“Waiting on someone?” She knew his voice would be pleasant and mellow, even before she heard it.
“Uhm…. no.” She pulled her eyes back to him, trying to focus on his question. She was so worried about getting caught using someone else’s ID that she couldn’t appreciate having caught this attractive man’s attention. She really should relax. Other than the TSA agent, no one had even questioned her claim to be Kenzie Reese. And if she had convinced trained personnel standing only two feet away, she really had nothing to worry about. Surely.
“You keep watching the aisle. I thought maybe you were holding the seat for someone.” He subtly glanced at the empty cushion between them.
“No, just people watching,” she denied. “It’s a good way to pass the time.”
“Didn’t look like you had much of a chance before boarding the plane.”
“You saw that?” Makenna groaned. She knew her cheeks were now pink, an unattractive contrast to her dark auburn hair.
“I might have noticed you, racing down the corridor and skidding to a halt five feet past the gate.”
His easy grin made laughing at herself so much easier. “Running a bit late today,” she confessed. “I can’t believe I actually made the flight.”
Before he could comment, a young woman stopped in the aisle and nodded to the empty seat between them. “Taken?” she asked, hoisting a large purse more securely onto her shoulder.
With graceful economy of motion, the blue-eyed man swung from his seat to the one in question, bringing himself that much closer to Makenna. A little surge of pleasure rippled through her; he was deliberately taking the middle seat for a three-hour flight, based on their brief conversation.
After a few polite words to the newcomer, the man turned back to Makenna. She was watching the aisle again.
“You’ll have to key me in on the fascination,” he murmured, following her gaze. He saw only harried passengers, filing down the aisle one after another.
Instead of revealing her true reason for watching the aisle, she reverted to an old game she liked to play. “You have to imagine their story.”
“Their story?”
“Sure. For instance, see the woman in gray? She looks irritated at having to go to the back of the plane. It’s because she’s anxious to get to Manchester. She’ll have a new grand baby waiting at the airport, and wanted to be the first one off.”
“And the man behind her?”
“He’s in no real hurry. He’s divorced. He’ll just have an empty house to go home to.”
As the man neared, he steadied himself by reaching for the seat-back in front of them. The diamond on his shiny gold wedding band winked in the dim light.
“Okay, so sometimes I miss,” Makenna admitted with a laugh.
“Oh, but I definitely agree about Grandma. And I think this young lady in red is headed to an exciting job interview, her first real job out of college,” the man said, falling into the spirit of the game.
“I hear it’s an impressive law firm in Boston. She’s their new intern.” Makenna played along with a serious expression. “And see the guy in the cowboy hat? First time to fly.”
“Where’s he headed?”
Makenna thought for a moment. “Nashville. It’s a connecting flight, the only one he could find on short notice. His girlfriend left him in hopes of making it big in the music business. He’s headed there to propose.”
“Ah, a romantic at heart,” he grinned, sliding her a speculative glance.
She offered a noncommittal shrug. She wasn’t sure if he meant her or the cowboy. “What do you think the story is behind the man in the gray jacket?”
“Oh, he’s the sky marshal.”
The words were spoken in jest, but there was no mistaking Makenna’s reaction. She jerked, the breath catching in her throat as her eyes darted guiltily away from the man, then flitted nervously back.
“Hey, I was only kidding,” her neighbor reassured her. With curious eyes, he asked, “What’s wrong? You running from the law or something?”
“Of - Of course not.” She tried to muster the sound of outrage. Searching for a plausible explanation, she said, “I guess I sometimes get nervous when flying. The need for sky marshals and all….” She let her words trail off.
“Hey, I hear ya. Never know these days. But at least we know we’re not in danger from Johnny Kidd up there.” With his chin, he pointed to the young man coming down the aisle. “He’s obviously headed home, and can’t wait to get back to his girlfriend and tell her about the colleges he checked out.”
“Obviously.” Relaxing once again, Makenna’s eyes twinkled as she teased, “Now who’s the romantic?”
“Just call ‘em like I see ‘em,” the man said with a flourishing hand movement and an easy smile.
The flight attendant came over the speaker, asking passengers to prepare for final boarding. Makenna’s cell phone buzzed, alerting her to a text message from her neighbor Linda.
Still in surgery.
Will let you know when out.
Makenna’s fingers flew over the keys in reply.
Please do. Hated to leave, but she insisted.
Have to turn off phone, will check msg when land.
Thanks for being there.
She deliberately led their friend to believe this had been her trip all along; no need in pulling more people into their web of deceit. As she turned off her phone and slid it into the bag resting at her feet, she noticed her seatmate sending his own last-minute message before tucking his phone away.
“So, do you fly often?” he asked.
Makenna shrugged. “Not often enough to earn any fabulous vacations, but I’m no stranger to the airlines. And you?”
“About the same.”
The flight attendants were making their way down the aisle, checking to see that overhead bins were secure and seat belts were fastened. Two different attendants passed their aisle and paused, creating a fine sheen of perspiration to form on Makenna’s forehead. She maintained an innocent pose, her breath clutched in her chest. Any minute now …
She did not breathe easily until the plane had been cleared for take-off and they began to roll down the runway. If her seatmate noticed her obvious discomfort, he was polite enough not to mention it. He pulled out a magazine and began rifling through it as the plane bumped its way along the tarmac. With a shaky exhale, Makenna turned grateful eyes out the window and stared blindly at the parting view.
New worries plagued her. She had fooled the officials here in Texas, but what about the return trip? The Manchester, New Hampshire airport was smaller than the one here in Austin, but that might mean they had more time to study her identification. What if she couldn’t get home? Were the fines stiffer out-of-state?
No, silly, her inner voice scolded. A federal crime is a federal crime, regardless of the state it is committed in.
She nibbled on her lower lip, thinking of all the things that could go wrong. Why on earth had she let Kenzie talk her into this scheme? She still had to get past the rental car company, where she would be forging her friend’s signature. That would encompass insurance fraud and credit card fraud and lying-to-the-person-behind-the-counter fraud and Heaven only knew what else! Makenna’s palms turned sweaty and her breathing came in short, quick puffs.
Even if she made it through the car rental, there was still the hurdle of checking into the hotel. She felt less guilty about deceiving the hotel staff, although she wasn’t sure why. But then she would have to pose as her friend for the rest of the week, doing her interviews and taking her photos and remembering to introduce herself as Kenzie Reese. Basically, she had to lie to everyone she met. The upside was that no one here knew Kenzie and would ever know the difference; the downside was that she had to lie and cheat and break the law, and she had to do it all without having a nervous breakdown.
Tenting her hands over her mouth, Makenna rocked slightly in her seat, considering her options. She could get off the plane right now,
before it lifted into the air. It would mean causing a stir and raising suspicions, but her conscious would be clear.
Except that she would be letting her friend down, and this was so very important to Kenzie.
Okay, so she had to stay seated. But that didn’t mean she had to lie, did it? She could rent the car in her own name and check in at the hotel as herself. The room was already waiting and paid for, so it didn’t matter who slept in the bed. And she could simply tell the people she interviewed that someone else was covering the story, no further explanation needed. No further lying needed.
Except, then the magazine wouldn’t reimburse Kenzie. Knowing her extravagant friend, she had booked the best hotel and the fastest sports car, racking up quite a bill. And if the editors knew Kenzie didn’t go on the trip and do the actual interviews herself, they might not pick up the story as promised, meaning Kenzie wouldn’t be paid, at all.
She had promised her friend. Kenzie was resting easier, knowing Makenna was doing this for her. And if something horrible should go wrong in surgery, at least Makenna would know she had honored her friend’s last request.
Before she got any further with her thoughts, the man beside her was talking again. “Wow, you really do get nervous flying, don’t you?” he asked sympathetically.
“I’m sorry, what was that?” With an effort, Makenna pulled herself from her reverie.
“Are you all right? You look a little pale.”
“No, no, I’m fine.”
“No offense, but you don’t look fine.”
The plane was moving now, picking up speed as it rolled ever closer to lift-off. As the huge machine left the ground and vaulted into the air, Makenna drew an obvious sigh of relief. Addressing her neighbor, she went with the truth. “I’m worried about a friend of mine. She’s in surgery as we speak and I couldn’t be there for her.”
“Ah, that’s rough. Anything serious?”
“She was in a car wreck this morning. They’re operating on her leg, but who knows if more is wrong with her? I feel so guilty, leaving like this.”
“Did you talk to her before you left?”
“Yes. She insisted I come.” In more ways than you can imagine!
“So there you go,” the man said with a charming smile. “She understands and gives you her blessing. Stop feeling guilty.”
“Easier said than done,” Makenna muttered.
Makenna turned to gaze down at the city below, still dumbfounded that she was actually on the plane. She rarely did anything spontaneous. Most trips she took required weeks of planning, what with itineraries and reservations and packing and lining up all the little details. This was totally unlike her, on so many levels.
Kenzie, however, had been right about one thing: Makenna was stuck in a rut. Her life had become boring and predictable, her routine more like that of a middle-aged spinster than a twenty-six-year-old young professional. She needed an adventure, something unexpected to happen in her life. Losing her job and her boyfriend, all in one week, definitely offered the unexpected; maybe this spur-of-the-moment trip would offer the adventure. If not actual excitement, perhaps this trip would at least offer a refreshing change of pace.
“So, what’s your story?” Her new friend turned the tables on the little game they had been playing. “I now know all about our fellow travelers, but not a thing about you. What adventure awaits you?”
“Job assignment.”
“As in reporter?”
“Photojournalist.” She was pretending to be her friend this week, so she might as well start now.
“Really?” He seemed duly impressed. “Who do you work for?”
“Now Magazine.”
He let out an appreciative whistle. “Very impressive.”
Okay, so if Kenzie were here, she would toss her head and flirt. And since she was pretending to be Kenzie…
“It’ll do,” she shrugged saucily. In her best sultry voice, she purred, “And you? What’s your story?”
His intriguing blue eyes twinkled, picking up on the flirtatious tone. “Actually, I’m headed to the mountains for cross country training.”
“Skiing?” She frowned in confusion. It was late April.
“Cycling.”
“You’re a cyclist?” In her brief imaginary synopsis, she had never imagined him as a cyclist. He had the physique, but cycling never crossed her mind, probably because she knew nothing about the sport.
“Not professionally,” he was quick to say. “I’m participating in the Ride for the Hills Cancer Charity. I’m just getting in shape.”
“Wow, that’s … impressive.” She hated to copy him, but it was the truth. “Going all the way to New England to practice for a charity event?”
He shrugged his nicely developed shoulders. “I had a week’s vacation coming, and needed to practice for the race. Weather’s so much nicer in New England than in Texas, I decided to come north.”
Makenna wondered if Kenzie had packed for cooler temperatures. Surely it would have occurred to her, but with Kenzie, you never knew. She had probably been more concerned with fashion than with comfort. “Hmmm, you definitely have a point. It’s supposed to be in the mid 90’s by this weekend.”
“Not where we’re headed.” Again, that fascinating twinkle, this time with a waggled brow. “In my case, it’s primarily New Hampshire. What about you?”
“The same.” At least, she supposed so. Kenzie had mentioned a few of her plans, but Makenna knew very little about the actual assignment and specific elements of the trip. The more she thought about this crazy scheme, the less it made sense.
He mentioned a few more of his plans, day-trips he intended to take into Vermont and the western edge of Maine, trails he had heard of in the White Mountains, places he wanted to see. Makenna made mental notes of the locations that would be of interest to her project, wondering if Kenzie had made an itinerary of her own. Knowing her impulsive friend, she suspected she already knew the answer.
As the plane banked and headed north, Makenna felt a burden lift from her shoulders. The journey had begun, and so far, no one even suspected she wasn’t who she claimed to be. Maybe this crazy scheme was going to work, after all.
“Please secure your personal belongings as we prepare for descent into Manchester.”
The three-hour flight had literally flown by. Makenna and the handsome blue eyed man spent the entire time chatting about everything from current movies and magazines - particularly Now - to tastes in music, from their home state of Texas to the undeniable lure of New England. Makenna’s worries melted away as she laughed with her charming companion. He was witty and sharp, and offered the perfect distraction from her guilt-plagued conscious. By the time the flight attendant announced the current time and temperature in New Hampshire, Makenna was feeling much more optimistic about the upcoming week.
“Let’s exchange phone numbers,” her companion suggested as they touched down and were allowed to turn their cells back on. “Maybe we can touch base during the week, have lunch or something.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Makenna fiddled with her phone, finding the right screen. “By the way, what’s your name?”
“Hardin. But here, let me. It’s easier this way.” He went to the corresponding screen on his phone and traded devices, so they could each enter their own information. As he keyed in his number, he glanced up at her. “So what’s your name?”
She almost goofed. She was busy putting her friend’s name alongside her own phone number, which took a fair amount of concentration. She started to answer automatically, “Ma - .” She quickly caught herself. “McKenzie, but look under the ‘K’s. Everyone calls me Kenzie.”
“All right, Kenzie with a K.” He returned her phone with a charismatic smile. “All done. Be expecting a call.”
“I will.” She gave him a cheeky little grin before slipping her phone into her bag.
They continued a casual conversation as they made their way down the aisle, off the plane, and tow
ard baggage claim. When no one came rushing toward her, demanding an explanation for posing as her friend, Makenna breathed easier.
“Well, thanks for making the flight less stressful,” she said, piling her bags together after retrieving them all from the carousel. His still had not arrived. “It definitely kept my mind occupied.”
“No problem. I’m glad I sat on your row,” he grinned. “Oops. That’s mine.” He nodded at the black bag tumbling onto the conveyor belt.
“Well, have a great vacation.” She was reluctant to part with the handsome man, but his luggage was moving closer.
“Hey, I’ll call you,” he promised. He was obviously torn between lingering beside her and retrieving his bag now, without waiting for it to cycle again. He reached out to touch her hand, their fingers trailing through the air as he stepped away.
“You do that.” Makenna would have offered her best smile, but he had already turned his back toward her. Puffing a breath of air from her cheeks, Makenna made her way toward Ground Transportation.
Her adventure was now underway.
To read more, please go to http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JS4KQIK
He Kills Me, He Kills Me Not Page 29