Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 25833 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 129(@200wpm)___ 103(@250wpm)___ 86(@300wpm)
When I get back to my seat, I make a bit of conversation with the nice family who played bodyguard over my bag. As it turns out, they’re taking a family trip all over Asia, and the Philippines will be their first stop. Their son is super excited to see Japan, as he’s really into Anime, and their daughter really wants to see China. I’m not sure how they’re affording a trip like that, and I don’t ask, but I get doctor vibes from the father, and it’s pretty clear the mom works too.
I’m just finishing up my protein bar and taking another sip of my smoothie when a voice from behind me startles me.
“Stranded at JFK?”
I try not to jump out of my skin as I turn around in my chair, but what I see nearly causes my jaw to drop to the floor.
In front of me stands what has to be the most gorgeous man I’ve ever seen. He’s tall, with high cheekbones and piercing eyes, just a bit of scruff, and chestnut brown hair that’s swept back in a way that looks like it had to have been done by a makeup artist, but I can instantly tell that this is a man who would never go near one. No, he made himself look like this, and he did it with ease.
He’s wearing a suit that must cost thousands, but he’s wearing it casually, like he could ruin it and throw it away and not even be bothered. And he’s leaning over the back of my chair, totally invading my personal space like he knows me, but there’s not a single creepy vibe coming off of him. Strangely, everything about him right now makes me feel like I’ve known him all my life. In fact, I wouldn’t even mind getting closer to him…
“S-seems…seems that way, yeah.”
Oh my God, Lucy, are you stuttering? What is wrong with you!? But I already know the answer to my own question. I’m stuttering because Mr. Magic here in front of me has me under his spell, and he’s only said three words to me.
He shakes his head and glances at the rest of the passengers. No. No, look at me, I can feel myself screaming inside. My heart rate soars, and I feel the urge to reach out and grab that chiseled chin of his and snatch his gaze back to mine. But it’s only a few seconds at the most before he turns back to me and his eyes find mine again and I feel my body’s equilibrium begin to settle.
“What’s your name?” he asks me. His voice is solid, like a tree with roots that go deep into the ground. I take a breath. I’m not going to stutter this time. I’m not.
“Lucy.”
I did it.
“Hi, Lucy,” he says, extending a hand. “I’m Jason. Jason Rooke.”
I reach out and take his hand, but as we’re shaking, there’s a bell ringing in my mind – or a lightbulb going off, or a humming, or a bird up in a tree chirping. I don’t know which one it is, but whatever it is, it’s trying to tell me something.
“Rooke,” I mutter, cocking my head to the side. “Jason Rooke…don’t I know that name?”
Jason’s lips curl into a knowing but innocent smile. “I don’t know, do you?”
His hand is warm. So much bigger than mine – and rough too. Callused. You’d expect a man in such an expensive suit to have soft hands, office hands. But not Jason.
His name keeps bouncing around in my skull like a rubber ball, each time getting me closer and closer to remembering where I know it from. But even when I look at his face, it’s like I’ve seen it somewhere before. But where? I know for sure we’ve never met. I would absolutely remember meeting this man.
“Ladies and gentleman!” I glance behind me as one of the gate officials waves their hand in the air to get our attention. “I’m very, very sorry to let you all know this, but there has been an issue, and right now, we’re looking at about a ten- to eleven-hour delay.”
A simultaneous groan comes from the crowd. Many people raise their voices.
“I realize this is a major inconvenience. The airline will be issuing refunds to anyone who wishes to cancel their flight…”
“Don’t you just love to fly?” Jason whispers in my ear. I turn back around to see him staring at me, the most commiserating look on his face. “I know I do.”
“This is ridiculous,” I groan. “Now I have to spend ten hours at the airport? Until they tell us it’s going to be even longer.”
“You don’t live nearby? Close enough that you could drive home until they announce your flight?”
“My house is over two hours away in Philly,” I sigh. “And I’d have to go through security again. It would be a nightmare.”