Flight to Paradise (Flight Trilogy, Book 1) (15 page)

“Are you ready to go?”

“I’m ready.” She closed and locked the door, and they walked to his car. After assisting her into the passenger seat, he moved around the front of the car.

Impressive
.
The
perfect
gentleman
.

Before starting the engine, he said, “I know a great place up in Newport Beach. You’ll love it. It’s called
The
Cannery
. Great atmosphere…and the food is fantastic.”

“Sounds good to me.”

She had heard of the place from a coworker—nice but pricy.
The
Cannery
was an upscale waterfront seafood restaurant originally built as a commercial fish cannery in 1921. The location on the Rhine Channel, between 30th Street and Lido Park Drive, offered a natural charm and seaside ambiance; a perfect postcard scene of weathered boardwalks, gleaming yachts, and gently bobbing sailboats.

“Guess what?” Rex said.

“What?”

“I got my acceptance letter today with the airlines.”

“Fantastic!”

“Better yet, it looks like we’re
all
going to be working together. You, me, and Ryan. Your airline picked us both up.”

“Ryan, too?”

“Yes. We even have the same class date, August 20th.”

Hearing “Ryan, too”, ignited more crazy thoughts: flights together; private conversations; layovers—all without Emily.

I
shouldn’t
be
thinking
like
this
.

“Where would you like to be based?”

“I’m definitely coming back to the West Coast.”

“What about Ryan? Is he…or, I should say, are
they
planning to move back to the West Coast?”

“Ryan doesn’t know about his acceptance yet.”

“How did you find out?”

“Oh…I opened his mail. If he calls, I can tell him the good news.”

“So, you think they will eventually move back to California?”

“I doubt it. Emily is all charged up about Texas. She
thinks
she wants to travel and see the world.”

“Really?” She gazed out the window at the ocean and the distant horizon as they sped north on the Pacific Coast Highway. The sun was only minutes from disappearing behind the thin line separating the sky from the ocean. Somewhere far beyond that line were the Hawaiian Islands.

He’s
over
there
—
with
Emily
.

“Penny for your thoughts,” Rex said.

“What did you mean by Emily ‘thinks’ she wants to travel?”

“Emily doesn’t know what she wants.”

“What makes you the expert on what Emily wants?”

“I’ve practically lived with her for the last six months. Remember, Ryan
is
my roommate. In some ways, I probably know more about Emily than he does.”

“Maybe she’s put some thought into it and knows what she wants.”

“Emily? Think? Are you kidding?” He snorted. “Emily is your classic dumb blond: an empty shell.”

“Interesting.” Rex had confirmed Keri’s initial impression of Emily: air-head. That’s why she couldn’t believe Ryan had fallen for her. What was he thinking?

* * *

Rex felt empowered. The music of the Humpster played in his mind:
After
the
Lovin’
.

This
is
going
to
be
easier
than
I
thought
.

Straight from the pages of
Gone
with
the
Wind
, he would become the perfect gentleman every Southern woman dreams about, removing any suspicion of his motives.

Next, he would paint Emily as man’s most feared predator, allowing him to bond with Keri and her obvious concern for Ryan. With her guard down and someone nearby she could confide in, the trap would be set.

All he had to do then was pluck the little peach from her worried branch after assuring her Ryan would never leave Emily, regardless of how she treated him.

Easy as one, two, three—perfect gentleman; paint the predator; pluck the peach. The trick was not to hang around too long. The minute she starts to show any signs of attachment would be his queue to dump her and move on.

As the car rolled into the restaurant parking lot, two valets rushed to meet them. While one young man assisted Keri, Rex exchanged greetings with the other one, handing him the keys to the Porsche.

A brass plate by the door to the restaurant was engraved with the words, “DRESS CODE.”

Keri looked down at her white slacks, navy V-neck top and sandals and hesitated. “Am I dressed okay?”

“You’re fine.” He reached in front of her and took hold of the brass door handle to the large wooden door. “After you.” He smiled.

“Thank you.”

The receptionist stood behind a lectern. A small brass lamp illuminated the seating chart. After a casual greeting, Rex leaned over the lectern and pointed to a particular table on the seating diagram. “Is my usual table available tonight?” A ten-dollar bill fell from his hand to the lectern.

“I believe it is.” She smiled. “Follow me.” The hostess seated them by the window overlooking the harbor filled with extravagant yachts.

Keri glanced out and noticed two men aboard a yacht dressed in uniforms: white shirts, navy slacks and ties, epaulets with gold stripes on their shoulders; apparently the crew, waiting for their wealthy owners to return from dinner. It reminded her of her privileged life growing up: chartered jets, limousine rides, shopping trips to New York, and family vacations to Europe. She learned the power of money at an early age—both to provide pleasure and inflict pain.

Just as mind-altering drugs have the ability to strip a person of their true identity while robbing them of their souls, the abundance and abuse of money has the power to do likewise. It was a lesson she learned best while watching her mother operate in her grandiloquent and boastful style. For Barbara Ann, the measure of a person was determined
not
by their character, but by their status and standing in society. Her mother’s twisted view of life had ultimately cost Keri a life of happiness with the man she loved—her soul mate.

As she grew older, Keri longed for a life free from any association with the pompous arrogance her mother embraced so dearly. Instead, she hoped to emulate the life of her dear friend, Martha Mitchell. Ryan’s mother lived a simple life, but had a profound understanding of the essence of humanity: love, strength, determination, and persistence when dealing with adversity. She lived her life quietly and without fanfare, always available to contribute to the lives of others. From Martha’s strength of heart, Keri found enormous amounts of personal inspiration.

The soft music and dimly lit dining room relaxed her. The glassy calm water in the harbor mirrored the lights from restaurants, shops, and yachts standing ready in the harbor.

The menu offered delightful selections of seafood and beef. She decided on a macadamia nut crusted northern halibut with a tropical pineapple relish and mint-champagne sauce. Rex chose the wood-broiled Pacific Swordfish, mashed potatoes, and seeded mustard sauce.

“You sure know how to pick your restaurants,” she said.

“This is one of my favorites. I always look forward to coming here when I’m in the area. I hope I’ll be in the area more often.” He cut her a smile.

Keri put the white cloth napkin in her lap and took a sip of wine. “What do you think Ryan will do? I mean….” looking down, pretending to adjust the napkin in her lap, “long term? I know you said he plans to start out in Texas.”

“I don’t think it’s a matter of what
Ryan
wants.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, unable to hide her concern.

Rex reached over and held one end of the hot bread the waiter had just delivered. Making two slices in the small loaf, he took one for himself.

“I think it’s going to depend on his new bride and what
she
wants,” he said. With his knife, he scooped a healthy portion of the soft butter from the dish beside the bread loaf and smeared it on the bread. “To be honest, I don’t think she’s gonna last in Texas. She’s too much like me. California blood runs in her veins.”

“What do you predict will happen?”

“I’d give her a year, two tops.”

“Until what?”

“Till they…or she is back in California.”

“What do you mean ‘or she’?”

“You’d have to know Emily.” He took a bite of the soft buttered bread. “She’s not the kind to be told what to do.”

“You don’t think she’d
leave
him, do you?”

“No telling. The poor girl has never stepped one foot out of California her entire life. I can’t wait to see how she reacts to her first Texas summer.” He laughed.

“Well, if she truly loves him, I don’t see how she could even
think
about leaving him.”

“I’m not so sure she loves Ryan as much as he loves her.”

“Surely Ryan wouldn’t marry someone that didn’t love him.”

“I’m not saying she doesn’t love him, after all, how can anybody know if someone loves them, or not.”

“You can tell by the way a person acts toward you.”

“Hmm. So, I guess if some dude is kind, sensitive, attentive, and always showers you with gifts, and flowers, you would take that to mean he
loves
you?”

“No. It’s more than that. I can’t explain it, but I would know.” She felt awkward—almost threatened—trying to defend her beliefs about love. She needed to change the subject. “Anyway, why was Ryan in such a hurry to get married?”

Rex said, “Ryan is grade-A husband material. He’s the type that is destined to marry, sooner or later.”

“The type?”

“Needy. The entire time I’ve known him, almost six years now, he has always been a little awkward around women. I can’t imagine why. He’s a nice looking guy. I just think it’s his background. Based on what he’s told me, he never dated much in high school. And at the Naval Academy, well, from what I hear, the best you can do there is a one-night stand with one of the local girls, or you might get lucky with a faculty member’s daughter; although now I hear they let women attend.”

“So, you think the only reason he fell for Emily was because she happened to be there at the right time?”

“He never liked dating much. Emily made it
easy
for him.” He laughed.

“What’s so funny?”

“Just thinking about the word ‘easy’ in the same sentence with ‘Emily’ makes me laugh.”

“You saying Emily was easy—as in sexually?”

“Well, let’s just say, she’s no Emily Post.”

“Funny,” she said, with a sarcastic tone.

“When she took after him, he didn’t have a chance. But I saw right through her little game. She was looking for a ticket out of town. Sure, she likes him—may even love him—but not like he loves her. Poor boy was smitten the minute he laid eyes on her.”

“So, you think Ryan really loves her?”

“Not really.”

“Oh boy. I’m confused. First, you say he loves her, then you say ‘not really’.”

“Ryan loves what he
imagines
Emily to be, not the real Emily. I’m not even sure
Emily
knows who she is. Bottom line, I think Ryan is in for a rough ride once he sees who he really married. But if I know Ryan, he’ll never leave her. He’s all into the ‘until death do us part’ thing.”

Keri was more confused than ever. The information Rex readily dished out was painful to listen to, yet, in some ways, satisfying. But she needed more—more facts. She needed to know what made Ryan lose his mind and heart. How could this girl rob him of his good senses, so quickly?

The meal came and exceeded all of her expectations. The conversation eventually drifted away from Ryan and Emily. Rex had questions about the airline. He took control of the questioning, wanting to know about schedules, layovers, and flight attendants. Keri could tell he appeared more excited about chasing skirts than flying airplanes. In a way, she was relieved. At least he wasn’t interested in her.

The wonderful meal was topped off with a dessert of white chocolate crème brulees, caramelized with two sugars, topped with strawberries. After coffee, they left the restaurant and walked along the Rhine Channel.

The night was still and quiet. A full moon cast its reflection on the water. Occasional laughter and conversation echoed off the harbor’s silence. Several yachts dressed with lights hosted private parties for their wealthy owners and intoxicated guests.

“What about you?” Rex turned and looked at her as they walked. “You got someone special in your life? Some rich airline captain?” He chuckled. “A good-looking girl like you probably has a different man waiting in every city, right?”

“Nope, no one special.” She thought, the only one special in her life was now married.

“I don’t believe my ears! We have so much in common. We both are airline people, or soon to be; we both know Ryan and Emily; we’re both single and available. Sounds like fate to me.”

“You’re too funny.” She nudged him with her elbow. “I’d probably better be getting home, and you’ve got a long drive ahead of you.”

They strolled back to the front of the restaurant. Rex gave the valet his call tag, and, within minutes, they were on their way.

She enjoyed the evening and felt she had gained a new insight into Ryan’s life, along with a new list of questions; questions she must have answers to before she could move on with her life.

CHAPTER 25

“Here we are,” Rex said, coasting into Keri’s driveway.

She turned to Rex. “Thank you for a wonderful dinner.”

“My pleasure. I hope you’ll let me take you out again, soon.”

She paused, a little afraid to commit to another “meeting.” After all, she knew she was only using him and felt a bit guilty taking advantage of him.

Then, out of the blue, he said, “Keri, I know all about you and Ryan.”

“What do you mean?” Her heart raced, as if someone had discovered a deep incriminating secret about her.

“I know about your past with Ryan…in high school.”

Although she had nothing to hide, the sudden and unexpected discovery that Rex knew more, possibly much more, made her feel violated. Why had he kept it a secret? Why? Her concern turned to anger. He had deceived her. The whole time, even at the wedding, he knew everything.