Chance Encounters (4 page)

When the plane started to take off, she realized immediately how tired she was. She yawned and fought to keep her eyelids from closing when she heard, “Did you want to sleep, babe?”

When he talked to her like they were a couple, she got a rush of jittery emotions. “Maybe just for a little. Don’t let me sleep too long, though.” She looked up at his seemingly chiseled features before her hand brushed down the side of his face. What was she doing? She didn’t know this guy; why the hell did she touch his face like that? This was inappropriate and she knew if Clay were doing this, she’d be livid.

But she couldn’t stop herself. Everything about this guy intrigued her. She wanted to be near his body. She wanted to touch him. Her hands wanted to be all over him. She had to fight the urge to kiss him every time she looked in his direction.

He bent down, reached into the black sport bag under the seat, and pulled out a faded gray sweatshirt. He folded it into a loose ball and placed it between his shoulder and her head. Then he gently pulled her body toward his and kissed the top of her head. As he stroked her long blonde hair, she reminded him, “Not too long. Promise me.”

“Sure…but why?”

“Because I don’t want to waste the whole flight with you sleeping.” She nuzzled into his neck and felt his cheek pressed against her head. Unable to keep her eyes open any longer, she stopped fighting the sleep that came for her. Her last waking thoughts were how the sweatshirt pillow smelled just like him and she drifted off while she breathed him in.

Caroline opened her eyes as the jarring movements of airplane turbulence forced her awake. She lifted her head slowly, but kept her arms wrapped around his body. She didn’t move her leg, either, which had somehow become intertwined with his.

“You okay?” he asked, without moving. She smiled and the attraction between them was like lightning in the night’s sky. He took a quick breath and confessed, “I want to kiss you so bad,” as he tucked a long blonde strand of hair behind her ear.

She
wanted
him to do it. Her lips screamed at her to let him. But the reality of her situation, and Clay, was something her conscious mind couldn’t get past.

“I…have a boyfriend,” she stuttered. It was the truth, but at that moment she wished it wasn’t. It was the first time she had spoken those words and felt nothing but disappointment. What was wrong with her? Clay was not the type of guy a girl was disappointed to have.

“I’m truly sorry to hear that. He’s one lucky guy,” he informed, still holding her.

Caroline’s mind drifted to thoughts of kissing this stranger. Touching him. Allowing her hands to roam all over his body. She wondered how bad could it be? She could kiss him and never speak of it again. It was the perfect scenario for a hookup—a plane flight across the country surrounded by strangers. No one would be the wiser. No one would ever know. She sighed softly and thought to herself,
I would know. I could never live with myself if I did that to Clay.

She inched away from his secure arms and leaned her head into the seat. As they faced each other she said, “I’m so attracted to you. I really want to kiss you, but I can’t. It’s not right.”

“I understand. I respect you for that. But I’ve still got four hours or so to change your mind,” he teased.

“I’ll make you a deal. If this plane goes down, I’ll let you kiss me the whole way,” she told him laughing.

“I’ve never wanted a plane to crash so badly in my life.”

Caroline was keenly aware that this flight would come to an end, this guy would walk out of her life, and she’d be forever changed from it. She felt things stronger than most people. Sometimes she felt it was a curse to feel things so deeply, but other times she felt it was one of her best qualities.

The two of them talked for hours. She kept her legs tangled in his and he acted as if he wouldn’t take his arms off of her if someone paid him to.

“So what do you do?” she asked.

He paused for a moment, as if unsure of how his words would sound. “I’m finishing up business school in the city, and I work on my parents’ farm.”

Her face lit up with surprise. “A farm? In New York? What kind of farm?”

“It’s upstate…a dairy farm. We have some orchards, too. I like to help out my dad when I can.” He smiled at her and cocked his head in the most charming way.

“You’re way too hot to be a farmer,” she flirted.

“Oh, really? How many farmers do you know?”

She laughed, then shrugged. “Counting you?”

“Sure. Counting me.”

“One.” She smiled and her face crinkled up. “Do you like farming? I mean is that what you want to do?”

He laughed at the simplicity of her question. “I do. The farm has been in my family for generations and I want to keep it that way. That’s why I’m taking these classes. We have to keep up with the times, you know?”

Caroline warmed, the heat of desire and respect coursing through her veins. “I love how proud you are. And respectful. It’s very attractive.” He blushed and averted his eyes. She continued to compliment him. “You’re smart, passionate, and determined. I really respect that.”

He smiled gently. “Thank you.” Longing to change the subject he asked, “What about you? What do you do?”

“I’m a marketing assistant for JD Walters,” she said proudly.

He cocked his head. “Am I supposed to know who that is?”

She laughed and shook her head. “Not in your line of work. He’s one of the best print ad photographers in San Francisco.”

“What does that mean? Print ads…like magazines, billboards, and stuff?”

“Exactly. Guess you’re not all body and no brains after all,” she teased.

“Oh, no no no. I’m definitely all body.” He smiled at her.

“My best friend, Bailey, works there too; I’ve known her since high school. She got me the job, actually.”

“You have good friends.”

“The best,” she smiled.

“Is that where you’re from?”

“Where? San Francisco?” Her expression soured. “God, no. I’m from Southern California. I just moved to Nor Cal for work.”

“That’s…” He paused as he struggled to find the right word. “Convenient.”

“I guess so.” Caroline smiled. “When’s your birthday?”

He cocked an eyebrow at her. “January 17th. Why?”

“Just wondering,” she said while her shoulders lifted. “So, what does that make you? A Capricorn?”

He nodded. “I think so. When’s your birthday?”

“July 2nd. I’m a Cancer,” she informed him.

“Yeah, you are,” he responded playfully.

“You’re the cancer! You’re like a growth or something.” She crinkled her nose at him.

He laughed at her cheekiness and mimicked her response before asking. “So why were you in New York?”

“I had to go to a funeral.”

“I’m sorry. How did you know someone from New York if you’re from California?”

She smiled at his handsome face and stunning blue eyes. “I went to college there. I just moved back to California a few months ago, after graduation.”

“Oh. So whose funeral was it?”

“His name was Johnny. He was one of my closest friends. A really good guy…you would have loved him.”

“I bet I would have.”

Caroline knew he didn’t try to be charming, but every word this gorgeous farm boy spoke was nothing but.

“More importantly,” she smiled, “he would have approved of you.”

He leaned toward her and kissed the top of her head again and the attraction pulsed throughout her veins. She had to fight off the impulse to tilt her head up and allow him to kiss her lips.

Caroline reminded herself constantly that it was wrong. Even though every fiber of her being screamed out for him, she allowed her conscience to win the battle.

“So why are you flying to California?” she wondered out loud.

“I have some meetings for farm stuff, and my buddy is getting married.”

“Seriously? So how do you have a friend in California, if you’re from New York?” she asked him mockingly.

“He moved out there for work. He loves it. I think he’s crazy.” He shrugged and smiled.

She laughed out loud. “Have you ever been or is this your first trip?”

“First trip.”

“I think you might surprise yourself,” she said and winked at him.

“What do you mean?” He leaned toward her, his eyes looking her up and down.

“I’m just saying, you never know. You might love it there.”

“Do you?” he fired back in response.

She laughed and told him, “Not at all. But don’t get me wrong. I’m from Southern California and Northern is just so different. The weather will be the death of me, I’m sure of it.”

“How did you ever survive in New York?” he teased.

“That was different. I tolerated the weather for the atmosphere and the energy. I love it there so much!”

The teenager tried to interrupt their conversation, but Caroline quickly cut him off. “Not now, boy, you’re on a time-out.”

“For what?” the boy pouted.

“For talking. Quiet time.”

Caroline and her stranger laughed as the teenaged boy slumped into his seat and folded his arms with a grunt. Then her stranger leaned in close and whispered, “I wish I could bring you to the wedding.”

Having his lips breathe words into her ear sent chills racing all the way down to her toes. She could barely handle it as her heart raced and her breath felt sporadic. “I bet we’d have the best time. Do you dance?”

“Of course,” he stated, both confident and sexy.

“Will you think about me?” She played with fire, but thought if he felt the same, then maybe it would make it all less wrong somehow.

“Of course I’ll think about you. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

“Well, it’s a wedding. Lots of single girls, I’m sure. You’ll probably have a slew of new fans before the day is over.” She tried to act cool and nonchalant, but deep down she wanted to be the girl who was different—the one who made a guy do things he’d never normally do, behave in ways he’d never behaved, because he met her, or had to have her.

“You’re probably right,” he joked.

Pangs of disappointment darted through her body as she faked a smile.

The plane started to lose altitude slowly and that could only mean one thing. “I’ve been dreading that feeling,” he confessed, interlocking his fingers with hers.

“What feeling?” she wondered, keenly aware of his touch.

“We’re going to be landing soon. I don’t want this flight to be over.” He rubbed her fingers with his thumb.

She was aware of the moisture that started to fill her eyes and she blinked quickly to keep her emotions at bay. “I don’t want to go,” she said and then quickly buried her head into his chest.

“Me either,” he said, and she knew he meant it.

“I don’t want to let go.” Caroline refused to unwrap her hands from his body.

He smiled. “I know exactly what you mean.”

She felt his grip tighten slightly and she took a slow, deep breath before closing her eyes, completely consumed in him. Her heart hurt and she wondered why and how this stranger could affect her this strongly in such a short amount of time.

“I can’t believe this is it.” She lost herself for a moment in the blue of his eyes. She stared deeply into them as every thought she didn’t dare say aloud floated around in her mind. Like how much she wished she could leave with him. How she wanted to see him again before he left town. How desperately she wanted to kiss those full, gorgeous, soft-looking lips. How she couldn’t believe she had to let him go and walk away as though they’d never met.

“I think I’m really going to miss you,” he said, his voice half surprised so it came out weird.

She rolled her eyes. “Wow. That was sweet,” she said, her voice dripping with teasing sarcasm.

She wanted to grab him by the back of the neck and crush her lips against his. The way his lips moved when he spoke tempted her. Everything tempted her. He leaned close to her face and softly kissed her cheek. The brush of his lips against her cheek made her feel flushed. When he pulled away, the heat still lingered. She struggled to catch her breath.

“And hey,” he said softly as he tilted her chin up. “I won’t cheat on you this weekend.”

“What?” Completely lost in his touch, she had no idea what he meant.

He laughed. “At the wedding. The other girls. Don’t worry, babe. None of them will be you.”

Her mouth fell open slightly and she didn’t respond.

“By the way, this has been the best flight of my life,” he confessed to her with a smile, as the plane landed with a few bumps on the runway.

Caroline looked out the small, dirty window at the city in the distance before she turned back to him. “Me too. I can’t believe I have to let you walk away.” She believed people came into her life for a reason and although she wasn’t entirely sure what his purpose was, she knew she had never had feelings like this for a stranger before. She didn’t want to let him go, but knew she had to. Letting him go felt wrong somehow, but what other option did she have?