Looking down into those hazel eyes, there was no way I couldn’t tell who it was. He was obviously older, but the years had been good to him. There was no mistaking that the man sitting by the window was Brett Jackson, my old neighbor. The older guy I’d had a crush on and kissed not long before my family had lost pretty much everything. I’d thought about that night, the last night I’d spoken to him, so many times.
“Leslie?” he asked as he turned and spotted me. He squinted for a second before realization set in. “Is that really you?” A smile began to spread across his face.
I opened my mouth to speak but then closed it again. I was stunned into silence, so I simply nodded. “Y-yes,” I finally squeaked out. “Brett?” I asked, my voice cracking. I knew it was him but it was almost like I couldn’t quite believe that he was sitting there in front of me.
“Holy sh-, I mean,” he looked around suddenly, realizing he was in a public place and being loud. “Wow, you look incredible.”
“Thank you,” I said with a small smile. I had to keep it professional. “So I will be your hostess for your flight. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do for you while you fly with us.” I needed to put a little space in between us so that I could collect myself. My heart was racing and I could feel my hands trembling. He was still so incredibly handsome and definitely out of my league now. His family was loaded far beyond what mine had been in the past. I was incredibly embarrassed to have him see me this way. I fought the blush rising in my cheeks and hoped that this flight went by fast. I had to try to avoid him as much as possible.
“Wait, Leslie,” he began but an older woman, possibly in her forties, appeared and blocked him from leaving his seat. I saw him look defeated as he paused and looked around for another way out before he flopped heavily back down in his seat. His eyes continued to follow me as I made my rounds with each of the passengers. I tried to ignore him but I couldn’t seem to. Eventually, he seemed to remember the call button and pushed it.
Keeping myself steady, I made my way back to him, even though it felt as though my heart was about to pound right out of my chest. I took a deep breath and tried to steady my hands. I couldn’t believe that he was actually on my flight. After all, what were the actual odds of something like that? Of him not only being on the same flight I was working but in the same section? The odds had to be astronomical. I was probably more likely to get struck by lightning than to have this happen.
“Yes? How may I help you?” I said pleasantly.
“Leslie, I have to talk to you. It’s been so long. I didn’t even know if you were in the city anymore,” he said quickly. The woman beside him was listening to our conversation and only making a feeble attempt at hiding it. She had a magazine held up in front of her but her eyes kept darting from it to Brett and then to me. I wanted to tell her to just give up, but at least she was trying to be polite. I wondered if she recognized him.
“I’m sorry, but I have a job to do,” I said finally. I wasn’t sure what he wanted from me. Did he really think I could stand there and talk? I turned away and began walking back up the aisle.
“Wait,” I heard him say from behind me. I didn’t even pause. I continued on as if no one had said anything. It wasn’t until I heard a woman say “Hey” and Brett begin to apologize that I spun back around. He was hopping over the woman that was sitting beside him, stumbling as his foot caught something and he tripped into the aisle. He turned back to his seat mate and patted her arm.
“I’m so sorry, ma’am. I promise I’ll make it up to you. Just give me one minute. You see, I know her,” he explained quickly.
“No, really?” she asked sarcastically as she picked up the magazine that he’d knocked out of her hand in the commotion. She cast a withering look at him and shook it before trying to find her page again.
Ignoring her, he followed me. “Leslie, I need to explain,” he said as he drew closer.
“Sir,” I said as politely as I could. “I really need you to take your seat until after we are in the air.”
“I will,” he promised with a singular nod. “As soon as I get to talk to you.”
“I can’t talk,” I said in a hushed voice. “I really have to do my job right now. You could get me fired. We’ll talk later, okay? Just go back to your seat and stop creating such a commotion. You’re going to get me in trouble.” I continued to do my best to look professional for the sake of the rest of the passengers, even though I was an emotional mess at that moment. Barely holding myself together, I struggled to appear normal while I was a whirlwind of emotion. I wanted to yell, scream, cry, kiss him and then slap him, all at once. I wasn’t entirely sure which would win, so I needed some time to compose myself before I did anything to lose this job. I may not love it, but I still needed it. I had to pay the bills somehow.
“You swear?” he asked, holding his ground. I could smell his cologne and I wanted nothing more than to step closer to see if I could recognize it. The intensity of his gaze caused me to look down to his chest, which didn’t help me any. He had a thin shirt on that outlined his chest muscles in a way that had my hands begging to spread my fingers across it. I wanted to touch him again. To press my lips to his once again like we had that last night we had been together. But so much had happened between then and now. I wasn’t the same, scared little girl I used to be. I steadied myself and looked into his eyes.
“I swear we will talk later. But you have got to cool it,” I said gently, doing my best to use restraint.
“Okay,” he said nodding. “But I have to warn you, I’m not a patient man.” He smirked and I couldn’t help but smile.
“Oh, I remember,” I said with a chuckle. “I’ll try to get to you as soon as I can.”
He nodded and turned back around. I couldn’t help myself. I had to watch his backside as he walked away. His well-worn jeans were fitted enough I could still see his cute bottom as he walked away.
“Old friend of yours?” the older woman I had helped with her bag earlier asked.
“Something like that,” I said with a polite smile.
“Seems to me he’s smitten with you. Easy on the eyes too, if you ask me,” she said with a wink. I gave her another little smile before moving on. How could I explain to that woman everything that had happened between Brett and me? I wasn’t even sure I completely understood it.
Before I’d left Beverly Hills, he’d been a huge fixture in my life. Now that I’d moved on, did I want to open those old wounds that I had done my best to close? I felt incredibly conflicted so I pushed it all from my mind. I couldn’t worry about it now, I had a job to do. Sighing, I tried to pretend he wasn’t there and continued on with my job.
Chapter 3
Brett
Once we were in the air and it seemed that things had settled down for Leslie, I debated on what to do next. I didn’t want to make her any madder than I already had, but I simply couldn’t wait to talk to her. I wanted to know everything. Seeing her walking around first class and not being able to talk to her was almost like torture. Every time she went by I had to resist the urge to reach out or follow her. But I knew I had to play it cool. Especially if I didn’t want to seem like some sort of weirdo.
I had to find a way to keep in touch. After seeing her today, I couldn’t go back to how things were. She’d grown into such a beautiful and stunning woman, she was intoxicating to look at. I’d longed to reach up and take her hair down and run my fingers through it. Feeling how silky smooth it would be. Seeing her cute, pink lips made me remember our kiss once again and it had taken every ounce of restraint that I had left to not kiss her right there on the spot. She’d been so nervous and unsure of herself before. Was she still that way? Or had she gained more confidence in the past nine years?
But so much time had passed. Was she even the same person she was before? Did she have a boyfriend? So many questions rolled around in my mind and I longed to ask them. To find out her answers and see who she was now. I looked back to where she
and the other air hostess had disappeared to and considered pushing my call button. I felt my arm almost move to reach for it before I changed my mind. When I’d pushed it earlier, it had seemed to irritate her. That was the last thing I was going for at this point. I had just been so extremely surprised and excited to see her. I’d needed for her to talk to me then and I had been determined to do whatever it took.
The woman that sat between me and the aisle got up and headed for the restroom. This was my chance. I waited a moment so that the woman could make it to the bathroom before I stood and hurried down the aisle. I slipped behind the curtain and found Leslie and her coworker sitting in the little area designated for them.
“Can we help you, sir?” the other woman asked sweetly. She batted her eyes and I had to struggle to not roll mine.
“He’s the one I was telling you about,” Leslie said as she leaned over to her.
“Oh,” the woman said. “Then I guess I’ll leave you two alone.” She turned to Leslie and grinned. “I’ll cover for you for a little while.”
Leslie nodded as the woman slipped through the curtain to first class.
“You may as well have a seat,” she said as she gestured to the place where her friend had been sitting. I nodded and sat next to her, turning slightly so that I could face her. She was nervously picking at her fingernails so I decided to start the conversation. It didn’t seem she had any intention of doing so herself.
“So an airline hostess, huh?” I asked. It wasn’t exactly a career I would have imagined for her, but damn if she didn’t look good in the uniform.
“Yeah, it’s just something to pay the bills,” she said glumly as she rolled her eyes. She kept her back straight and didn’t look at me. Was she trying to avoid this conversation completely?
“I seem to remember you wanted to become an interior decorator,” I said, hoping to bring her out of it. “What happened to that?”
“Well, I started going to college but ended up having to drop out for, uh, personal reasons,” she said vaguely. I started getting the feeling that she was treating me just like any other passenger that started asking questions. I needed to find a way to remind her that we were once close. Lots of things may have happened in all our time apart, but she could still count on me. Her distance sent a pang of sadness through my chest that I quickly tamped down. I had to break through the armor that she had managed to put up around herself.
“That sucks,” I said carefully. “But things happen sometimes, I guess.” I was getting flustered by her distance. “You know, you don’t have to placate me like a stranger. We used to be close and you trusted me,” I pointed out.
“I know,” she sighed. “I’m sorry, I just don’t know what to say. So much has changed.” Looking me over she continued, “And hasn’t changed.” She seemed to relax just a little with that. Her body seemed to sit less stiff and she turned slightly toward me. “It’s hard to know where to begin.”
“Anywhere you want,” I said as she met my eyes. “It’s me, remember? You might be surprised at how much hasn’t changed.” Sitting this close I studied every inch of her face. I wanted to soak it all in while she was still in front of me.
“So you’re traveling to London,” she said casually. She was trying, so we were making progress.
“I am,” I said nodding.
“How long are you going to be there?” she asked as she started to get a little more interested in the conversation.
“Actually, I’m moving there,” I said. I was starting to wonder about my choice now that I’d found her. But then again, if I hadn’t decided to go to London, it might have been even longer before I saw her again. If ever. Maybe my prayers were heard after all.
Her eyes went wide. “Really,” she said.
“Yeah, actually, why don’t you help me decorate my new place?” I asked as I started to get a brilliant idea. I didn’t want to just go our separate ways once we touched down. No, I wanted to stay in touch this time. “I remember you had quite the eye for interesting things.”
“You’re just saying that,” she said as she shook her head. “But I’m no charity case. You can afford a good designer in London, I’m sure. Someone with loads more experience than me. They could probably design the space of your dreams.”
“No, that’s not why I’m asking you. I don’t think you’re a charity case,” I insisted. “Please, don’t overthink this. I am offering you a job. You don’t seem to be a fan of the one you currently have and you always wanted to be an interior decorator. You can put my place in your portfolio and show everyone what you’re capable of. There are no ulterior motives here,” I added with my hands up. Of course, I really did have a small one. I wanted to continue to be around her. But it wasn’t like that was something bad. I saw it as a way to help get her started on a path that would make her happier than where she was now. “It can help get you on track to your dream job.”
It pained me to see her so wary. What had happened to make her not trust me? It wasn’t like I was the one who had left without saying goodbye. I needed to get to know her again. To earn her trust.
“This is your pilot speaking,” a voice said over the intercom. “We are about to experience some turbulence so all passengers should return to their seats. We’ll let you know when it’s safe to move about again.”
Damnit, I thought. Just as I started getting somewhere.
“You should go back to your seat,” she said quickly. She seemed relieved to have an excuse to send me away.
“Not without an answer,” I said shaking my head. “Please, just think about it. Spend some time with me in London when we land. Where’s the harm in that?” I was so close and now I felt like I might lose her again if I didn’t keep trying. I needed to at least get her to spend more time with me. I was certain if I did, I could get her to start letting down that guard she had put up.
She bit her lip and looked around the area before finally nodding. “Okay, but please get back to your seat.”
I admit that I was more than a little surprised that she relented so quickly. I had been prepared to sit there longer. “Really? You will?” I asked.
“Yes,” she said as she stood. “Now go!” she gestured back toward my seat and I stood, still grinning.
“Yes, ma’am,” I said quickly as I hurried back through the curtain. My seat mate was standing next to hers, just about to sit down as I hurried through. “I’m coming,” I reassured her.
“I figured I should probably wait for you to come back so I don’t end up getting my feathers ruffled again,” she grumbled with her hand on her ample hip. I couldn’t help but smile. The woman may be grumpy but at least she seemed to have a sense of humor.
“That’s probably for the best,” I said with a chuckle as I slipped past her and sat down. Truly, what I wanted to do was jump for joy but that would have to wait. I was going to get to spend more time with Leslie. That thought made me more excited than I was really even ready to admit. I told myself it was because I was eager to catch up and see how things had gone for her. Like getting the chance to reconnect with an old friend. I still wanted to know what had happened all this time and find out more about who she was now, but that would have to wait. For now, I would have to make sure I didn’t do anything that would change her mind. But somewhere deep down, I knew why I felt that way. Because I knew I still held feelings for her. After all, you don’t continue to think of a girl for this long if there wasn’t something there.
Once on the ground, I had to exit the plane before her so I waited just outside. As she strolled out, pulling her small suitcase behind her, I found myself staring once again. I couldn’t help it. There was something about the way she carried herself that drew me in. I felt like I was treating her like a piece of meat, but I knew it was more than that. I knew what she was like from all those years before. I could still see a glimmer of that shy girl in there. That girl I had gotten to know so well before was still in there. I just had to get her to relax a little more
around me so she would come out.
“You waited for me,” she said, sounding surprised and perhaps a little relieved. But that part could have been wishful thinking.
“I did,” I agreed as I gave her my best grin. “I thought we could go to the car together.”
She nodded and I was glad that now she could be herself a bit more. Not being on the clock could give her a chance to relax and not worry about what was going on around her. I had probably put her in quite a position earlier since there were so many passengers around. I hadn’t meant to, it was just that I had gotten so excited when I saw her. It probably hadn’t helped when I had those memories of her come up. Was that just a coincidence or had some sort of higher power been giving me a cosmic heads up?
“You want me to take that for you?” I offered as we headed for the exit. I knew how to be a gentleman, even if I’d never seen my father act that way.
“No, it’s okay,” she said as she looked down at her bag. “I’m used to it. But thank you.”
I nodded and we continued in silence for a while. It wasn’t awkward, per se, more companionable than anything. Finally, I had to talk about something.
“So do you usually do international flights?” I asked.
“Not always, and I wouldn’t if I could help it.” She waved at a few other air hostesses as we pushed through the doors that led outside.
“Why is that?” I asked. There I saw the limo that was waiting for us and pointed it out to her.
“Oh, I forget that to you a ‘car’ isn’t just a car,” she said shaking her head.
“Honestly, I’m never entirely sure what might be waiting for me,” I explained as we gave our things to the driver for him to put in the trunk. “I feel like it’s a little safer to say. So why don’t you like international flights?”
His Second Chance Page 3
