That was not what Shannon thought she’d hear. “So why are you?”
“Oh, I don’t know . . . because I won’t do any better?” Corrie shook her head. “Never mind. I’m tired. Pissed off my fiancé can’t be bothered to show up. Angry that my mom is making this all about her.”
Mrs. Harkin walked back into the room.
Corrie closed her mouth and faked a smile. “Normal bride nerves . . . right?”
Nope. Not right at all.
Mrs. Harkin pushed her purse up to the middle of her forearm and held her hands together like the queen. “We will see you in three weeks.”
Shannon couldn’t help but think the wedding would be called off before she had a chance to board a plane.
Chapter Two
Shannon checked her phone one last time before switching it over to airplane mode and slipping into her first-class seat. The flight attendant offered a preflight cocktail while the other passengers boarded.
Shannon happily sipped a mimosa and leaned back for the five-hour flight into Cancun. From there she would take an hour and a half drive to her resort destination in Tulum.
The weather in LA had been unusually wet all winter, even the spring managed to get off to a damp start, so the white sand and sunshine were calling her name. She’d work for all of two days, barely making back what she would spend on her upgraded plane ticket and the postwedding accommodations. Her accountant would scoff at her again this year. She didn’t photograph weddings because she needed the money. No, her divorce from Paul had set her up with six million in the bank. All of which she bundled in investments that trickled out a sum of well over twenty thousand a month. Plenty to live her life, especially considering her home was paid for free and clear. Even the taxes on the home were taken care of by her ex for as long as she lived there.
Wedding photography kept her from boredom.
This week, it would pay for a much-needed vacation in a destination where she’d never been before.
As what appeared to be the last passengers filed into the plane, Shannon glanced at the empty aisle seat next to her. Not a normal occurrence in first class. Most of the time someone in the back attempted to upgrade their ticket for a fraction of what it cost her to guarantee a seat with more legroom and free drinks.
She opened the shade on the window after the attendant took her empty glass.
“I told you, I’ll be there on Tuesday.”
Shannon glanced up to find a man in a three-piece suit shoving a carry-on bag into the compartment above their heads while talking on his cell phone.
“No, no. I’ll take care of it.”
Trying not to stare, Shannon turned back to the window. All the while hearing every word the man said. As everyone within ten rows probably could.
Rude.
A briefcase landed on the seat beside her, making her glance over.
Tall, dark hair . . . probably close to her age, if not a little older. She didn’t make out his features as he shifted his phone and wiggled out of his jacket.
The flight attendant was right there, taking it from him and hanging it up in a forward closet.
Mr. Phone didn’t even thank the woman.
“Ladies and gentlemen. The cabin doors have been closed, and we’re asking for all of your electronic devices to be placed in airplane mode and all larger electronic devices to be stowed for takeoff.”
Several sets of eyes turned toward the man who flopped into the seat beside her.
She looked again and was met with a hand, a phone, and a partial profile.
“I’ll take care of it. Just make sure the contracts are on my desk Tuesday morning.”
“Sir?” The flight attendant approached Mr. Phone as the plane started to back away from the terminal.
“What?” he paused long enough to ask.
Someone in the seats in front of them said, “Oh, please.”
The attendant faked a smile.
That’s when Shannon spoke up. “Tell your Tuesday appointment you’ll call him when you land.”
Mr. Phone slowly turned his head toward Shannon.
Golden brown eyes narrowed against his tanned complexion. Strong jaw and a full mouth that opened ever so slightly. He was beautiful.
“I’ve got to go,” he said to whomever he was speaking with, and promptly hung up.
Shannon blinked several times and the attendant walked away.