“No, Miss Connors.”

“Good.” She snapped her fingers and pointed down the aisle. “Go get my first-class glass back. Now.”

I rolled my eyes and headed down the aisle. With her on this flight, maybe, just maybe, I wouldn’t have too much time to think about Jake at all.

I kindly asked for the glass of Sprite from 12C, replaced it with a plastic cup and finished serving the remaining drinks for first class.

I double checked the manifest for the passengers’ dinner requests, made sure the overhead bins were locked shut, and watched the other two flight attendants take their time doing their jobs.

They were supposed to be assisting the last boarding passengers in business and economy, but they kept finding random reasons to come to the front of the plane to step into the cockpit. To ask Jake meaningless questions or “make sure” it was a Coke he wanted to have for a lunch beverage.

“You’ve flown with him before?” The blonde, a woman who’d introduced herself to me as Elizabeth, whispered.

“I wish.” The redhead, Janet, stared straight ahead. “I would definitely remember him. Trust me.”

“Is he wearing a wedding ring?”

“No. First thing I noticed.”

“No tan line where one should be either, just in case?”

Before she could answer, Miss Connors appeared and loudly cleared her throat. “When the two of you get done playing Cockpit Connie, would you kindly return to doing the job you get paid to do?”

The two of them blushed and quickly walked away.

I glanced toward the cockpit as Jake and the first officer looked over their weather reports and vowed not to look anymore once the door was locked.

The second boarding was complete, I completed my checklist and strapped myself into a jump-seat, grateful that this was one of the newer, more luxurious planes. There was no need for all of the flight attendants to stand in the aisle and demonstrate the safety procedures, since every headrest held its own television that played a prerecorded clip.

“Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking...” Jake’s deep, sexy voice came over the speakers as we pushed back from the gate and rolled toward the runway. “On behalf of the flight crew, let me welcome you aboard Elite Flight 1505 to Heathrow-London. Our estimated flight time is eight hours and fifty-five minutes, and we expect this to be a very smooth flight,” he said. “If there’s anything you need during our trip, the flight attendants aboard are here to make you as comfortable as possible. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the flight.”

I waited to hear him say the remainder of the Elite Airways spiel, especially the mandatory “I love flying for Elite and I hope you’ll love it as much as I do,” but it never came. The only sounds that came next were a beep and the sudden silence that always came before the plane ascended toward the sky.

Shutting my eyes, I tapped my fingers against my dress as the plane flew higher, as the sound of air pressure hitting the metal rushed against my ears. No matter how many times I flew, takeoff was always the most nerve-wracking part for me.

When the plane finally leveled and the seatbelt sign was turned off, I opened my eyes and unbuckled my seatbelt. Knowing Miss Connors would soon be critiquing my every move, I figured I might as well start the wine and cheese service early.

Stepping into the galley, I took out a tray of wrapped gourmet cheeses, nearly dropping them to the ground when I saw Jake standing in front of me. He was staring at me intently, those stark blue irises playful, yet watchful.

“May I help you with something, Captain?” I asked. “It’s a bit early in the flight for you to be out here.”

“You don’t need to call me that.” He took the cheese tray from my hands and set it on the counter.

“Are you here because I didn’t bring you your Coke yet, Captain?” I needed to remain professional. “I’ll have to bring it you after the wine and cheese service, or my supervisor won’t be happy with me.”

“This will only take five minutes.”

“I can only give you five seconds.”

“Fine.” He looked at me. “I need to fuck you again.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” He stepped close, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “I need to fuck you again. Preferably the second we land in London, but I’m not opposed to doing it after you get finished serving either.”

It took everything out of me not to say, ‘After I get done serving would be fine,’ so I swallowed, trying to get my thoughts together. “I thought we both agreed that it couldn’t happen again. Besides, now that we’re in this situation, it really can’t happen again. It’s against company policy.”

“You’re the last person who ever needs to talk about following company policy.”

“Well then, I’ll just say no thank you. Even if I was interested, now that I know you’re a pilot, you couldn’t pay me to sleep with you again. I’m sure you have plenty of other flight attendants at your disposal. Sleep with one of the ones you’ve slept with before.”

“I’ve only slept with one flight attendant,” he said, his eyes on mine. “Although I’m not sure she counts since she lied when we met and told me she was a pilot.”

“Maybe she was just trying to be mysterious.” I could barely hear myself. “Regardless, that doesn’t change the fact that you’re a pilot.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He narrowed his eyes at me. “What do you have against pilots? Something you’ve experienced?”

“Something I’ve heard.”

The plane shook suddenly and I braced my hand against the wall as the seatbelt sign turned on. I tried to lean forward to grab the cheese tray, but Jake held it still—looking calm as ever.

“Don’t you think you need to return to the cockpit?” I asked. “Or do you not feel the plane shaking right now?”

“It’s only light turbulence. It’ll stop once we get out of the clouds.”

As if on cue, the first officer’s voice came over the speakers.

“Ladies and gentlemen, my apologies for the light turbulence you’re currently experiencing. We’re cutting through a patch of clouds, so it should only last a few more seconds at most, and I’ll turn off the seatbelt sign again here shortly. Hope you’re enjoying the flight.”

The beep sounded and Jake’s eyes returned to mine.

“So, back to our conversation about pilots—” His fingers trailed my lips. “What have you heard?”

“A lot...”

“Then tell me,” he said. “Tell me exactly what you’ve heard.”

“I’ve heard that pilots can’t be trusted, that your occupation practically calls for each and every one of you to cheat.” I paused as his free hand strummed against my waist. “The ones who aren’t married have a woman in every city and they fuck whoever, whenever they want. They even sleep with some of the passengers from time to time.”

“Is that all?” He pressed his forehead against mine.

“No. No, that is not all.”

“Okay.” He looked as if he was holding back a laugh. “Continue.”