The limo had arrived in the five minutes stated. I watched as Gunner and another tank of a man escorted the girl to the plane. I assumed it was the girl. It looked like Kellan’s clothes, but I didn’t recognize the baseball cap. The pilot came over the intercom to buckle up because we would we lifting off the minute they boarded. They hustled onto the plane.
This is exciting. This Gunner is welcome to travel with me every day. If anything, just to scare off annoying people.
He pushed the Kellan imposter into a recliner across from me, locked on the seatbelt before buckling himself in. Once we were up in the air, Gunner unbuckled his seatbelt and headed for the cockpit. I watched the girl squeezing the armrest so tight her knuckles were white. She really needed to relax and take a deep breath. “That was a close one” was the first thing that came out of my mouth before I could stop it. She took a few deep breaths and opened her eyes.
Beautiful blue eyes. I know those eyes. It’s the girl from the elevator. How?
My assumption that it was the elevator girl passed when she took off the baseball cap, releasing long red hair. Her nervous smile was adorable, but I didn’t want her to think I was laughing at her fear.
“I’m Asher,” I said, putting my hand out to shake. “You must be Imogen, my bride to be.”
Why is she looking at me like I’m crazy? Oh shoot, she met Asher last night. Now how do I save this one?
“I just wanted to introduce myself again since I’d had too much alcohol last night.” I tried for laid back. “You’re Imogen, right?”
She seemed to be in deep thought about me. I wasn’t sure which way to go with conversation until she turned more toward me and I saw the busted lip and healing black eye.
It has to be elevator girl.
“Did you hurt your lip?” I fumbled for words that wouldn’t sound too pushy.
“Yes, well not me, but my bully boyfriend decided he liked this look on me better. At least I’m not as much a shemozzle as a few days ago.” She laughed nervously.
Either she doesn’t remember me from the elevator, or she thinks she can’t trust me.
“You don’t look like you want to talk about it, so let’s talk about what’s next,” I smiled and passed her a bottle of water.
Chapter 23
IMOGEN
The elevator discussion came up briefly, but I never did figure out if he remembered trying to help me. Such a strange coincidence.
Enough about the elevator already.
“Your mother told me to make sure we’re seen in public a lot.” I took the water bottle he offered. “I’ve never been to Paris. What should be our first outing? How should we go about looking like we’re in love?”
“Mom really gave you the run down I guess,” I said. “What else did she tell you?”
“Something about a scandal and family drama. Look, I don’t wanna be a sticky peak so let’s skip over all that and have fun, moving past the bad situation we’re both trying to get away from.”
“I like the way you think, Imogen. I have some work to get done and we have a long flight. Any movie you could think of is available with a click on the remote. And when you get tired, there’s a bedroom through that door down the hall that’s all yours,” he said, walking over to a desk toward the front of the plane. “Are you going to be okay entertaining yourself while I work?”
“Asher, I’m more than okay. I actually appreciate that you care, but you will soon find out I’m pretty low maintenance.” I licked my split lip then gave him a big smile, reclined my chair, and grabbed at the remote. “I’m the perfect wife.”
“I’m going to hold you to that,” he said, before bending back over his blueprints.
I browsed through the movies and settled on an old classic with Julia Roberts and Mel Gibson, but five minutes in I decided I’d had enough drama in the last week for a lifetime and began my search over. I went for the chick flick,You’ve Got Mail.It was finally a feel good kinda day.
This guy has money, clearly, yet he works his behind off. Why?
Gunner joined me during the movie briefly, but I could tell he was bored with it. I told him we could switch the movie, but he stood, waved a James Patterson book at me, then placed a blanket over my legs with a light smile.
“You never answered why you called me Solitaire?” I said.
“Because I’m Bond. You must be Solitaire.” He stood looking at me without explaining it further. “Look it up when you get a chance, then you’ll get it. It’s just a little joke.”
“James Bond makes jokes?” I asked, smiling up at him. “And saves lives.”