The Candidate's Affair (31 page)
“Ma’am, here are your customs forms.” The flight attendant returned and handed me a pink index card and a pencil.
“Thank you.” I stared at the sheet. It was one more clue in the paper trail I was leaving.
“Let me know if you have any questions.” She turned to the next passenger.
From now on, every encounter would be like this. I would debate what name I could use. How much information to leave. The breadcrumbs would lead him to me. They would always lead him to me.
I felt the plane begin to descend. Corinne opened her eyes. “Are we there, yet?”
“We are, sweetheart. We’ll be in Munich in a few minutes.”
She stretched her arms overhead. “I can’t believe we’re taking a trip without Dad.”
My stomach rolled. “It’s just a girls’ getaway. I thought it would be fun if it was only the two of us.”
Later, I would tell her something. Not the truth, but something.
She shrugged. “It would be cool to see some of my friends. Can we please go to my old town?”
I nodded. “We will. I have to work out the details, but we can do that. France is definitely on the list.”
“Awesome.” She rubbed her eyes.
I collected my purse from under the seat and opened the latch. The velvet boxes were resting inside, along with my cash. My skin prickled.
We were in another country. I had made this choice. My palm smoothed the front of my shirt, and I lingered for a moment over my stomach. I would protect my child, I promised myself.
The door opened to the jet way. “Audrey, come on.” Corinne stood in the aisle, her purple backpack in her hand.
I smiled and slipped the bag over my shoulder. “I’m right behind you.”
T.A. Foster is a Southern girl whose heart and spirit are connected to the beach. She grew up catching rays and chasing waves along the North Carolina Outer Banks and now resides in the state with her adventurous pilot husband, three children, and canine kiddo.
T.A. has an undergraduate degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a graduate degree in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University. When she’s not chasing her two-legged and four-legged children or trying to escape for date night, you can find her reading, writing, or planning her next beach trip.
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This book started coming together months before I sat down to write. I pieced it together little bits at a time, but I kept holding back on writing it. That is, until Alyssa pushed me to get this story out there. So, Alyssa, thank you for cheering me on.
Shane, you’re always in my corner. I can’t write without your support. Thank you for being there.
To the great team who helps my books take shape, thank you. Sommer, the cover is flawless. Dani, I can always count on your eagle eye to take my books to the next level. E.M. Tippetts, thanks for adding the touches my books need.
To my friends and family who have supported my career, I owe you so much!
Readers and bloggers, thank you for always encouraging me. If you keep reading, I’ll keep writing.
Keep reading for a preview of Fly, an adult contemporary romance. Available Now.
Not everyone’s good at one-night stands.
Skye Stephens has the worst day of her professional career, and all she wants to do is shed her power suit and get lost in the sheets with the hot guy she met at the bar. The problem is, this uptight ad exec doesn’t know how to do one-night stands. She has strict rules about dating and when to let a man in her bedroom.
Fighter pilot Ben “Bolt” Hardcastle is used to lovin’ and leavin’. But, after he meets Skye, one night doesn’t seem to be enough.
When these two crash-land into each other, a connection strong enough to make the loner pilot and the sexy businesswoman shed their rules about love and relationships begins to burn deeper than either of them ever expected.
“B
olt, Bolt!” There was pounding on the door. “Man, we’re already late. Pre-flight’s in thirty minutes. Get your ass out here.”
Bolt rolled to his side, removing the arm draped across his chest. He grabbed his phone. “Shit,” he mumbled. He never set his alarm last night. He glanced at the brunette under the sheets. Her hair tumbled over the pillow.
“Hey,” she smiled.
“Um, hey.” He jumped from the bed. Damn, what was her name?
“Bolt! Dude, the car’s downstairs. We’re leaving.” The pounding stopped.
“Right behind you.” He called after them, trying to clear the fog from his head.
The girl pulled the sheet with her as she sat up in bed. “I thought you said your name was Ben.” She tilted her head to the side.
He shoved one leg, then the other in his flight suit before zipping it up to his chest.
“Yeah, it is.” He grabbed his flight bag. “Call sign, Bolt.”
“Oh.” Her eyes followed him as he rushed around the room, collecting his scattered clothes and shoving them into his bag.
He threw his dog tags over his neck and fed them through the neck of his T-shirt.
“So, you think I’ll see you again?” She crawled forward on the bed.
He stopped for a second, taking in her curves. She was young, gorgeous, and incredible in bed. “Wouldn’t that be cool?” He walked toward her. “But I don’t know when I’ll be back in Miami. Last night was fun.”
He smiled as he leaned toward her to kiss the pouty look off her face. Maybe he could get out of the room without using her name. He hadn’t bothered to commit it to memory, but he knew he wouldn’t forget those lips. He couldn’t help but want to steal another kiss.
She arched back on her heels. “It was definitely fun.” She ran her tongue over his lower lip. “Bye, Ben. Call me when you’re in town again.”
He headed toward the door. “Yeah, I’ll do that, Ash—”
“It’s Audrey.” He heard the scowl in her voice.
He winced. “Right,
Audrey
. See ya.” He pulled the door behind him and raced to the elevator. He didn’t wait to get her number. He knew he’d never see her again.
He tapped the button for the lobby and leaned against the wall. Last night was a blur of neon, short skirts, and tequila. He and the guys had gone out in South Beach. Audrey was the usual casualty. He shook his head as the doors retracted.
He stepped into the lobby, just as his flight buddies walked out of the hotel. He ran after them.
“Oh, there he is.” Eagle chuckled as he threw his bag in the back of the taxi. “Nice of you to join us.”
“Dude, you barely made it. Was she worth it?” Hollywood punched him in the arm.
“Shut up.” Bolt threw his bag on top of the others.
“You know we don’t like being late, right? You’re such an asshole.” Ranger glared at the pilot.
“Whatever, you went out too. It’s not our fault you’re the one who’s married.” Bolt knew he would be hearing about this for the rest of the trip. They still had two more days of flying ahead of them. Denver today then back to Miramar tomorrow.
They climbed into the cab and directed the driver to take them to the airport.
“So who’d you end up with?” Hollywood asked as he popped a piece of gum in his mouth. “The blonde or the brunette?”
The other guys laughed.
“None of your damn business.” Bolt’s heart was still racing. He hadn’t showered or even eaten breakfast. A cup of coffee would be nice.
Eagle jabbed him in the ribs with his elbow. “Must have been the blonde. That brunette was ridiculously hot, even for you Bolt.”