or not. And like my aunt said, I was my father’s dirty little secret. No one in the company knew I was related to the Sky family.
“We’ll be taking off soon. You should probably get back to your seat,” I said.
The passenger, who wasn’t yet ready to give up, let his eyes skim over me, and even though he was quite attractive, my skin crawled.
“You’ll let me know the places I should check out in Dubai?” he asked.
“I’ll look into it for you,” I said because it was my job.
Finally, he walked away, but not without another leer he expected me to find endearing.
Jack came over. “You want me to take care of him?”
“You can’t take all my problem passengers,” I grumbled. “Even if he’s a little handsy.”
Jack chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m leaving you with the cockpit.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “Don’t start.”
“The new co-pilot is quite hot. The girls are circling.”
“Let them have at him.”
I might have said that, but I felt a little sick to my stomach as I said it. To avoid the thoughts spinning in my head, I threw myself into my job. By the time I had to start dinner service, my cheeks hurt from the faux smile that was congealed on my face.
Happenstance, I turned my head and caught Sophia headed toward the bathroom. Only she didn’t stop there. I moved and caught her hand before she could knock on the cockpit door.
Her expression screwed up as she threw dagger eyes at me and yanked her hand out of my grasp.
“Don’t,” I warned.
“Who made you boss? I’m Sophia Sky, remember?”
I reached for the patience I didn’t feel. “FAA rules trump you being part owner of this airline.”
“Fine. I just want to talk to my boyfriend.”
I almost bit my tongue, shoving it against my teeth to keep me from saying my initial response. “If you tell me, I’ll pass him a message for you.”
She stared at me several seconds before speaking. “Tell him I have a car for us to ride to the hotel when we arrive.”
“I will.”
She glared at me a moment longer as if in warning before walking away. Though it made me ill to think of my sister with the guy I thought there might have been a connection with, I would pass on her message. His reaction would be telling for sure.
I finished making coffee and poured two cups of hot water for tea before I took the tray and knocked on the cockpit door.
Grant opened it and I quickly glanced toward Carter. “Coffee or tea?” I asked.
Carter lifted a hand and Grant turned so I could step in. The area was too small for me not to brush against him, which I tried to ignore.
I’d equipped the tray with all the fixings like tea bags, sugar, and shot glasses of milk.
“Thanks, Jo,” Carter said.
I had to turn carefully, as I didn’t want to spill anything on Carter or the flight instruments. Grant was still standing there.
“Would you like a cup?”
Our eyes held, but I couldn’t read him. His expression was blank as he continued to stare at me. When he moved, I shivered, but still I managed to keep the tray steady as he took a cup of coffee.
His eyes never left mine, leaving burning questions in my soul. I couldn’t reconcile that gaze with a man burdened with a girlfriend.
When his next word left his mouth, it was like a lightning bolt.
“Thanks.”
The shock sent me moving because I was rattled to my core. There was an undeniable intenseness between us. Was it attraction or hate?
He’d almost closed the door between us when I remembered the message I was supposed to give him.
“Your girlfriend wanted me to tell you that she’s arranged transportation for the two of you to the hotel once we arrive in Dubai.”
The door was mere inches from being closed and his face was nearly hidden. But I caught the narrowing of his eyes before I turned away.
“What was that about?” Jack asked. “I felt the heat between you all the way over here.”
My nemesis arrived as if she’d been watching from her seat, waiting to pounce.
“Did you tell him?” she asked. I nodded. “What did he say?”
“Nothing,” I said and moved toward the first-class cabin to begin taking meal orders.
When I delivered dinner to Carter and Grant, Carter had been the one to answer the door. I tried not to be disappointed. It was as if Carter was onto me. He’d given me their orders