Holy fuck, he’s hot.

Who. Was. That. Guy?

Seriously.

Nicole had to take off her thin jacket to relieve the rushed flash of desire for the perfect stranger she’d encountered a little while ago.

Perfect. Yes. He certainly was, but Christ. The last thing she needed right now was for the universe to throw some tall, built, dark-haired, blue-eyed hunk of man meat right in front of her, in her path, with his bedroom… everything. Not while she was scared shitless, afraid of every shadow, what was around the next corner, and whether or not each person who passed her was going to take a shot at her.

For as long as she could remember, she’d been a sucker and a half for a guy with dark hair. The blue eyes on this one had been a bonus. Bright yet deep, like a tropical ocean. Even now, simply remembering the interaction, his kindness, and his soft touch, had her pulse ratcheting up a few beats, as if she weren’t already in high adrenaline-producing mode as it was. As it stood, she was going to need hospitalization before this was all over.

She sat back down and reached for her coffee. It had grown cold by now, which was fine with her since she needed cooling down herself. She needed to get the Nordic Hunk out of her mind. It was easier said than done.

As a computer programmer, attention to detail was one of her strongest assets which didn’t go to waste when she wasn’t sitting in front of a laptop. It also benefitted her in a situation like this when she had to watch her surroundings, the people nearby, and the ones she interacted with. Like Nordic Hunk.

Okay, she was pretty sure the guy wasn’t from Sweden or Norway or anywhere like that. He exuded the look of a man who spent his days on the slopes and his nights in front of the fireplace. Or, maybe he was more the beach type. A diver or a surfer. Hmmm… that made more sense in her fantasy world. Especially since she loved the beach herself. Living in San Francisco was exciting and fun although it lacked the stereotypical California beaches one could soak up the sun on yearly. If she’d thought about it more, she should have fled to the Caribbean and hidden out at some all-inclusive resort until her father could figure out what was going on and this all blew over.

No. She was bound for the UK, to London, which was rainy and cold this time of year.

She’d obeyed her father, though. She always did. He truly did know best—most of the time—and when it came to fucking around with her life, well, she wasn’t ready to cash it in after only twenty-four years on the planet.

All this over a bunch of ego-maniacal men in suits seeking power and prestige and control.

Well, screw all of them… from Ryan Malone up to Bob Worthington, Doyle McDonough, and that Mr. Bernhardt. They thought that just because she was a young female, they could push her around, scare her, and force her out of town?

Sliding her eyes to her belongings next to her, she sadly let out a long sigh of admission. That was exactly what they’d done. They’d threatened her, intimidated her, scared the holy hell out of her and left her no other choice but to flee for her life.

My life.

Nicole had never been one to let paranoia guide or influence her, yet she had to admit it was leading the way. Even the encounter with Sexy Man had her wondering if he’d been sent to deal with her. That would be ridiculous, though. No one knew where she was. She’d been meticulous about covering her tracks, leaving false clues, and not giving herself away. For all she knew, anyone trying to find her was sitting out at San Jose International Airport watching the departing flights.

The run-in with the hottie was nothing more than a random encounter. Apparently, one she desperately needed. That momentary interaction with him totally set her body on fire. With the thoughts of her young life possibly ending, she actually considered trying to find him before her flight and have a quickie with him. She might as well go out with a smile.

Shaking her head at her own insanity, Nicole glimpsed at the burner phone in her hand to check the time. They were already boarding the first class folks onto her flight, so it was only a matter of time before she could get on, take her seat, and plan out her next step. Her plan was to get the first flight out to Heathrow, unless she had some sort of sign from her dad that things weren’t right. She could always rent a car and drive north, over the border to Canada and fly out of Toronto. Then again, to do that, she’d need to use a credit card to get the vehicle which meant anyone in cahoots with any sort of law enforcement, thugs, or goons looking for her would immediately know when she’d used her card and her exact location.

“Welcome to American Airline’s flight to New York’s Kennedy Airport. We will continue boarding our first class cabin, but those passengers in Groups 1 - 3 may board at this time. Please make sure your carry-on fits under—”

Nicole blocked out the rest of what the woman at the counter was saying as she stood and gathered up her things. Not much, just her laptop bag, her bulky purse, and a small roller board. The USB drive was tucked away in a pocket of her purse between her Skull Candy eye shadow and a bottle of ibuprofen which she’d already dipped into heavily thanks to a tension headache pounding away at her temples. Even though it was still morning, she’d splurge on the plane and have a couple of cocktails to help her relax and sleep.

“We’re now taking passengers in Groups 1 – 4 at this time…”

Nicole checked out her boarding pass and outwardly groaned.

Group 9.

“Really?” Fuck, by the time her group was called, she’d be lucky if she’d be able to hang on to the tip of the wing the whole way. Hell, she’d probably have to ride in the restroom.

“Would passengers Lemke, Archer, Sherwin, and Hunt please check the board for seating assignments.”

Nicole paused hearing her last name and nearly dropped everything and started running. Her heart rate accelerated to the heights of the engines roaring overhead from the planes taking off. She stood stock-still, frozen in place, unable to move and not blinking for fear of calling attention to herself.

She counted slowly to ten in her head… waiting… waiting… waiting…

When she reached eleven, she allowed herself to breathe again. Nothing had happened to her, and no one was barreling down on her. Then, why did she hear her name? Oh wait, something about a seating assignment? It couldn’t be her. Her pass read 35A which was in the ass-end of the plane. She highly doubted it could get any worse or that anyone else would want to arm wrestle her for the coveted seat next to the restroom. Besides, it wasn’t like Hunt was some uncommon name that could only pertain to her. Chances were more than likely there were other Hunts in the airport at this precise moment.

Passengers lined up in front of her easing forward like cows going to market as they had their pass scanned and they were let loose down the corridor to their freedom. She shifted from one foot to the other, wishing her group would get called. Impatiently, she lifted her head to check out the monitor above the gate showing the temperature in New York to be a crisp sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit currently. She’d definitely have to slip her jacket back on, now that her body had cooled from her sensual need.

Next flashed rules about no smoking, the use of electronics, power outlets in each seat on the flight, and Wi-Fi available for an extra cost. Sure, it was bad enough her ticket had been over five hundred dollars, they were going to nickel and dime her to death on everything while hauling her fleeing ass across the fly-over states. A list of upgrades and seat assignments popped up next, and Nicole did a double-take when she not only saw the name Hunt, but HUNT/N.

“What the—?”

Fear and anxiety rose in her throat again, and she spun around to see if someone was watching her. The place was stupid crowded with people from all walks of life, so how was she to know who was a cop, private eye, hired assassin, or whatever there to take her out and get the TDE-5X data back from her. She fisted her hands, poised to defend herself against an attack that wasn’t about to happen. No one cared that she was standing there in a dead panic.

She decided to press ahead to the counter and ask. Surely, it was merely a typo or a coincidence.

“Excuse me,” she whispered too quietly.

The woman with the name tag reading Rosita studied her for a moment and then said, “How may I help you?”

Keeping her voice low so as to not draw attention to herself, Nicole motioned her head to the monitor above. “I’m not sure,” she began. “My name was called over the PA system. Something about my seating assignment?”

“Name please.”

Nicole didn’t want to just announce herself, so she slid her crinkled boarding pass at the woman.

Rosita took one peak at it and smiled. “Yes, Ms. Hunt. We had a reassignment in your favor.” She reached across her podium and withdrew a freshly-printed boarding pass and handed it to Nicole. “You can go right ahead and board now. No more waiting.”

With a shaky hand, Nicole accepted the ticket from the woman. Staring at it as if it were written in Greek, Nicole made out several items that had her breathless. First, her name was on it. No question there. Second, she was now in Group 1. And her seat was now 4F. As in first class.

Stunned, she reeled back a bit. “There’s been some sort of—”

The ticketing agent stretched her hand out and patted the top of Nicole’s. “No mistake, my dear. Sometimes, these things just happen. Now, you get on board and enjoy all those extras.”

Nicole was so thrilled, she could burst into song. She only let her well-erected guard down for a second, and look what happened. Was it the kindness of a stranger who may or may not have upgraded her, or the cosmic intervention from the computer gods smiling down on one of their earthly workers? Whatever the cause, she wasn’t going to question it again. Taking a deep breath, she clutched the boarding pass, and went directly to gate noted on her boarding pass.

First. Class. Fuck yeah!

The wait was short, and she was still bracing for someone to tell her the ticket was a mistake when she lined up to get on board. Thankfully, the attendant scanned her ticket and handed it back to her without any problem.

“Enjoy your flight, Ms. Hunt,” the cheerful blonde chimed.

Giggling at her phenomenal luck, Nicole crept along with the other passengers—including the poor schmucks now stuck back in economy—making their way to the Airbus. She started wondering if there would be a movie and food. There’d definitely be alcohol. Although, with everything that had gone down over the past few days, maybe drinking wasn’t the smartest thing. She’d need her wits about her once she landed in New York.

Six hours away.

“Screw that. I’m drinking,” she muttered to herself and smiled. After all, it was free in first class. She’d have a few glasses of whatever and then sleep the rest of the flight. No one could harm her while she was up in the air. She’d literally rise above all the bullshit.

As she stepped onto the aircraft, she almost felt safe. Leaving town was the smartest way to take care of herself. Just like her dad had taught her. She hadn’t ever conceived of joining the military herself, but she knew when to listen to her father and his advice. Even though there were things between them still left unsaid. Actions of his she was still working through. She was trying, after all, to be a grown up, learning to forgive, yet never really forgetting. She didn’t know how she could forgive him totally. He’d changed her life, altered the dynamics of their family, made her harder than she’d like to be. More bitter than was in her nature.

One day, they’d sit down and work it out… maybe. She doubted she’d ever truly be Daddy’s girl again because of what he did. At least, he was working now to protect her. She’d focus on that at the moment.

“Welcome aboard,” the flight attendant said to her. Her well made up eyes zeroed in on Nicole’s boarding pass. “May I take any of your things for you?”

Nicole knew she had more carry-on than allowed technically, but she’d crammed her purse and laptop bag together, so they appeared to be one piece of luggage.

“I’m good, thanks,” she said hurriedly. The line was barely moving even though she was so close to her seat. Her complimentary, gifted, upgraded joy of a gigantic seat where she could stretch herself out, with comfy extras to wrap herself in like the loving arms of a snuggly grandpa ready to whisk her away to safety.

“May I bring you a drink before takeoff?” the sky hostess asked.

“Hmmm… I think I’ll have a chardonnay,” she said, raising an eyebrow in contemplation. No harm in that. It was delicate, subtle, and grown up. However, before the woman could confirm the order, Nicole noticed the aisle in front of her was clear, and she had a clear view of the one open seat in first class where she’d sit.

And, who would be sitting next to her.

She almost choked on her surprise when she saw the person. Not a person. A man. And, not some random man.

It’s him.

How? What?

When their eyes met—those fucking amazing orbs of blue of his that had nearly knocked her to her knees earlier—he hitched a smile at her, glancing at the empty seat next to him and raising a brow. Her chest constricted with the pain and passion and pleasure of seeing him again and the thought of spending the next six hours of her life right next to him. She had no freaking clue what was going to happen to her the minute they landed. There might be a posse of Chinese thugs to rough her up for the USB drive, or someone might simply shoot her. No idea.

All she did know was she wanted to live.

To feel.

To experience.

For whatever time she had until she could figure this mess out.

She couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her face as she nodded slightly to let him know his hope—his assumption—was correct.

He didn’t have to be her Mr. Right.

He was her Mr. Right Now.

“So, a glass of chardonnay?” the flight attendant asked, breaking the spell.

Nicole shook her head. Hell no. There was nothing delicate or subtle about this. Wine would certainly not do. She needed something a whole lot stronger.

“No. Chivas on the rocks with a twist of lime. Make it a double, please.”

“Coming.”

Nicole licked her lips and made the final few steps toward her seat, toward him. The drink was coming. If she were lucky, maybe she would be, too.