Temporarily Yours (Shillings Agency #1)(8)
Author: Diane Alberts

“So you made him up to get them off your back?”

“Exactly. I’m the shame of the Moriarity family. It may seem a bit old-fashioned, but they think a woman of a certain age needs to be married with kids. The fact that I don’t have a boyfriend, and—gasp!—my younger sister is getting married before me…well, let’s just say it’s code orange for my parents. It’s a bit melodramatic, but there it is. I made up a boyfriend just so they don’t worry about me. In all reality, I don’t even want one. But if they knew that, they’d have it in their head that I’m miserable up in Maine all by myself.”

Oh, he knew how that went. He was also one of the only ones in his family who wasn’t seeing anyone. His mother was constantly suggesting nice women she knew. He lifted his glass to Kayla and took a drink. “I’m right there with you on the lack of relationships thing. A few months ago, my mother went so far as to chase down a woman in a parking lot to get her phone number for her ‘hero son fighting overseas.’”

Kayla choked on a snort. “You’re making that up.”

“I wish I was,” he said solemnly. “But it’s a true story. One among many I could bore you with the whole flight.”

She burst into uncontrollable laughter, clutching her stomach. He had a feeling the drink had more to do with her amusement than him, but he’d take it. She was intoxicating when she laughed. After she recovered, she swiped a tear away from the corner of her eye. “Oh my God, I would literally pay to see that. I’m not even kidding.”

Truth be told, he would’ve too. His mother could be downright formidable when she was set on a goal, even if she wasn’t even five feet tall. “If Mom was here with us right now, she’d be whispering little tidbits of information about me into your ear that would make you more inclined to make an honest man of me. Like one of those little angels on your shoulder you see in movies, only much more devious.”

“Ooh, do tell.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to him, with her legs tucked under her. “What would she say to me?”

Her skirt hiked up, teasing him. His fingers itched to trace the hem and inch it a little bit higher on her thigh. Just an inch higher…

He pressed his lips together and shook his head, more at himself than at her question. He opened the package with the blanket and threw it over them. If nothing else, it would hide her tempting legs from his view. “No way. We’re talking about you and your penchant for fake boyfriends. Not me.”

She smoothed the blanket over their legs, pouting. “Not fair.”

“Who said life is fair?” He scooted a little bit closer, cursing the armrest that stood in his way. She tensed, but didn’t move away. “Tell me what your boyfriend would be doing right now, if he was here instead of me.”

“Why bother? He’s fake.”

He shook his head and sighed. “But for the purpose of your family, he’s real. How about we use the rest of the flight to come up with realistic stories? I’ll be your muse.”

She rolled her eyes. “Okay. If you were my boyfriend, you’d be doing exactly what you’re doing. Touching me. Kissing me. Making me forget I’m about to crash to my fiery death. You know. Boyfriend crap.”

After glancing around and making sure the stewardess wasn’t behind him and that the rest of the passengers weren’t watching, he cupped her cheeks and looked into her eyes. “If you remember the fact that you might die soon, then I’m not doing a good enough job, am I?”

A flush spread out from underneath his fingers to her nose and she scooted back a little bit. “I didn’t mean—”

“Too late.” His heart pounded in his ears, pronouncing his desire for her with each racing beat. Hoping he wasn’t completely misreading her attraction to him, he leaned forward and melded her mouth to his again. She sighed and opened to him, and he threaded his hands into her hair. He kept the kiss light and teasing, pulling away to suck her lower lip.

Releasing her, he tried to take a deep breath. “Christ, you taste so damn good.”

He didn’t want her to think he was trying to get her into bed, nor did he want to take advantage of her when she was tipsy. But truthfully, he kind of was trying to get her into bed. Even if he hadn’t been originally.

His intentions were no longer crystal clear.

“If I taste so good, then why did you stop?”

She grabbed him by the back of the neck and pulled him down again. As soon as their lips touched, her tongue was in his mouth. His gut clenched down hard, twisting and turning with need. She kissed him as if she couldn’t get enough. Like she might even want him as much as he wanted her.

She shifted closer—or as close as she could get with the seat divider between them—and her nails raked down his sweater. She then slid her hands underneath the hem, touching bare skin. When she caressed his chest, he reached under the blanket and ran his fingers up her thigh and under her skirt. He brushed against her panties, just a little bit, and she whimpered in response.

Footsteps approached, and he froze.

Was he really doing this with her, on a plane where anyone could see them? What the hell was wrong with him? She deserved better than a public groping. She should have flowers and jewelry and a real hero instead of someone masquerading as one.

He let go of her and extracted his hand from between her legs. “Flight attendant,” he whispered.

Kayla covered her face with shaking hands. With a little squeak, she cried into her hands, “Oh my God. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize. You didn’t do anything wrong. You don’t have to feel bad.”

“Yes, I did,” she moaned through her hands. “I don’t even know you.”

“You know enough. Trust me.” He reached out to squeeze her thigh, and she scooted back from him as if his touch would burn her skin.

“Can I get you two anything else?” the attendant asked, eyeing Kayla’s covered face with concern, then looking at the blanket that covered them both. “Everything okay?”

He tried to sound poised and calm, but need was ripping through him like a knife. “No thanks. We’re good.”

The flight attendant hesitated. “Can I get you anything, miss?”

“No, I’m fine,” Kayla muttered. Though the attendant looked uncertain of this, she turned around and left. After they were alone again, Kayla dropped her hands and watched him as if he might bite. “I don’t do this. This isn’t me. I don’t kiss strangers on planes.”