Hot Fudge Fraud by Anisa Claire West Read Free Book Online Page A

contemplated a flight departing at midnight.  How intriguing , she thought.  My first time ever on a plane and we’re jetting out of South Carolina at the witching hour.   The airport was all but empty, and the pair breezed through security without a hitch.  Waiting at the gate for their flight to board, Melanie sat down next to Keith and folded her hands in her lap.
    “Your hands are trembling,” he observed, stroking her hair.
    “I know.  I’m just excited.  So many things are going through my mind right now,” she said, electrified by his heated touch.
    “Melanie, I’m excited too,” he said intimately as she gazed up in surprise at the intensity of his voice.  “This is like a dream come true for me.”
    “What are you talking about?” She asked, perplexed.  “You said you’ve done lots of traveling.”
    “I have.  But not with someone I really care about,” he admitted, suddenly feeling self-conscious and staring out the enormous glass window at the plane that awaited them.
    Melanie wasn’t sure how to respond.  How could he claim to care about her after only one date?  Unless the crush he had on her back in their school days had been more than just puppy love.  Or maybe it was just as a friend that he cared about her.  Shooing the questions out of her fidgety mind, she tried to focus on the voyage ahead.
    Uncomfortably vulnerable, Keith clammed up and simply caressed her hair as they waited for the boarding call.  She didn’t press the issue and remained content just to be at his side.  Finally, a flight attendant announced boarding for their rows.  Melanie shot to her feet, trembling anew at the prospect of getting onto the plane.
    “This is it, Melanie,” Keith said with a boyish grin.  “3-2-1 blastoff!”
    She poked him in the shoulder and said, “Stop!  You make it sound like we’re boarding a rocket!”
    “Well, it does feel a little like a rocket during take off.  You’ll see,” he previewed, squeezing her hand as a chill traveled up her spine.  “And if you thought the airport was small, wait till you see the inside of this plane!”
    He indicated for her to walk ahead of him.  She smiled wanly at the crew as she walked onto the plane.  The air was stale and thin, and the seating area looked painfully tight.  Keith grinned knowingly at her as she passed through First Class en route to cramped Coach.
    “Where do you think you’re going?” He asked conspiratorially.
    “Huh?  To sit over there.  What row are we in?”
    “Right here,” he said happily, patting a roomy leather chair in the First Class cabin.  “You didn’t think I’d let you fly Coach for your first flight, did you?”
    “Keith!  First Class tickets are very expensive.  I can’t afford that,” she said uneasily.
    He frowned and replied, “No one’s asking you to afford it.  This is our second date, Melanie.  What kind of cad would I be if I expected you to pay even one penny on our second date?”
    Lightheartedly, she protested, “But our second date can’t last an entire week!  You’re going to at least let me pay for some meals!”
    “Nope.  Can’t do that.  Now just sit back and enjoy the ride,” he whispered as their arms brushed together.
    She planted a quick kiss on his lips, amazed by how much her skin tingled from the subtle touch.  He looked at her fiercely as his eyes roved to appraise her body for the first time since they had run into each other.  Keith clearly enjoyed the view as his eyes smoldered taking a tour of her snug red sweater and form fitting jeans.  Chemistry was definitely sparking between them, and Melanie wondered what kind of hotel arrangements he had made.  It seemed preposterous that they would share a room without becoming lovers.
    Nervously looking away, Melanie picked up an emergency pamphlet and started flipping through it.  “Here, read a magazine instead,” he advised, retrieving a copy of Vogue from the slot in his chair.