Flight to Paradise (Flight Trilogy, Book 1) (36 page)

After takeoff, Keri and Candi started a beverage service in coach. Candi chattered nonstop, only taking time to flirt with male passengers.

“So, where do you live?” Keri asked.

“I live in San Diego. What about you?”

“Laguna Beach.”

“Awesome. I love Laguna Beach. That’s where my boyfriend lives.”

“How long have you guys been dating?”

“About a year. He’s like, the best. He’s a pilot.”

“Does he fly for us?”

“Yeah. He’s like, soooo hot. I’ll have to be honest with you…” She leaned over the cart and whispered quietly, “He is like, so unbelievable…like, you know what I mean?” She winked at Keri.

Keri faked a smile. “I guess.”

“I mean, like, he makes me want to do things that, like, I’ve only dreamed about.” She rolled her eyes while her tongue slowly swept across her top lip. “Mmmm, he is totally delicious.”

“Interesting.” Keri was caught off guard by her openness, not to mention her obnoxious overuse of the word “like.” “You living with this guy?”

“No. Not yet. He’s married.”

“Oh really?”

Great
!
A
homewrecker
.
This
is
exactly
the
type
of
skank
I
would
imagine
Rex
to
be
running
around
with
.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s totally okay. He doesn’t love her, and he’s like, leaving her soon.”

“Did he tell you this?”

“Like, duh. Do you think I would be with him if he hadn’t? Like, really. Give me a break.”

“Well, you never can tell about some guys.”

“I can totally tell, he is like,
so
, in love with me. Sometimes he will even pop by my place on his way home after a trip. He says all he thinks about is me and can’t go home until he sees me.” She rolled her head. “Isn’t that just, too sweet?”

Keri didn’t answer. Nothing, so far, sounded “sweet” about this jerk.

Candi leaned closer and whispered to Keri, “I think I’m pregnant.” She pulled back and smiled big. “I missed my period…and I
never
miss my period. That’s why I’m, like, pretty sure I’m pregnant. I guess I should get one of those little thingies to make sure.”

Keri just stared, not sure how to respond. This “thingy” she was working with was,
like
, from another planet.

“Oh, it’s totally cool. My boyfriend loves children, and he said once he leaves his wife, we’re going to have lots and lots of children. We both love kids…and, like, I’m still a kid at heart. I can’t wait to be a mommy.”

The thought of this woman being responsible for a child was plain scary. “Does your boyfriend know you’re pregnant?”

“Not yet. But he, like, never uses a condom—you know, like, when we do it—so I’m sure he’ll be excited to hear the news.”

This
guy
must
really
be
a
piece
of
work
.

He’s married, having sex with this little slut on the side, without using protection, and now he’s gotten her pregnant.

Keri asked, “So, what does this guy look like?”

“He’s totally hot. You can see for yourself. He’s meeting me when we land. I’m like, soooo stoked! I’m gonna stay with him, like, for a couple of days. You’ll have to meet him. I just know you’ll love him. He is like, the best.”

“I can’t wait,” Keri responded, faking her excitement. She was dying to see the creep that fell for this little bimbo. It made her thankful there were still men like Ryan.

“You’re so right, we, like, totally need to move-in together,” Candi said.

Keri didn’t remember suggesting she move in with this guy, but then again, Candi’s brain wasn’t her strongest attribute.

She continued, “It seems like, all we do when we’re together is like, have sex nonstop.” She rolled her eyes and blushed when she said, “He like, rules the bedroom. I think we’ve like, done it on practically every flat surface in his condo. If we moved in together, then like, maybe we would have time for other stuff…don’t get me wrong, I love the sex, but you know, like, I want to get to know him in other ways, too, like, what he’s into and stuff.”

For the next two hours Keri listened to the nonstop graphic details of every possible romantic adventure Candi had ever had with “lover boy”; his place in Laguna; her place in San Diego; and layovers all over the country.

Keri was amazed. They had never met, yet this girl was freely telling her the erotic details between her and some horny pilot. How typical, she thought. She wondered if it was just her, or did Blondie bare her soul to every flight attendant she worked with. In a way, she started to feel embarrassed about meeting “Mr. Stud Muffin.” Looking him in the face would either make her laugh-out loud, or puke.

Before landing, Candi made one last pass through the cabin ensuring all of the tray tables were up and the seats were in their upright position for landing. But most importantly—that every man on the plane got one last look.

Once they docked at the gate and the seatbelt signs were extinguished, the passengers struggled, hurriedly, jockeying to maneuver their bags free from the tight overhead bins, and make their way to the front of the airplane.

Freshly primped, Candi emerged from the lav with a fresh coat of lip gloss, smelling like the perfume counter at some discount department store. The three of them trailed behind the last passenger, Candi leading the way.

As they emerged into the terminal, Keri almost tripped on Candi’s roller bag when she dropped it and took off toward some guy standing off to the side. She had him all wrapped up in a hug before Keri could even get a look at the guy.

When they broke from their lip-lock for air, Candi moved aside, her arm laced in his, and proudly said, “Keri and Amanda, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Rex Dean.”

Initially shocked and a bit dizzy, Keri quickly gained her composure. Without missing a beat, she responded in a calm voice, “How nice. Now Candice, I’d like for you to meet my
husband
…Rex Dean.”

Not being too bright, Candi swiveled her head, searching for another man with the same name. Not until Rex started groping for excuses did Candi appear to catch on.

Rex begged, “Keri, it's not what you think. I love you.”

“What!” Candi squealed. “What about me?”

“Not now, you little twit!” Rex scolded Candi, continuing to plead with Keri. “Please…baby, please…she means nothing to me. You’re the only one I love. Don’t do this. At least let me explain!”

Candi stepped between Rex and Keri, coiled like a viper. “Please, baby? I’ll please baby, you!” She hauled-off and slapped him across the face. “You told me you loved me! I’m out of here.”

“Thank you, my dear. I couldn’t have said it better,” Keri said, turning to Rex. “You’ll be hearing from my lawyer. In the meantime, find somewhere else to sleep.” Keri strode away with Amanda by her side.

“Are you okay?” Amanda asked, in a concerned voice.

“I’ve never been better.” Keri said, as a smile grew on her face.

CHAPTER 66

Dumped by
two
women
in
one
day
.

Rex cruised south on the PCH toward Dana Point headed for his favorite watering hole.

This
can’t
be
happening
…

It wasn’t the thought of being single that bothered him; it was the fact he now had to kiss the old man’s money good-bye. His parents had pulled the plug and all he had was his airline salary. That wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for all the debt he’d racked up.

Get
a
-
hold
of
yourself
.
You’re
the
Rexter
,
remember
.

He flipped the car’s stereo on and hit the play button. If anyone could restore his confidence, it was his good buddy, Englebert Humperdinck. Engulfed by the drone of the Porsche’s engine and the unrestricted view of the ocean, he waited expectantly for the healing words of his mentor.

Like a friend sharing words of wisdom, the crooning Humpster’s voice came alive. But when Rex heard the Humpster start with
A
Man
Without
Love
, he yelled out, “Awe, come on Hump! You can do better than that!”

He flipped to the next selection. Every tune memorized, it only took the warble of the harmonica and the first five words of
There
Goes
My
Everything
, before Rex slammed his palm against the steering wheel and cried out, “Come on Hump! Help me out here.”

He switched again. This time the Humpster bellowed out the lyrics of
Release
Me
. “Better,” Rex said. “But, hump…get with the program, she already dumped me.” Tired of the process, he flipped back to the first selection:
A
Man
Without
Love
and listened. By the time the Humpster had reached the chorus, Rex was singing along at the top of his voice.

* * *

“How’s it going, Rex?” The bartender asked while slowly rubbing a white cloth along the top of the smooth wood surface of the massive oak bar.

“Not too good, Joe,” Rex said somberly as he eased into the leather bar chair.

“What can I get you?”

“The usual…except, this time, you better make it a double. And don’t go too far with that bottle.”

“That bad, huh?” Joe scooped some ice into a six-ounce tumbler followed with rum and coke—mostly rum—and set the glass on top of a cocktail napkin with the imprint:
Watford
Hotel
&
Resort
,
Monarch
Beach
. With its elegant terraces, comfortable furnishings, manicured golf course, and spectacular elevated view of the Pacific Ocean, it made for the perfect luxury rest-stop for the wealthy.

Rex lifted his glass and took a sip, then placed it back on the small paper napkin. In the mirror expanding the entire length of the wall behind the bar, he noticed a well-dressed blond sitting alone on a small sofa in the corner of the room. “Who’s the hottie?” Rex asked.

“Not sure, but she’s been here all week. Spends money like it’s water. Big tipper.”

“You seen her with anyone?”

“No. But it has been fun to watch. Every guy that walks in here tries to hit on her. So far, I haven’t seen any of them score.”

Rex watched in the mirror as the blond sipped on her pink-colored drink with a little umbrella shading a slice of pineapple on the rim. “She sure looks familiar.”

“They all look the same to me,” Joe said.

“How many umbrellas?”

“I believe that’s her third.”

“Perfect.” Rex said, starting to feel his old self return. After slipping out of the bar chair, he pulled a thick stack of bills from his pocket, peeled off a twenty, and slapped it on the bar. “Thanks, Joe.”

He took a quick glance past Joe, into the mirror. With a run of his fingers through his wavy blond hair and a forced smile at his double, he said, “Now you get to watch the Rexter do his magic.”

He casually strolled over to where the woman was sitting, seconds before she turned his way.

I
don’t
believe
this
.

“Emily?”

“Rex?” she said, stumbling to her feet, wrapping him in a sloppy hug. “Have a seat,” she said, still holding his hands. “I can’t believe it. How have you been?” Rex took a seat on the sofa beside her. She continued smiling, placing one hand on his thigh.

“Good,” he said. “Hey, I’m sorry things didn’t—”

“Don’t be,” she quickly interrupted. “Everything worked out great…actually, better than great.” Rex knew Emily had dumped Ryan for some rich dude, but he had no idea who the guy was. “Wow. Just look at you…handsome as ever. So, how’s it going with you and Keri?”

“Ah…it’s not.”

“What do you mean?”

“Keri had too many issues. She sorta flipped out. Now she wants a divorce. I’m not so sure about those Southern women. Too clingy for me.”

Rex glanced down at the coffee table. A paperback novel with the title “Beneath the Sheets” pictured the half-naked bodies of a man and woman wrapped in a white satin sheet. His eyes returned to meet her gaze. Still a strikingly beautiful woman.

“So, you got a girlfriend?” She gave him a sneaky smile.

He didn’t want to tell her that less than an hour ago, Keri caught him with his little playtoy, Candi.

“My philosophy is to love the one you’re with, so, for the next few minutes, I guess you’re it.” They both laughed, Emily giving his thigh a soft squeeze.

“Tell me something, Rex.” Her speech slurred, dragging its way to completion, while she twirled the little umbrella in her empty glass. “That day on the beach at Coronado,” she said, looking down at her glass, “why did you go for my friend, Kate, instead of me?” Her gaze lifted to meet his.

“I must’ve been blinded by the sun.” He gazed off and squinted. If I remember correctly, the sun was in my eyes that day.” His tone softened. “But from what I see now, I made a big mistake.” Emily was the kind of woman that quenched her thirst for acceptance with the compliments of men.

“Well, sailor, I think your ship has just come in.”

“How’s that?”

“You’re looking at a soon-to-be very rich woman,” she said proudly. “And this woman is inviting you to come aboard for the cruise of your life.” She lifted her empty glass, as in a toast, then to her mouth, ice cubes sliding against her lips.

He held a salute and replied, “Aye, aye, captain. Your first mate is ready to shove off.”

She laughed, then eased back on the sofa and said, “You see, I only married the poor sucker for his money. Although he thought I was crazy about him, it was all about the money. He just needed a little attention; something his wife never gave him.”

“What? No sex?”

“Are you kidding?” She chuckled. “The old guy had one foot in the grave. It was his heart. One night with me, and he would have surely kicked it. All I had to do was wait it out and hope his wife didn’t pull a fast one. But then she had an unfortunate, but timely accident.”