belt and sprung up. “I’ll see if I can get some more napkins from a flight attendant.” She disappeared behind the curtain.
Luke sat in his seat. Why was she going to the back of the plane? Well this is great. Nothing like sitting for eleven more hours in a wet shirt.
He strummed his fingers on his armrest. What was taking her so long?
He felt movement and turned his head. He smiled and his heart began to race. “You changed your hair color?”
Kate grinned back and fastened her seatbelt, smoothing out her white sheath dress. “How do you spell your name again? It’s so unusual.”
“L-u-k-e.”
“Right.” She pointed to his stain. “You really need to blot that with some club soda before it sets in.” She handed him a folded napkin and held up a bottle. “Lucky for you, I came prepared.”
Luke took the wet napkin. “Thanks.” He caught the twinkle in her eyes. What was she up to? Whatever it was, he’d play along.
She pointed at the napkin. “It works better if you unfold it.”
He grinned. “Okay.” He chuckled. The words ‘Marry me’ were written with red lipstick.
“Is this question for me?”
Kate grabbed his hand. “Yes.”
“I thought I was supposed to be the one to ask the question?”
“Maybe, but I wanted to make sure it happened at the place we first met.”
His heart melted. She was referring to their conversation on the beach and how he told her how he’d want to propose one day.
“Shouldn’t you be wearing this tomato juice instead of me?”
“And spill on this dress again? I don’t think so. Plus, this is me getting even with you for almost marrying another woman.”
He smiled. “I accept your punishment.”
“So … ” She squeezed his hand. “Do you have an answer for me, Luke Cannon?”
“Do you need to check my back first? Make sure I don’t have a tattoo?”
She grinned. “I have a better way.” She leaned over and kissed him. He pulled her close, gliding his tongue along hers. She stopped and cupped his face. “Yep, you’re the Cannon I want to propose to.”
“Then my answer is yes. Yes, I will marry you Kate Ashby. I love you.” He ran his thumb across her cheek.
She threw her arms around his neck. “I love you back.”
He hugged her close. Completely ignoring the fasten seatbelt illuminated sign, they started to kiss and then she nested into his chest, wrapping her arms around him.
“That was quite the proposal, Kate.”
“I know. Lauren helped me plan it.”
“She did? Where is she, anyway?”
“In coach with your brother. He’s in on it, too. We needed to make sure you were late to the gate so everyone could board the plane.”
“How did he get past me? It was when Lauren had me look out the window, wasn’t it?”
“They’re a good team.”
“Guess so. So who else is back there?”
“Oh Miles, and our parents, and my boss, and most of the paparazzi that were covering your wedding. I kind of promised them a bigger story. I’m so glad you said yes.”
He kissed her again. “If there’s a minister on this plane, I’ll marry you right now.”
She laughed. “Oh no, we’re going to have the most amazing wedding on the ground, not near water or over water.” She squeezed his leg. “Plus, I know this great wedding planner.”
“Let me guess, Miles?”
“How’d you know?”
“So my dad is really sitting in coach?”
“Not for long.” She stood up. “I’ll be right back.” A flight attendant escorted her to the front.
Seconds later her voice boomed through the intercom. “Everyone, I have a special announcement. Luke Cannon said yes! He will marry me!” Applause roared through the plane and a flight attendant announced that family and friends of the couple could come up to their pre-purchased seats in first class.
Miles, Janet, their parents, Drew, and Lauren all appeared through the curtain. Drew high-fived his brother, while his dad and Kate’s mother took turns hugging his fiancée.
His fiancée. He liked the sound of that. As soon as they landed, he’d be on the hunt to find her the most beautif
ul engagement ring.
Kate beamed. “Okay, I know we’re all excited but safety comes first so I’m going to have to ask you all to take your new seats up here in first class.” She giggled. “Plus, I need to get back to making out with my fiancé. It helps calm my flying nerves.”
Minutes later, the flight attendants came around with champagne flutes for the entire plane. The paparazzi took turns snapping pictures of Kate and Luke.
While their parents were enjoying their first class seats and the bubbly, Luke stole a peek at Drew and Lauren. They were seated together but Lauren was chatting a mile a minute with Miles who sat across from her. He could tell his brother was trying hard to get Lauren to pay attention to him. He smirked. Good luck with that.
Kate turned to Luke. “I love you Luke Cannon.”
“I love you more Kate Ashby.”
“Impossible.” She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. “So you ready for our next destination?”
He leaned over and kissed her. “Only if it’s to our wedding.”
“Another destination wedding?”
“Maybe not!” They both belted in unison, laughing all the while.
She brought her flute up to his. “To bumpy beginnings … ”
He chimed his glass with hers. “To bumpy beginnings with one hell of a romantic ending.”
About the Author
Robyn Neeley is an East Coaster who loves to explore new places, watches way more reality TV than she cares to admit, can’t live without Dunkin Donuts coffee, and has never met a cookie she didn’t like. If you have a must-read romance suggestion or a fabulous cookie recipe, she wants to know. Visit her at http://www.robynneeley.com.
A Sneak Peek from Crimson Romance
(From Singapore Fling by Alexia Adams)
Lalita froze.
No! It couldn’t be. Not him! Turn around, damn you, so I can see your face.
Although what she’d do if it was him, she had no idea. Run away? Rush over, kiss him till they both exploded and released five years of pent up frustration?
Lalita shook her head but the eerie sensation wouldn’t go away. The feeling of déjà vu she’d had since walking into the ballroom of Claridge’s Hotel intensified. Why did her younger sister have to choose the same venue for her engagement party that their older sister, Jane, used all those years ago? Lalita’s brain balked at any reference to that other evening. Her body, though, came alive at the memory and her heart rate increased.
Dragging in a few calming breaths, she pretended to sip her champagne. Her gaze riveted on the mystery man as he stooped to kiss one of her great-aunts. The frail old dear blushed to the tips of her snow-white hair. It appeared no age was immune to his charisma.
Perhaps he was a distant relative or a business associate she’d met once and that was why he seemed familiar. In general, her father didn’t invite company employees to family functions, preferring to keep his two worlds as separate as possible. But one or two always managed an invitation.
Or maybe he was a friend of her future brother-in-law? However, Lalita had managed to place most of them, fellow lawyers or friends from the elite social group her sister’s husband-to-be occupied. They each fit so neatly into a stereotypical pattern it was almost funny.
This man was different. Although dressed in the requisite black suit, even from a distance he appeared powerful, not caged and domesticated like most of the other men in the room. He prowled around the floor, as though deciding which prey was the tastiest.
Lalita wished he would turn around so she could be certain of his identity. His effect on the girls and women he had spoken to had been obvious. He was tall, well over six feet, and his exquisitely cut suit hugged a lean form. His jet black hair was thick and curly and skimmed his collar. And when he’d bent to kiss her grandmother in her wheelchair, Lalita had been able to admire his other fine assets.
Lalita lifted the champagne flute to her lips again to keep up the pretense she was enjoying the party. Truth was, she rarely drank alcohol these days. That night five years ago could have destroyed her future. If her father had discovered that she wound up in the rear seat of some eager junior manager’s car he never would have trusted her. And her first big break of running one of the far-flung outposts of his company may never have happened. In the five years she’d been away, though, she’d more than proved she was capable and held her position on merit and not nepotism.
“Laly, are you going to hide in the corner all evening? And how on earth did you manage to find a dress the exact same shade as the curtains?”
Lalita turned to find her older sister standing with her arms crossed above her distended belly. Jane’s petite frame was engulfed in a swath of pale green silk. Despite her enlarged waist, she still appeared delicate and almost ethereal.
“Luck, I guess. Taupe is all the rage in the orient.” Lalita hugged Jane tight until she felt a tiny kick from Jane’s stomach.
“Well, only you could carry off that shade. I’d look ghastly. The style suits you, you appear … exotic.”
Lalita glanced down at her sari-inspired dress; the color might be bland but it worked with her skin tone. It also did a good job of concealing her curvy figure, hopefully rendering her invisible to the charming, mysterious man she had been watching. Lalita had fallen for a charmer once, and she couldn’t let it happen again. She couldn’t lose her focus and give her father any reason to doubt she was capable of running his multi-national business.
“It’s so wonderful to see you. You are beautiful, pregnancy really suits you.”
“I look like Tinker Bell, who got herself in a little bit of trouble,” Jane replied with a laugh. “Come on, I’m not going to let you stand here all evening drafting quarterly reports in your head. I thought you’d be excited to talk to people you haven’t seen in ages. It’s almost as if you’ve been in exile.”
“I was in the UK a couple years ago and saw everyone I wanted to see then.” Lalita tried to peer around her sister to spot where the mystery man was now. He seemed to have moved on and she released a long held breath. When her attention returned to her sister, Jane had her hands on her hips.
“Two years ago, you were here for a company board meeting and you attended one small family dinner. One visit in five years is hardly enough. You didn’t even return for my wedding.”
“Jane, please. I’ve told you how sorry I was to miss your special day. It wasn’t my fault the biggest monsoon of the century shut down all air travel. I was at the airport for three days and by the time planes were flying again, you’d already left for your honeymoon.”
“We miss you, Laly. Family gatherings aren’t the same without your dry wit.”
Lalita put her hand out and ran it over her sister’s baby bump. “Glad to know I’m good for something. I miss being part of your and Jessica’s life too. I’m here for two weeks this visit and I promise I’ll be back for Jessica’s wedding. At least she’s not getting married in monsoon season.”
“Well, you can make it up to me now by taking the heat off me. If one more person asks if I’m carrying triplets I’ll kick them in the knee caps.”
“You, lose your cool? Now that I’d like to see. You know parties aren’t my scene. I’m only staying long enough to be polite and then I have to get back to work.” Lalita peeked at her watch, relieved to find an hour had passed and she could soon leave.
“You can’t walk out on your younger sister’s engagement party, although I seem to recall you disappearing from mine.” Jane stood in front of Lalita, blocking her escape. “Besides, even Daddy isn’t working tonight. You can afford to take the night off, too.”
The two women gazed across the room to where their father stood next to their elegant mother. His light brown hair was now flecked with grey, yet he still gave the impression of a man in his prime. “Daddy isn’t working because Mummy threatened him with divorce if he did,” Lalita clarified. “I am under no such orders.”
“You have nothing left to
prove, Laly. We all know you will be the next CEO of Evans International. Can’t you take one night off to get to know your sister’s new relatives?”
“Ah, but I already know them. By marrying brothers, you and Jessica have spared me the effort. Your in-laws are her in-laws-to-be. So very convenient; I’ve met them all.”
“Believe it or not, we didn’t both fall in love with the Johnson brothers to make life easier for you. They happen to be wonderful men.”
“Not to mention handsome and with fortunes to rival yours, so you never felt you were being married for your money,” Lalita added.
“Not everyone sees money as the be-all and end-all of life. I married Robert because I love him and Jessica feels the same way about Wesley.”
“I know, Jane.” Lalita softened her voice. “Marriage suits you, and Jessica seems happy, too.” Lalita scanned the room until her eyes lit upon her younger sister, who was smiling up at the man standing next to her. “I just happened to have fallen in love with mergers and acquisitions rather than a man.” She wished she had more in common with her sisters. When the Evans women got together, Lalita always felt like she was on the outside looking in, unable to relate to her own family. At least she had business in common with her father — if he was her father.
“Ah, but with a man you can get the best kind of merger and acquisition,” Jane smiled and rubbed her baby bump. “However, I’m not going to let you stand here pretending to be a curtain until you can slip away. We only get to see you every couple of years, the least you can do is be sociable for a few hours.”
Despite her small size, Jane took Lalita’s arm in a grip that wouldn’t be denied and led her across the room to where a group of people were chatting.
Dutifully following her sister, Lalita tried to ascertain if the mystery man was still in the room. He was nowhere to be seen.
He’s probably made his conquest and retired to one of the hotel bedrooms.
Lalita squelched the sudden feeling of disappointment, surprised that it wasn’t relief she was experiencing.
God, what is wrong with me? Do I have some kind of flawed programming that makes me act ridiculously at my sisters’ engagement parties?
