Flight to Paradise (Flight Trilogy, Book 1) (14 page)

His heart raced. Unsure of what to say, his thoughts ricocheted through time, from that night in her driveway to the day he opened her disappointing letter, over a year ago; the letter telling him she and some guy named Bill were talking about marriage.

He reached his hands out toward her. “Come here and give me a hug.” She smiled big as she stepped past Emily to hug him. Her body up against his felt different from Emily’s—smaller, but familiar. It had been a long time. He released her and met her gaze; her brown eyes sending him confirmation she was happy to see him.

Why
would
she
just
show
up
at
my
wedding
?

“How have you been?” he asked.

“I’m doing great.”

For a brief moment, he’d lost himself in her presence. The sound of Emily’s voice brought him back to reality. “Honey, don’t you want to introduce me to your friend?” Emily asked, sounding a little perturbed.

He turned to Emily. “Oh, I’m sorry, this is Keri Hart. We’re old friends.” He quickly turned back to Keri.

“Nice to meet you, Keri,” Emily said, then laced her arm around Ryan’s, as though she were locking him at a safe distance from his “old friend.”

“Congratulations to both of you,” Keri said.

Ryan asked, “Have you seen mom?”

“Yes. As a matter of fact, she’s the reason I’m here. When she told me about the wedding, there was no way I was going to let her come all this way and me not see her. I love her so much.”

His heart sank. He’d subconsciously wanted to believe Keri had come to see him, instead of his mom. He knew it was wrong, but, in a way, he hoped she still cared about him.

“Well, I’m glad you came,” he said. “So, are you still a flight attendant.”

“Coffee, tea, or me,” she said.

Everyone laughed.

“I’m based in L.A. and live up in Laguna Beach.”

“That sounds great.” His calm response masked the sudden rush he had after hearing she was living only an hour away. The last he’d heard, she was based in Miami and living in Fort Lauderdale. “I’m waiting to hear from a couple of airlines myself,” Ryan said. “Who knows, one day, we might even be working together…for the same airline.”

“That would be great,” she said. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

“So, how long have you been in California?”

“Don’t you remember…my letter?” she asked.

“Oh…yes,” he said, sounding a bit puzzled. He did remember the letter, but he didn’t remember anything about California.

Emily tugged on his arm, causing him to lose his balance. He had so many questions for Keri but knew Emily’s patience was growing thin. “So, how’s Bill doing?” Ryan glanced at Emily. She didn’t look too happy with the way the conversation was going. Asking about Bill might calm her down.

“Bill? Oh, Bill. He’s great,” Keri said. “I don’t know what I would do without him.”

“Sounds like you two are close,” Ryan said. “I’ll bet he misses you when you travel.”

“Yeah, it’s pretty hard on him, but you should see him when I get home. Most of the time he is standing at the door, waiting. The minute I open it, he jumps all over me. He is so cute.”

“Emily looked up at Ryan and said, “That’s the way I’ll be, Honey. I’ll be standing at the door waiting, ready to jump all over you.” She shot an evil glance over at Keri.

Knowing his time with Keri was up, he said, “Listen, I’ll get your address from mom and let you know which airline I end up working for.”

“Okay. That would be great. I’d better be going. I have an early flight tomorrow. I wish you guys the best.” She hugged Ryan, one more time, and then looked at Emily. “I hope you know what you’ve got here. Be sure to take care of him. He’s special.”

“Don’t you worry, I’ll take
good
care of him,” she said in a seductive voice. “You can count on that.” She reached up and kissed him on the lips, as though she were saying, He’s mine, get your own.

CHAPTER 23

Keri wanted to run and hide. Staying for the reception would only result in more pain. As she walked away, she replayed every second of her time with Ryan. If only it could have been longer, and
without
his new bride hovering over him like a vulture. Seeing another woman clinging to him was enough to make her want to puke, and hearing them call each other “Honey” was more than she could handle. It was wrong, all wrong.

However, the thought of Ryan one day working for the same airline offered some compensation.
If
he did land a job with her airline, and
if
he were based in L.A., they would definitely fly together—without
her
. At least then, she would be able to get to know him again. Even if he
was
married, they could be friends.

Suddenly, the most baffling part of the entire conversation hit her. Why had he acted so surprised when she mentioned she lived in California? She’d not only written it in the first letter she sent him back in May, but in each of the five letters she’d sent him since she moved to California. She was sure he must have seen her return address on the envelope. It didn’t make sense. He acted so weird. It must have been Emily.

I
doubt
he
has
told
her
about
us
.

Before she left, she stopped to tell Martha good-bye. “Martha, I need to go.”

“Oh, dear, can’t you stay a bit longer?” Martha took Keri’s hands in hers. “We haven’t had enough time to catch up. How are your parents?”

“They’re fine…or at least that’s what dad tells me.”

“Is Barbara Ann still upset about you moving away from Buckhead? From what I remember, she had your life pretty much mapped out.”

“I think what upset her most was when I took the job as a flight attendant.” Keri paused, reflecting on the horrible day when she told her mom. “In general, we just didn’t agree on the direction my life was headed. She’ll get over it.”

“What about your dad?”

“He’s been my savior. I couldn’t have made it without him. Other than you, he’s the only one that understands. I love him so much, and I know he loves me.”

“Your father is a wise man.”

“Martha, I wanted to tell you what he said. He told me he has always thought highly of Ryan and secretly hoped we would end up together—but that was before Ryan and Emily were engaged.”

Martha nodded. “Me, too, dear. Me, too. Like I told you, your father is a wise man. It’s obvious he wants the best for you. I know he would do anything to give you the desires of your heart. We both must continue to believe God has a wonderful plan for your life. Now is not the time to lose your faith. When you think of how much your earthly father loves you, just remember your Heavenly Father loves you much, much more.”

“I know.” Keri hugged Martha. “I really need to go.”

“Are you sure? The Crown Room is absolutely gorgeous. You should at least take a peek.”

“I’m sure it is, but I really must go.”

“Okay then, but promise me you will keep in touch.”

“I promise. I love you.”

“I love you, too, darlin’. Take care of yourself.”

“I will.”

Coming to Ryan’s wedding had been difficult enough, but staying for the reception would be stupid. She hurried to her car.

As Keri reached to unlock her car door, a voice called out. “Keri!”

She turned. “Oh, hi, Rex.”

“That was some wedding,” he said, walking up a little winded.

“Yeah, it was beautiful.”

“Listen, I was wondering if you might let me take you out for dinner sometime. I figured since we’re both good friends with Ryan, and probably going to be seeing more of each other, we should get better acquainted.”

“I don’t think I’ll be seeing much of Ryan.” She turned to unlock her door.

“Sure you will,” he said. “You never stop keeping up with old friends.”

“Rex, you’re thoughtful, but you have no idea…it’s a long story and it’s getting late. I’ve got to fly early tomorrow and need to get home.”

“Okay. I’ll tell you what, let’s just forget about Ryan. Let me take you out for dinner because I want to hear all about the airline biz. After I leave the Navy, I’ll be going with the airlines. Plus, I can tell you stuff about Ryan I know will make you laugh. I probably know him better than anyone does. I promise to make it worth your time. What do you say?”

When she heard the part about learning more about Ryan, she reconsidered. The opportunity to get answers to her questions was hard to turn down. “Okay. That would be great. I could use a good laugh.”

“Fantastic! We can call it a ‘Ryan Roast’.” They both laughed. “Next Saturday sound okay?”

“That sounds good.” She dug a pen out of her purse and jotted down her number. “Just give me a call next week and I’ll give you directions to my place.”

“Sounds great. Talk to you soon.”

She drove off.

The drive back to Laguna Beach gave her time to think. She verbalized her thoughts aloud, as if she were talking to an imaginary passenger seated beside her. “I just attended Ryan’s wedding. Can you believe that? His wedding!” She continued in disbelief. “That means he’s
married
. Married!” The words “wedding” and “married” resonated a feeling of finality, much like the word death.

In her mind, she replayed the slow kiss Emily had given Ryan—right in front of her face. It sickened her. She imagined Ryan holding her, sleeping with her, giving himself to her. “It’s all wrong! It’ll never work!”

Driving faster and faster, she slammed her palm against the steering wheel. “Why, Ryan? Why?” The pain was unbearable. She wanted it all to be a bad dream, but it wasn’t.

The image of Ryan kissing Emily at the altar popped into her head. Her anger grew. “I waited! Why couldn’t you?”

A sharp pain shot through her chest; she started gasping for breath.

Heart
attack
?
I’m
having
a
heart
attack
!

She clutched her chest; the car swerved. Within seconds, the pain in her chest rocketed up into her throat, tears bursting from her eyes uncontrollably. With her body trembling, she wailed; the car speeding down the freeway. Her vision obscured by her watery eyes, she instinctively reached and flipped on the windshield wipers. Realizing the danger, she pulled to the shoulder of the road and braked to a stop. Sitting alone on the side of I-5, cars whizzing by, her wipers screeching back and forth across a dry windshield, she cried.

Married or not, she had to know the truth. Rex Dean had the answers she needed. A thought brought a glimmer of hope. Two things she knew for sure: Over fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce, and Ryan Mitchell still had feelings for her.

CHAPTER 24

“Give me two dates,” Rex Dean said, as he splashed cologne on his face, “and I’ll have her eating out of my hand.”

He glided through his condo lip-syncing and whistling along as the stereo blared-out
Quando
,
Quando
,
Quando
(
Tell
Me
When
),
After
the
Lovin’
, and other tunes by his hero, the crooning heartthrob, Englebert Humperdinck; Hump; the Humpster; or the name he most identified with: the “Rex of Romance.” In his mind, it was no coincidence Humperdinck had been tagged with the name “Rex”; it was fate.

He had to admit, Ryan’s little sweetie had blossomed quite nicely since her high school days. He never expected the little peach from Georgia would turn into such a babe. The minute he laid eyes on her he knew she would be his next project, and thanks to Ryan, it should be easy pickin’.

One last glance in the mirror, continuing to lip-sync the Humpster, and out the door he strode. Behind the wheel of his Porsche, he sped off to Laguna Beach to work his magic on Keri.

* * *

Keri knew her motivations were purely selfish, but Rex Dean had the information she needed. The Ryan she knew would have
never
married a girl like Emily, and to get closure, she needed to know why.

Crazy thoughts filled her head all week: Ryan and Emily on their honeymoon in Hawaii; basking in the sun beneath towering palms; sipping Mai Tai’s by the pool; romantic dinners at sunset; and then, the repulsive memory of Emily’s voice: “Don’t you worry, I’ll take good care of him.”

Keri feared for Ryan. She remembered a National Geographic TV special where a male and female praying mantis were placed in a jar. After mating, the male, in alarm, tried to escape. While he pawed at the glass, the female grabbed him, bit off his front tarsus, consumed his tibia and femur, and then gnawed out his eyes. The narrator calmly stated that it was only an accident if the male ever escapes alive from the embraces of his partner.

She couldn’t just sit there and let Ryan be eaten by some blond bug.

The doorbell rang. She checked herself in the mirror before opening the door.

Remember
,
it’s
not
a
date
.
It’s
a
meeting
.
Use
him
,
then
lose
him
.

“Hello, Rex.” She’d forgotten how attractive he was, especially now, dressed in casual clothes instead of the rented monkey suit, and taller than she had remembered. At any other time, she might have entertained romantic possibilities. She quickly reminded herself:

He’s
merely
an
informant
,
nothing
more
.
Use
him
,
then
lose
him
,
that’s
the
plan
.

“Wow!” Rex said.

“What?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s just…you’re so stunning in that outfit. Or….” His probing eyes locked on hers. A chill tingled its way up her spine. “maybe it’s your eyes. I don’t remember them being brown…and beautiful.”

“Thank you.”

Is
he
for
real
?

She waited to see if his eyes might wander. Him, a head taller, and her in a V-neck top revealing a bit more cleavage than she had planned, she expected his eyes to dart below her neck. They didn’t.