Caroline opened her eyes as the jarring movements of airplane turbulence forced her awake. She lifted her head slowly, but kept her arms wrapped around his body. She didn’t move her leg, either, which had somehow become intertwined with his.
“You okay?” he asked, without moving. She smiled and the attraction between them was like lightning in the night’s sky. He took a quick breath and confessed, “I want to kiss you so bad,” as he tucked a long blonde strand of hair behind her ear.
She wanted him to do it. Her lips screamed at her to let him. But the reality of her situation, and Clay, was something her conscious mind couldn’t get past.
“I…have a boyfriend,” she stuttered. It was the truth, but at that moment she wished it wasn’t. It was the first time she had spoken those words and felt nothing but disappointment. What was wrong with her? Clay was not the type of guy a girl was disappointed to have.
“I’m truly sorry to hear that. He’s one lucky guy,” he informed, still holding her.
Caroline’s mind drifted to thoughts of kissing this stranger. Touching him. Allowing her hands to roam all over his body. She wondered how bad could it be? She could kiss him and never speak of it again. It was the perfect scenario for a hookup—a plane flight across the country surrounded by strangers. No one would be the wiser. No one would ever know. She sighed softly and thought to herself, I would know. I could never live with myself if I did that to Clay.
She inched away from his secure arms and leaned her head into the seat. As they faced each other she said, “I’m so attracted to you. I really want to kiss you, but I can’t. It’s not right.”
“I understand. I respect you for that. But I’ve still got four hours or so to change your mind,” he teased.
“I’ll make you a deal. If this plane goes down, I’ll let you kiss me the whole way,” she told him laughing.
“I’ve never wanted a plane to crash so badly in my life.”
Caroline was keenly aware that this flight would come to an end, this guy would walk out of her life, and she’d be forever changed from it. She felt things stronger than most people. Sometimes she felt it was a curse to feel things so deeply, but other times she felt it was one of her best qualities.
The two of them talked for hours. She kept her legs tangled in his and he acted as if he wouldn’t take his arms off of her if someone paid him to.
“So what do you do?” she asked.
He paused for a moment, as if unsure of how his words would sound. “I’m finishing up business school in the city, and I work on my parents’ farm.”
Her face lit up with surprise. “A farm? In New York? What kind of farm?”
“It’s upstate…a dairy farm. We have some orchards, too. I like to help out my dad when I can.” He smiled at her and cocked his head in the most charming way.
“You’re way too hot to be a farmer,” she flirted.
“Oh, really? How many farmers do you know?”
She laughed, then shrugged. “Counting you?”
“Sure. Counting me.”
“One.” She smiled and her face crinkled up. “Do you like farming? I mean is that what you want to do?”
He laughed at the simplicity of her question. “I do. The farm has been in my family for generations and I want to keep it that way. That’s why I’m taking these classes. We have to keep up with the times, you know?”
Caroline warmed, the heat of desire and respect coursing through her veins. “I love how proud you are. And respectful. It’s very attractive.” He blushed and averted his eyes. She continued to compliment him. “You’re smart, passionate, and determined. I really respect that.”
He smiled gently. “Thank you.” Longing to change the subject he asked, “What about you? What do you do?”
“I’m a marketing assistant for JD Walters,” she said proudly.
He cocked his head. “Am I supposed to know who that is?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Not in your line of work. He’s one of the best print ad photographers in San Francisco.”
“What does that mean? Print ads…like magazines, billboards, and stuff?”
“Exactly. Guess you’re not all body and no brains after all,” she teased.
“Oh, no no no. I’m definitely all body.” He smiled at her.
“My best friend, Bailey, works there too; I’ve known her since high school. She got me the job, actually.”
“You have good friends.”
“The best,” she smiled.
“Is that where you’re from?”
“Where? San Francisco?” Her expression soured. “God, no. I’m from Southern California. I just moved to Nor Cal for work.”
“That’s…” He paused as he struggled to find the right word. “Convenient.”
“I guess so.” Caroline smiled. “When’s your birthday?”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “January 17th. Why?”
“Just wondering,” she said while her shoulders lifted. “So, what does that make you? A Capricorn?”
He nodded. “I think so. When’s your birthday?”
“July 2nd. I’m a Cancer,” she informed him.
“Yeah, you are,” he responded playfully.
“You’re the cancer! You’re like a growth or something.” She crinkled her nose at him.