silvery light over the few wispy clouds, making it seem like the moon was racing the jetliner.
Soon, dinner would be served, then another round of drinks or sundaes. Before long, cabin lights would dim. Pillows and blankets would come out, and seats would be tipped back for a good night’s sleep. The flight ahead was long, and she was exhausted after the day she’d had. But Persia had work to do. Might as well get at it before dinner.
How she wished she’d never met Hotrod. He’d been stuck in her head, messing with her concentration since that foolish one-night-stand. But man, could he kiss. Her tongue ran a full lap around her lips, remembering. Like it or not, every time she turned around, her mind took her back to the sublime cinna-minty taste of his mouth and the sweet musky scent of the all-male body he’d rubbed against her. The feel of those hard ridges beneath the sensitive pads of her fingertips. The warm, wet suction of his mouth when he swallowed her nipple.
That same old ache started low in her belly, then morphed into liquid heat further below. Persia crossed her legs, wishing her body would stop betraying her. Okay, so that one night with Hotrod had left an indelible mark on her psyche—or something. But it hadn’t marked her heart, because it couldn’t. She wouldn’t let it. She refused to fall for another loser. She’d had that wake-up call during her senior year in college. Once was enough.
She was so over Hotrod. So what if he had a killer bod. Only…
He had left his mark on her, hadn’t he? No woman was completely over a man if she couldn’t get him off her mind.
But he was the one who’d run out on her, remember? After she’d given him everything. Her body. Her marmalade. Her pancakes. Bacon. She’d all but gushed all over the ass! Even anointed his handsome body with her healing Aloe Vera gel because—
“Oh, my gosh, you’re doing it again,” Izza murmured, her drop-down tray stowed, and a crisp blue blanket pulled up to her chin.
Persia cast her the most sarcastic glare she could come up with. “No,” she told Izza very clearly. “For the last time, I’m not thinking of any man. But I am going to finish this drink and read about the idiot SEAL we have to escort back to the States. You look sleepy.”
“Yup. Think I’ll catch a few winks before dinner. Wake me when they start serving.”
“Will do. Sleep tight and stop worrying about me. I’m fine.” Just peachy.
Speaking of peaches… Hotrod preferred peaches over melons. Firm, fragrant, delicious peaches that fit snug inside his hands. ‘Makes me want to rub them all over my face. Can’t do that with a pair of melons.’ Which was precisely what he’d done with her breasts. He’d rubbed his face all over them. Between them. He’d slathered them with wonderfully wet kisses and—
Oh, for hell’s sake. Stop already!
“Hmmpf,” Izza mumbled. “That’s what I used to say. See you in a few.”
Persia nearly snapped a vertebra looking at Izza to make sure she wasn’t replying to what Persia wasn’t sure she hadn’t spoken out loud. Sheesh! Hotrod was driving her nuts. She had to stop thinking about him.
“Go. To. Sleep,” she growled at her traveling companion. And stop reading my mind, you crazy woman, you.
With one last swallow, Persia finished her champagne and set the glass aside. Time to work. Dinner would be served soon enough, and she had a lot of reading to catch up on. Walker Judge, huh? Why did that name feel more than just a little familiar? Persia was certain she’d never met the guy. The only SEAL she knew was retired Navy, currently working for the Bureau.
Her fingers trembled as she tugged her computer up from her gear bag, then dropped her tray and set the laptop front and center. She’d already set her display for night reading, so the monitor wouldn’t disturb others in the cabin. Not that she meant to work all night. But she’d stashed Ember’s file under the laptop’s lid in her haste to get out of the office in time to catch that express flight. Intent on reading as much as she could before dinner, Persia laid the file on her computer, flipped it open, and started reading.
Navy SEAL, check.
Nearly twenty years serving his country, check.
Various commendations and medals, not only check, but wow. Eight Bronze Stars with Valor, two Joint Service Commendation Medals with