Crashed into Love: Boxed Set (3 page)

I knew he was setting me up to ask, but I did
anyway. “And what’s your name?”

“Nikolai. Nice to meet you.” He held his hand out to
shake.

I didn’t take it as a loud beeping of the phone in
the rear galley sounded. Crap. The exam had started. “Sorry, I have to go.”

Leaving him, I dashed down the aisle in my tight
uniform skirt, very aware he was probably staring at my ass. I steadied my
breathing before picking up the phone. “Yes?”

“We have a situation 1583.”

My brain whizzed with all the code speak we’d been
drilled to remember. The correct answer came to me in a flash. Thank God I
could think well under pressure. “Can you confirm you want one thousand
sugars?”

“Affirmative.”

I hung up and made my way stealthily to Joslyn who
was finishing up a drink run. “We have a 1583 situation.”

Her honey skin paled. “Shit. I don’t remember what
that one is!”

I helped her stow the drinks cart and turned to head
back up the aisle. The rules of the exam were we weren’t allowed to share
details. You either knew it or you didn’t. No second chances. My heart went out
for Jos, but, really, she should’ve studied. I could’ve spouted the in-flight
handbook four times over with the amount of hours I spent huddled over the
text.

Instead of getting hickeys and having fun like
Joslyn, I made out with text books
, an annoying
inner voice taunted.

I found Ms. Klein exiting one of the bathroom
cubicles. “The Captain has requested one thousand sugars. I’m on my way to
complete the order.”

She gave me her first genuine smile. “Well done. You
passed the hijacking test.”

Heading briskly to the galley, she grabbed her
clipboard and chewed on her pen. “What does the code one thousand sugars mean?”

“It’s confirmation of the 1583 problem. It’s
ambiguous so it can be inserted into a normal conversation and not tip off the
hijackers.” Whoever came up with that was a moron. How was I supposed to insert
one thousand sugars into conversation? Unless I was a serious diabetic about to
keel over.

She nodded. “Fill me in on the rest of the
protocol.”

My eyes unfocused as I tried to recall step
one-oh-one of dealing with a hijacker. “Remain calm, try to identify the
culprits. Alert ground staff if possible. Keep hijackers away from cockpit door
with whatever force necessary.”

She nodded. “And by necessary?”

“By negotiation and calmness.”

“And if they have a hostage?”

“Remain calm and don’t try to be heroic. Agree to
all demands.”

Ms. Klein smiled. “Great, Ms. Poppins, you’ve passed
your first test. Run along and let’s see how the others do, shall we?”

I bumped into Nikolai from 24B the minute I stepped
into the aisle. The intercom buzzed indicating the pilots wanted something.
Holy crap, I was in hot demand.

“Hey. Do you have time to chat? I want to ask you a
question.” He leaned against a headrest, earning himself a sharp look from an
elderly woman when he caught her hair. He straightened, shooting her an
apologetic look. “So, Nina—”

Holding up my hand, I cut him off.  “Sorry.” I
smiled, even though I was annoyed at being summoned by paper-reading, sleazy
pilots. “I’ve got to work. Take a seat, and if I have time, I’ll come by.
Alright?”

Nikolai nodded. “Sure thing. Cheers.” Throwing me
another grin, showing a dimple on one cheek, he obediently returned to his row.

Trying not to run up the aisle, I did the fancy
unlock thing and stuck my head in the cockpit. “Yes?” My eyes glued onto the
glowing panels and buttons. Each dial summoned me to touch and decipher. I
wanted to be a kid and press every single button all at once. Pretty sure that
would make us crash though. What I wouldn’t give to sit in those chairs. Fiddle
with those instruments—to fly this metal beast.

Unbeknownst to the crew, I held my PPL: my Private
Pilot’s License. I loved the freedom of flying; of being so far above the earth
you held your life in your hands. I got a job as an air hostess to while away
the years it’d take me to get my commercial license.

I sighed. It was going to be a long journey to get
where I wanted to be. Long and expensive.

Liam Mikin wore an intoxicating smile, and his
silver aviators were now tucked into his shirt. Damn his cool pilot chic.

Captain Anderson spoke. “We just wanted to say good
work on the correct wording for the hijacker. What was your name again?” His
moustache bristled as he pursed his lips, waiting for me.

“Nina, sir.”

“Well, Nina, I’m impressed. First line exam, and so
far you’re doing great.” He turned in his chair and his newspaper scattered on
the floor. “That’s all.”

I brightened. “That’s it? No coffee or snacks?”

Liam Mikin chuckled and his arctic eyes sparkled
with the sun’s rays bouncing off the whiteness of the plane. All around us
little specks of light danced like fairy dust. “Now that you mention it, can I
have a cold one?”

Captain Anderson punched him. “Don’t even kid about
drinking on the job. You never know who’s listening.”

Liam rubbed his arm. “Whatever you say, boss.” He
winked at me.

A tiny quiver of interest made my heart
pitter-patter in my chest.
Do not do a Joslyn.
The thought of Liam
sucking on my neck, branding me with a hickey, caught me by surprise. Instant
infatuation didn’t happen to me. I didn’t like it. I thought with my brain, not
my girly bits.

I left before I could make an idiot of myself by
giggling or some other such rot.

Stupid sexy pilot and his stupid sexy grin.

A
few more tests later,
including a bunch more codes and a surprise choreographed fake heart-attack, we
landed in Sydney. My nerves were shot after giving mouth-to-mouth and
performing CPR on a lady who had nothing wrong with her. The awkwardness of
sharing spit was made easier by her joking that I was the best newbie flight
attendant as far as resuscitation techniques went. I think she meant she liked
my blowing skills. Wouldn’t the pilots be happy to know.

Samantha, didn’t participate in the exam as she was
already qualified, and she was her usual quiet self. Joslyn on the other hand
was chipper and cheerful, smiling in anticipation of our first overnight.

Joslyn and I stood by the door, demure smiles pasted
on our faces as we parroted ‘thank you’ over and over to the disembarking
passengers.

I was on autopilot—already thinking of the fat
envelope of cash we received on overnights and the four-and-a-half star hotels
I’d heard so much about.

“Nina?”

I looked up from my daze right into hazel eyes and a
smirk.

“Thanks for moving me,” Nikolai said. He held up the
queue of passengers behind him and Joslyn shot me a questioning look.

I ignored her. I could talk to a strange man if I
wanted. After all, I wasn’t the one with a hickey on my neck. “No problem.”

He inclined his head pretending fifty people weren’t
waiting and eye-ball stabbing him. “I’ll look forward to seeing you again
sometime?”

I smiled. Like that would ever happen. “Sure. Have a
safe trip home.”

He shook my hand. “See ya.” Smiling, he pulled away
and disappeared off the plane. I glanced down at what he’d forced into my palm.
A phone number was scrawled onto a napkin. Oh, wasn’t that sweet. My first
pick-up and it happened on my first flight. Must be my killer new heels.

Joslyn giggled. “Hey, you beat me.” She pouted but
perked right up when Co-pilot Mikin excited the cockpit. “Hey, Liam, everyone’s
off. Wanna share a cab?”

I rolled my eyes and headed down to retrieve my
satchel and overnight bag. The plane looked as if a hurricane twirled through
and deposited empty wrappers and scrunched tissues everywhere. I half-expected
to find a cow and broken barn lodged in a seat. How did people throw food into
every nook and cranny on a three hour flight?

I shuddered at the thought of sticking my hands in
the seat pockets to find nasty half-chewed biscuits or snot-filled tissues. An
inkling that perhaps I wasn’t cut out for this air hostess stuff freaked me
out. How would I handle three to four years of this? I didn’t want to be in the
cabin. I wanted to be at the front, driving the damn thing.

Joslyn and Liam were still talking when I returned.
Liam stopped mid-sentence, watching me with wary eyes. Joslyn bit her lip,
smirking. Oh God, now what was she up to? Hickey on the other side of her neck?
How about on her boob? At least she could ditch the scarves.

I smiled reservedly and lugged my heavy satchel off
the plane and onto the air-bridge. Whatever they were talking about, Liam
looked guilty and Joslyn looked up to something. I didn’t want to get in the
middle it.

Liam dashed to my side and touched my forearm,
abandoning Joslyn. She didn’t look put out though, more like gleeful. Oh
please, don’t let this be a set up.

I shot her a sniper look then glowered at Liam’s
touch. Even though his fingertips were on layers of my uniform, my skin grew
warm. As if sun radiated from his touch, seeping into night-chilled earth.
Tingling also happened, but I pretended it didn’t. “Yes?”

“You’re staying at the Heritage?” His face was
eager, leaning toward me.

Was he playing the ‘I’m so attractive with my pilot
hat and blue eyes please sleep with me’ card? Pursing my lips, I said, “You
know I am. All the crew do. Including you.”

A sheepish response shone in his eyes. “Sorry,
didn’t know if you had friends you were staying with in town.”

I laughed. “Like you pilots do? A booty call in each
port?”

He shook his head, embarrassment rouging his cheeks
“No, of course not.”

Captain Anderson brushed past, eyeing us before
disappearing down the gangway to collect his belongings. Throwing over his
shoulder, he said, “Stop teasing him, Nina. We don’t all have a hound-dog
reputation.”

Liam scoffed. “You can talk, old man. How did you
meet your wife again?” He leaned closer, adding, “His wife was a hosty.
Badgered her until she gave in.”

Anderson shouted from the middle galley. “I heard
that and so what? She knew how to make my coffee perfect, so I married her.
What else could I do?”

Joslyn giggled; my eyes widened. I kinda liked
Anderson. Liam I hadn’t decided on, but Anderson seemed jovial and happily
married. I relaxed a little as contentment filled me. I’d survived my first
flight and was about to stay the night in Sydney. I suddenly knew exactly what
I wanted to this evening. It included a lot of sweat and music. And a sexy man
or two. Or if I was lucky, even three.

The tension was broken, and I smiled genuinely at
Liam. He still hadn’t dropped his hand though, so I moved slightly. “Sorry.
Yes, I’m staying at the Heritage. Why?”

His face brightened. “Great. Do you fancy catching a
cab with me and Jos?”

I eyed Joslyn.

She shrugged.

Turning my attention back to Liam, I cocked my head.
“And you two know each other how?” No way did I want to be a third wheel—not if
Liam was the one who gave Joslyn her hickey. I’d much rather trade jobs with
Crocodile Dundee and wrestle an alligator.

My eyes flickered over the empty cabin. Not waiting
for an answer, I added, “Don’t worry about me. You two go ahead. I’ll travel
with Samantha and Ms. Klein.” Where the hell had they gone anyway?

Liam shook his head. “No, it’s no problem. Come with
us.”

Joslyn sighed, understanding why I was
uncomfortable. “Liam and I know each other from way back, but I haven’t banged
him if that’s what you’re afraid of.” She shared a look with Liam and they both
broke into noisy laughter.

Something was going on. I bristled at being the butt
of some joke.

“You won’t be interrupting us in the back seat of
the cab.” Her laugh was as multi-faceted as a wind-chime, while Liam’s was deep
and made me want to indulge in some silly swoon-worthy response.

My eyes shot wide at images of them getting heavy in
a backseat. “Oh God, no. Too much information!”

Liam’s amusement subsided and he cleared his throat.
“Jos, you know spreading rumours that aren’t true really come back to bite my
ass.”

I blinked. What did he mean by that? That all the
stories I’d heard were false?

Joslyn smirked. “Whatever, Liam. You’re just afraid
Nina will believe the gossipers rather than the truth.” She shot me a look.
“They’re not true by the way. I know that first hand.” Her look was full of
insider knowledge and mischief.

Crap, what was I missing here?

Liam and I made eye contact and I didn’t think I’d
believe it, but nerves shimmered in his gaze. His shoulders were tense, face
taut. “I know I can’t make you think otherwise, but Joslyn is telling the
truth. I’m not a man-slut.”

A laugh escaped my lips. “Duly noted.” I swung my
bag to my other shoulder and drew an elaborate check in the air. “Co-pilot Liam
Mikin is not a man-slut.”

He grinned. “Great, glad we got that sorted.” He
took off his pilot hat and ran a hand through his blue-black hair. “Awesome.”
Raising his voice, he called down the cabin. “We’re leaving, Anderson. You
coming with us or later?”

A muffled voice came from the bathroom cubicle in
the rear galley. “Leave without me. I’ve got to file paperwork. See you at the
hotel.”

Liam shrugged. “Righto.” He motioned for Joslyn and
me to go first, bowing. “After you, ladies.” His eyes burned into mine and my
hands pooled with sweat.

A small tremor of uncertainty tingled. What was he
up to? Did he truly have a reputation, and Joslyn just wasn’t his type? Had
they been together in the past? What was with all the inside jokes and looks?
I’d get a headache if I kept trying to unravel the innuendoes.

I hoped he told the truth about his slut-status as
if he thought he could brain-fuddle me into sleeping with him; he had a whole
new lesson coming.

We weaved through customs quickly—thanks to our
airline identification—and we didn’t need to stop for baggage. However, airport
security decided to hand search Liam’s duffel rather than x-ray, so Jos and I
had to wait.

Airport security used to treat pilots like gods, but
lately they’d been getting scrutinized. One pilot was caught smuggling drugs in
his briefcase—easy to do if no one suspected you.

Once outside, Liam stuck two fingers in his mouth
and whistled for a cab. It was twilight and hordes of people were arriving,
leaving, and hugging loved ones.

I poked Liam in the ribs. “You do realise there’s a
whole queue over there. Waiting for us to go to them?” I motioned to the line
of taxis waiting patiently for passengers.

“Ah, didn’t see them.” He gave me a lopsided smirk.
“Guess my whistle technique didn’t impress them.”

“Nope.” I grinned.

“Did it impress you?” He leaned down to my height
which wasn’t too low as I was wearing my killer pumps.

“Nope.” I repeated.

Joslyn piped up. “You impressed me with your fingers
in your mouth.”

I groaned. “Jos.”

Liam laughed, shaking his head. “No filter to you at
all. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.” Turning to me, he false-whispered.
“What Joslyn failed to mention before was how we knew each—”

Joslyn flew through the air and clamped a hand over
his mouth. “Zip it, Mikin.”

Liam wrenched away, chuckling. His face was alive
with expression and the look he gave Joslyn reminded me of the way my older
brother, Brian, watched me.

It clicked before Liam managed to utter another
word. Too busy man-handling Joslyn off him and ducking her fake punches.

“You’re related.” I smiled, frustrated at how
relieved I was by that piece of information. I tried to tell myself it was
relief from not working with a sleaziod, but that was a fib.

Joslyn dropped her arms and stopped attacking him.
Pouting, she admitted, “He’s my stepbrother. His dad couldn’t live without my
mom. Breaking up two marriages in the process.” Her words indicated hurt, but
her smile said opposite.

I looked to Liam for clarification.

He nodded. “Yep. Our parents weren’t happy with
other people and it was love at first sight when they met. I’ve never seen my
dad so besotted. Part of the bargain of new love was inheriting this
pain-in-the-ass-step-sister.” He gave Jos a fond, irritated smile. “She came
with the package. God, how long have we been related again?”

Joslyn huffed. “Fifteen years. Even at eight years
old I was disappointed at having such a gorgeous specimen of a boy live across
the hall from me, knowing he was off limits. Just because his dad decided to
get frisky with my mom our possible future fairytale romance was ruined.”
Bouncing to me, she added, “But it hasn’t been all bad. He’s brought sexy
friends home. That helped mollify me.”

I rolled my eyes. Now I knew about their
relationship, I was surprised I hadn’t seen it before. Joslyn was a little
overly familiar with Liam, but instead of it being too much, it was now sibling
jesting. A pang from missing my own brother caught me unaware. We didn’t stay
in contact much, he’d run from father’s ideals too—maybe I should make the
effort to find out how he was? Last I’d heard, he was off in some jungle
researching who knew what. The word geek summarized my brother perfectly.

Liam gave Joslyn one last friendly shove and headed
to the taxi stand. “You comin’, ladies?” The way he moved reminded me of an
airplane slicing through the atmosphere. He evaded a family stepping into his
path, twisting his torso as a pilot would dip the wings.

Joslyn grinned, looping her arm through mine. “Bet
you didn’t see that one coming.”

“What, that you had a pilot for a step-brother and
failed to mention it in over two months of training? How ever did you keep that
a secret?” Seriously how had she? Every day I was regaled with more nonsensical
infatuations and lustful mentions. I knew the relationship status of most of
the men who worked in the airport thanks to Joslyn’s gossip mill.

Joslyn’s face fell looking at Liam’s broad shoulders
and tapered waist in front of us. “I don’t like to tell. My girlfriends view me
differently when they know I could hook them up with my intelligent, hot
step-bro.”

I gulped. “That must be tough.” I now had
three
reasons why I could never be interested in Liam: One, he would be disastrous
for my career. Two, I’d never make Jos feel like I used her to get into the
pants of her sibling. Three, I promised myself I would never
ever
sleep
with a pilot. Pretty ironclad reasons to keep ignoring him and stay true to the
idea that he was a panty-scoring scoundrel. Too bad the last twenty minutes had
smashed those assumptions to dust.