Runway Romance (Love in the Air Trilogy) by Merri Hiatt Read Free Book Online Page A

anything.”
    “Well, look, it’s the captain,” Geri said.
    The boys’ faces lit up as Geri moved aside and stood next to Jenny. She gave her a whispered, “Thanks.”
    “You’d have done the same for me. Guess what I just learned?”
    “What?”
    “Brendan’s got a deeper thing for Kate than we all thought.”
    “Really? I knew he liked her. Whenever they’re on a flight together, his co-pilot ends up running the show while he and Kate canoodle in the pilot’s loo.”
    “I guess that’s better than canoodling in a coach loo.”
    “We are grown women. I cannot find one good reason to canoodle in any loo anywhere at any time.”
    Jenny giggled. “You sound like Patricia.”
    “Your roomie is right.”
    “And that would make you right.”
    “Naturally.”
    “And speaking of canoodling… when is the baggage handler going to be handling you?”
    “I just met the man!”
    “Are you going to see him again?”
    “Actually, yes. I asked him if he’d teach me to drive.”
    “Only you could get away with that excuse as a way to see him again.”
    “I know. The worst part is that I’ll only be able to use that reason once.”
    “When are you hooking up?”
    “We’re not hooking up. I’m meeting him on the fifteenth. We’re going to this Korean restaurant he knows.”
    “Not your typical first date restaurant. I like that. Sounds like he has his own unique style.”
    “I think so.”
    “Have you Googled him?”
    “I will this afternoon.”
    “Are you staying over in Utah?”
    “Just one night.”
    The captain nodded as he passed by on his way back to the cockpit. They glanced at the boys. They couldn’t wipe the grins off their faces if they tried.
    “I think he just made their day,” Jenny said.
    “More like their year.”
    Aida mouthed 132A as she passed by. Jenny and Geri split up as they nodded to passengers, then casually focused their attention on the gentleman sitting in row 132, seat A. He was staring straight ahead. His eyes seemed to bore into the skull of the woman sitting in front of him.
    The man was dark-skinned, dressed in an expensive pin-stripe business suit. A trendy watch encircled his wrist, which he checked three times in the short while the women watched him.
    Jenny joined Aida in the kitchen as she checked the list of passengers. “Anything?”
    “I called it in. Nothing unusual. He has a local address and he’s been living there for over ten years. Steady job.”
    “What tipped you?”
    “The watch. He kept checking it obsessively.”
    “Maybe his wife’s pregnant and he’s waiting for the call that she’s in labor.”
    “I have a bad feeling.”
    “You know protocol. We need a reason.”
    “I don’t have one.”
    “Then we watch and wait. I’ll go inform the captain, Brindle and Randee.”
    “It’s not a good day to die, Jenny.”
    “Is there ever a good day?”
    “Be safe.”
    “And you.”

 
     
    Chapter Ten
     
    The three women put on relaxed faces as they tended to passengers’ needs. All the while, they noted the gentleman’s rapt attention to his watch, but nothing else that seemed out of the ordinary. Until he reached under his seat and pulled a small black zippered pouch into his lap.
    Aida, Jenny and Geri exchanged glances. Geri nodded, then headed for the cockpit to inform the captain. When she returned, she approached Jenny. “He said to ask him to stow it in the chamber above his seat.”
    “You want to do it?”
    “Hell, no.”
    “So glad you have my back.”
    “I do have your back, but I don’t have your front. I’ll be nearby. Aida’s watching, too.”
    Jenny glanced at Aida. She appeared to have nothing on her mind except cooing at the precious cargo of a three-month-old little girl sleeping soundly in her father’s arms.
    Jenny knew better. If anything went awry, Aida would be the first one on the spot, even if Geri was closer.
    She took a quick breath and approached the gentleman. “Excuse me, sir. I need you to stow