Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 74882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 300(@250wpm)___ 250(@300wpm)
I’m flying with a bunch of idiots.
And a princess having a meltdown.
The Sheridan Reid is so red-faced she looks like her head might burst. It’s comical until I notice the slight tremble in her hand. One barely noticeable wobble of her bottom lip. Something about that small display of vulnerability hiding beneath her tough exterior has me feeling bad for her.
“Stop showing off, idiot, and get your ass back in here,” I bark out and offer a loud whistle too.
He chuckles but in the next instant, he’s back in his seat. “Got her name for you.”
“Thanks for that. But I don’t care,” I remind him.
“I think you do.”
“I don’t.”
“Maybe a little. Like just a tiny bit.”
“Nothing. You know my heart beats for one woman.”
“Such a fucking momma’s boy.”
I laugh and swat at him. “You’re a dick.”
“A dick who got the one’s name for you.”
“She’s not the one. Jesus, man.”
Our playful banter is cut short when we receive communication from dispatch. Possible navigation change to avoid Rodrigo’s trajectory. We spend the next three hours focused on the quickly changing weather situation.
“We can’t reroute to Mexico City,” Carson says. “It’s full. We don’t have enough fuel to wait our turn.”
I knew it.
I fucking knew it.
Having lived on the Pacific coast my entire life, you get a feel for weather patterns, especially hurricanes. Even Mamá wasn’t worried, assuming it’d make a wide arc, bypassing Mexico, but Rodrigo felt like coming home.
“Tahueca has an airstrip. Not big enough for commercial airliners, but it’s a place to touch down and refuel.”
Carson gives me a knowing smirk.
“Don’t say it.”
“Not saying anything, mijo.”
“I hate you,” I grumble.
“Nah,” he argues with a laugh. “You love when we’re scheduled to fly together. I’m your favorite. Admit it, CZ.”
Smug bastard is right.
We cut out the playfulness to iron out the flight changes. That’s the thing with Carson. We’re in tune enough that we can joke one minute and handle shit in a serious, professional manner the next.
“I do not look forward to this announcement,” he mutters.
“You’re a crowd pleaser, Captain Klein,” I taunt. “Do the honors. I sure as hell won’t. That woman out there hates me.”
“You could always announce it in Spanish. Maybe they’ll be too confused to care.”
I snort. “Fuck no. This is all you, buddy.” I flash him a pitiful look and shrug. “No hablo inglés.” I don’t speak English.
“You’re a real asshole, Camilo Zaragoza,” he says, shaking his head. “You know that?”
“Mamá cree que soy maravilloso.” Mamá thinks I’m wonderful.
“She’s the only one,” he argues. Then, with a heavy sigh, he grabs the speaker, too chicken shit to face them. “This is your captain speaking…”
Chapter 3
Sheridan
Isit up, dazed, my eyes darting around the small jet cabin as I take a moment to realize where I’m at. Headed for David and Daddy. Breathe. My heart continues to race, though. So often I wake in a panic. As though the time ticks faster in those waking hours—something I can’t control. Not enough time to do everything.
Momma didn’t have time.
It fell through her grasp all too quickly.
“Miss Reid,” Lawton, the steward, says, squatting beside my chair. “Please fasten your seatbelt and prepare for landing.”
I frown as I buckle my belt. “We’re already there.”
He grimaces. “Not quite.”
“Not quite?” I demand.
“If you’ll please excuse me, I need to make sure the other passengers are ready,” he says, rising to his feet and scurrying away.
“Wait! Why are we stopping? Where are we going?”
He ignores me and I see red.
“Tahueca, Mexico,” the beautiful woman says from nearby. She smiles at me. “Rodrigo has changed course.”
“Mexico?” I croak out. “We can’t be going to Mexico. I have to get to Costa Rica for my father’s wedding, lady!”
She recoils at my tone and I feel like crap. It’s not her fault. “Estefania,” she says softly. “I am sorry, Sherrie.”
“Sheridan,” I snap, making her wince. My eyes sting and I swallow the big ball of emotion in my throat. “For how long?”
“The captain did not say,” Estefania says.
I’m fuming as we descend. The loss of control over the situation quickly morphs from despair to anger. At least anger gets me answers. I glare out the window. On one side is the Pacific Ocean, beautiful and blue. Trees line the beachy coast. It’s beautiful, but I’m at the wrong paradise. Worse yet, there’s not a cloud in the sky.
The moment I land, I’m calling Daddy and getting my flight changed. I’ve been off balance since I stepped into LAX and met up with all these people. I’m in the twilight zone, not reality. Once I reroute, things will go back to normal.
I close my eyes, imagining the resort Daddy rented out for his wedding. It’s the nicest one in Costa Rica. It’ll be wonderful to unwind in the presence of family and friends. To take a week off of my busy work schedule and just be.