m a rough shake. "Jayden and I go way back-childhood friends. Practically inseparable. W

omfortable with too much personal attention. Jane nodded slowly, still processing the information-she'd known Michae

alization hit him like a physical blow. His eyes widened to the size of saucers as he looked f

slightly as she thought about how t

r. The familiar blue and silver container was warm to the touch-she recognized it as

rying a note of gentle authority. "

ss. The flask was heavy in her hands, and she could feel

rabbed Michael by the shoulder and began dra

ed along. "You just gave her my meal-I was looking forward to tha

him off toward the parking lot, his expression impassive ev

sement flickering in her

of chicken adobo. But their personalities are completely different. Michael's like a golden retriever-energeti

he small container she'd pulled from her bag-he'd even packed extr

d slightly as a new t

in the company, but no one ever seemed to have clear information about his role. He said he was ch

ot lounge, the warm food in her hands a s

afeteri

e fluorescent lights overhead hummed softly, casting harsh shadows across the linoleum floor. She'd

tasted so much like home. Now, staring at the cafeteria meal in front of her-a sad-looking sandwich, lukewarm soup,

n't co

a

te and immediately regretting it. The bread was dry, the tur

ay slightly. His cooking is too good... is he secretly a chef? I'

n at a nearby table, their voices carrying cle

er phone to show the other something on the screen. "The one who was running all th

eard about the Chief Pilot position-everyone in the company had. It was one of the most

"Wasn't he flying advanced jets before? Like military level? I

ivil aviation? And why give

voice to a conspiratorial whisper even

-went to all the best schools, trained with some of the top aviation companies

politics had never interested her much; she'd always believed that

nding it even less appealing than before. She'd rather be in

"only First Officer Torres has met him-they say he's the only

the tarmac. She watched as a Boeing 747 taxied slowly toward the runway, its engines

y that filled the airport. Moments later, the two attendants hurried off after receiving a mes

rem

on

ti

ain H

culate as always, his expression calm and unreadable. Michael stood just

heerfully, pulling out the chair across from her

rolling up his sleeves to reveal forearms corded with muscle-evidence of yea

his elbows on the table as he

ed at Jayden, nearly poking him in the ey

arly untouched tray, his expression shifting sligh

icking at a loose thread on her uniform sleeve. "Tonight I won't have t

irection. He'd been about to reveal Jayden's full role in the c

sighed

reached over and pushed

ce gentle but firm. "I'll bring you dinner tonight-after your briefing.

he looked from the container of food to Jane's

ng his fork down and turning to

, his voice ri

... you live together

before-the way Jayden's hand lingered near Jane's arm when he set

here?" he asked, his voice a

ll focused on Jane. He'd always been able to tun

ushing lightly against the edge of the container as if checking its temperatu

His tone was matter-of-fact, but she could hear the faint no

? she thought, looking up at hi

ly, not wanting to seem ungrateful but also aware of h

ically between them, nearly kn

il his face was nearly between theirs. "Can someone explain t

ing for her answer. Jane was trying to find the rig

himself between them and waving h

one lis

with his palm, his expression never ch

his voice cutting thro

round them, the only sound the dist

h

re ma

le

e and c

el bl

n

ic

osed several times, no

g out of his seat and knocking his chair