***
“What’s going on in that head of yours?” Chase asked.
I’d been quiet since finding him on the plane. I was a nervous flyer to begin with, and having Chase surprise me the way he did had thrown me for a loop. My heart was beating out of control as we began to barrel down the runway. I gripped the armrest between us and gave him a curt answer.
“I hate takeoff. And landing. All the stuff in the middle is fine.”
Chase covered my hand with his and squeezed. He didn’t let go when we were in the air. Once our altitude leveled, I let out a deep breath, and my shoulders relaxed.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were taking this trip?”
“It was a last-minute thing.”
I squinted, wondering if he had planned this all along. “How last minute?”
He looked me straight in the eyes, and I could see his apprehension. “I don’t even have an overnight bag.”
“What do you mean, you don’t have a bag?”
“I left my house this morning with every intention of going to the office.” He paused and ran a hand through his hair, muttering the rest. “Not even sure how I got here anymore.”
“Are you serious?”
Shaking his head, he said, “You’ll be the one sharing your shirt with me this time.”
“I don’t think my shirt would fit you.”
“So you want me shirtless, then? I knew it.”
The flight attendant came by and gave us menus. “Can I get you something to drink?”
Chase answered without looking at his menu. “We’ll take two mimosas.”
I looked at him. “It’s barely nine in the morning.”
“It’s a special occasion.”
The flight attendant smiled and took the menus. “Are you celebrating something?”
Chase’s hand still covered mine on the armrest. He lifted them, linked my fingers with his, and brought my hand to his mouth for a kiss. “It’s our honeymoon.”
“Wow. Congratulations! That’s wonderful. Are you connecting through Kansas or is that your final destination today?”
“We’re staying in Kansas. The new Mrs. is a huge Wizard of Oz fan and wants to hit the museum.” He pointed with his chin down to our feet. I happened to be dressed in all black and wearing red heels. “She gets a little carried away sometimes.”
The flight attendant managed to keep her smile, but I could see she thought I was a little nutty. I mean, who the hell in their right mind would go to a museum when they’d just married a man who looked like the one I was sitting next to?
After she walked away, I turned to Chase. “A Wizard of Oz fan?”
Chase grinned. “It’s more of a fetish, but whatever you’re into.”
“And who would you be? The scarecrow with no brain? Where do you come up with this stuff?”
“Was coming out of the bathroom when you walked onto the plane. Saw those sexy-as-shit red shoes, and I might have had a little role-play fantasy.”
“I really think you need help.”
“You might be right.” He leaned close and lowered his voice. “But if you wanted to wear those shoes, pigtails, and nothing else, I’d be one happy Tin Man.”
After the flight attendant had brought our drinks (and called me the bride), Chase and I had a moment of honesty.
“How long are you staying in Kansas?” I asked, reaching down into my purse to grab my Chapstick for a quick freshen up.
His eyes followed along as I lined my lips. “You use that stuff a lot, huh?”
“What, Chapstick?”
“Yeah. I’ve noticed you putting it on a few times.”
“I’m kind of addicted to it.”
“I don’t like the waxy feel on my lips. You’re going to have to stop using it soon.”
“Let me guess—because my lips will be smearing it on yours?”
“Exactly.”
“Yet another reason why we could never work,” I teased.
“One of us will get over it.”
I shook my head at his persistence. “So how long did you say you’re staying in Kansas?”
“That’s up to you.”
“Up to me?”
“I didn’t lie when I said I tried to not come. The minute I heard you were going out of town, I wanted to join you. Thought about telling you I wanted to sit in on the sessions, but figured you’d see right through that.”
“So you’re saying you came for no other reason but me?”
He nodded seriously. “Just you.”
“Is this your normal style? Stalkerish chic?”
“Not exactly…which is probably why I have no idea what to do. Avoiding it hasn’t really been working.”
“So what is your style then when you date?”
“How’s this honesty thing working for me?”
I laughed. “Pretty good so far. Go ahead, I won’t judge.”
Chase gulped back the rest of his mimosa. “I haven’t had to work too hard for a woman’s attention.”
“I would have guessed that. Is that what the intrigue is here, then? A man who wants what he can’t have? That’s not a novel concept.”
His eyes went back and forth, searching mine, and I knew he was deliberating saying something. Eventually, he said, “You’re right. I do want what I don’t have. That’s part of it. But not in the way you think. Don’t ask me to explain it, but when I’m around you, I’m happy. That’s all I’m after.”