Christopher
She's asleep. Her head is resting on the window, sunglasses moved to the side. I want to take them off so they don’t disturb her, but I'm afraid that I'll wake her up.
I take a look down at our hands and scissored fingers. I can't believe she let me take her by the hand that easily. I feel like it's my lucky day. Last week I made a deal and earned twelve million dollars in one day, but that wasn't even close to this level of happiness.
And then I notice that her engagement ring is missing. The one she usually wears every day. I haven't seen her without it before. And now it's gone. How did I not notice that before? Is that the real reason why she was so quiet?
A thousand thoughts run through my head as I look at Michelle's palm in mine. I gently brush my thumb against her soft skin. She doesn't move. I guess she's so tired that nothing can wake her up. That's good. She needs proper rest. We have a lot to see while we're in Spokane, where I was born and lived until I turned seventeen. I can't believe I haven't visited it for over eight years. Time flies so fast.
I take another look at Michelle's face. Her head is tilted to the side, and her neck will hurt if she sleeps like that any longer. I have to recline her chair so she’ll be more comfortable.
Even though I don't want to, I untangle our fingers and get up from my seat. I push the bottom on hers, and it transforms into a bed. I open the luggage rack and pull out a blanket and a pillow.
Gently, I lift Michelle's head to put the pillow under it and take off her glasses. She doesn't wake up, breathing peacefully. I simply stare at her for a couple of moments: so sensitive, innocent, and beautiful. I fight the urge to lean in and inhale the scent of her gorgeous, silky hair.
I request the flight attendant to turn off the lights inside the plane. Then I walk to the other side, take a seat, and open my laptop. I have to let Michelle sleep. Even though the only thing I want now is to lie next to her and wrap my arm around her waist.
?
?* * *
When the jet finally lands in Spokane, I realize that Michelle is still sleeping. I don't want to wake her up, but I have to. The plane needs to be transported to the hangar.
My driver is already waiting for me. I don't have a car here, and that's why I rented an SUV with a driver. The weather in Spokane can be unpredictable, especially in the mountains, where our new hotel is located, so a big car is the best choice. I even remember it snowing in May once when I was a kid.
"Wake up, beautiful," I whisper into her ear and gently brush my fingers over her cheek. The scent of her warm skin beckons me. But she keeps sleeping. I lean closer, and now my lips touch the tip of her ear. "Michelle, wake up; we're in Spokane."
"No, not you again, Christopher," she mumbles without opening her eyes.
Not you again...not a very good beginning of our trip. She doesn't even want to see me.
"Get out of my dream; I have a fiancé," she mumbles, louder this time, slightly pushing me away with her palm.
She's still sleeping. And she thinks that I am part of her dream.
Again.That's interesting. I have to somehow find out what those dreams were about.
I shove one hand under her legs and the other under her neck and pick up her tender body in my arms.
Michelle opens her eyes halfway, looking at me under heavy lids. I wait for her to freak out, but she stays calm. We stare at each other for a couple of seconds.
"How can you always be so sweet?" she murmurs, smiling slightly before her eyes close again, and her head falls onto my chest.
She still thinks it's a dream. And that's okay. I want her to feel this way. While for me? For me, it's a dream come true.
Chapter Six
Michelle
I open my eyes and notice that bright sunlight is shining right into my face, so I'm squinting. When my eyes finally adjust, I raise up, leaning on my elbows, looking around.
Where am I? And how did I get here?
It's a hotel room with a giant king-sized bed, a working desk with a chair, a section with a sofa, a flat-screen TV, and two floor-to-ceiling windows overviewing the city. This room is enormous, at least two thousand square feet. It's way bigger than my whole apartment in Chelsea.
I look down at myself, realizing that I've been sleeping in the same clothes that I had on in the airplane. Except for my pumps; someone took them off.
Oh, shit. So I wasn't dreaming. Christopher was carrying me in his arms. He brought me to the hotel room and put me into bed. How long have I been here? I slept on the plane, I slept in the car from the airport here, and then...I slept here? What time is it?