Love After All (9 page)

Jackson smiled at his reaction. The impulse hit him before he stopped to consider his actions. Samantha loosened her seat belt, leaned over to him, braided her hands behind his neck and pulled him to her mouth. She kissed him hard, long and thorough. Surprised at first, he hesitated. Then within seconds he returned her kiss with equal passion and verve. He released the armrest between them and reached out to hold her more firmly.

Intertwining them as one, the kiss continued as the plane climbed higher and higher. By the time it had reached its primary cruising altitude their kiss had turned into a passionate embrace. When the captain's voice came over the speaker Samantha leaned back and touched her finger to his lips to wipe the soft smear of coral lipstick from his mouth. Jackson smiled, licking his lips, still tasting her and still slightly in shock.

“I can't believe I just did that,” she whispered, completely mortified.

“Wow. That was…”

“I'm so sorry about that,” she said, apologizing as she leaned back and tightened her seat belt again. “That was a mistake.”

“No, really, please. No apology necessary.”

“This is so embarrassing. I can't believe I just did that,” she repeated as Jackson chuckled softly. “Look, I assure you I'm not a wack job or some psychotic lunatic. It's just that when you suggested a distraction I remembered reading somewhere in a magazine that kissing done well was the ultimate distraction.”

“Did it work?” he asked with complete assurance.

“I think you know the answer to that.”

She looked over to him for the first time since the kiss. He smiled. She smiled and added a slight blush.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

“My pleasure, I assure you. And anytime I can be of service again, don't hesitate to call on me,” he reached into his pocket and pulled out a Daley Communications business card.

Taking his card, she nodded. “I'll remember that.”

Jackson watched as Samantha took a deep breath, then closed her eyes and laid her head back on the headrest. He smiled. Seeing her relax and at ease, at least for now, made him feel good for some reason. This was by far the best flight he'd ever experienced. He reached down and opened his briefcase and pulled out a small laptop computer. After another quick glance at Samantha, he turned on his overhead light and within minutes forced concentration.

But instead, his focus was edged and lapsed several times because of inner distractions. The last forty-eight hours had been frustrating. The mysterious package with enough evidence to ruin and potentially destroy his family and business, flying coast to coast to meet someone who never showed and the constant battle with his father had drained him. The only bright spot was…As he looked over at Samantha, he smiled and centered his thoughts. Moments later he was completely engrossed in business.

 

Her eyes closed, Samantha's mind whirled in circles.

What was wrong with her?

This man must think that she was nuts.

What was she thinking? Hell, if a complete stranger were to suddenly say kiss me and then proceed to kiss her she would surely have thought he was nuts. That is, after she finished breaking his legs and his neck. She was completely mortified. Then she remembered what he'd said earlier about her running away from an old boyfriend. Was it possible that he knew something?

The suspicious side of her nature instantly came out. Maybe it was all a setup. Who better to know that she hated flying and only flew after midnight than her ex-boyfriend, Eric? They'd had numerous conversations about her flying out to visit her father and each time she refused. Of course, it was a setup.

The sudden act of chivalry, the ease with which he'd dispatched the man in the bar, the coincidence of sitting side by side in first-class, it was all beginning to look too planned, too real and too familiar. And come to think of it, she'd met Eric the same way.

Had she not learned anything during all the years with her father and then hanging around with her brother? This was the classical pickup and she fell for it. First, the rescue from the apparently intoxicated man in the lounge, and now her rescuer here on the plane—the coincidence had setup written all over it. True, she hated flying. True, she was nearly petrified when it came to takeoff. And true, she did read that kissing, when done right, was the ultimate distraction. And Mr. Jackson Daley definitely knew how to do it right.

He'd held her firm but not too tight and his lips were soft and gentle but purposeful. Although she'd planned on a simple kiss, closed mouth, lips pressed to lips, what had began as completely innocent turned quickly into heated passion, desire and hunger. His mouth had opened and she touched his lips with her tongue. After that, a whirlwind of instincts took over.

The last man she kissed, over three months ago, was Eric and there was no comparison. Eric kissed like a soggy plunger and Jackson kissed as if he had invented the concept. He obviously knew how to curl toes and weaken knees. When he wrapped his one arm around her body and drew her close as the other hand drifted to her waist and down her thigh, she nearly jumped into his lap.

Then the thought hit her. If his kisses were that passionate, then making love to him had to be—she paused and smiled—mind blowing. The visual stimulus was intense.

She slyly glanced over to Jackson as he continued typing and reading and doing whatever it was that he was doing. Apparently he was completely engrossed. The plane could have fallen fifty feet and he wouldn't have noticed. Or would he? Maybe it was all an act? she questioned mentally.

What was wrong with her? The last few months she'd been driving herself nuts. Second-guessing and questioning everything and everyone was driving her crazy as her innately suspicious nature constantly emerged. She had no idea how her father, her brother or anyone else did it. How do you trust anyone when you've learned all your life never to trust?

She inhaled deeply, smelling the spiced scent of his expensive cologne. Then she tensed inwardly at the thought of his arms wrapped around her just a few minutes earlier. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe, just maybe, he was exactly as he appeared, a nice guy who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

Confused and jumbled, she wasn't sure if it was still nerves at flying or the fact that Jackson, Jackson Daley had just kissed her senseless.

Suddenly a flash of heat hit her and the vented air around her steamed up and certain body parts began to hum as the image of their intertwined bodies sent a flash of fire through her. She needed air. But traveling at an altitude of over twenty thousand feet above the earth wasn't exactly conducive to stepping out and getting a breath of fresh air. So as discreetly as possible, she grabbed her purse and headed to the small lavatory four seats back to regroup with a cool towel.

 

Two hours into the flight Jackson looked up from his computer screen. It was dark inside the cabin. The lights had been dimmed low and a calm hushed silence surrounded him. This was the time he enjoyed the most. The stillness of the moment always helped him think.

He glanced out the small window. The full moon, completely obscured, reflected its moody luminescent glow onto the wafting clouds below. They were over land but he had no idea where. He did know that they were very close to their destination.

He looked over to Samantha's seat. She was gone. He remembered looking over at her a few times earlier. She was sitting beside him quietly, her eyes still closed. He knew that she wasn't asleep. The stilled calmness of her breathing was slowed and patient. She was thinking.

Her face, smooth and silky, was the color of honey on a summer day. A slight hint of pink brushed her high cheeks and a soft reapplied coral tint covered her sensually full lips. The lips and mouth he remembered well, too well. A sly smile pulled his mouth wide and lit up across his face as the memory of their mouths pressed together sent a quiver down his chest, into his stomach and lower still. His body instantly reacted to the memory.

He had glanced down at her legs several times. Her suit skirt was just short enough for teasing interest without being overtly obvious.

Samantha had done in ten minutes what the average woman couldn't do in ten months. She'd made him want her. His smile broadened; there was no way that an airplane's takeoff would ever be the same for him again.

Women went after him constantly. His position, his money, his looks had always gotten him noticed. And being a red-blooded man, he enjoyed their generously offered favors. So, seldom did he actually have to pursue a woman. But it appeared that Samantha might be one of the rare few who wasn't particularly impressed by his assets. He liked that.

Kiss me, kiss me now.

Jackson smiled at the vivid memory and her breathless request as it echoed in his mind. She was bold and brazen and completely unpredictable. He liked that, too. No second thoughts, no doubts and no regrets. Well, maybe a few. He smiled again and chuckled softly at her prompt apology. Yet without question she handled herself and those around her with a casual distance that captured his interest and then begged to be explored. She seemed confident and self-assured with a decisive swirl of power surging just below the surface. Unrestrained and without inhibitions, she was the kind of woman any man with half a brain wanted to know.

Seconds later, an occurrence dawned on him. Any man. Surely there had to be a man somewhere. There was no way a woman like her could be unattached for any length of time. Not really knowing anything about her, he suddenly found himself envying the man in her life.

Then with renewed interest he looked around the empty first-class area. The attendant, noticing him, walked over immediately.

“May I get you something, Mr. Daley? Champagne, wine or perhaps something to eat? We have a variety of meals and snacks available.”

Jackson continued to look around for Samantha. “Uh, sure, coffee, black with one sugar.”

“Is there anything else I can offer you?” she propositioned suggestively, letting her long auburn curls trickle down her shoulder as she leaned over, displaying her very obvious swell of double-D-endowed silicone. Emerald-green eyes flared bright as her fair skin flushed. “Something off the menu perhaps?” she offered.

“No, thanks,” Jackson said, having gotten her overt proposition and politely turning her down.

She nodded. “One coffee, black, one sugar, coming right up,” she handed him a small menu. “Just in case you change your mind, we also have a full menu, a delicious fresh fruit or Waldorf salad or a chicken salad on croissant.”

“No, just the coffee, thank you,” he said. She nodded, slightly disappointed, and turned to walk away. “Excuse me.” She turned again, smiling hopefully. “Where did, uh…” He paused, remembering that Samantha hadn't given him her last name. “The woman who was sitting here go?”

“Ms. Lee has taken a seat a few rows back.”

Jackson nodded and turned, glancing back, but he didn't see her immediately. The first-class seats were too high and heavily padded. “Thanks.”

“Sure, anything else?” the attendant asked. He declined and she continued down the aisle, taking additional drink orders.

Tempted, he considered getting up and joining Samantha but thought better of it. She had definitely aroused his interest, but he decided to bide his time. He looked down at his computer screen and began reviewing his FCC proposal. Moments later, he closed the lid and glanced out the side window. When he turned back around, Samantha was sitting down beside him again. “Welcome back,” he said.

“Thanks.”

“You missed me, of course,” he joked.

“Of course,” she said, jokingly agreeing with him. A few minutes later the attendant arrived with a cup of coffee and a glass of white wine.

Jackson accepted his hot coffee from the attendant and she placed a glass of white wine in front of Samantha. She asked if there was anything else. Both replied no.

Samantha sipped the wine. “You looked very intense earlier,” she began. His confused look made her clarify. “Your work, I didn't want to disturb you when I returned.”

“Business,” he offered.

She nodded. “I assumed as much.” A comfortable silence drifted between them as she sipped her wine.

“Okay,” Jackson began after glancing at his watch. “We've got at best another twenty or thirty minutes, depending on the tailwind.”

“Twenty or thirty minutes for what?” Samantha asked.

“To cut to the chase and get the preliminaries out of the way,” he said. Samantha began laughing. “You think I'm joking?”

Samantha looked over to him for the first time since sitting down again. She paused to consider her answer. “No, on the contrary, I believe you're very serious.”

“And you know this how?” he asked.

“Because you're attracted to me,” she answered simply.

Jackson laughed at her unequivocal bravado. “Exactly, and you're attracted to me. So we can dance around this or we can own up to it and cut out the unnecessary chitchat.”