She wasn’t going to make this easy. Game on.
Twenty-Three
Jolene
My decision might have been final when it came to Grant. That didn’t make it any easier to keep to it, especially when the flight attendants were circling. Cammie and Lana had both been vying for his attention, and Lana had won that battle.
Every time I glanced around she was there with her bright smile, practically shoving her tits in his face.
“Calm down, girl.” I glared at Jack. His response was, “I have to find a spot for the passenger’s jacket. You’ll have to take the coffees to the pilots.”
He winked at me and sashayed off. If I didn’t know better, he was playing matchmaker. Still, it was my job. I took the tray and headed for the cockpit door, which was open.
“Just tell me what you said to her,” I heard Grant say.
“I believe it was your rule that what was between her and me wasn’t any of your business,” Carter said.
I stopped mid-step. Did Grant know about Carter and me? Did he think me some kind of pilot chaser?
His gaze found me. Instead of standing there looking foolish, I took a breath and continued forward.
“Your coffee,” I said to Grant. “Though you just had one.”
His smirk was proof I’d misspoken. I’d just admitted that I’d been paying attention to what he’d been doing.
“Thanks for your concern,” he said with a wink.
I went to hand Carter his coffee, but he wasn’t looking at me. His glare was all for Grant. That didn’t make sense.
Carter had just admitted to me that he’d fallen hard for a woman named Kendall I’d met several months ago. She’d been sitting on the plane next to me. It now made sense, as she’d asked me a lot of questions about him. She’d been pretty and nice. I was happy for him until he let me know they weren’t together. I could tell he wasn’t over her yet. So why was he mad at Grant?
“Carter,” I said.
He finally turned the weight of his gaze on me before it softened.
“Thanks.”
I nodded, but we would have to talk. I didn’t need Carter playing big brother. I could handle Grant.
The flight went fine, even with Sophia on board. She didn’t speak to me unless she had to. I didn’t want to feel bad for her, but I did. What she’d said about Gran bothered me. I didn’t want to be the reason she didn’t have a relationship with her. Although it wasn’t my fault directly, it was a result. Could I blame her mother for being resentful of me? No. I wish she didn’t.
Dad’s call also weighed heavily on me. I’d tried reaching Gran and had only gotten her voicemail. Calls to my father and mother had also gone unanswered. Worry nagged at me, but there was nothing for me to do until we arrived in New York, as Sophia had nothing to say to me either.
It was past the meal hour and all the passengers had been attended to. It was my unofficial break time. Dumbly, I opened my meal and burned my fingers. Shaken, I made my way to an unoccupied bathroom, the one closest to the cockpit.
Before I could close the door, I was pushed into the compact room by a large body.
“What are you doing?” I asked Grant as he locked us in.
Every inch of his front touched mine and I was far from unaffected.
His hand came up and wiped a tear I hadn’t noticed from my cheek.
“What happened?”
There was a bite and an undercurrent of a growl when he spoke as if he was prepared to fight for my honor.
“I… I,” I stammered as I lifted my fingers. “I burned them.”
He took my hands in his and brought them to his lips. “A kiss then.” I licked my own as he kissed the fingertips of each. His impenetrable eyes never left mine.
I might have floated as I raised to my toes and pressed my lips to his, opening on a gasp. His tongue slid into my mouth as he took it deeper.
Then I was being lifted. My ass landed on the tiny counter edge as he shoved my skirt up to wedge himself between my legs.
“Grant.”
His name was barely more than air leaving my lungs as he ground himself into me.
I knew what I wanted. “I’ve never done this before.”
“What? The mile-high club?” When I bobbed my head, he said, “I guess we’ll join the club together.” A second later, he added, “On your feet.”
I was so turned on, he could have ordered me to my knees and I would have done it. Then he had me back on my feet and spinning me to face the wall opposite the door.
“Brace yourself,” he ordered.
I reached out, knowing I should say no, but couldn’t stop the train from barreling forward.
His hands slid up my thighs, bunching my skirt up around my waist. Then he hooked his thumbs into my hose and slid them down to my knees. There was a zip maybe a second before impact.
I sighed as he slid himself home. I didn’t realize how vocal I was until his hand covered my mouth.
Then he whispered in my ear, “We have to keep it down, Highness.”
I agreed, instead biting my lip.
“Watch me slide into your perfect little pussy,” he said, cupping my breast with a gentle squeeze.
I didn’t have to turn far to watch the show in the mirror. His huge cock disappearing into me had me coming long before I thought possible. Good thing he hadn’t removed his hand as a muffled scream escaped my lips. My pussy fisted his cock as the shockwaves rocked me.
He bit down on my shoulder as he jerked a few more times, coming inside me.
It hit me then that we hadn’t used protection at all. What was wrong with me? I knew better than that. Yet, I had done it more than once with him. I’d never once in my life been that careless.
“Condom,” I said dumbly as we caught our breaths.
“About that,” he answered, sliding out of me and buttoning up.
He turned on the water and wet a towel before using it on me. He tossed it into the trash before moving to help straighten my clothes. There wasn’t a lot of room, but I managed to face him, pulling up my hose and letting him push down my skirt.
“You didn’t use one now or then, did you?”
His head shook side to side. “If it means anything, I haven’t done that before… with anyone else. I’m clean. Are you on the pill?”
“A little late to be asking,” I snapped, more mad at myself.
He silently agreed.
“I haven’t been like that with anybody. You’re only the fourth,” I said, not sure why I revealed that.
“Is Carter one of the other three?”
I opened my mouth in silent horror. “That’s really none of your business. Besides, this changes nothing.”
His expression turned icy. “Yeah, you’ve made yourself perfectly clear.”
“You’re free to date Lana if you choose.” I wanted to snatch the words out of the air and steal them back, but it was too late.
“Jealousy is a bad look on you, Highness.”
“Jealous? I’m not jealous. All I’m saying is you can hook up with whomever you like.”
“Yeah, I got it the first time you said it,” he snapped. “I’ll leave first.”
He opened the door and slowly stepped out.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and he wasn’t speaking to me.
He did glance over his shoulder and nod to me. I assumed I was clear to go. Briskly, I left the bathroom as Grant spoke to an older woman facing the opposite way. I was so busy watching him and trying not to regret what I said when I ran into Jack.
“Wow, she finally did it.” I stood there as my mind went blank. “No worries, it’s between you and me. Good choice, though. I like him better than Carter. Grant looks at you like he wants to eat you up.”
“That’s a good look?” I stupidly asked.
“A very good look. He’s a keeper if you ask me.”
But I’d already given him up, to Lana no less. For the rest of the flight, I tried to ignore the sadness that se
ttled over me. I had no idea if I was doing the right thing.
A distraction came shortly before we began our descent into New York. The internal phone line lit up and Carter was on the other end with new instructions. Apparently, there was a new procedure in customs, which meant longer lines. Though he was going to make the announcement, I had to inform the other flight attendants so they could answer questions from the passengers.
There was some sort of virus that we would be scanned for. There wasn’t a lot of information other than it could be dangerous, especially for the elderly.
The first person that came to my mind was my grandmother. What if I had it? I wouldn’t be able to visit her.
That fear took my mind off of Grant as I waited in the customs line, despite my global entry pass. By the time I got to the agent, I didn’t know what to think. I’d checked online news sources, and no one really knew much about this virus except that it killed, just not everyone.
“Passport,” the guy said.
He didn’t look friendly, but then again, with the lines, he probably was as frustrated as we were.
“Business or pleasure?” he asked.
I glanced at my uniform and said, “Business.”
Next thing I knew he pulled out something that looked vaguely like a gun and aimed it at my forehead.
“Taking your temperature,” he said.
“What is this about?” I asked.
“Have you been in contact with anyone…” He listed off several symptoms.
“Before I traveled, my grandmother was in the hospital with pneumonia.”
He flagged down another agent as my heart raced. I had no idea what was about to happen.
“Have you been in close contact with anyone since your hospital visit?”
I wanted to say, duh, but that would have been rude and a snarky response out of fear.
“I’m a flight attendant.”
“Outside of that.”
I thought about my time with Grant.
“Intimately?” he asked when I didn’t respond quickly enough.
Heat flooded my cheeks as I nodded, unable to lie.
“Who?” he asked.
Instead of saying Grant’s name, I lifted my finger and pointed. Grant wasn’t in the global entry line, but I’d felt his stare and had known where he was.
The agent that had come to assist moved into the crowd and waved Grant through.
“Follow me,” he said and we moved beyond a closed door into another room.
I couldn’t look at Grant, though he was right there next to me. The guy asked us a series of questions regarding any symptoms we might have experienced or anyone we might have been in contact with. When we answered negative on all accounts, he took our temperature once again.
It felt surreal, like we were caught in some kind of movie.
“Here is the deal,” the guy said. “I’m going to level with you. Though we can’t force you, we strongly suggest you self-quarantine for fourteen days.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Based on your answers, you might have been exposed to the virus.”
“How?” I questioned.
“Your grandmother.”
“But she had pneumonia.”
“That’s one of the results of the virus. We don’t know if she had it, but it’s best to err on the side of caution. Do you have somewhere you can go?”
Even if Gran didn’t have it, I’d been on a flight with hundreds of people. I’d stayed in a hotel and been through two busy airports. I couldn’t risk bringing the virus to her or my mother if I’d been exposed. Staying with my father was also not an option.
“I don’t want to be alone,” I said, not realizing I’d spoken the thought.
A familiar hand covered mine. “You can stay with me at my cabin.”
I lifted my head and found Grant’s eyes on me as he gave my hand a little squeeze. I thought about how horrible I’d been to him. Yet, there he was again, rescuing me. I couldn’t stop the relief I felt as the agent gave us further instructions and had us fill out paperwork.
Twenty-Four
Grant
Jolene’s shell-shocked appearance was the reason I gave myself for reaching out and taking her hand as I drove toward Maryland.
When she didn’t protest, I took it for a good sign, especially since my hand was still chilled from removing the snow that had accumulated while my truck had been parked in the lot.
“It’ll be okay,” I offered.
Her stare was blank when she said, “I hope so.”
But hope appeared to be wiped clean from her thoughts.
“Are you hungry?”
She turned in my direction, but I had to keep my eyes on the road.
“They said we couldn’t be around people.”
“I’m pretty sure a drive-thru doesn’t count,” I said, chuckling.
When she didn’t laugh, I glanced at her from the corner of my eye.
“What about your dad?” she asked.
“I texted him. He’s going to stock up the cabin with food so we won’t have to go out.”
“Where will he stay?” she asked.
“He has a house in town. He’ll be close to people and shops.”
“What about the airpark?”
“I don’t think people are flying right now. But he’ll figure it out.”
“Will you?” she asked.
“Will I what?”
“Fly?”
I shook my head. “It’s you and me for the next two weeks.” She didn’t say anything, and I did my best to lighten the mood. “You know we can pass the time by playing charades and poker,” I joked.
Somehow, I managed to keep a straight face.
“Poker?” she asked.
“You know, strip poker.”
I gave her the biggest smile until she finally gave in and laughed.
“Never going to happen,” she tried and failed to say without a huge grin.
“Never say never, Highness.”
Things changed when she got a call. Her muted conversation had put the frown back on her face.
When it ended, I asked, “Is everything okay?”
Her shrug wasn’t reassuring. “Gran is out of the hospital. They don’t know if she had the virus or not. Pneumonia did a number on her lungs and she’s developed a complication that requires her on oxygen. That means she can’t talk much without losing her breath. Then, because her immune system is compromised, she can’t have visitors. Not even my dad. I just feel helpless.”
“Text her and send her a picture of your smiling face. Offer to video chat but not speak, just so you can see each other.”
Her smile almost reached her eyes. “That’s a really good idea. Thanks.”
When we arrived at dusk, she was fast asleep. I rounded the car and opened her door.
“Wake up, sleeping beauty.”
Her lashes swept up and her brown eyes focused on me. “We’re here?” she said, still sounding drowsy.
“We are and I want to show you around before dark.”
I bypassed the front door, and with her hand in mine took her around back.
“This is the generator,” I said. “It runs on gasoline and here is the fuel gauge.” I tapped it. “Looks like Dad filled it up.”
“I thought you ran on solar?”
“Solar is the main power source. The generator is backup.” I walked her behind a timber screen. “This is my stacked barrel rainwater collection system. I know it’s a mouthful. Basically, it’s a backup to the well water pump system when power is out like when you were here the first time.”
Without going into too many details, I told her how the water was collected, went through a filter system, and was stored until needed. When it was, it would be filtered again through the well water filter before entering the house.
“You’ve thought of everything.”
“Not really. The toilet is compostable, and I’ll show you how that works tomorrow.” Her brow
rose and I laughed. “It’s just in case something happens, I want you to know how things work at least on a basic level.”
Her face soured and I wrapped my arms around her. “We’ll be fine.”
I didn’t let go of her shoulder as we went back to the front. Inside, Dad had replenished firewood. A quick inspection of the refrigerator and he had come through with food as well.
“I bet you didn’t think you’d see this place again,” I joked, hoping to lighten the mood.
When I turned, she stood in place, taking it all in like it was the first time.
“I didn’t pack for two weeks.”
I managed to hold back a chuckle. “I can’t say it will be a hardship to see you in my clothes.”
“This isn’t funny, Grant. How is this happening?”
“Fate.” I winked at her.
“Fate’s a bitch,” she complained.
She was too damn cute with her lip poked out. I said, “I know what you need.” She glared at me. “A shower.” I raised my hands in surrender, but I couldn’t help myself and added, “We could conserve water by sharing one.”
Twenty-Five
Jolene
Damn him for being too irresistible. I quickly turned away before he could see the smile growing on my face.
I’d been in the room he’d designated for me before, but I hadn’t spent much time there. Looking around it now, I noticed how truly homey it was. Though it wasn’t big and only had the bare minimum in furniture from a queen bed, a small table next to it, a chair in the corner, and a small table opposite the bed that looked as though it could hold a TV, it seemed warm.
The home I purchased in Palm Beach might have been larger and I’d filled it with knickknacks and art here and there. Still, it didn’t have the comfy feeling Grant’s home did.
“Are you okay?”
I swiveled around and found Grant leaning on the doorframe.
“You weren’t moving,” he said.
I shook my head. “Just thinking. If I haven’t said it before, you have a lovely home.”
That damn brow of his lifted in question.
Arrogant Savior: A Hero Club Novel Page 11