I open my eyes to see my boss’ bare abs. I blink a few times.

Am I dreaming?

The golden tan of his skin, the lines of his muscles, the soft fuzz that starts from around his belly button and travels south to disappear into his jeans… God, I want to pull that waistband down and see where it leads.

Okay, the details are way too vivid for this to be a dream.

I look up to see him pulling a wheeled carry-on bag from the overhead compartment above our row of seats, his arm muscles bulging from the strain. Standing behind him is a little old lady who has her white hair up in a neat bun. She’s thanking him a little too profusely, which means the bag Cole is handling now probably belongs to her. She’s wearing a floral white dress and a pair of black slip-on loafers.

As if in a trance, my eyes are drawn toward the veins trailing beautifully up and down Cole’s arms. I’m so out of it I don’t even see him putting the bag down on the floor and turning my way. I can neither confirm nor deny reports saying that my mouth may be hanging open with a bit of drool on my lips as this is happening.

“Hey, you.” Cole flashes me his pearly white teeth and looks right at me, which wakes me right up.

“Uh.” I blink and close my mouth. I wrap the big, soft blanket provided by the flight attendant around me in a way that hides my mouth. In a covert operation worthy of a feature in a James Bond movie, I discreetly wipe my lips clean before anything starts creeping down my chin. I look up at him and, as casually as I can, say, “Hey.”

“Had a good nap?” He rests his powerful forearm on top of the seat beside mine, the aisle seat where he sat throughout the entire flight. The entire fabulous flight.

“The best nap.”

As soon as we got on board and I plopped down in my plush window seat, I was floating on cloud nine, literally.

I looked out the window as the rising sun changed the colors of the sky. The entire time, a friendly, chatty flight attendant called Becky kept me well supplied with crackers and cheeses. I almost regretted filling my belly with the donut and Diet Coke I had at the airport. Almost.

And then, before I knew it, I was out cold. I wanted to be awake for every minute of my First Class experience, but I guess I was exhausted. I’d worked my ass off last night, knowing I was going to be almost entirely responsible for the presentation.

It’s just such a big responsibility and I want to make sure I do it right. It took the big, comfy chair and pampering from Becky to finally make me sleep.

I don’t want to sound snooty, but people who complain about flying got it wrong. Flying doesn’t suck; flying coach does. I mean, I’ve only ever flown two other times in my life — to visit my grandmother and to return home after that — but that’s what I can conclude based on personal experience.

As we leave the plane in single file and enter the airport, the little old lady engages Cole in conversation. I can’t make out what they’re saying, but I can tell she speaks with an accent, perhaps Eastern European.

Cole holds his phone up in one hand, trying to entertain the lady while surreptitiously glancing at his phone. I smile at his little predicament and wonder why I was ever afraid of him.

I turn on my own phone and see a message notification.

Lily Saunders: OMG FIRST CLASS?!?!?!

Lily Saunders: SRSLY WHAT IS IT BETWEEN YOU TWO???

I roll my eyes. It’s just like Lily to overreact. Maybe I shouldn’t have told her about my last-minute seat switch before the flight.

Okay, I admit I have noticed Cole treating me really nicely today. And of course I like him. Who wouldn’t? The problem is, I can’t help but feel like we come from two completely different worlds and he wouldn’t ever take me seriously, even if he is interested in me to some degree.

And that’s just not what I’m looking for right now. Having experienced the real thing, I don’t have any patience for superficial relationships anymore.

Here are the things I do look for in a guy: resilience, resourcefulness, and reliability. I call them the three Rs.

Having gone through a couple of tough times in my life, I know money is a necessity. But at this point in my life, I feel like I can take care of myself just fine without a man. It’s important to me that I don’t depend on anyone else for my survival, because I may find myself in a situation where I’m all I have.

So I don’t care how much money Cole Foster has. As far as I’m concerned, the guy has had everything in his life handed to him on a silver platter. The most difficult day in his life probably involves something like his favorite suit being stuck at the dry cleaner’s, forcing him to wear his second favorite suit instead. Oh, the tragedy. I could weep.

Don’t get me wrong. I like his personality. He’s smart, funny, sweet, and confident. I’m just looking for someone with a little bit more grit than the average spoiled trust fund kid.

It’s important to me that my man bounces back when life gets him down. Because life is going to suck sometimes and in that moment I’ll need — no, I’ll want someone strong beside me. Someone with actual inner strength, not someone who’s used to paying other people money to solve all his problems.

But there’s no need for Lily to know all those things. I stand by the baggage claim carousel, pausing to think of a way to get her to tell me what I want to know without showing my cards.

Emily Webb: There’s nothing between Cole and me

Emily Webb: I swear

Emily Webb: Have you heard anything about Steffi?

Lily Saunders: They say she found a foreign boyfriend and she’s moving abroad

Emily Webb: So are they saying that she was cheating on Cole then?

Emily Webb: Lol

The rumors circulating in the office are crazy. I doubt there was ever really anything between Cole and Steffi. Nobody can hide a long-term, ongoing relationship so well that the only time they were ever seen together was one drunken night many years ago.

I glance at the conveyor belt, which is already moving. Our bags should come out any time now. Beside me, Cole stands by a trolley, still deep in conversation with his new friend, the little old lady. I turn my attention back to my phone.

Lily Saunders: That’s exactly what they’re saying!

Lily Saunders: Is it true?

Lily Saunders: Is that why you know?

Lily Saunders: OMG

Lily Saunders: OMG WAS STEFFI CHEATING ON COLE WHILE HE WAS CHEATING ON HER WITH YOU???

Emily Webb: What

Emily Webb: NO. NONE OF THAT IS TRUE.

Lily Saunders: Awww

Lily Saunders: Are you sure?

Emily Webb: YES

Emily Webb: Is it really that weird for me to fly First Class?

Lily Saunders: It’s pretty weird

Lily Saunders: He usually takes the private jet if he’s traveling with Mr. Foster

Lily Saunders: If he flies commercial he likes to sit alone in First Class

Lily Saunders: You know Steffi’s seat was supposed to be in coach

Emily Webb: Hey my bag is here

Emily Webb: Gtg :D

I slip my phone back into my shoulder bag. Just as I start to grab my suitcase off the conveyor belt, Cole appears beside me and picks it up effortlessly.

“I thought you were busy,” I say, grinning at him.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he says, loading my suitcase onto the trolley, right on top of his own suitcase. “You’re not jealous of Linda as well, are you?” To my surprise, he wraps his arm around the little old lady and pulls her close.

“You have yourself a nice young man here,” Linda says, smiling at me. “You look adorable together.”

“Oh, we’re not actually together,” I say, looking at Cole for help in clarifying the situation.

“I was just joking, Linda,” Cole says, laughing. “Emily here is my colleague and we’re here for a conference.” He gestures at the two of us and says, “Emily, this is Linda. Linda, this is Emily.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say to the friendly old lady.

“Nice to meet you too,” she says. “But that is bullshit. The two of you look like you belong together. Listen to me, you’ll make a great couple and you’ll make beautiful kids together. Trust me. I’ve seen a lot of things in my life. When you get to my age, there are some things that you just know.”

I laugh, not expecting the frail-looking lady to curse and tell our love fortunes.

“See? I tried to tell her,” Cole says, shrugging in defeat.

“It’s very nice to meet the two of you,” Linda says. “My grandson is waiting for me so I should go. Thank you, Cole, for helping me with my bags.”

“You’re very welcome,” Cole says, rubbing her arm and smiling at her.

“Enjoy your trip.” Winking, Linda says, “You’re both young and healthy. Do something naughty.”

Cole gasps in mock horror, covering his mouth with his hands. He makes a big display out of looking around suspiciously and exclaims, “Linda! Watch what you’re saying in public!”

I laugh. I didn’t expect to see Cole act like such a goof. I have to say I kind of like this side of him.

“She thinks you’re funny,” Linda says to Cole, “which means you have a chance. And I see the way she looks at you. She likes you. But don’t lose my number. If she says no, you can always come to me.”

“I won’t lose your number, Linda. Promise,” Cole says with a wide grin on his face.

Linda cackles as she walks away, the pink and purple flowers on her white dress swaying as she slowly and carefully navigates the busy terminal.

“Wow. Two numbers in one morning,” I say while dodging other travelers as we follow the signs to the taxi loading area.

“It’s a slow day,” Cole says, laughing. I can’t tell if he’s serious. After all, a guy like him must get female attention all the time.

“She’s a nice lady,” I say.

“Yeah. She reminds me of my grandmother, who died two years ago.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” I hope I didn’t just say the wrong thing and make things awkward.

“Thanks,” he says quietly.

“You’re different,” I blurt out. “I mean, I’d never imagine the usual you that I see in the office flirting with a foul-mouthed geriatric.”

“Hey, don’t you dare call her names. Linda is a wonderful, beautiful lady of a mature age,” Cole says, laughing. He shrugs. “The office is for working. Outside of the office is…for everything else.”