Trust In Us

“Not...” Gage observed the easy arrogance in Clive’s resulting smile and fell into another roll of laughter. “Try and save a few of the sistas for the rest of us, will you?” he asked when he’d come up for air. The teasing pleas held a fair amount of seriousness. Gage knew that his old college roommate fully earned his ladies’-man status.

“You and your counterparts are safe.” Clive leaned back in his desk chair. Behind him a view of swaying palms and unending turquoise water rippled in the distance. “Besides, this lady is only interested in me for my building.”

“Good for her. Smart in business and too smart to fall for your foolish lines.”

“Hey! My lines are gold.” Clive shook his head in spite of himself and appeared a touch serious. “You’re right, though—she’s a smart one. Ambitious, too. That combined with your assurance that there is more money in my future is enough for the time being. Besides—” the playful light returned to Clive’s expression “—it’s going to take a lot of time to get the place in shape. That’s more than enough time for me to put my wooing skills to work.”

Smiling broadly, Gage shook his head, as well. “Be sure to let me know how that works out for you.” He wiped at a laugh tear in the corner of his eye and straightened in his chair when he took notice of his open doorway.

The woman from the tarmac waved a hand but began to back out of the office. Gage motioned her forward. Satisfied that she was obliging his request, he interrupted Clive midsentence.

“C? Listen I need to go, but we’ll catch up as soon as we land, all right?”

“Sounds good. See you then.” Clive signed off with a mock salute just before his side of the split screen went black.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were on a call.” She bit the side of her lip, watching as he closed down the laptop.

“Come on in.” Gage was done with the computer and rounded the desk while giving her another beckoning wave.

She hadn’t taken more than a few steps into the office. There she remained. “I only came to apologize.”

“Apologize?” His playful frown prefaced a smile. “Now you have to come in.”

His hand folded down over her elbow, drawing her into the small, albeit state-of-the-art, work space. Despite her reluctance to move forward, she let herself be led into the smartly done office.

“Wow...” She blinked several times in rapid succession, turning to assess every element of the room.

Gage allowed himself to marvel, as well. Sure, he’d marveled over her looks—what man wouldn’t? She was tall and possessed more than her fair share of soft curves, as well as a fragile allure that belied a certain strength. The radiant, creamy caramel of her skin, the stunning amethyst tinge of her stare and the wavy tousle of blue-black bobbing about that lovely face had captured a great deal of his interest. Still, her heart-stopping physical assets didn’t explain the extent of his attention.

What was it exactly? It annoyed him that he couldn’t put a finger on it and yet it beckoned him just the same. Gage believed that once he managed to pinpoint the “it,” he wouldn’t be nearly as infatuated with her as he surely felt he was becoming.

“Alythia Duffy.”

He realized she was giving her name and offering her hand once he’d eased out of the deep well of his thoughts. Taking the hand she extended, he didn’t shake it, only squeezed and held. His grip hinted of possession and gave no promise of freedom.

Alythia cleared her throat.

“You weren’t out there when the introductions went around earlier and I—” She cast a quick look toward the doorway. “I, um... I missed the first ‘getting to know you’ session because I was running sort of late.”

“Right...” Gage allowed unfairly long lashes to settle over his warm gaze as though he were just recalling that fact. “Right...happily late till you discovered your ride hadn’t left without you.”

Alythia hung her head when her eyes closed. Gage could feel her hand going limp inside his and he gave it a few reassuring pumps in an attempt to pull her gaze back to his. It worked.

“Gage Vincent.”

“I know.” Alythia then placed her free hand over the one he’d clasped about hers.

She’d bowed her head again and moved a smidge closer and he took the opportunity to inhale deeply of the light fragrance she wore.

“I’m so sorry about before.” Alythia raised her head suddenly.

“You’ve already apologized to me twice at least and we haven’t even known each other a full day.”

“Oh, I’m—” Alythia appeared to be piping up to extend more apologies. Again she bowed her head. “I didn’t mean to mistake you for working here.”

“Why?” Gage faked confusion, although he knew very well what had her so distressed. “I employ a great group of folks.” He shrugged. “It’s nice to be thought of as one of them.”

“But I shouldn’t have assumed—”

“Why not? I offered to take your bags, didn’t I?”

“Yes, but—”

“You weren’t rude to me, were you?”

“I—” Alythia paused. “I guess not,” she said finally.

Imprisoning her hand in both of his then, Gage squeezed again, using the gesture to tug her closer. “You weren’t. Trust me, I know what rude is.” Briefly, his liquid stare shifted left as though he were about to look across his shoulder.

Alythia piped up once more, this time in order to champion her friends. “The trip hit us out of nowhere. I’m afraid we’re all sort of...um...discombobulated.” She pressed her lips together.

Gage’s eyes locked on her plump bronze-glossed mouth. Silently, he commanded his focus to reside on her words, for the time being, at least.

“Orchid’s your typical nervous bride. I guess we’re all nervous.” Alythia sounded as though she was speaking the last bit to herself.

Gage narrowed his gaze, cocking his head inquisitively in hopes that she’d elaborate on the last. Instead, she fixed him with a dazzling smile that he admitted pleased him just as much as any clarification she might have given.

“I just don’t want us to get off on the wrong foot. It’s important for Orchid that the trip goes well and I can’t afford to be the one that shoots it all to hell.”

Gage felt the wicked flex of muscle along his jaw. “And why should all of that rest on you?”

Alythia responded with a laugh that was clearly tension filled. “There are many ‘whys,’ Mr. Vincent. Among them my inability to be on time when there’s fun to be had.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t mean to ramble. Like I said, we’re all a little nervous.”

Nodding, Gage used the hand he still held captive to pull her arm through the crook of his. “Well, the least an aircraft employee can do is to find a way to settle a passenger’s nerves.”

With that, he escorted Alythia from the office.

* * *

Two delicious mojitos later, Aly was feeling less nervous and far more amused. The dynamics emerging among the newly collected group kept a genuine smile on her face. Whether it was the group or the mojitos that deserved such credit, she couldn’t wager a guess.

Gage had escorted her out to the main cabin and had gotten her settled into a seat somewhat removed from where the rest of the group had gathered. He’d then personally seen to filling the order for her drink.

Alythia kept her gaze trained outside the windows on purpose. She knew Gage’s innocent act of kindness was already being rehashed by her friends.

“How are those nerves doin’?”

Smiling at the question, Alythia looked up at Gage while raising her third mojito, which she was only halfway through. “The nerves are much better.”