Free Denver: A Bad Boy Romance (FMX Bros Book 3) by Tess Oliver Page B

hated.
    “Now I’m going to be thirsty until they roll that cart down the aisle.”
    “Do you want me to ask them for a water?” Denver began to unbuckle his seatbelt, but I grabbed his forearm.
    “No, I’m fine, and I think they’re about to turn on the seatbelt sign and go through their song and dance routine about oxygen masks and exit doors.” I stretched my neck to see over the seats to the man sitting near the emergency exit. “He seems capable of handling the door.” I slumped back against the seat.
    “You all right, Holliday? I assume you’ve flown a lot.”
    “I have, but that’s the problem. I’ve been on some pretty sketchy flights. One time, I was on a flight to Europe, can’t remember which country, and that’s mostly because the take-off was so darn terrifying the rest of the flight and trip was a blur. The plane was zooming along the runway, and I was browsing through one of those silly magazines they stick in the pocket.” She pointed to the silly magazine in the pocket in front of her. “We lifted off then the plane tilted badly to one side. I was sure we were going to roll. The flight attendants looked white as sheets, and everyone on the plane gasped. Then the oxygen masks dropped and plenty of chaos followed. I remember closing my eyes and trying to go through how many bad things I’d done to deserve an untimely death. Seconds later, the plane righted itself again. We were once again parallel to the runway. We ascended into the clouds without further incident. But it had been one of those moments in time where I’d thought, well that’s it. I’m done, and if I’d known I would have had a much better last meal than that dry old bran muffin in the duty-free shop.”
    “And you’re recapping this story now, just seconds before take-off.”
    I reached over and pulled his hand into my lap. “That way, when I start squeezing the life out of your hand as we race down the runway, you’ll understand.”
    “I see. Then squeeze away.”
    I held tightly to his hand, waiting for the plane to take off and thinking how secure I felt sitting next to him.

Chapter 15
    Denver
    No harrowing incidents on take-off and aside from a few good moments of turbulence, the flight had been fun. Jami was completely entertaining, and I loved every second with her.
    I hadn’t noticed that two of the Crushin’ It models were on the plane until they made their way back to the bathroom. Britney, the girl who had been in the first ad, spotted me and stopped. Amy, another model, came up behind her.
    “Denver, sweetie, didn’t know you were on this flight.” Britney’s word were slightly stretched as if she’d been hitting the tiny bottles of rum already. She hardly spared a glance toward Jami. “You’re in luck. There’s an empty seat next to us. We’re up there near the middle.” She waved long pink fingernails behind without any real seat destination in mind. “We’re off to take a whizz. Who knew those little bottles could make you have to pee so much. Amy and I will pick you up on our way back.”
    “Got to warn you, though,” Amy said, “the guy in front of us reeks like old, wet cigars.”
    “Actually, I’ll have to miss out on the wet cigar smell. I’m traveling with a friend. This is Jami.”
    The earlier fleeting glances stretched into long appraisals. Amy was the first to reach her hand across. “Nice to meet you, Jami. I’m Amy and this is Britney. And I would love to stay and chat, but my bladder is on overload.”
    They scurried down the aisle to the restrooms.
    “They seem nice,” Jami said with a slight twist of her mouth.
    “Yeah, yeah.”
    “No really. I’ve never been great at making friends with girls, but they do seem like they’d be a lot of fun.” We had lifted the chair arm between us so we could share the seats. Jami scooted closer, and I put my arm around her shoulder.
    “Have you ever been to Hawaii before?” she asked.
    “Once, when I was around eight, so I