"The writing is terrible," Ben argued. "There's no way in hell this studio is picking it up."

Arthur Atwood sat across the desk from him, his hands folded in his lap. "Okay, well, that's all we've got at the moment. So, do you have any bright ideas?"

Ben sat back in his office chair, thinking it over. "I know I've only been here two days, Arthur. I get that, but I'm here because we need to take Shepherd Films in a new direction. We need quality scripts, and the writing is everything. It's make or break it."

"I agree, but the best scripts come with the largest price tags. You've seen the company budget. We're in the red until Scarlet's Letters comes out, and we're banking on that hitting big."

"Scarlet's Letters is going to be huge. I have no doubt." Ben stood from his desk and began pacing the room. "We need new talent. Talent that doesn't have a huge price tag yet, who we can pay in gross points on the backend."

Arthur thought it over for a few minutes, and Ben kept pacing.

"I do know of one new writer who’s been getting some buzz," Arthur finally said, clapping his hands. "He won a few independent film writers awards, recently graduated New York University. We could always go meet with him, see if he'll write something for us. Or what he's already got written."

"Schedule it. I want to meet with him tomorrow," Ben instructed Arthur, then walked out of his office to where his assistant was sitting. "Jackson, book Arthur and I two tickets to New York City tonight. Hotel reservations through Thursday, as well."

"Yes, sir," the young man said, already clicking away on his computer.

"And don't use company funds. I'll pay for it." Ben handed the man his credit card. Overhead costs needed to be cut fast or people would have to be let go from their jobs—something Ben wasn't willing to do. He'd much rather shoulder some of the financial burden himself.

Ben had spent most of Monday catching up on everything he needed to know about the company, and today he'd wanted to hit the ground running. He still had a lot to learn about Shepherd Films, but they couldn't afford to wait for him to study every detail. He'd learn as he went, and had Arthur to help him in the meantime.

"Jackson's booking us a flight and hotel," Ben informed Arthur as he walked back into the office.

Arthur nodded. "Good. Trying to reach the writer now."

A few hours later, he and Arthur were seated first class on their way to New York. Arthur was in the row behind him and already asleep and snoring very loudly, even though they'd only taken off a few minutes ago.

Ben sighed and leaned his head back against the headrest. Murmuring at the front of the cabin began to grate on his nerves. He had Arthur kicking the back of his seat, and flight attendants excitedly chatting in front of him. So much for a nap.

A small smile spread across his face. Naps would forever make him think of Aria now. He couldn't help it. Leaving her apartment Monday morning had been one of the worst moments of his life. Sleeping in his own bed last night...torture.

It had never felt so empty before. He'd never felt so empty before.

"Aria Rose is back there!" The flight attendant spoke just loud enough for him to catch what she was saying.

Ben's eyes flew open. Aria?

"No!" The other flight attendant looked thrilled. "She's on the plane? Why is she in coach?"

"I don't know," whispered the first flight attendant. "Maybe we should move her up?"

Ben reached above him and clicked the call button. A ring sounded and the flight attendants immediately stood up straighter. The first one smoothed her skirt, plastered on a smile and walked over to him.

"Good afternoon, sir. Can I get you something?"

Ben pulled out his wallet, handing over a credit card. "I'd like to upgrade Ms. Rose's ticket to first class. This seat here." He gestured to the empty one next to him.

"Certainly, sir." She looked elated, taking the card. "I'll let her know immediately."

"Thank you," he replied. His heart was already pounding in his chest. They'd only been apart two days, and now they were on the same flight? He wasn't sure what it meant, or if it was some type of sign, but he sure as hell wasn't about to ignore it.

"Ben Lawson. Are you stalking me now?" Aria appeared at the end of his row, one hand on her hip and a devilish smile on her lips. She was wearing dark jeans under tall, leather boots with an oversized cable-knit sweater and wide-brimmed hat. Despite her attempt to hide as much of herself as possible—probably from the paparazzi—he had no trouble remembering exactly what was hiding underneath those layers.

Ben stood and took her carry-on bag from her other hand. He opened the overhead storage and carefully slid her bag in next to his, latching it closed. "If I was, I'm certainly not doing a great job hiding it."

She stood there for a moment, staring at him, not taking the bait. The dreamy gaze in her blue-gray eyes was sultry and magnetic, as if she saw he was hiding behind humor instead of saying what he really wanted to say. Finally, she tilted her head to the side and smiled wide. "It's good to see you again, Ben."

He slid his tongue across his lower lip. "It's good to see you, too, Aria."

Her cheeks bloomed with a light blush, but she tilted her chin up. "Can I have the window seat?" she asked.

Ben chuckled. He loved her forwardness. "Whatever you'd like."

She batted long lashes at him, swinging her long blond hair over her shoulder. "I like that motto."

They both sat side-by-side, her at the window and him in the aisle seat. She took off her hat, tucking it into the pocket of the seat in front of her. "So, Ben, why are you going to New York? Aside from badly stalking me?"

"Meeting a new writer about a script," he replied. "I'm guessing you're going for the HBO script audition?"

"I am."

"So…didn't want to stay in Los Angeles?" Fuck, he hated how much he hated the idea of her living across the country.

Her lips twitched. "They're in talks with a different actress for that role."

"Too bad." And he meant it. He made a mental note to call the studio and demand they audition Aria. They'd be idiots not to.

"No. Ben, no." She raised her index finger and shook her head. "I see your mind working. Do not interfere."

"Who, me?" Ben put a hand to his chest, his best shocked expression on his face. "I would never do that."

She wasn't buying it. "Ben, I'm being serious. Don't."

He sighed loudly, dropping his shoulders. "Fine. If you change your mind, let me know."

"I won't."

He shrugged. "We'll see."

"Hey, Ben?" She reached over and squeezed his forearm. "Thanks for the seat upgrade. I've never been in first class before."

He didn't reply, just placed his hand over hers.

She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes. "Would you hate me if I got some rest instead of chatting? I'm pretty tired today. Been practicing for these auditions the last two days nonstop."

"Auditions? Plural?"

"New York and London." She yawned, tilting her head toward him. Her eyes drifted closed as she placed her head on his shoulder, sending a thrill through his body.

"I've missed taking naps with you," he whispered into her ear, brushing a lock of hair from her face.

Aria giggled and cuddled into him tighter. "Free agent flight?"

"I could live with that."

She tilted up to look at him, and he pressed his lips to hers. Gentle, soft kisses that were pure affection and enjoyment. It was different from their usual frenzied passion, but felt as intimate, if not more. He slid his tongue across her lips and she opened for him, lifting her hand to his face to cup his cheek.

They stayed like that for minutes. Soft, slow kisses. His body ached for her, but he didn't push further. He could have suggested they meet up in the bathroom and join the mile-high club, or get a blanket and fool around underneath, but he didn't.

He couldn't. It was hard enough walking away two days ago. If he had her again now, there was no way he'd say goodbye again.

But kissing her? He wasn't strong enough not to do that.

"Oh, Ben..." Her breathy whisper slid past her lips after several minutes. "What are we doing?"

"Mmm." He tilted his forehead toward hers, their breath mixing together. "I don't know, Aria. I don't fucking know."

He was surprised at how strained his words sounded. Pained. Aching. Everything he felt inside leaking out.

"It's a long flight," he finally said. "Let's just take that nap."

She nodded, her face a strange mixture of disappointment and relief. "Okay."

Ben pushed up the armrest between them, and she curled in to his side with her head on his chest. He wrapped his arm tight around her, trying to memorize exactly how she felt.

He hadn't done enough of that this weekend. He'd loved their time together, and dreaded it ending, but he hadn't prepared himself for what it would be like after she was gone. He hadn't memorized the warmth of her skin, the curve of her neck when she lay against him, or the gentle smell of vanilla when he pressed his face to her hair.

He wasn't going to forget a thing this time.

Aria slid her hand into his, intertwining their fingers. "Wake me when we get to New York?"

"Of course." He kissed the top of her head. "Get some rest, movie star."

She chuckled sleepily. "Sure thing, Mr. Big Shot."

Ben had been on an airplane dozens of times, but this was the first flight he hoped never landed. He could stay floating in the clouds with Aria pressed against him forever.