As I arrived at the Boston International Airport, I was guided through security by my own personal TSA liaison. She then took me to a private VIP section where Hudson was waiting for me. He still had on his black suit, and his hands were in his pockets, as he looked out over the tarmac. The woman sat my luggage down, and extended her hands. “Mr. James, Calla Hart is here for you. I hope that you two have an enjoyable trip.”

She smiled sweetly, and then walked away, closing the door behind her. For the first time, I was alone with Hudson James.

“Nice evening to fly. I love traveling in the evenings, not as many prying eyes. People are too busy doing what they do in their own homes at this time of night.”

He turned and looked at me. The girls had put me in a short navy dress with pockets in the front, and a sash around the waist. My hair was lying gracefully around my shoulders. I had on red lipstick, and I felt I looked like I just walked out of some sort of movie from the 1940s. All I needed was a hat to complete the look.

“Yes, it's really beautiful.” I had no idea what to say. Was the tarmac beautiful? No. But I didn't have any other mundane conversation to bring up.

“You look fantastic. Do you fly often? I know small planes can be a burden to some people. My pilot is one of the best. I'm sure it will be a smooth trip.”

“Truth is, I've only flown a couple times. I went to the Bahamas with my family a couple years ago, but I haven’t been on a plane since. And certainly not a private plane.” Suddenly, I was telling him real pieces of information about myself. First, the tattoo, and now about my family. And I been so good at hiding the truth, and displaying perfect confidence before, but being here in the real world, suddenly I felt like I couldn't maintain the façade. And it didn't seem like he wanted to try either. He walked over to me, took one finger, and dragged it slowly down my exposed arm.

“Are you scared?”

I gulped. “Should I be?”

“Maybe. I've never done this before either.” He moved away. “Typically, I travel alone, and for business. I don't know the last time I took a vacation. And I don't know that I've ever taken a vacation with someone else.”

“Not even your family?”

He looked back out over the tarmac where the lights are just starting to come on in the night. “I don't have one of those. Definitely not like yours anyway.”

“Every family is different. It doesn't make them good or bad, just the way they are.” My family had their fair share of issues, but when my dad got remarried, his new wife was pretty awesome. She really took care of my younger brother, and I visited them pretty often. She was the one who had booked the Bahamas trip, claiming that a good old family vacation would really bring us together. That was when they got married. It was the last time I'd been anywhere. And even after they got married and became their own little unit, they tried to help me. But I was my mother’s daughter, a bit of a mess, and couldn’t accept their help. I felt the need to do it on my own. And, somehow, how I ended up here. Getting on a private plane with a millionaire. Unbelievable.

He smiled. “You’re right. I guess they are.”

“So, where are yours?”

He sat down in a leather chair near the window. “My father is a business man, my mother a trophy wife. They live in a brownstone in New York with my younger sister.”

“Do you see them often?”

He shook his head. “It’s been five years since I’ve made it home for Christmas.”

I sighed. He had demons. We all did. Ostracizing his family certainly wasn’t going to help, but it wasn’t my place to say. It was my place to make sure he had a fabulous evening. Time to lighten the mood.

“So, what is the deal? We’re going to France for dinner?”

He looked me up and down. “The deal is, you asked for dinner, so I’m giving that to you. I love French cuisine, and I thought you might enjoy it, too.”

“I’d be willing to try it.”

Suddenly, there was a rap at the door. The TSA liaison entered again. “Your plane is ready for takeoff. I’ve brought someone to take your bags.”

Hudson nodded. “Thank you.”

We boarded the small plane, and took our seats. A stewardess offered us drinks while we waited to get off the tarmac. I was still in shock that I was on a plane. On a plane with a man I hardly knew.

“Thank you for the drinks, but I would prefer to be alone with my date.” Hudson spoke pointedly to the stewardess.

He wasn’t cold to her, just professional. Not at all like he treated me. He was different with me, relaxed, or at least less standoffish than he was to other people. I still couldn’t help but wonder, why me?

She nodded and kept her head down as she left the cabin. I sat on the edge of my seat, a white leather recliner, and sipped on a bottle of water. I was nervous, so much that it showed.

“You’re not comfortable. How can we rectify that?”

I tried to play it off, like he wasn't right, even though we both knew that he was. “I'm fine, really. I just haven't flown in a while, makes me a little nervous.”

“I can give you a little something to take the edge off. I mean, I figured we would sleep through most of the flight anyway.”

Sleep? Like I was going to get any of that. Maybe I should take him up on his offer, so that by the time we arrived in France in the morning, I would be bright eyed instead of a zombie like I was planning. “Will you be taking something?”

“That depends.”

“On what?”

“On whether you do or not. I’m certainly not going to make you sit here all by yourself for an eight-hour flight. Not when we can both stay up and,” he paused. “Talk.”

I smiled. “Talk. Is that all you want to do?”

“We said no strings. I'm fine with that. If all I get out of this weekend is dinner, then that's all I get.”

Somehow, I didn't believe that that's all he was going to get. Hudson just doesn't seem like the type of guy who only took a woman to dinner. He was in it for more. Deep inside me, I wanted him to be.

“Well, actually, I could definitely use some sleep. And eight hours is an awfully long time.”

He stood up and offered me his hand. I kept my water, but obliged. He walked me towards the back of the cabin, and pulled a curtain back to reveal a first-class recliner that laid out into bed. “Then you stay back here, and I'll be in the front if you need anything.”

I sat down in the chair, and set my head back to rest. I was about to take my final sip of water when I opened my eyes, and saw his hand in front of me. There was a little white pill in the middle. “Just a little something for the nerves. I promise it’s legal.”

I took the pill from his hands, and under his watchful eyes, I put it in my mouth, and pushed it down with the water. I watched him walk away in his black suit, and then everything seemed to go fuzzy and dark.