by Susan Stoker, Cristin Harber, Cora Seton, Lynn Raye Harris, Kaylea Cross, Katie Reus, Tessa Layne
“Call me Ghost,” he demanded. “I don’t use John that much anyway.” It wasn’t a lie.
“Okay…Ghost. Thanks for humoring me with your ID. And I still don’t think you look thirty-six.”
He smiled at her and put the plastic card back into his wallet. “So…how long have you been a stewardess?”
“Flight attendant.”
“What?”
“We’re not called stewardesses anymore. We’re flight attendants.”
Ghost smiled and apologized. “Sorry, my mistake. Flight attendant. How long have you been a flight attendant?”
“Around six years.”
“Six years? You started young.”
Hearing the question behind his words, Rayne explained, “Yeah, I majored in education in college. I did the whole student-teaching thing, aced the certification tests for the state and the whole nine yards.”
“But…”
“But one, I couldn’t find a job, at least not in the area I wanted, and two, turns out, I didn’t care much for the kids.”
Ghost burst out laughing and relaxed farther into his chair. “Seems like that might have been something you figured out before you got your degree.”
“Yeah, you’d think, right?” Rayne laughed. “I swear, I think the professors only have their students go to the well-behaved classes or something. I student-taught a few weeks and realized that teachers are really treated like crap. They aren’t paid very much, and don’t even get me started on the standardized tests and how the teacher is the one who gets punished if the kids don’t score high enough. And another thing…when the kids act up, somehow it’s always the teacher’s fault and not the parents’, or even the fault of the child.”
She sighed, a deep frustrated sound that seemed to come from her belly. “I know. It’s cliché, of course the teacher will blame the kids and parents, but seriously, I think if the US paid their teachers more, public schools would only get better and better.”
“So you decided to what? See the world?” Ghost asked.
“Sorta. So there I was, with a degree I had no desire to use and no idea what I was going to do with my life. I had a friend whose mother worked for the airlines and I was bitching about finding a job I enjoyed and she suggested the flight-attendant thing.” Rayne shrugged. “So yeah, I figured I could see the world while I decided what and where I wanted to work. And here I am, six years later, still seeing the world—or at least the airports of the world—and still trying to decide on what the perfect job is for me.”
“It doesn’t sound like a bad thing to do for a living,” Ghost stated, thinking to himself her reason for signing up to be a flight attendant was eerily a lot like why he’d joined the Army when he was in his late teens. He hadn’t been sure what he wanted to do with his life, and a friend in his graduating class was heading down to the recruiting station. He’d tagged along, and the rest was history. He’d climbed the ranks as an enlisted man, and then set his sights on being a Delta Force soldier…and an officer.
“It’s not. Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy what I’m doing, I wouldn’t be doing it otherwise, but it’s not what I want to do for the rest of my life. I really am a homebody. I might go out and try to see some of the cities that I have layovers in, but it’s not much fun to explore by myself and sometimes the cities don’t feel that safe.”
“If they aren’t safe, you shouldn’t be wandering around,” Ghost told her matter-of-factly.
“I understand that. But some of the places, I know I’ll never get the chance to see again.”
“That shouldn’t matter. You could get killed, or raped, or kidnapped in some of those places…so you might see them, but it’s not worth your life or your health.”
Rayne nodded in agreement. “You’re right. And just in case you’re feeling smug that you can order me around, I’d already decided to be a bit more cautious when I’m overseas now that ISIS has gotten completely bat-shit crazy and has no moral compass whatsoever.”
Ghost smiled at her cheekiness. “Good. How long before you think—”
His words were interrupted by the automated voice over the intercom.
We regret to inform you that flight eight twenty-three has now been canceled. Please see an airline representative to reschedule your flight. Heathrow Airport apologizes for any inconvenience.
Ghost stood up and held his hand out to Rayne. “So, since it’s not safe to wander around by yourself…want to explore London with me?”
CHAPTER TWO
Rayne sat in the taxi next to John Benbrook, otherwise known as Ghost, and wondered what the hell she was doing. This wasn’t like her. She didn’t pick up random men in airports. She’d seen a lot of good-looking men throughout her travels, and had been hit on by many of them as well. But there was something different about this one.
He hadn’t come on to her, not really. They’d been flirting, but he’d been polite and even a little bit distant. But the first time he’d smiled at her, Rayne’s insides had twisted. He was good looking, rugged and scruffy, and somehow she knew underneath his tattered and slightly dirty T-shirt he was one hundred percent muscle. She wanted nothing more than to sit and talk to him…okay, she wanted more than that, but she’d take what she could get.
Now they were on their way downtown. It was still raining, and Ghost had made a phone call and gotten them a reservation at one of the restaurants in Park Plaza, a nice hotel near Westminster Abbey and the London Eye. He said they could cancel it if they decided to go somewhere else, but he’d rather they had a back-up plan, just in case. It was still early in the afternoon, so Rayne assumed they’d have a late lunch or early dinner then do…
She wasn’t sure what they were going to do. She supposed she’d play it by ear.
There were a ton of things she’d like to see in London, but having someone else with her made her feel like she should see what he wanted to do, rather than doing only what she wanted.
Rayne felt better after having sent John Benbrook’s information to her friend, Mary, back home. Of course, if Ghost raped and killed her, who knew if her body would ever be found, but at least Mary would know who she’d been out with and could alert the local authorities.
Rayne hadn’t lied to Ghost. She was a homebody. She enjoyed her job as a flight attendant, and she met a lot of very interesting people, but in her down time, she was content to stay at home and do things most people would consider dull. Reading, grocery shopping, watching movies with Mary, even knitting.
For now, she was living on the edge. Rayne had never had a one-night stand in her life. She’d always dated respectable, even boring men. She’d go out with them for a while, making sure it felt “right” before deciding to go to bed with them. But there was something about Ghost that made her want to strip off all her clothes and tackle him.
She shifted in her seat, embarrassed about not being able to take her mind off of what he might look like, naked and over her, as he propped himself up while he thrust—
“So…you do this often?” she asked nervously, cutting off her own thoughts to try to bring herself under control.
“Do what?”
“Pick up women in airports and take them out?”
Ghost chuckled. “Nope. You’re my first.”
Rayne raised her eyebrows and looked at him incredulously and with blatant disbelief.
He obviously was fluent in eyebrow language because his next words tried to reassure her. “Seriously. I don’t pick women up.”
Rayne looked at the handsome man sitting next to her. The combat boots and tight brown T-shirt he was wearing were rugged as anything she’d seen anyone wear before. He was rugged and manly. His hair was scruffy, and a bit too long to be considered fashionable. He was carrying only a small duffle bag. His cargo pants strained against the muscles in his thighs. He had a five o’clock shadow and his brown eyes were focused completely on her. She didn’t want to be attracted to him, but she was. There was something about how he looked capable
of looking after himself, and anyone around him, that drew her to him like a moth to a flame. It frustrated her though, because she knew she was probably one of an extremely long line of women who would bend over backward to make him happy, in bed and out.
“Yeah, I bet you don’t. They throw themselves at you, don’t they?” Rayne retorted gently, letting him know she wasn’t buying his bullshit, but teasing him all the same.
He laughed under his breath and shook his head. “Doesn’t matter how much they might throw themselves at me, Rayne, I only catch those I’m interested in.”
Rayne thought about that for a beat. “I didn’t throw myself at you.”
“Nope,” he agreed easily.
“What are we doing then?”
Ghost leaned forward. “You didn’t throw yourself at me, and I knew you wouldn’t. Maybe it’s because you’re so delightful.” He shrugged. “Whatever the reason, I took our flight being canceled as a sign that I should do something about my attraction to you. It was nice to be the one asking instead of the one being asked or having to fend off unwanted attention. As to what we’re doing? We’re touring the city together…taking advantage of our canceled flight.”
Rayne gulped but didn’t say anything.
“But I have to warn you, Rayne. I don’t do relationships. So today can go one of two ways. We can spend the day together, see some sights, laugh and have a good time, then go our separate ways.”
“And the other way?”
“We can spend the day together, see some sights, laugh and have a good time, then see where this attraction between us goes. Then tomorrow, we’ll go our separate ways.”
She took a deep breath and tried to be brave. “So, you’re saying if we sleep together, that’s all it’ll be.”
“That’s all it can be.”
Rayne knew there was more that Ghost wasn’t saying. She wasn’t stupid. The man wouldn’t have the nickname if he led a normal life. She wasn’t the kind of woman to hop into bed with a man knowing there would be no relationship—but she wanted him. Mary would be proud as could be that she was doing something outside of the box.
Rayne could feel her nipples tighten just looking at Ghost. It was lust, but it was a lust she hadn’t felt since she’d been in college and had seen a beautiful swimmer at a private party she’d attended one night. She couldn’t remember the man’s name now, but he was tall and slender, and had extremely broad shoulders. She’d imagined him taking one look at her and falling madly in love, but apparently it wasn’t to be. He’d gotten completely drunk and had to be helped home by some of his teammates after puking in the bushes.
Even all these years later, she still felt a bit of regret she never had a chance to explore her feelings toward that swimmer, so Rayne decided she’d have to be okay with one night with Ghost.
She couldn’t help but let her mind wander. How would it feel to be skin to skin with him? Would his chest be covered in hair or smooth?
“I—” she began, not really knowing what she wanted to say, but feeling the press of the silence between them like a heavy blanket.
Ghost cut her off by putting a finger to her lips.
“Shhhh, don’t decide right now. Let’s play it by ear. No pressure. We’ll spend the rest of the day together, see what we can see, and then we’ll go from there. Okay?”
Suddenly feeling as if she’d just made a date to have sex like a whore on the streets, she blurted, “You won’t be pissed if I don’t want to—”
“Absolutely not.” Ghost immediately reassured her. “Disappointed? Maybe, but upset with you? No. It’s your choice. I’ve never forced a woman to do anything she didn’t want to do in my life and I’m not about to start now.”
“Okay.”
“Good. You should also know, however, that I’m going to do what I can to convince you to spend the night with me. I’m attracted to you, Rayne with a ‘y’ and an ‘e,’ and I’ve already been imagining what you look like under that prim and proper skirt and shirt. That probably makes me a dog, but I’m just trying to be honest with you here. So whatever might go through your head today while we’re out enjoying London…wondering if I’ve changed my mind or if I really want you, shouldn’t be one of those thoughts.”
Ghost didn’t take his eyes off Rayne’s lips. She’d taken her bottom lip between her teeth again as he’d been speaking.
He brought his hand up and palmed the side of her face, brushing his thumb across her lips. “Don’t bite your lip, Rayne.”
When her teeth let go of her lip, he leaned in, moving his hand to the back of her neck. Ignoring the taxi driver, Ghost got close enough that Rayne could feel the whisper of air from his words against her mouth.
“God, your lips were made for kissing. They’re full and pink…and I can just imagine how soft they’ll be against my own.” He put a bit of pressure against her neck but didn’t pull her all the way to himself. It was obvious he was waiting for her to make the decision on whether or not to kiss him.
Wanting this man’s lips on her own more than she wanted to breathe, Rayne leaned forward the inch it took to close the gap between them, as if his lips were magnets and she couldn’t resist the pull.
Their lips met and Rayne swore she felt something click between them the second they touched. She didn’t have time to analyze the odd feeling because his tongue swiped across her lips and she immediately opened to him, letting him take whatever he wanted.
Ghost’s other hand came up to the opposite side of her face and he tilted her head to a better angle. They made out in the back of the taxi, not paying attention to where the driver was taking them or if he was purposely taking the long route to get to the hotel to earn more money. Rayne knew it would be worth every pound if he was. Ghost’s hands stayed at her face, never taking advantage, never moving farther down her body.
Rayne arched into Ghost and put her hands around him. She clutched at his back, trying to get closer. The lust she felt for him was crazy. It was insane. She didn’t know anything about the man who was devouring her lips as if he’d never get enough, except that his name was John Benbrook and he lived in Fort Worth, Texas, but at the moment, she didn’t care.
She had no idea how far their make-out session would’ve gone, probably not as far as she wanted it to, but the taxi driver cleared his throat and declared that they were at the Park Plaza Hotel.
Rayne pulled away from Ghost and refused to meet his eyes, knowing she was blushing. She realized she was more turned on by that one kiss than she’d been the last time she’d made love. She didn’t want to seem desperate, but she was ready to say to hell with their tour and let him drag her upstairs to one of the rooms at the hotel and have his way with her.
Ghost brought one hand up and tenderly ran it over the top of her head, over her hair, and down her back. He wiped her swollen, wet lips with the pad of his thumb without a word.
Rayne finally worked up the nerve to look up at Ghost and the gleam in his eye made her feel better that her crazy attraction wasn’t only one sided. He looked to be about a second away from throwing her down on the seat and making her lose her mind.
With one last smile, he pulled away and reached into his back pocket for his wallet. He pulled out a wad of pounds he’d exchanged at the airport and paid the driver.
Rayne took the time to gather her purse and open the door. She waited at the back of the taxi for Ghost and the driver. Finally they joined her and the driver opened the trunk and got out her overnight bag and Ghost’s duffle.
“Come on, Rayne,” Ghost said, reaching out and grabbing the handle of her suitcase with one hand and pulling her into his side with the other. “We’ll stash our bags with the concierge and see what trouble we can get into.”
Relieved the sexual tension was broken, at least for the moment, Rayne fell into step beside Ghost and had a pretty good idea what her decision would be at the end of the evening. She wanted nothing more than to spend the night with the mysterious man at her side.
CHAPTER THREE
“Are you sure you don’t want to change? It can’t be comfortable wearing those shoes as we tromp around the city,” Ghost asked for the third time.
“Did you see the last Jurassic Park movie?”
Ghost looked confused but answered affirmatively anyway.
“I’m like Claire. She went through that movie running from freaking dinosaurs in her heels and didn’t bat an eye. I’m not saying I want one of those Indominuses to pop out from behind Big Ben or anything, but as long as you’re not planning on entering us in a half marathon or something today, I’ll manage just fine.”
Ghost snorted. “A half marathon? Not exactly how I planned to exert my energy today. I just don’t want you to regret your shoe choice halfway through the day. I’d prefer you to concentrate on other things.”
Ignoring the subtle sexual innuendo—not sure if it even was one; she was feeling hornier than she’d ever been before and it was possible she was reading sex into his words when he didn’t intend them that way—she reassured him, “Seriously, it’s good. I’m on my feet all day almost every day, Ghost. It’s fine. The airline has made sure our uniforms are comfortable…and that they can blend in away from work. I wouldn’t choose this to wear every day, but for now, it’s just easier and time is wasting. I’m starving!”
He chuckled and dropped the topic. “What do you want to eat?” Ghost asked as they were waiting for the concierge to come back with the luggage ticket.
“Fish and chips.”
“You sound sure.”
Rayne looked at Ghost incredulously. “I can’t be in England and not eat fish and chips! It’s got to be against the official tourist law or something!”
He smiled down at her and nodded. “Fish and chips it is.”
The concierge came back with their claim ticket and overheard Ghost’s comment.
“If you’re looking for a good restaurant, I recommend Mickey’s Fish and Chips. It’s behind Hyde Park, but you can take the Tube there pretty easily.”