At his words,Gwen couldn’t help but feel bad once again for imposing herself onhis trip. Not knowing what to do with herself, she folded her handson her lap and sighed. Would it help her cause to explain her truereason for tagging along? Maybe, but at the same time, she wasreluctant to tell him of her issues with anxiety. If anything, he’dthink she was weirder than he already did, or he would feel sorryfor her. Both scenarios did not sit right with her. All she didknow was that she was missing the feel of his hand around hers. Shewanted more than anything to reach for him once again but he wasbusy writing and she didn’t want to be more of a nuisance than shealready was. With a nervous intake of breath, she let out anothersigh.
Focusing on hislyrics, Crispin tried unsuccessfully to ignore the misery at hisside. Yet another reason to be angry with this turn of events. Yousee, if he were a heartless bastard, he would simply shut her outand make the most of his time. But he was not that, even if hewished he were. He could easily put her at ease with a kind word orgesture, of that he was well aware. Yet his defensive naturerefused to allow him to let his guard down. Unable to deal with hisinner turmoil, he closed his songbook with the pen inside andslipped in back into the chair pocket. He unbuckled his seatbeltand made to stand, cursing the cramped seats.
“If you don’t mind?” He watched and waited for her to unclaspher seatbelt and stand, albeit on very shaky legs. Every move shemade was with great effort not to panic. He could tell by thetrepidation on her face. As he squeezed by, he felt the need tobrace her with his hand on the small of her back. Her warmthreached his hand and he stilled for a moment.
After anawkward few seconds, she stepped into the aisle to allow him to getout. Brushing himself off, he made his way towards the facilities.He stopped mid-step at the tug on his sleeve and looked over hisshoulder.
“Are you kidding me?” He frowned, glaring at her shaky littlehand on his elbow.
Ignoring hisglare, she confessed, “Well, I just thought I might as well comewith you if you don’t mind.”
“Mind?” he repeated with a shake of his head. So this is whathe would have to expect the entire trip? What exactly was herproblem? Then in a fleeting moment of regret, he realized it mustbe her fear of flying again. Straightening up, he simply nodded andallowed her to squeeze by him. Once again, he braced her, steadyingher with a hand at her back. When she smiled her thanks, he frownedat the little leap of his heart. She needed him near. She felt safewith him. What an odd concept for one such as himself.
With a coupleof people ahead of them, they waited, leaning against the tightcorridor wall. When she kept inching back up into him, Crispinplaced a hand on her hip and gave her a squeeze. Before he realizedwhat he was doing, he had his nose in her hair, unwittinglyinhaling her soft scent. Perhaps this wasn’t such a bad thing, hethought again, as he leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I couldcome in with you if you’re nervous.”
“Into the bathroom?” Gwen repeated breathily, leaning back asthough in a trance. With his hand travelling higher up her waist,securing her to him, it almost made her forget her recentconcerns.
“Yeah, if you’re nervous about going in alone. Think about it.We could join the Mile High Club. As it is, we could make the mostof this trip.”
He almost hadher until that last sentence. He was toying with her, that must beit. He was still angry at her for following him and now he was justbeing rude, she quickly surmised. Suddenly, she wasn’t so sure ofhim. The moment the bathroom was vacant, she pulled away andstiffly made her way in, shutting the door in his face.
“That’s okay,” Crispin muttered, inwardly kicking himself. “I’mnot much into joining clubs, anyway.”
***
When Crispinreturned, he found Gwen already in her seat. He could tell she wasavoiding eye contact with him. Probably due to his ridiculousproposition. He couldn’t blame her for being upset. Even hecouldn’t quite understand what had come over him. Nevertheless, itwas for the best. He had put it out there either way. At least, nowhe knew she wasn’t looking for a fling. Too bad, really, he thoughtwith a frown. That might have made this fiasco of a tripworthwhile.
“Let me get out of your way,” she offered, attempting tostand.
“Too late for that, isn’t it?” he snarked, recalling a similarconversation with Becky. What was it about him and clingy femalesall of a sudden? He found the concept quite unsettling andunnerving, yet oddly appealing. Strange… Before she could stand tolet him by, he stilled her with his hand on her shoulder. “Give meyour coat.”
“My coat?”
He held out hishand. “We’ve got an eight-hour flight ahead of us. Might as wellget comfortable.”
She did as shewas asked which actually surprised her. Why did she so easilycomply with his suggestion? Maybe because she didn’t want to angerhim further. Taking her coat, he tucked it in the overheadcompartment. He then shrugged off his long dark coat and placed itin there as well. Then as an afterthought, he rummaged around anddrew out a folder before shutting it closed.
He then lookedat her and then at the window seat and an idea struck him.Actually, it was more of an inspiration. Something about this girlcompelled him to assert himself. He leaned in real close. “Right,you’ve had time to acclimate. Do me a favour and scoot over.” Shelooked from him to the empty chair beside her unsure of hismeaning. “I said, move over.”
“But why?” She blinked nervously from him to the window seat.She would be trapped in that small space. Yet suddenly, sherealized, being trapped by him wasn’t such a bad thing. In fact,the thought of it sat quite well with her.
“Trust me. You’ll be fine. Besides, you’re smaller than
