Rhett slides his sweaty palms down the front of his jeans as he steps foot onto the plane. He can wrangle an entire field of cattle no problem, but putting his life in someone else’s hands at tens of thousands of feet in the air? That’s absolutely terrifying. After the two run-ins with the infuriatingly gorgeous woman from the bar, which he still didn’t get her name, he became a little discombobulated and it took him a minute to find out where he was at.

By the time he made it to the correct gate, they were making a last call, and he barely slipped by before the door, from the airport and safety, was shut behind him. The loud slam was a little too ominous for him, but there’s no turning back now.

It’s impossible not to notice everyone is seated and the aisle has been cleared. They’re all staring up at the front and it’s hard to miss their judgmental eyes. Rhett’s cheeks redden knowing how late he must be for the flight. The flight attendant standing in front of him has the brightest smile on her face. Her face lights up even more and she asks, “We have an older gentleman currently sitting in one of the emergency exit seats. Right now, nobody is willing to trade seats with him and I’m wondering if you would be willing to do that?”

He nods his head even though he’s not quite sure what she means by that. “Sure, I could do that. Where do you want me to go?”

She’s looking toward another woman who’s standing in the aisle and she nods her head. The older guys slowly gets up from his seat and she holds onto his arm helping him down the aisle toward the back of the plane. “Right over there is your new seat. Thank you again so much for swapping. I really appreciate it.”

“No problem.”

He makes his way down the aisle and hears, “Fuck me,” before he even makes it to the seat. A teenage boy chuckles at the outburst and the woman sitting next to him smacks him on the back of his head. Rhett tries not to laugh at the scene in front of him but he can’t hold it in when he reaches his new seat.

Who else would he find, but the little spitfire from the bar. Her eyes blaze with emotion and she flips her head around to look out the window. The overhead compartment is still open and there’s just enough space to smash his duffle in there.

Taking a seat, he’s pleasantly surprised with the amount of room to stretch himself out. That was one thing he was worried about, being crammed into the seat like a can of sardines. Turning to his neighbor, he clears his throat and with a smile says, “Well isn’t this a fine coincidence. You’re heading off to Las Vegas too?”

“It would appear that way, wouldn’t it?” She replies dryly still refusing to turn herself around.

“I’m noticing some hostility here. Why don’t we start over?” He taps her on the shoulder and with a scowl, she turns to look at his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you, ma’am. My name is Rhett Walker, what’s yours?”

Rather than offering hers for a proper handshake, all she says is, “Of course it is.”

The flight attendant closes the door to the airplane and Rhett tries to push all thoughts of takeoff out of his head. He leans back against the seat and closes his eyes. He’s never been much of a religious man, but he puts up a silent prayer for a safe landing in Las Vegas. He can’t help but chuckle that he’s on his way to sin city right now and he’s asking the Universe, God, whoever is out there to make it there safely. He sighs and with his eyes still closed asks his seatmate, “Your name is of course it is?”

“No smartass. Of course, your name is Rhett Walker. It just screams cowboy from Texas. Why wouldn’t your name be that?”

“Thanks, I think?” He pops his eyes open and is surprised to find her studying him so closely. Her eyes go wide and she turns her attention back out the window.

“You know my name, I think it’s only fair you reciprocate,” Rhett says.

“Maria.”

He waits for her to continue but when nothing else comes out of her mouth, he asks, “And do you have last name, Maria?”

“Why so you can hunt me down and kill me when we make it to Nevada?”

The teenage kid sitting in front of them starts cracking up laughing, no doubt eavesdropping on their conversation. Nice try kid, those earbuds in your ears aren’t fooling anybody. Then again Rhett doesn’t really blame him, he’s known Maria for less than an hour but every word out of her mouth has surprised the hell out of him so far.

“Well, that took a dark turn.”

“Yeah, it did.” The kid in front of them says.

Way to make it obvious kid.

Maria releases a long dramatic sigh and turns back to Rhett. “I’m sorry. I’m being a bitch. I’m not having a very good day. Make that week. Fuck, let’s just go for life. I’m not having a very good life. Can I get a do-over on one of those?”

“I’m not sure about a do-over but you can make the most of the one you’ve got.”

Their conversation is suddenly halted as the captain announces they’re set for take-off and starts backing up the plane. Rhett closes his eyes and grips the armrests as he attempts to focus on his own breathing.

Breathe. Just breathe. He thinks to himself repeatedly. His disorientation doesn’t help matters but he doesn’t dare open his eyes to watch as the plane lifts off the ground. Whenever that happens. They’re currently sitting at a stand-still which doesn’t seem very safe.

What if another plane crashes into them?

Rhett doesn’t have to contemplate on that for long as the plane starts moving again. He almost breathes a small sigh of relief but that is quickly cut off as the plane shudders as it picks up speed. The force of the acceleration pushes his entire body back into his seat. A blinding headache builds between his eyes as he squeezes them closed tighter and tighter. That stupid kid starts hooting and hollering like they’re on a damn roller coaster ride. Rhett contemplates kicking the shit out of the seat when a small cool hand is placed on his own.

The strong floral scent of Maria’s perfume overwhelms his senses as her warm breath whispers into his ear, “Is this your first time?”

“What gave it away?” He asks through clenched teeth, still refusing to open a single eye.

“You mean other than the fact that you’re squeezing the life out of the armrests like they killed your puppy? I don’t know, just a hunch.”

He can almost see her shrug when she asks that last question. Unlocking his jaw, he slowly eases up the armrests and forces his focus on her. And only her. “You’re really funny, you know that?”

“I may have heard that a time or two.” The soft skin of her hand starts driving him wild as she runs her fingers slowly up and down his arm. All the way up to his elbow and back down to his fingertips. Over and over again. The front of his jeans grows increasingly tight just imagining her mimicking that motion elsewhere on his body. Still whispering into his ear, she says, “And don’t worry, the odds of you dying in a plane crash are like a million to one. You’re more likely to die in a car crash and people drive those every day.”

Rhett chokes out a small laugh and says, “Yeah well I like my odds better when I’m the one driving.”

“Ah, a control freak. Makes sense.”

“What?” He finally pops his eyes open and says, “No. I’m not a control freak. I just don’t like putting my life into someone else’s hands that I don’t know or trust.”

The smile that overtakes Maria’s face can only be described as breathtaking. Her chocolate brown eyes light up and the small wrinkles around her eyes set him at ease. “You’re back. I almost thought I was going to lose you there for a bit.”

She darts her tongue out and runs it along her bottom lip and Rhett releases an involuntary groan. He’s a gentleman through and through, but the thoughts he’s having about her? Are the furthest thing from gentlemanly and he needs to get himself in check before he seriously embarrasses himself.

He shifts slightly in his chair trying to adjust himself without doing it. He chuckles and says, “I guess I was a little more nervous than I thought. It seemed worse, somehow, to have my eyes open.” Rhett takes a quick glance over her shoulder and his heart rate picks up slightly to see the clouds outside of the window. He grips the armrest again. “When did we take off? I don’t remember that.”

Maria’s eyes sparkle as she slides her hand up Rhett’s arm. His bicep flexes involuntarily and she tightens her small grip. “My powers of distraction worked perfectly. I’m going to have to keep that up the rest of the flight I see.”

And that’s one thing Rhett won’t mind one bit. Not in the slightest.