I picked up Loren’s camera bag and started walking.
“You walk too fast,” she said.
“You do not want to miss your flight. It’s a massive pain in the ass.” I liked her. A lot. But she was twenty-two, had a bunch of high-ranking military family members, and seemed way too innocent to be near me.
“I’ll take your word for it.”
Once we arrived at our gate, Loren didn’t even have time to sit down in one of the hard plastic chairs before the loudspeaker popped on. The intercom crackled as the airline attendant spoke. “We are now boarding first class.”
“That’s me,” Loren said.
Of course. She was in first class. So I really wouldn't be seeing her again.
She put her hand on my arm. The spot where her small hand landed on my skin felt like flames licking my skin. I’d been touched hundreds of times. Why did her hand feel any different?
“Thank you again,” she said. “I really do appreciate it. If you ever want to see my photography blog, my last name is Stevens.”
“I’ll look you up,” I said.
I watched her walk away. Most recent graduates didn’t have the money to fly first class. The ones that did usually had rich parents, but they’d flown hundreds of times. She’d claimed this wasn’t her first time to fly, but I doubted she was telling the truth.
That didn’t stop me from watching her. There was no harm. She’d be safely tucked away in the front of the plane, and I’d wedge myself into a tiny seat, and I’d never see her again.
Chapter Four
Loren
“Enjoy your flight,” the attendant said as I neared the boarding area.
Face flushed, I could only nod at her.
I’d just met the hottest man I’d ever seen in my life, and I had made a total and complete mess of myself.
I covered my face with my hand. I’d considered myself a seasoned traveler. But there was a world of difference between flying on a private plane where I walked onto the tarmac and hopped on, without giving what I’d packed a second thought.
Was it just last week that I’d chided my mom and dad for treating me like a baby? And then I’d shown up at the Atlanta airport, an international hub with thousands of people following the regulations, and I’d shown just how little I knew about regular life.
Why did it have to be right in front of Jackson?
I supposed it didn’t matter too much. Even if he was stationed at Fort Benning for years, I’d probably never see him again.
I’d always had a thing for older men, although I’d never pursued one. And one had certainly never pursued me, because I’d always had a bodyguard about two feet away. High school prom? Security guard present. Sorority party in college? Security guard present. There was something about having a giant man watching my every move that put a real damper on my love life.
If a guy ever did start to hit on me, as soon as he saw the bodyguard, a hulking man in a black suit, he backed off fast.
On some occasions, I’d gotten to kiss guys, and even dance with them, but that was as far as it had ever gotten.
And I know for a fact that every security guard I ever had, did report everything right back to my mom and dad.
I’d complained for years. But no one was sympathetic. Most of my family had private security, and they all thought the trade offs were worth it.
I was the only one that didn’t appreciate the scrutiny. Did that make me a selfish jerk? Maybe. But I was past caring.
Now for the first time in my life I’d broken free, and I’d immediately made a fool of myself. In spite of my ignorance, Jackson had been patient with me. If he’d been exasperated, it hadn’t shown.
What could I do to thank him? Would it be creepy to upgrade him to first class for being nice to me? Probably.
Wait. He was a soldier. It was definitely socially acceptable to thank a soldier, and I genuinely wanted to thank him. I’d watched the sacrifices my own family members had made over the years to serve our country, and if I could find some small way to honor them, then I’d do it.
The other passengers pushed past me as I stepped out of line. “Excuse me. Are there any extra seats left in first class?” I asked the attendant.
“I’m not sure.” She nodded toward another attendant a few feet away at a desk. “Ask her.”
“Thanks.” At the desk, the attendant barely gave me a second glance. “Hi. I’d like to upgrade another passenger to first class. For the duration of his flight.”
“Name?”
“Jackson Williams. He’s in the Army. If there’s not an extra seat, he can have mine.” Yes, I wanted to thank Jackson for his service, but I also wouldn't mind if he ended up sitting near me on the flight.
Finally she glanced up at me and smiled. “That’s very kind of you.”
“It wasn’t my idea. I saw it on the news.”
She started typing. “It’s still nice. We see a lot of pushing and shoving around here. And we see a lot of generosity too.” She hit a few more keys and handed me a receipt. “There you go. There’s plenty of room, so you don’t have to squeeze in the back either.”
I got back in line, just in time to get in with the last of the first class passengers. It seemed kind of crazy to let a few people board on first just because they paid more. If my dad were here, he’d remind me that was the way the world worked.
Boarding a plane in an airport was very different from a private plane.
When I flew on our family’s jet, I just walked out onto the tarmac. The pilot always handled all the security clearance issues.
Wow, Loren. If that doesn’t make you sound like a spoiled brat, nothing does.
I’d felt like a real idiot when I’d tried to go through security with all the prohibited items. I wasn’t sure I’d have made it without Jackson’s help. And I was still surprised at how patient he’d been.
I had to turn sideways to squeeze through the entryway to the plane. Another attendant welcomed me, along with a harried looking pilot.
I smiled back at them, but both had moved on to greet the next passenger.
My seat was easy enough to find, and I only had to wait a few minutes until Jackson appeared in the aisle. He filled up the entire space, with his tall trame and broad shoulders. He was even better looking than I remembered.
He paused by my seat. “Did you upgrade my ticket?”
I nodded.
His eyebrows lifted. “Thank you. No one’s ever done that before.”
“I can’t take all the credit. I saw it on the news.”
“It was still nice.”
He dropped into the seat next to me and stuffed his backpack underneath.
I’d always heard how nice first class seats were, but they weren’t too roomy compared to our family jet, or even to the planes my dad used for his executives. The air vent on top was blowing directly into my face, and there wasn’t much room for my legs. And my seatbelt made a squeaking noise every time I moved. We were still lined up in rows, and we were still pretty close to each other.
For someone Jackson’s size, it really was a tight fit.
We were really close to each other. This was the closest I’d been to a man without a bodyguard breathing down my neck -- ever. Even when I’d been on dates, I’d known that the bodyguard was nearby. I didn’t really know what to do with myself.