1.
LILA
"Careful, sweetheart. If you keep gripping that armrest like that, it might take it personally."
She blinks, startled and turns to the man sitting beside her. He was grinning, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief and for the first time in what feels like days, she lets out a laugh. It wasn't loud or carefree.... it was the kind of laugh that sneaks up on you when you're caught off guard. "Sorry." She shakes her head. "I didn't realize I was strangling the poor thing."
He smirks, leaning back in his seat with a casual confidence that seems completely unearned and yet somehow irresistible. "You seemed deep in thought. Not the good kind though. You okay?"
She hesitates. How is she supposed to sum up the flaming disaster that has become her life. The fact that she trusted Rick Vaughn enough to let him sweet-talk her out of her entire life savings, money she worked for years to build up, gone in the blink of an eye. And for what? The dream of a life he promised her. A beautiful house in the city where they could start fresh together. Maybe even kids someday, he said, with that charming smile of his. She should've known something was off when she finally boarded a flight to meet him and start their so-called perfect life. She should've known from the last minute texts that seemed rushes, the lack of excitement in his voice when they talked on the phone. But she chalked it up to nerves, hers and his. The truth was far uglier. When she landed at the airport, bags in-hand, butterflies in her stomach, he wasn't there. No 'welcome to our new life' hug. No reassuring smile. No.... nothing. She tried calling him, but her calls went straight to voicemail. Texts went unanswered. Her excitement shifted to confusion, then to full-blown panic. Still clinging to hope, she made her way to the address he gave her. But when she finally arrive, she found an empty, rundown building with no sign of Rick, or anyone for that matter. It was like he'd vanished into thin air. No, it was worse than that. He hadn't just disappeared. He'd robbed her blind and left her stranded. She didn't even have enough money to rent a hotel room, let alone buy groceries or figure out what to do next. The worst part wasn't even the money. It was the shame. The gut-wrenching humiliation that came with realizing she let herself believe his lies. That she'd ignored the red flags because she wanted so badly for it all to be true. So, yeah, this was only her second time flying on a plane. The first was flying out to meet the man who'd conned her into ruining her life. And now, here she was, on her way back to Medford, the small town she worked so hard to escape. Flying back with nothing but the clothes in her suitcase and the corgi who deserved a better owner than her. None of that's exactly small-talk material.
"Just a long week." She brushes it off. "You know how it is."
He nods like he actually does. "Fair enough." He extends a hand, his smile warm but not too pushy. "Jaxon Reed."
"Lila." She takes his hand.
His grip is firm, his skin warm against hers and for some reason, that little connection makes the ache in her chest ease ever so slightly. Jaxon tilts his head, studying her with a look that makes her feel like she's been caught mid-thought. "Lila. Pretty name. Suits you."
"Thanks." She shoots back, unsure whether to look away or hold his gaze. His voice has a smoothness to it, like he's used to making people feel special.... or at least flustered.
"So," he leans slightly toward her. "What's got you wringing the life out of inanimate objects? Nervous flyer?"
She shakes her head. "Not exactly, just.... distracted, I guess." Distracted isn't even close to the right word. Vulnerable. That's closer to the truth. Completely exposed and raw, like her skin had been stripped away and every nerve was on edge. She feels like a walking wound, oozing hurt and humiliation that she tries to cover with a thin bandage of composure. She hates it.
"Distracted." He repeats, like he's testing the word. "Good distracted or bad distracted?"
"Is there even such a thing as good distracted?" She arches a brow.
"Oh, absolutely." His grin widens. "Good distracted is when you're staring out that window, imagining yourself on some gorgeous beach with a drink in your hand. Bad distracted is when you're trying to figure out how to make your ex disappear without a trace." That startles a laugh out of her. Is he reading her mind? His grin turns smug.
"Definitely not plotting anyone's disappearance."
"Good to know. I was about to suggest lime pits aren't as effective as the movies make them seem."
"Should I be concerned about how much you know about this?" She gives him a sidelong look.
"Only if I start taking notes." He teases. "But you're safe for now. I'm a lover, not a fighter."
"Of course, you are." She says dryly, but her lips twitch against a smile.
He taps the armrest between them. "Now, if it's not bad distracted or good distracted, maybe it's airplane distracted. First time flying?"
"Not even close." She says. "I've been on plenty of flights." It was a lie, but she didn't want to seem unworldly all of a sudden. Something about this man makes her want to seem fascinating and cool as a cucumber.
"Then maybe you're just bored." He says with mock seriousness. "In which case, I'm happy to provide in-flight entertainment. For a small fee, of course."
"A fee?"
"Yeah." He leans in like he's letting her in on a secret. "I work for tips. Smiles, laughs, phone numbers... whatever you're willing to part with."
She rolls her eyes, but can't help the small smile that tugs at her lips. "You must make a killing."
"Depends on the company." He gives her a once-over that manages to feel both teasing and strangely genuine. She doesn't know what to make of him. Part of her wants to write him off as just another flirt, but something about his easy demeanor and the way he seems determined to pull her out of her own head makes it hard to stay cynical.
"Well," she says after a beat. "I guess I owe you one smile so far. Maybe two."
He grins, leaning back with a triumphant air. "I'll take it. Though I think I can do better than that before we land."
"Confident, aren't you?"
"Always." He says without missing a beat.
She tries to play it cool, but the way his gaze lingers on her makes her pulse stutter. It's not just his looks though, let's be honest, they're not exactly working against him. It's the way he gives his full attention, like she's the most interesting thing on this plane. After days of feeling invisible and used, it's unsettling and a little intoxicating. "All right, Jaxon." She crosses her arms and tilts her head. "If you're so confident, let's see what you've got. Two hours to impress me before we land."
His grin turns wicked, the kind of smile that hints he's never backed down from a challenge in his life. "Two hours? Plenty of time. But fair warning, I'm aiming for more than just a couple smiles now."
"That's ambitious."
"What can I say? I like to set the bar high." His tone is light, but his eyes lock on her. He leans forward, closing the distance just enough to make her breath hitch. "So, Lila, tell me. What's your drink of choice when you're imagining that beach?"
"Is this part of the entertainment?" She raises a brow.
"Absolutely. Think of it as character building. I need to know who I'm working with here."
She fights a smirk, leaning back in her seat. "Fine. A mojito, preferably with mint."
"Mojito." He repeats. "Classic, refreshing, a little sweet but with a kick. I can see that."
"And you?" She counters, trying to regain some footing. "What's your imaginary beach drink?"
"Oh, I'm a simple guy. Cold beer in a bottle, preferably one I can crack open with my teeth." She gives him a skeptical look and he laughs. "Okay, maybe not the teeth thing. But the rest stands."
"Let me guess." She leans in a little more. "You're also the kind of guy who says he 'just wants to feel the sand between his toes' but secretly books the room with the best air conditioning."
"Guilty." He admits, eyes crinkling at the corners. "And here I thought I was just mysterious."
"You're about as mysterious as an open book." She teases. For a moment, she forgets about the mess waiting for her back on the ground. The tension in her chest loosens a little more, the corners of her mouth tugging upward without effort.
"Well, if I'm an open book, you should at least read a few chapters." His voice dips just enough to make the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. "Who knows? You might like the story." She blinks, caught off guard by the sudden heat in his tone. The air between them shifts, becoming charged and almost tangible. Her mouth opens, but no words come out. "What?" He leans back to watch her. "Too much?"
"Maybe." She admits, but the smile on her face betrays her. "Or maybe you're just very good at this."
"At what?"
"Making strangers forget they're strangers." She declares before she can stop herself.
Jaxon's smile softens, losing some of its teasing edge. He studies her, his blue eyes narrowing. "Not a bad thing, is it?" He asks quietly.
She shakes her head, unsure how to answer. For someone who's spent the last several days feeling betrayed and broken, his words carry a suggestion she's not been ready to unpack. "No." Her voice is softer. "Not bad at all."
For a moment, neither of them says anything. The hum of the engines fill the silence and she feels the tension in her chest loosen just a little more. Jaxon glances out the window, his profile sharp against the dusky sky. "You know, they say every flight has a story." He says after a beat, his tone lighter.
"Do they?"
"Oh, sure." He turns back to her with a grin. "The question is whether it's a comedy, a drama, or something more... exciting."
She laughs, shaking her head. "Let me guess. You're aiming for 'exciting'?"
"Always." He winks. "But don't worry, Lila. I'm a professional."
"At what, exactly?"
"Making the most out of unexpected encounters." His grin widens.
She rolls her eyes but can't stop the smile that creeps onto her face. "Well, I hate to break it to you, but this is probably the least exciting part of my week."
"Challenge accepted." He leans in again, lowering his voice and sending a shiver down her spine. "Buckle up, sweetheart. This flight's about to get interesting." She raises an eyebrow, but before she can respond, the seatbelt sign dings off and a flight attendant's voice comes over the intercom, announcing the start of in-flight service. Jaxon's grin turns playful again. "Stay tuned." He leans back in his seat with a casual air. She shakes her head, turning to the window to hide the flush creeping up her neck. This is ridiculous. She's just lost everything: her savings, her trust, her sense of control. And here she is, flirting with a man she's known for all of fifteen minutes. A man who, for all his charm and good looks, probably spends half his time collecting smiles and phone numbers from women on flights just like this one. And yet, the way he looks at her, the way he pulled her out of her own head without even trying, it's disarming. And dangerous. But this isn't who she is, or at least who she hasn't been. She takes a deep breath, forcing herself to look away from him and focus on the world outside the tiny window. When Jaxon shifts beside her, his arm brushes against hers just enough to send a jolt of electricity through her skin, she realizes just how much trouble she might be in. And the flight has only just begun.
