"What's it look like I'm doing? I'm trying to massage the pain away," James didn't turn to look at her. He kept his focus on her foot and pushed into her sole hard.
"People are looking," Jennifer whined. She didn't care if she sounded like a little girl. "I shouldn't be in your lap," she swatted at James's hand, but he grabbed it instead and smiled at her fluster.
"You shouldn't have sat in my lap, Sweetie."
"What?" Jennifer stared at James, mortified. "I didn't sit in your lap. I fell!"
James laughed robustly. He shook his head at her, and then handed her the shoe that he had removed.
"You're so on edge today," James bellowed with another laugh. He helped Jennifer slid from his lap. She stood and cleared her throat. The moseying group of lazy workers had moved on.
Locking hair behind her ear, she started to replace the shoe. Thoughts of Andrew were long gone. All she thought about was the feel of James's hand on her back and ankle. His touch felt good and forbidden. That made her heart race.
After she stood and straightened the sliming rose red blazer she wore over a chiffon silk blouse and white thigh high skirt. She realized then how much of her flesh had been exposed while she had sat on his lap, but James didn't say anything.
He leisurely rose from the ground and dusted off his palms. Before they turned to the plane again, James reached for her suitcase and purse. Jennifer didn't stop him.
There was a woman who looked like she'd be their flight attendant waiting at the side of the dropped two-step staircase. She held a small bundle of first aid supplies and smiled brightly, making eye contact with Jennifer.
"Are you okay? Can I help dress it for you?"
"Thanks, Carolyn," James said from within the plane, "I think we can handle a little knee scrap though, right Jenn?"
Jennifer frowned as she watched James disappear into the jet, but she nodded at the woman she assumed was Carolyn. Her name plate said so.
"Okay, well then, right this way, Miss," Carolyn said with a polite nod. She turned and ushered Jennifer into the plane. The ceiling was low, causing everyone to stoop and bend. "Is this your first time flying, Evo?" Carolyn turned to Jennifer and smiled sweetly.
Jennifer blinked. "What?" Before the woman could say more, James spoke.
"Yes."
Carolyn's face lit up. "In that case, this jet, the Citation Mustang, is from Cessna's Citation family and is the smallest in its class. Please enjoy our all-leather reclinable seats," she reached for Jennifer's hand and gently led her towards a window seat where Jennifer eagerly followed suit. "As you see, aboard the Mustang, every seat is a window seat," Carolyn winked.
Looking around to the other lush chairs, Jennifer's mouth gawked. The plane was wide and full of room, but there were only four chairs and each one was located by a pleasant round window to the outside. Beneath her feet was an extravagant royalty smoky quartz carpet.
"We have 12-volt outlets for your AC power needs, executive stowaway tables," Carolyn demonstrated the ease at which the tables could be released, "a toilet located near the entrance and refreshments of juice, coffee, water, and alcoholic shots, should you prefer it, and inflight snacks and one main meal. Today, it's a sourdough bowl of cream of broccoli soup sprinkled with cheese, a fresh mini baguette, and crackers," Carolyn paused and smiled widely. "Will you be eating the inflight meal?"
Jennifer nodded with her mouth open, completely unaware that it had parted. "Okay. We'll prepare your order and have it delivered as soon as we break into our cruising altitude of 35,000 feet," she flashed Jennifer another award-winning smile and then turned to James where the smile became something else entirely.
"It's great to see you again, Mr. Melone," Carolyn cooed.
James grinned at her. "And you too, Carolyn. How're your girls?"
Carolyn gushed. "Just great. Ruby received first chair in her regional city band three weeks ago. I'm so happy for her."
"And Tammy?" James watched Carolyn brightly. Her smile fell some and she shrugged her shoulders.
"You know, teens," she chuckled. "She sure gives me a run for my money when she's in town, that's for sure." James nodded sternly.
"I'm sorry to hear that. She's a good, bright girl, though. I guess she just has to believe it, right?" His words brought another smile to Carolyn's face. She dabbed at her eyes and nodded emphatically.
"Thank you, for that. Thank you, Mr. Melone. Really," she nodded again and sniffed. "Your words mean so much to me," she stopped to clear her throat. "And would you like our inflight meal as well?"
"It sounds delicious, yes, please."
Carolyn smiled. Jennifer sat on the left side of the plane and James was directly across from her. Even with her legs stretched out, there seemed to be about a foot of space in between them. The room inside the cabin was absolutely astounding.
"If I can please have your attention," Carolyn grinned brightly with her eyes lingering over James, "I'll start by giving you the safety brief."
Jennifer didn't listen. She heard bits and pieces, like the fact that the plane had a satellite phone she'd be able to use while in the air. That made her happy. She could make some phone calls and perhaps set a final appointment for whichever candidate she liked for Tuesday in the evening.
She was planning on heading back to the Terrance for the final interview. She loved their atmosphere, and their food. She couldn't think of a better way to see if an assistant could handle the clout they'd be managing than giving them a taste at one of Chicago's finest dining establishments.
After the brief, Carolyn left the small cabin, and then the plane. Jennifer found she was still holding her breath, marveling at the idea of the private jet ride. She caught James watching her and smiled at him easily.
"This is incredible," she whispered. James nodded.
"Makes you wonder how anyone can ever go basic again, right?"
Jennifer chuckled. She lazily pulled her seat belt across her chest. In the plane, the buckles were like those in a car, across the lap and chest. She couldn't wait to take it off once they were in the air.
"This plane flies at a high altitude. That means it's smoother and pretty cost efficient on fuel."
Jennifer smirked. "Jets are cost efficient?"
James laughed. "You make a good point," he nodded to her knee. "We can take care of that now, if you want. Carolyn left the first aid supplies."
Jennifer shrugged the question away. "Maybe we should wait, looks like we're about to take off."
"Maybe in ten minutes."
An announcer came over the speaker system as soon as James's voice ended. It was Carolyn again, "On behalf of Captain Louie, welcome aboard Evo's charter jet services. We have a nonstop flight from Wheeling, Illinois to Summit, New Jersey. Our flight time is estimated at two hours and 23 minutes. We will be flying at a cruising altitude of 35,000 feet at a ground speed of 368 miles per hour. Please make sure the tables are stowed away in their proper bin and that your seat belt is correctly fastened. Thank you." Carolyn turned from the front of the plane and winked at James. He grinned back at her.
Jennifer twisted in her seat to watch Carolyn. She fastened a small container to the side of the plane before she began to secure the door for takeoff. Apparently, the stairs had already been retracted.
"You look like you're enjoying yourself," James remarked. Jennifer met his eyes and forced them to bulge.
"Are you freaking kidding me? This is a private jet!" Jennifer exclaimed excitedly. James laughed.
"I know."
Holding James's eyes with her own intent stare, Jennifer found herself breathless. Again. She looked away after a moment and forced an unnecessary cough. She turned to her knee. Giving it unwarranted interest, she ran her finger along the scuffed skin and kept her head down.
James was always an incredibly easy person to be around. Especially when it was all business and a good day. That meant the stock marquee was telling him good things and all contracts were on time. When the world was turning as it should and the birds were singing the right song, James was a fantastic joy to be around.
He had a great sense of humor and was so personable for the wealth he had; Jennifer had simply never met anyone else like him. That was, until she met Andrew.
She swallowed gravely and continued to avoid James's taunting stare. He watched her shamelessly, a piercing look that made her squirm. She didn't know what he was looking at. For the second time that day, she felt something sinister within her take root within her heart. The feeling was foreign to her, and she couldn't quite place her finger on it.