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“Not...” Gage observed the easy arrogance in Clive’s resulting smile and fell into another roll of laughter. “Try and save a few of the sistas for the rest of us, will you?” he asked when he’d come up for air. The teasing pleas held a fair amount of seriousness. Gage knew that his old college roommate fully earned his ladies’-man status.
“You and your counterparts are safe.” Clive leaned back in his desk chair. Behind him a view of swaying palms and unending turquoise water rippled in the distance. “Besides, this lady is only interested in me for my building.”
“Good for her. Smart in business and too smart to fall for your foolish lines.”
“Hey! My lines are gold.” Clive shook his head in spite of himself and appeared a touch serious. “You’re right, though—she’s a smart one. Ambitious, too. That combined with your assurance that there is more money in my future is enough for the time being. Besides—” the playful light returned to Clive’s expression “—it’s going to take a lot of time to get the place in shape. That’s more than enough time for me to put my wooing skills to work.”
Smiling broadly, Gage shook his head, as well. “Be sure to let me know how that works out for you.” He wiped at a laugh tear in the corner of his eye and straightened in his chair when he took notice of his open doorway.
The woman from the tarmac waved a hand but began to back out of the office. Gage motioned her forward. Satisfied that she was obliging his request, he interrupted Clive midsentence.
“C? Listen I need to go, but we’ll catch up as soon as we land, all right?”
“Sounds good. See you then.” Clive signed off with a mock salute just before his side of the split screen went black.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were on a call.” She bit the side of her lip, watching as he closed down the laptop.
“Come on in.” Gage was done with the computer and rounded the desk while giving her another beckoning wave.
She hadn’t taken more than a few steps into the office. There she remained. “I only came to apologize.”
“Apologize?” His playful frown prefaced a smile. “Now you have to come in.”
His hand folded down over her elbow, drawing her into the small, albeit state-of-the-art, work space. Despite her reluctance to move forward, she let herself be led into the smartly done office.
“Wow...” She blinked several times in rapid succession, turning to assess every element of the room.
Gage allowed himself to marvel, as well. Sure, he’d marveled over her looks—what man wouldn’t? She was tall and possessed more than her fair share of soft curves, as well as a fragile allure that belied a certain strength. The radiant, creamy caramel of her skin, the stunning amethyst tinge of her stare and the wavy tousle of blue-black bobbing about that lovely face had captured a great deal of his interest. Still, her heart-stopping physical assets didn’t explain the extent of his attention.
What was it exactly? It annoyed him that he couldn’t put a finger on it and yet it beckoned him just the same. Gage believed that once he managed to pinpoint the “it,” he wouldn’t be nearly as infatuated with her as he surely felt he was becoming.
“Alythia Duffy.”
He realized she was giving her name and offering her hand once he’d eased out of the deep well of his thoughts. Taking the hand she extended, he didn’t shake it, only squeezed and held. His grip hinted of possession and gave no promise of freedom.
Alythia cleared her throat.
“You weren’t out there when the introductions went around earlier and I—” She cast a quick look toward the doorway. “I, um... I missed the first ‘getting to know you’ session because I was running sort of late.”
“Right...” Gage allowed unfairly long lashes to settle over his warm gaze as though he were just recalling that fact. “Right...happily late till you discovered your ride hadn’t left without you.”
Alythia hung her head when her eyes closed. Gage could feel her hand going limp inside his and he gave it a few reassuring pumps in an attempt to pull her gaze back to his. It worked.
“Gage Vincent.”
“I know.” Alythia then placed her free hand over the one he’d clasped about hers.
She’d bowed her head again and moved a smidge closer and he took the opportunity to inhale deeply of the light fragrance she wore.
“I’m so sorry about before.” Alythia raised her head suddenly.
“You’ve already apologized to me twice at least and we haven’t even known each other a full day.”
“Oh, I’m—” Alythia appeared to be piping up to extend more apologies. Again she bowed her head. “I didn’t mean to mistake you for working here.”
“Why?” Gage faked confusion, although he knew very well what had her so distressed. “I employ a great group of folks.” He shrugged. “It’s nice to be thought of as one of them.”
“But I shouldn’t have assumed—”
“Why not? I offered to take your bags, didn’t I?”
“Yes, but—”
“You weren’t rude to me, were you?”
“I—” Alythia paused. “I guess not,” she said finally.
Imprisoning her hand in both of his then, Gage squeezed again, using the gesture to tug her closer. “You weren’t. Trust me, I know what rude is.” Briefly, his liquid stare shifted left as though he were about to look across his shoulder.
Alythia piped up once more, this time in order to champion her friends. “The trip hit us out of nowhere. I’m afraid we’re all sort of...um...discombobulated.” She pressed her lips together.
Gage’s eyes locked on her plump bronze-glossed mouth. Silently, he commanded his focus to reside on her words, for the time being, at least.
“Orchid’s your typical nervous bride. I guess we’re all nervous.” Alythia sounded as though she was speaking the last bit to herself.
Gage narrowed his gaze, cocking his head inquisitively in hopes that she’d elaborate on the last. Instead, she fixed him with a dazzling smile that he admitted pleased him just as much as any clarification she might have given.
“I just don’t want us to get off on the wrong foot. It’s important for Orchid that the trip goes well and I can’t afford to be the one that shoots it all to hell.”
Gage felt the wicked flex of muscle along his jaw. “And why should all of that rest on you?”
Alythia responded with a laugh that was clearly tension filled. “There are many ‘whys,’ Mr. Vincent. Among them my inability to be on time when there’s fun to be had.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean to ramble. Like I said, we’re all a little nervous.”
Nodding, Gage used the hand he still held captive to pull her arm through the crook of his. “Well, the least an aircraft employee can do is to find a way to settle a passenger’s nerves.”
With that, he escorted Alythia from the office.
* * *
Two delicious mojitos later, Aly was feeling less nervous and far more amused. The dynamics emerging among the newly collected group kept a genuine smile on her face. Whether it was the group or the mojitos that deserved such credit, she couldn’t wager a guess.
Gage had escorted her out to the main cabin and had gotten her settled into a seat somewhat removed from where the rest of the group had gathered. He’d then personally seen to filling the order for her drink.
Alythia kept her gaze trained outside the windows on purpose. She knew Gage’s innocent act of kindness was already being rehashed by her friends.
“How are those nerves doin’?”
Smiling at the question, Alythia looked up at Gage while raising her third mojito, which she was only halfway through. “The nerves are much better.”
Gage claimed a spot on one of the milk-chocolate suede swivels across from where Alythia relaxed. “And how’s the view?”
“The view can’t at all be complained about.”
“Hmph.”
The response drew her stare and she studied him with a knowing intensity. “Guess this is all pretty old hat to you, huh?”
“How often do you travel, Alythia?” he asked, angling an index finger alongside his temple while he watched her.
She turned her attention back outside the window. “Quite a bit, but first class has nothing on this.”
“Well, it doesn’t get old for me,” Gage shared, swiveling his chair a bit. “Every time I take a flight, take time to pull my face out of a report and take a look at the view, I’m reminded of how blessed I am.”
“Must’ve been a hard road to get here.”
Gage grinned. “Hard would’ve been nice. My road was about ten times beyond hard.”
“Ha! I can relate!” Alythia laughed.
“How so?”
Alythia wasn’t of a mind to elaborate. “We’re talking about your hard road, not mine.”
“I’d trade my hard-luck story for yours any day.”
“I’d hate to sour your mood for the rest of the trip, and my story would surely do that.” She sipped at a bit more of the mojito, loving the rejuvenating effects of the crisp drink.
“What if I told you my story could have the same effect on you?”
“All right, then.” Alythia faced him fully, her elbows propped along the arms of the chair. “Suffice it to say that my hard-luck story makes me very appreciative of every good thing that comes my way.” For effect she raised her mojito in a mock toast.
There was a burst of feminine laughter, followed by the roar of male chortling and additional feminine giggling. The sounds drew quick smiles from both Gage and Alythia.
“Sounds like your friends share your point of view.”
Bewilderment sent the elegant lines of Alythia’s brows closer, though she didn’t remain stumped for long. “We’ve all weathered storms and learned from them.”
“Is that right?” He pretended to be stunned.
Alythia rolled her eyes playfully. “Even rich girls have storms to weather, Mr. Vincent.” She aimed a soft smile in Orchid’s direction.
“Hey, Gage?” Myrna called from across the cabin. “Are we gonna fly above the clouds for the whole flight? I want to see the water.”
“Appreciative of every good thing, huh?” Gage spoke the words for Alythia’s ears only and then pushed out of his chair. “Finish your drink.” He squeezed her shoulder on his way to join the group.
* * *
“So?”
“Gage was popping the cap on his Samuel Adams when Dane Spears’s question reached his ear.
“So.” Gage took a swig of the beer.
“Don’t even try it.” Dane’s soft admonishment accompanied a playful frown. “What’s the story?” he persisted.
“What story?” Gage leaned against the Blackwood counter space inside the bar area where his friend had cornered him.
“Come off it, G. You obviously already picked yours.”
Gage eased a measuring look toward his beer bottle. “I think I already had too much to drink.” He shook his head at Dane. “What the hell are you talkin’ about?”
“Don’t take offense, G. Hell, she’s—she’s beautiful.” Dane voiced the compliment as though he was in disbelief of an absolute truth. “If she hadn’t been so late to the party, I’d have probably already staked my claim.”
Grinning as realization hit home, Gage gave another shake of his head. “This isn’t a date.” He downed another swig of the tasty brew.
“Who said anything about a date? I’m talkin’ about a sure thing.” Dane helped himself to one of the assortment of beers chilling in a tub of ice next to the bar. He used the bottle he’d selected to motion toward the women across the room.
“Fine as hell and sure things, every one of ’em.”
Gage narrowed a look toward his friend. “Every one?”
“Well...except the bride, of course.”
“Of course.” Gage enjoyed a few more swallows of beer and enjoyed the view across the room. The view of Alythia Duffy was one that he especially enjoyed. Whether or not he realized it, or would have admitted it if he had.
“Have you met them before?”
Dane settled back against the bar. His arms folded across the snug workout top meant to emphasize an already broad chest as he affixed a keener interest upon the group. “Haven’t formally met any of them, but anybody who’s watched TV or read a paper knows ’em in one form or another. Except for your girl,” he said, referencing Alythia. “Keeps to herself. She’s a beauty but seems kinda standoffish now that I’ve met her.”
Gage smiled, recognizing the last remark as Dane-speak for “She turned me down.” He enjoyed another gulp of the beer, silently admitting that he was as glad of that fact as he was of the appearance of Dane’s sulking.
Alythia being relatively unknown pleased him greatly. What pleased him even more was the fact that she didn’t claim the kind of status her friends seemed to relish.
“Quiet ones are usually the biggest freaks,” Dane chimed in as if reading Gage’s thoughts. He shrugged. “I’m just saying that it doesn’t look like we’ll have to put much work into getting a little somethin’ somethin’ above-or belowground, is all.”
Gage poised his bottle for another swig and changed his mind. “Don’t believe everything you read,” he cautioned.
“Oh, trust me, my friend. Everything I know about that trio, I didn’t have to read.”
Instead of drinking from the bottle, Gage pressed it to his forehead, needing the cool to breach his skin. “Don’t do this,” he sighed. “It’s not the time for conspiracies.”
“That much I know.” Dane seemed to sober. “Already gave it my best shot and Jay’s still over the moon for this one.”
Gage finally pinned his friend with an expression that harbored no trace of amusement. “What’d you do?”
“Felt Jay had a right to know the word on the street about her.” Dane shrugged, downed a bit of the Budweiser he’d selected. “That fool tends to dwell in his own world, you know?”
“Yeah, minding his own business, finding a woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with... Lotta men would love living in that world.”
