Page 43 of Mile High Ruin

“I was going to suggest something practical.”

“That is already concerning.”

His mouth curves. “Get her out of your system. You have spent three flights looking at that woman like you are personally offended by the existence of clothing.”

Anton doesn’t look up, but I know he’s listening.

I sit back down for half a second simply because I refuse to give Marek the satisfaction of thinking he has influenced me.

Then I stand again.

He smiles wider. “Very convincing.”

“She is not something to get out of my system.” The words leave my mouth before I decide to say them.

Marek’s amusement fades slightly.

That silence tells me I have admitted too much. Except Sloane has been under my skin for weeks now, and every flight has somehow made it worse rather than better.

“She is working,” I say.

“So?”

“So I’m not going to corner a woman employed on my aircraft because I cannot control myself.”

Marek raises his eyebrows. “That sounded remarkably noble.”

“Shut up,” I say, and miraculously he does.

The cabin is mostly dark now, illuminated only by the low amber strips along the floor and the muted lights above the side tables. Iosef has been asleep for nearly an hour. Anton still pretends not to have heard any of this. Marek looks pleased with himself.

I leave them behind.

The moment I reach the galley, regret settles in.

Not because I don’t want to see her. Because I suddenly understand exactly how this must look from her side. The last thing I want is for her to feel cornered.

She’s standing with her back to me, rinsing a cup beneath the narrow sink.

I stop at the entrance instead of stepping inside.

“Sloane.”

She turns. For a second, surprise flashes across her face. Then something warmer. “Do you need water again?”

“No.”

“That’s progress.”

I almost smile. “I wanted to speak to you.”

Her hands slow. “About?”

I look at the cramped space between us. “Not here.”

She lifts one eyebrow. “That sounds ominous.”

“I meant because I don’t want you to think I followed you in here for another excuse to stand too close.”