His smile had flattened, but his words were sincere. “I’m truly sorry, Jo. You deserved better.”
Then he was gone, leaving a view of Lana and Cammie glaring at me, as they’d noticed his greeting to me had lasted longer than theirs.
I turned away and caught sight of Jack who was assigned to manage first class and the cockpit crew along with me.
“Wow, someone looks awfully remorseful,” Jack said.
Did everyone know about Tripp and me?
“Don’t worry, love. I’ll leave Tripp to you so you can rekindle that thing.”
“We have no thing,” I said, but his grin said he didn’t believe me.
A peal of laughter stopped me cold. When my sister came into view, I wasn’t surprised. What shocked me was to see Grant in her clutches.
He worked for his dad, didn’t he? Then I remembered her words to me, I’m here to surprise my boyfriend.
I spun on my heels, unable to look at him.
“I guess we both have had pilots,” Sophia said as she sauntered over. She made it her life’s mission to one-up me every time she could. “Bring me a gin and tonic, won’t you.”
How would I survive a flight with not only Tripp, but knowing the guy I’d shared a bed with was in a relationship with my baby sister?SixteenGrantThe last thing I expected on my first day was to be greeted by Sophia.
“Hey baby,” she said, showing up out of nowhere as I made my way to my gate.
“Sophia.”
She slithered her hand down my bicep to my wrist. “You don’t want to be late.”
Several choice responses came to mind, but I couldn’t insult the boss’ daughter. An image of Dad’s face as he warned me about this inevitability popped into my head.
With every step forward, I felt like I was selling my soul. I was at war with myself the closer I got to the plane. Men had done less to get what they wanted. Was I that man?
“Sophia,” I said, stopping us short of the gate.
“Yes.”
“You and I aren’t a thing. If that’s a condition of my employment, I won’t be able to accept the position.”
Technically, I’d already signed all of the paperwork and I would have to resign.
“What? I’m here as a friend. If anything happens between us, we’re adults,” she said, batting her fake eyelashes at me.
“Mr. King?” A Skyland employee with the company logo of a wing cradling the company name approached. She probably guessed based on my proximity to the gate and my uniform I was the missing pilot of the flight. “We would like to start boarding. If you could come along.”
Sophia gave her a bright smile. “We’re ready.”
When the woman didn’t jump at her command, Sophia pulled out her ID. “I’m Sophia Sky.”
The employee’s eyes widened. “Yes, Miss Sky.” She handed back Sophia’s ID. “Follow me.”
Sophia snagged my arm and shaking her off would have embarrassed both of us, so I did nothing.
Instead of excitement walking down to my first flight using the jet bridge, it felt like a gangplank that led to open waters instead.
“You’re going to be great,” Sophia declared, giggling in a way I should have felt.
I was far from giddy, especially when I walked aboard and spotted the flight crew. They all appeared welcoming except for one.
The beautiful Jolene Jameson.
I didn’t know what to think, especially when she turned away. Had she lied to me? She hadn’t exactly told me she was rich. She hadn’t corrected me when I’d nicknamed her Highness. What did that make her? A kept woman, which had also been a guess. One I’d been reluctant to accept.
After thanking the crew for their warm welcome, I headed to the cockpit.
Standing near the pilot’s seat was the man I’d heard much about in the training sessions.
“Captain Carter Clynes,” he said, holding out a hand to me.
“Grant King.” I shook his hand.
“Nice to meet you. It should be an easy flight.”
“Grant.” The voice was soft and feminine, catching Carter and me by surprise. Her grin was way too wide and not at all endearing. “I wanted to wish you luck. But you won’t need it.”
Sophia disappeared as quickly as she’d shown up.
“In bed with management, I see,” Carter said.
“It’s not what you think.” It felt a little cliché to say, but it was the truth.
Jolene appeared. “Can I get you anything?” she asked Carter.
Their eyes lingered and I wondered if the rumors that he’d hooked up with more than half of the flight attendants were true.
My jaw tightened as a green envious haze colored my vision for a second.
“No. Thanks, Jo.”
Her smile dimmed as she looked at me. “You?”
We had things to discuss, just not right here.
“No, thanks. I’m fine.”
She turned around and, heaven help me, I couldn’t stop myself from watching her ass as she strolled away.
“Don’t go there,” Carter warned.
“Why not? Have you?”