Free Male Order Bride by Carolyn Thornton

knowing I asked to have it done? I'd like to keep it a
surprise."
    "That's no problem," the girl said, taking his ticket from
him and changing the seat-assignment sticker. "I'll just tell her it's
a through flight and someone's sitting in the seat I gave her."
    "You're a doll," Rafe said, returning his ticket to his
vest pocket and sauntering back to his seat.
    He picked up the newspaper again and this time didn't read
a word. He only wanted the newspaper as a shield to hide his smile when
Lacey Adams was paged over the P. A. system and asked to return to the
ticket desk. He'd take his time getting on the plane. Let her get good
and settled in her seat first. They'd have the entire flight to get
acquainted.
    Rafe picked up a whiff of her perfume from where she sat
behind him. She even smelled classy. He crossed his legs and swung his
boot, forgetting the business matters that had totally occupied his
mind minutes before. The return trip was going to be more interesting
than usual.
    The agent was on the intercom announcing pre-boarding of
passengers. Rafe rustled his newspaper, trying to act uninterested. He
could hear Lacey zipping her bag open and shut. When he glanced around
at her out of the corner of his eye, he noticed she had pulled a
magazine from her bag. He'd better not wait too long to board or she'd
have her nose buried in the magazine before he could interest her in
some conversation.
    The aft rows were called for boarding in the smoking
section of the aircraft. Rafe didn't think he'd miss his cigarettes
with Lacey for company.
    He watched her stand up as the forward rows were called.
She tugged at her bag, which refused to turn in the direction she
wanted to pull it. She bent down to right the wheels.
    Rafe's instincts were to stand up and offer to assist her
with the bag. It would be a natural as a conversation opener. But it'd
be too obvious, since he was seated next to her, to suddenly "discover"
that coincidence as they searched for their seats once they boarded the
plane. Better to let her struggle with the bag now and then act the
gentleman as they left the flight. He could easily carry her bag; he
traveled very light, with his saddlebags over his shoulder. That would
leave her with a more lasting impression anyway.
    He watched her through the gate, admiring her curves and
the flair with which she dressed. It must be one of her own designs, he
thought. Something about her outfit said "Lacey".
    He waited for the line to thin a bit, knowing there would
be a jam in the retractable corridor as people who had already boarded
blocked the aisles on the plane in the process of stowing their
carry-on luggage and belongings. There would be time enough to present
his boarding pass when the last person passed through the door, time
enough to let Lacey settle into her seat and wonder who was going to
fill the space next to her.
    The last passenger disappeared through the gate. Rafe
stood up. He threw his saddlebags over his left shoulder and decided to
pick up the newspaper as well. It would make a good prop for a
businessman returning home with nothing more serious on his mind than
reading the morning newspaper. Someone involved with world events
wouldn't project the image of a man on the make. Besides, that didn't
fit his own image of himself.
    Rafe tried to act nonchalant as he boarded the plane. It
was difficult, since his eyes went right to her the minute he entered
the coach section of the plane. Their eyes met and locked, held,
assessed, and passed over. Her stare was direct, curious, but again he
got the impression that she had not looked at him any differently than
she had at every other passenger who had come through the doorway.
    He realized he was somewhat disappointed, and oddly
nervous about walking up to her and sitting next to her now that the
moment was almost upon him. He looked down at the number of his
boarding pass and up at the numbers and letters of each seat. The agent
had made no mistake. They