My heart starts to race as the plane picks up speed on the runway, as it launches into the sky.
I’m crossing my fingers and my toes, hoping that nothing will ruin this moment—that I won’t wake up seconds from now and realize that this is all a dream.
“Ladies and gentlemen, you are now permitted to retrieve your personal electronic devices,” a voice says over the intercom. “You are also free to move about the cabin.
Thank God! It’s definitely not a dream!
With my eyes shut, I reach up and twist the air nozzle above my seat—directing it away from me, but I feel a warm hand grabbing mine.
Annoyed, I use my other hand to slide the shades off my face. I prepare my best scowl and get ready to tell this ass**le to keep his hands to his side of the seat, but no words come out.
Oh. My. Fucking. God.
I feel my mouth dropping open and try to close it, but I can’t.
The man sitting next to me is utter perfection. Period.
He’s dressed in a flawlessly tailored black suit with sparkling silver cufflinks, a silk tie that’s worth my entire year’s salary, and I’m pretty sure his shoes are custom made.
His deep green eyes are currently piercing through mine—gleaming in the light. And his pearly white smile is damn near lethal. As he tilts his head to the side, I notice that his jet black hair is slightly curly, that his full lips are beyond tempting.
“Were you about to say something to me?” He smiles.
“Yes.” I manage to regain control of my mouth. “Can you let go of my hand please?”
“Can you admit that you’re in my seat?”
“Would you like it back?”
“No, but I think you can turn the air valve off instead of making it blow on me. That’s a bit rude don’t you think?”
“Sorry.” I switch it off and he lets my hand go.
“Where are you headed?” he asks.
I don’t answer. I’m still entranced; I’ve never seen anyone who looks this good in person.
Okay, this might actually be a dream...
“Are you partially deaf?” He raises his eyebrow and leans forward, talking into my right ear. “Where are you headed?”
“The same place you’re headed.” I manage.
“You don’t look like you’re dressed for a Washington winter.”
“You know,” I say, slowly coming back to my senses, “just because we’re sitting next to each other doesn’t mean we have to talk for the entire flight.” I point at the magazine in his lap. “I’m sure that Forbes is just begging to be read. That fiscal crisis headline looks fascinating.”
“I’ve already read it.”
“And your iPod?” I point at the white ear-buds that are peaking from underneath his coat pocket. “Surely you have something to listen to right now.”
“It died on my last flight.” He smiles again, temporarily rendering me speechless with his eyes. “I think you and I should talk for the entire flight.”
I shake my head. I’ve seen this scenario in one too many Law and Order episodes: Girl meets hot stranger. Hot stranger charms girl. Girl starts talking about her life and finds herself revealing personal information. Then hot stranger leads her into a dark alley and strangles her to death. Cue theme music...
“No thanks.” I pull my iPod out of my pocket. “My music is fully charged, so feel free to talk to yourself during this flight, but—”
“You seem tense.” He lifts the iPod from my hands. “Why is that?”
“Did you just take my iPod?”
“I did.”
“Okay.” I roll my eyes and hold out my hand. “I don’t know if you’re from this country or not, but we consider taking other people’s shit stealing, so I would highly suggest that you give that back before I make a scene.”
Still smiling, he tucks my iPod into his jacket. “If you’d like, we can go into the restroom and make a scene together.”
“Would either of you like something to drink?” The flight attendant interrupts us with a beverage cart.
Neither of us says a word. We simply stare at one another—him with a devilish look in his eyes, me with an annoyed one.
“I’ll have a Sprite.” I sigh. “And another glass of champagne please. Actually, make it two.”
“The same,” Hot Stranger says, “and two gin and tonics.”
She nods and makes our drinks within seconds. She waits for us to pull down our trays, and then she whispers, “Happy New Year’s” before walking to the next row.
I quickly toss back all of my drinks and regret not asking for more. I have the sudden feeling that this is going to be a long flight. I’m also sure that I’m going to have to put this man in his place before we land.
“I think you need one of these.” The sound of his voice makes me look at him again.
“What?”
“You need a drink.” He holds it out for me. “A real drink.”
“No thanks.” I push it away. “I don’t trust where that’s been.”
“Excuse me?”
“I didn’t stutter. I. Don’t. Trust. Where. That’s. Been.”
“You think I did something to this drink?”
“No, but I’ve watched enough Law & Order to know that you could have.”
“Law & what?”
“Law & Order.” I cross my arms. “It’s a TV show, and it deals with people like you. People who are nice to strangers just so they can satisfy their murder addictions and kill them. ”