A Perfect Ten (Forbidden Men #5)(102)

Her face flooded with color. “This is so freaking embarrassing.”

Taking her hand, I helped her off the sink. “Don’t worry. I got this.”

She crowded against my back, seeking protection, as I eased open the door and peered out at the scowling dude in the attendant’s uniform. “Sir,” he said so seriously that Caroline had to muffle a giggle against my vertebrae. “There’s a one-person only occupancy limit for each bathroom. You two will have to separate.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” I apologized. “She was...feeling sick. I was just checking on her.”

Jon narrowed his eyes. “Is that why she can’t stop laughing right now?”

“Well, you know.” I shrugged and flared out a hand. “Upset stomachs make her...hysterical.”

“Oh my God,” Caroline groaned in absolute mortification.

“Sir.” Jon was not amused by my lie. He folded his arms over his chest and glared up at me. “I wasn’t born yesterday. I know exactly what you two were doing. And those kinds of relations are not permitted on this commercial flight.”

“So...you’re saying we should’ve gone with Southwest instead?”

He huffed out an aggravated sound. “This is not the least bit amusing.”

“Oh, come on, man.” I sniffed and lifted my hands. “What’re you really going to do? Throw us in airplane jail?”

Jon puffed out his puny little attendant’s chest and gave me the look. “Sir, we are still close enough to turn this plane around and return you to O’Hare.”

I had a feeling he was bullshitting me. I couldn’t see them turning around just for two horny misbehaving kids, but damn he had his poker face down flat. I gulped, sensing he might just be telling the truth. “Well, shit.”

“Oh my God, no!” Caroline skipped around me and shook her head rapidly. “No, please, you can’t do that to him.” She clasped Jon’s arm desperately. “He’s on his way to an interview. The interview of a lifetime. Please.” She pressed her hand to her chest and drew in a deep breath. “It was my idea. This was all...my idea, and I’m so, so sorry. Just...please don’t do this to him. You can take me back to O’Hare instead. Just me. Not him. I’ll take all the punishment. He just...he has to get to Lake Tahoe.”

When tears filled the edges of her eyelashes, I lost it. “Damn, baby, no.” I pulled her to me and sent * Jon a scowl for making her cry.

His eyes bulged with worry as I stroked Caroline’s hair. “Don’t cry, princess. If you can’t go, then I won’t either. This was your first trip across country, your first plane ride. I’m not going anywhere without you.”

She looked up, and one of her hovering tears slid down her cheek. “But your interview.”

“Fuck the interview. My heart wouldn’t be in it if you weren’t there.” I clutched her face and looked deep into her eyes. “You jump, I jump. Right, Rose?”

She really started sobbing then. “Oh my God. We’re about to be sent to airplane jail and you’re quoting Titanic?”

“I’m sorry,” I instantly apologized. “God, baby. I’m so sorry. This was my fault. I should’ve—f*ck, I don’t know. I only said the movie quote to make you smile.”

“It worked,” she swore even as more tears flooded her face and the tipping up of her lips looked anything but happy. “It was so beautiful, and I loved it. I just...I didn’t mean to get us into trouble. You’ve been so amazing, and I’m just f*cking it all up.”

“No...no, you’re not in any trouble, ma’am.” Jon patted her shoulder hesitatingly, his expression full of worry. “I didn’t mean to make you cry. Here.” He thrust a wad of tissues at her.

“Oh. Th-thank you.” She sniffed and gingerly took a tissue before wiping her face. “So...you’re not...you’re not going to kick us off the plane?”

“Of course not. I am sorry for scaring you. I just wanted you to be aware of the rules.”

She nodded and blew her nose. “It’s okay. I’m aware now. We’re very aware.”

He still watched her warily as if ready to catch her in case she fainted or some shit. “Are you sure? Are you okay now?”

“Yes. Thank you. Thank you so much. If you don’t mind, I...I think we’ll go take our seats now.”

“Sure.” He touched her shoulder again and was lucky I didn’t snap his hand off for it. “I’m going to make you something warm to drink and bring it out to you, okay?”

“Thank you. That’s so kind.”

I lifted an eyebrow as I watched their byplay. When Caroline glanced up at me, her cheeks were still wet from crying, but not a single new tear filled her eyes. She took my hand and led us back to our seats. Without saying a word, we clicked on our seat belts and sat there, facing forward.

“You okay?” I finally asked, dipping my face to get a look at hers.

She turned to me, completely casual. “Of course. Why?”

I blinked. And then it hit me. “Why, you sneaky little shit. You just totally played him.” And me too, apparently.

Her devious grin slipped across her face. “Well, I had to do something. Your petulant smart-ass attitude wasn’t getting us anywhere.”