Throat suddenly dry, Jake turned away. “Right, well. Okay.”
Idiot, idiot, idiot. “So, you sure you can handle the forty-five minute flight?”
Jake thought he heard Kacey mumble “bastard” under her breath but couldn’t be sure.
“I’ll have you know that I’ve flown plenty since that little incident.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “I believe you’re referring to the time I saved an old man’s life?”
“Saved his life?” Jake burst out laughing. “Kace, you almost killed him! He had a weak heart, and you kept hitting him across the chest because of the turbulence. You were mom-arming him like crazy! I’m surprised he didn’t sue you!”
“He thanked me.” Kacey lifted her chin and looked out the window.
“Um, he did nothing of the sort. He thanked me, not you. And the only reason he said “thank you” was because I put Benadryl in your soda so you’d stop freaking everyone out.”
“I knew I couldn’t have been that tired!” Kacey nearly shouted.
At Jake’s patronizing look she locked her eyes on the road in front of them and murmured, “I’ve grown up since the last time you saw me. You should know that, Jake.”
Oh, he knew it alright, he just wasn’t ready to admit it — or anything else for that matter. The girl had done a lot of growing up and he was very appreciative of said growing.
“Anyway…” Kacey let out a huff of air. “I’m not afraid of flying anymore.”
“Swear?”
“Swear.” She crossed her heart and winked.
****
Kacey gripped the seat so hard her fingers were numb. What the heck? Why were they taking so long getting the plane ready? If her forehead was pressed any tighter to the window, the glass would break.
“So, not afraid of flying anymore, hmm?” Jake’s breath tickled her ear as he pushed his body next to hers. “Liar.” His deep voice caused fluttering in her stomach. She refused to turn and look at his perfectly chiseled face. Damn him.
“How do we know they’re really doing their jobs? I mean, if checking the plane is so important, why are they all smiling?”
Jake’s warm hand cupped her chin forcefully, pulling her away from her stakeout. “People smile, Kacey, and a happy worker is a good worker. Maybe he’s just really excited about his job.”
“Or our deaths…,” Kacey mumbled to herself. Seriously! Her eyes scanned the rest of the passengers. All of them reading or talking. Why weren’t they on the lookout? I mean, as an American, it’s your job — nay, your duty — to look for suspicious characters. Her eyes darted around the small plane, landing finally on a large man who seemed to be talking into his jacket.
“Holy Hell.” Kacey grabbed Jake’s hand. “That man is talking into his jacket. Do you know what that means?”
“He’s insane?” Jake offered. “Like my fake fiancée? Seriously, Kace, if you can’t calm down I’m going to drug you again, and it’s not going to be Benadryl…”
“Fine.” Kacey leaned back and tried to relax, but the minute she closed her eyes she remembered she was still holding Jake’s hand, and he was holding hers back.
Oh crap. It was like sixth grade skate night all over again.
Only worse, because this time the song didn’t end. It was a forty-five minute plane ride, and she had started the whole thing holding his hand. What could he possibly think of her?
Jake’s thumb rubbed across her fingers delicately.
Another involuntary shiver ran down her spine. It’s not real, Kacey. Just remember it’s not real. He doesn’t really like you in that way. Do it for Grandma!
The plane began to taxi and the pressure of Jake’s hand increased just as her palm pushed into his. If the man had any feeling left in his arm at all, she would be shocked.
“Kacey?” he whispered, again dangerously close to her face.
“Hmm?” She refused to open her eyes.
“Let’s make out.”
“What!” Kacey’s eyes flashed open to see the mocking grin on Jake’s face. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m dead serious. The way I see it, we need to have some chemistry before we get to Portland. Also, the way you’re going, they’re going to have to saw off my arm because of blood loss. So really, you’re doing me a favor all around.”
Kacey’s eyes squinted. “You’re too good-looking.”
“Wow, nice change of subject. Thank you, but not where I was going with that.”
Kacey closed her eyes again and cursed her smart best friend who had warned her of such things happening. Of course Jake had something else up his sleeve; she just didn’t think it would include him making out with her on an airplane.
Not that it sounded completely horrible or anything.
“We made out in L.A.,” he said still holding her hand.
“Oh, you dirty little liar!” Kacey laughed and pushed his hand away. “You made out with me, and after a while I participated.”
“Your tongue down my throat the minute we took off wasn’t participating?”
“Nope, it was an experiment.”
“You realize you explain everything away with an excuse, right, Kacey? How about this? I dare you.”
Kacey snorted. “To do what?”
“Make out, like we’re in high school.”
“I don’t make out.”
Jake laughed, his dimples dancing on his face. “Neither do I, sweetheart. Neither do I.”
His lips came crushing down on hers with such force that she could only relent and allow him to push her back into her seat. Hot and hungry, his mouth slanted across hers with heady need. Everything was the same. From the taste of his lips to the pressure of his tongue as it pushed into her mouth.
And then, just as she was getting ready to rub her hands through his hair, just as she had made the decision to allow her tongue the luxury of tangling with his, he pulled back.
“See?” He patted her on the hand. “Don’t you feel better now?”
His question was truly the type of thing that guys always say. Are you happy now? Do you feel better now? Wasn’t that great, baby? Seriously, the man should count himself lucky that she didn’t smack him across his gorgeous face.
“I’ve had better.” She shrugged and closed her eyes, feigning sleep, knowing it would be a long shot if he believed her to be able to sleep, flying on a death-mobile through the sky.
“I know you’re not sleeping.” Jake’s deep timbre sparked a nerve within her, making gooseflesh pop up around her arms.
“Leave me alone, man-whore. I’m trying to forget about the creepy man talking into his suit, the way too cheerful plane-checker people, and the fact that I’m willingly going into the lions’ den with a man who pays strippers. I think I deserve some shut eye, don’t you?”
Silence ensued, making Kacey think she had won… that is until she felt Jake brush his hand across her arm. “Why sleep when we could talk?”
“Yes,” Kacey said forcing her eyes to stay closed. I will not look into his hypnotic eyes. I will not look into his hypnotic eyes. “Let’s talk about the fact that you’re manipulating me as well as asking me to convince your entire family that I love you. As if that was possible. And seriously, how are they going to fall for this? Don’t you go home, ever? Aren’t they going to be suspicious when you miraculously show up with me in tow?”
Jake cleared his throat. “Not really. Say, do you need something to drink? Water? Scotch?”
Hmm, deliberate change of subject. What the hell was up Jake’s sleeve? “Jake?” Kacey used her sweet voice. “What makes you think they’ll fall for it? Really, I think I deserve to know.”
Kacey opened her eyes to see Jake staring straight ahead, no movements, just staring. In all honestly she wondered if he was breathing at all, he seemed so tense. The flight attendant showed up in time for Jake to motion for a drink.
He downed two shots of scotch but continued to stare, and the plane hadn’t even taken off yet.
r /> “Jake?”
“Shit…” He looked down at the floor. “They don’t know… about us.”
“What do you mean?” Kacey truly was concerned he was drunk at this point. What the heck was he talking about?
Jake cursed again. “Kace, they don’t know we had somewhat of a falling out. Okay?”
“Okay?” Kacey repeated as she mumbled a curse underneath her breath. “So tell me, what do they know?”
Jake exhaled. “All they know is that we’ve grown apart, yet still managed to stay in touch over the last few years of school, okay? It’s possible I’ve led them to assume we still hang out once a week. I update them about your life and work at the coffee shop, and that’s basically it.”
Kacey laughed. “But how would they know that? I mean, you didn’t even—”
Jake gave her a guilty look and fidgeted with his hands.
“Jake? How do they know all that?”
Grandma Nadine had always sworn that she wouldn’t update the family on Kacey’s life. It was inconceivable that she would break that promise.
“I told them, alright?” Jake all but yelled. “Geez, Kace, stop with the third degree, okay? So what? I’ve kept tabs on you. I know all about you. Just leave it be. It would have killed them to know I screwed—”
“—Your best friend,” Kacey finished.
Jake refused to make eye contact, just continued to stare straight ahead. He said nothing, not that it was all that surprising. It was what he was good at. Saying nothing when she needed him to be saying something — anything to make her feel better.
“This is your captain, we are first for takeoff, so if you’d just sit back and relax, we’ll have you in Portland within the hour.”
Chapter Four
He was a rotten bastard.
The photographer he’d hired to spy on them got a few clicks in before turning back around.
It shouldn’t have been that easy to get Kacey to kiss him, and now he felt like the biggest ass on the planet. But they had to look in love! It needed to look serious! The hand holding wasn’t enough.
So he went in for the kill.
And then opened his big fat mouth again. What the hell had he been thinking? Their past history created a giant chasm between them, one that he wasn’t sure he could fix.
The silence was going to kill him. He needed to think fast, but the only words that seemed to come to mind were. “I’m sorry, I’m an ass. All men should burn.” And truly that just seemed like he was traitor to the male population as a whole.
Plus, Kacey had plenty of opportunities to talk to him as well. The phone did work both ways. So what if he kept tabs on her? It wasn’t as if she hadn’t kept tabs on him.
He smirked and gave her a chilling glare. “Tell me you haven’t done the exact same thing to me, and I’ll let you fly back to Seattle.”
Kacey shook her head and looked down at her hands.
“What?” He nudged her. “No answer?”
She shook her head one more time and sent him a seething glare. “Curse you, Jake Titus. A hex on your fancy car, your apartment, and your little dog!”
“Um, Kace, if you’re going to include all my worldly possessions in your little hexing to make yourself feel better and all, well, maybe you should include my yacht, three summer homes, twenty-seven cars, and goldfish Sid.”
He gave a smug wink and folded his arms across his chest.
“What the h—”
The woman was trying to kill him! Kacey pinched the underside of his arm with such force he thought he was going to lose vision in his left eye.
“Don’t!”
Kacey twisted the flesh and released it.
Yes, a nasty bruise would definitely make itself known soon.
“Don’t you ever throw your money in my face like that. It isn’t polite, it isn’t nice, and I remember you before you had it all!”
Jake shook his head. “Kace, I’ve always had money.”
The plane began to taxi and Kacey reached for his hand. “Not as much money as you have now. Admit it. I knew you when you had zits.”
He felt his face burn crimson. “I never had zits.”
“Don’t lie, Jake. I also remember when you used to dream of owning a chicken farm.”
“I was seven!”
“You were adorable.” She smirked reaching out with her free hand and patting his head, still keeping her other hand in his. He wasn’t sure if she knew that she was clenching him that tight, but it was obvious her fear was still ridiculously out of control.
“Also…” Her luscious mouth burst into a smile. “I was your first kiss.”
Jake closed his eyes against the onslaught of memories her admission created. “Okay, yes, so I was your first kiss…”
“Before all the strippers.”
“Keep your voice down, Kace!” He shushed her.
“Before you knew what French kissing was.” She laughed. “Kacey, Kacey, what do I do with my tongue?” she mocked.
“Hilarious.” He shifted in his seat and cracked his neck.
“Is it supposed to feel funny?” She continued mocking him and burst out laughing.
Chapter Five
The woman was obviously insane and asking for trouble. Who holds something like that over someone’s head? Of course, he didn’t know what to do with his tongue! He was twelve! Any guy would have been flustered, especially with Kacey as the kissing partner!
It was her braids. Lord, but she had the longest braids of any little girl he’d ever seen. Naturally, he tugged on them whenever the opportunity presented itself and then in a fit of desperation threw rocks at her when she wouldn’t chase him anymore.
Obviously in need of attention, he went in for a kiss and was pleasantly surprised when her mouth opened in a scream for him to stop, and his tongue slipped in.
He’d like to think it was purely instinctual, but Kacey ruined that thought the minute she started making fun of him.
As if she could point fingers, the girl was literally cutting off all the circulation to his left arm.
“Kacey, do you think you can make it?” he asked, trying to pry her death grip away from his arm. He still held her other hand and knew it would be stupid to let it go.
Mainly, because holding her hand felt good.
And he wasn’t lying about her having nice hands.
He’d be a fool to let her go.
Again.
Damn, he needed to get laid. At the rate he was going they would be married by the end of the weekend. The sappy sentimental Jake needed to be punched in the face.
“Forty-five minutes,” Kacey chanted. “Just forty-five minutes!” Maniacal laughter came from her lips. “I mean, I can do anything for forty-five minutes, right? Right?”
Apparently it wasn’t a rhetorical question. “Er, right. I’m sure you can handle it, Kace.”
“If he orders a drink I’ll calm down.” She nodded her head as the plane began to take off.
Saying goodbye to not only his sanity but all the blood that Kacey was currently draining from his arm, Jake winced and tried to gather what nonsense she was spouting off this time.
“If who orders a drink?”
“The guy talking into his jacket. If he orders a drink he’s not a terrorist, and if he doesn’t, you have to save the plane if it goes down.”
“There are so very many things wrong with that sentence. First off, how does him drinking alcohol prove anything? Second, why would I have to save the plane?”
Kacey rolled her eyes, finally relinquishing her grip on his arm. Thank God. “The way I see it, he’s going to want a clear head if he has to wave a gun around.” Oh great, not only had Kacey just said terrorist on a plane, but the word gun. Crap. If there were air marshals on the plane, he was throwing her under the bus. No hesitation.
“And what about me saving everyone?” Jake prayed for the flight attendant to hurry with the beverage service. At the rate he was going, he’d be totally wasted by the
time they landed.
Kacey gave him a look of pure stupidity. “You’re a guy. It’s what guys do.”
“Save complete strangers?” He waved at the flight attendant. Seriously, what the hell was taking her so long?
“Yes, well, no. I mean…” Kacey let go of his arm completely. “…It’s what you do. You fix things.”
“Not all things.” The phrase hung in the air making Jake feel tenser, if that were even possible.
After a few minutes of silence, in which Jake contemplated taking over the plane himself if it would make Kacey talk again, the flight attendant brought the cart down the aisle.
“What would you two like?” She handed Jake napkins and gave them each a packet of pretzels.
Kacey opened her mouth to speak, but Jake clapped a hand over it before she got a word in. “We’d like two mini bottles of vodka.” Kacey bit his hand. “Make that four, thanks.”
Kacey rolled her eyes after he set the cup of ice in front of her and poured her the two bottles. “Drink this.”
“I don’t need alcohol. I’m fine!”
“Says the girl who just accused a clergyman of being a terrorist.” Jake pointed to the man she had just been accusing. Jacket now removed, a very visible clerical collar peeked through, showing his profession.
Kacey cursed.
“Hey, now!” Jake elbowed her. “We’re in the presence of God. Now drink up.”
“You do realize you used God and drink in the same sentence, right?” Kacey grumbled, throwing back the clear liquid. “Holy crap! That tastes like sh—”
“Sugar!” Jake interrupted with a laugh and cough. The clergyman turned around and gave them a peculiar look before glancing back at his magazine.
“I don’t think I believe you anymore.” Jake drank his vodka as fast as humanly possible.
“What do you mean?” Kacey croaked.
“You can’t do anything for forty-five minutes. It’s been ten and I’m ready to parachute out of this thing.”
“Just be thankful you’re not really engaged to me.” Kacey winked and laid her head back against the seat.