energy to building my business, which was much more important to me than getting too involved in a relationship.”
“You know, Dean, one of these days you’re going to meet the woman you’ve been waiting for your whole life. And when you do, you’ll be a goner.”
“Somehow I doubt that very much.” He studied her for a moment in silence. “So,” he finally said, “have you ever been married?”
She shook her head, feeling a little exasperated with him. His persistence was one of his strongest traits. It made him an excellent businessman. But she didn’t particularly like it when he aimed his curiosity at her.
Before she could decide how much she wanted to share with him, the captain’s voice came over the speakers and said they were next to take off.
She immediately tightened her seat belt.
“Any tighter and you’ll cut off the blood flow to the rest of your body,” he said drily.
She took a deep breath, held it briefly and slowly exhaled. She was being an idiot. She adjusted the strap around her and forcibly relaxed her shoulders.
“No,” she finally said in a strained voice. “I have never been married.”
“Why not?”
“Because I haven’t wanted to be, obviously.”
“Any particular reason?”
“I feel like you have me under a microscope.”
“Why? We’re going to be together for the next week. I just want to get to know who you are when you’re away from the office.”
“Oh, all right. I had one serious relationship when I was nineteen. I shared a tiny apartment with one of my coworkers. We were both secretaries in a law firm and that’s where I met him. He was a law student working at the firm part-time.
“We dated for more than a year and we talked about marriage once he finished law school. We spent most of our free time together. Everything was perfect…until I came home early one night and found him in bed with my roommate.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah.”
“Did he explain why?”
“To hear him tell it, he’d left school early and thought I might be home. When I wasn’t, my roommate suggested he wait there for me. I’m sure she planned everything to work out the way it did. His explanation was that she was there and one thing led to another and it didn’t mean anything. He apologized. Said it would never happen again.”
“And you said?”
“I was very dignified. I told him if he ever made an attempt to see me again, I’d severely injure a delicate part of his anatomy.”
He made a strangling sound but didn’t comment.
“He pretty much left me alone after that. He and my ex-friend/roommate got married a few months later because she was pregnant. I don’t know what happened after that because I accepted the job I have now and moved closer to work.”
“You took it hard.”
“That I did. There’s something about finding out that someone you considered a friend and the man you thought you were going to marry betrayed you that dampens the spirit.”
“But that was—what?—five years ago?”
“About that.”
“And you haven’t had a relationship since?”
“Not a serious one, no,” she said, knowing she sounded defensive. “I just don’t intend to get hurt again. So I don’t allow anyone to get too close.”
He looked at their hands, still entwined. “Then I feel honored.”
She lowered her brows and glared at him. “We are not close. I work for you. Just because you think I’ll try to get out of this plane before we take off doesn’t mean we’re close.” She pulled her hand away just as the plane began to roll.
“Actually you work for the company.”
“You are the company. Like I said, I work for you.” Faking nonchalance, she picked up the book and determinedly began to read, hoping his questions were at an end.
Four
Jodie was glad to get off the plane in Los Angeles and walk around. She’d finished her book and decided to get more reading material.
“We have time to get something to eat if you’d like,” Dean said as they walked past several small restaurants located along the concourse.
“I’m not really hungry. They’ll feed us on this next flight, won’t they?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll wait.”
She glanced out the glass walls and saw sunshine, blue skies and palm trees. What a difference from Chicago. “I’ve never been to L.A. before. I guess this doesn’t count since all I’m seeing is the airport.”
“Don’t you like to travel?” he asked. He motioned for her to go into one of the coffee shops with him.
“I haven’t done all that much. I’ve flown to Phoenix several times to see my mother. One Christmas the family gathered in Oregon at my brother’s place. Otherwise, my schedule keeps me too busy.”
They got their coffee and found a small table near the glass wall overlooking one of the runways. “Then I’m glad you’ve come with me this week.”
“Thank you.”
“I hope this isn’t out of line, but I can’t get over how different you look with your hair down.”
“Ah. You have no problem asking why I’m not married but hesitate to make a comment about my hair?”
“You have a point. Is it too late to apologize for my earlier questions?”
“Much too late since you listened to the entire tawdry story.” She spoiled her solemn reprimand by chuckling at the expression on his face. “Do you like my hair shorter?”
“Oh. You had it cut.”
“Yesterday.” She ran her fingers through it. “I’m still getting used to it myself.”
“It’s, uh, you look very, uh—” He stopped. “Yes, I like it.”
“Why, thank you.” She looked around them. “Are you ready to find the gate for the next leg of our trip?”
He stood and stretched, briefly causing a gap between his sweater and pants. His stomach was flat and toned. She wondered what he’d look like in a bathing suit.
On the way to the gate Jodie picked up a couple of magazines. She was a little more relaxed for this second flight. In fact, she was getting sleepy despite the coffee. Perhaps she’d be able to nap once they got into the air.
Jodie stirred as the captain announced that the plane would be making its descent into Kahului Airport, Maui, and that they would be landing in forty minutes.
She couldn’t believe she’d slept that long. She glanced at her lap and saw the magazine she’d been reading when she’d fallen asleep.
She looked over at Dean. He wore his horn-rimmed reading glasses and seemed engrossed in a technical manual. No murder mysteries and thrillers for that man.
“I see you found something light and entertaining for your vacation reading,” she said.
He lowered his chin and looked over his glasses at her. “Each of us relaxes in his own way. Did you sleep okay?”
“Surprisingly so.” She covered her mouth and yawned. “I could get used to traveling in style.” She