Page 52 of Elite Connections: an LGBTQ Romance Charity Anthology

“Areyou sure you know what you’re doing?” Sarina asks, pulling up to the curb.

“Yes. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

“Then why do you keep doing that?” She nods to where my fingers are picking at the hem of my sweater.

I put on my best outfit. My favorite. The one that always makes me feel like I can take on the world. An oversized white button-up dress with a fitted black sweater over it and low-heeled black booties.

I need to look the part, right?

I’ve only thought about it every minute of the last few days.

“I’ll be fine once I meet her.”

Sarina throws the car into park and turns to face me. “Why haven’t you met this woman yet?”

“Raven,” I clarify.

“Fine, why haven’t you met Raven yet?”

“I had two days before leaving. It was more important to get Avi taken care of.”

“Is this your way of asking me if I’ll be okay with her?”

I laugh, pushing open the car door to grab my bags.

“No. You’re about the only person she’ll listen to, so she’s fine.”

“Are you including yourself in that?”

Sarina comes around and pops the trunk to her black sports car.

“Yes. No one likes being told what to do.”

“And yet, you’ll have to do exactly what’s asked of you for the next few weeks.”

I roll my eyes and heft my bag out of the trunk. It’s small. I packed the essentials and a few nicer things, not quite knowing what all we’d be doing while there.

I was given a basic itinerary, being told to plan for the unexpected. It took everything I had not to cancel then and there. I hate the unexpected. I like order in my life. It means I don’t have to worry.

“It’ll be fine.”

“You know you don’t have to have sex with this person, right?”

“Jesus, Sarina.” I love my best friend, but sometimes I wonder why. “Trust me, I know.”

“Good. And you were able to get the time off work?”

“I work in the prosecutor’s office. I’ll be fine.”

I haven’t taken a single sick day in all the time I’ve worked there. I had to plead my case, but with all the job openings they have, I’m not really concerned about my position.

Between the debts I have and paying to get Avi through school, I would be an idiot to pass this up. Anything to try and make our lives easier.

“I can’t believe you’re going to Milan,” Sarina sighs. “I wish I could go to Italy.”

“I’ll be sure to send you a postcard.”

“I’d hate you if I didn’t love you so much.”

I laugh, trying to settle the nerves inside me.

I was told to meet Raven here at the bag check. I don’t see anyone that is on their own who could be her.

“You should probably get going.”

“Worried she’ll take one look and want me instead?” She waggles her brows at me.

“Yes. That’s exactly it,” I deadpan. “Now go.”

“Call me if you need me. Love you!”

“I will. Love you.”

Sarina gets into her car and drifts off into the melee of airport traffic. My eyes go back to scanning the airport for the woman I’m going to be spending this trip with. The details of the arrangement between us were in depth. All the information I would need to make it through this trip.

To Milan.

The one place in the world I’ve wanted to go as long as I can remember. But couldn’t because of the crushing weight of my responsibilities.

“Cheating on me already?”

Spinning on my heel, my jaw drops.

“Raven?”

This is the woman I’ll be spending the next few weeks with?

The dark-haired beauty is stunning. There’s no other way to describe her. An absolute bombshell.

“That would be me.”

She extends her hand to me. Almond-shaped nails are bright red. Olive skin. Dark black hair. A beauty mark that sits right above her plump lips. Curves for days.

She embodies every bit of her name. Raven.

“And you’re Blair?”

I give her a shy smile and nod. “Otherwise that would make this very awkward.”

Dark eyes give me an assessing once-over. I shift under her gaze.

I didn’t have much time to do a lot of digging into her. Sure, I got a full breakdown on her from Elite, but that doesn’t tell me much about her as a person. And an Internet search will only get you so far.

“Then I’m glad I picked the right woman out of the crowd.”

“You didn’t have my photo ahead of time?” I quirk a brow at her.

“Maybe.”

Her pictures that I found online did not do her justice.

My love life these last few years? Nonexistent. Raising a teenage girl on my salary? There’s no way I had any time for anything other than worrying about Avi.

Raising a teenager is like dealing with a moody toddler every day…who can drive.

But maybe if the dating pool included someone like Raven, I would’ve been more keen to get back out there.

“Are you ready to leave?”

Raven stirs me from my thoughts as I follow her to the bag drop.

For someone who is about to board a ten-plus hour flight, Raven looks stunning. Black ankle pants, a black, deep V-neck silk shirt, and a caramel trench jacket with red-soled stilettos. With the name-brand bag, she’s the epitome of polished CEO.

Even if I was up for dating, Raven is so far out of my league, it’s not even funny. If we met at some bar, she wouldn’t look twice at me.

We drop our bags and make it through security without issue. With traffic getting to the airport, boarding starts any minute.

“So you’re the one that’s going to be my girlfriend for the next few weeks?”

“That’s me.” I try to instill more confidence in my voice than I’m feeling.

Raven laughs, a smooth sound like a glass of red wine sliding down your throat. “Never been hired to be someone’s fake girlfriend?”

“Can’t say that I have.”

“If it helps, I’ve never hired anyone either. Better than my Gram trying to set me up on a dating site.”

“Your Gram has a vested interested in your sex life?”

“She wants me to be as happy as she is.”

“Ah.”

I go to ask her why she hired me, but the boarding announcement cuts me off.

“Good evening, everyone, and welcome to Italian Air Flight Three with service to Milan. We would like to welcome our pre-boards at this time and anyone who might need extra time to board.”

Raven switches her oversized bag to the other arm and shifts to face me. “You’re not a nervous flier, are you?”

“No. It’s been awhile since I’ve flown, but turbulence doesn’t bother me.”

“Good.”

“Our first class and Millionaire Milers are welcome to board.”

People are crowded around the gate, waiting to board.

“That’s us.”

“First class?” My jaw drops, for the second time tonight. I have a feeling it’s going to be something that keeps happening around her. Raven had the tickets through security, so I didn’t think twice about where we’d be sitting.

Raven’s lips quirk up in a smile. “I wanted to get to know you better without all the curious ears of every person on this flight.”

I follow her down the empty jet bridge, trying to wrap my head around everything that’s happened these last few days. And what is going to happen over the course of these next few weeks.

This isn’t my life.

A first class flight to Milan?

No one pinch me because I don’t want to wake up from this dream.

Especially with Raven at my side.

Shit. I shouldn’t be thinking of waking up next to Raven. That would only complicate matters. And my life is complicated enough.

We’re greeted by a flight attendant and a glass of champagne as we find our seats. Wide, cushy seats with oversized TVs take up the first class area. A dopp kit, pillow, and fluffy blanket await us.

Setting my drink down, I heft my bags into the overhead bin and take my seat.

“Wow. This is really nice.”

Raven drops down next to me. I’ve never sat in anything so nice on a plane before.

“Here’s to enjoying the next ten hours together then.”

She holds her glass up and I clink mine against hers.

The cool bubbles help calm the nerves that are still floating through me. The cabin is quiet up here as people board behind us.

“Can I ask why you needed to hire me?” I sip on the champagne as the flight attendants finish their preflight checks. “I can’t wrap my head around the fact that you couldn’t find someone on your own.”

Raven laughs, leaning over the small divider between our seats.

“Meaning what?”

I groan, knocking back the rest of my drink. “Are you really going to make me say it?”

“Yes.”

I love how direct she is. No wonder she became a CEO of her own company before she turned thirty.

“You’re gorgeous. I have a hard time believing you’re not dating some supermodel from Brazil.”

“That would require me going to Brazil to get a supermodel.”

“Fine. Then a supermodel in Seattle.”

“Not my type,” she answers quickly. Almost too quickly.

“No? Then what is your type?”

“I’m really not picky.” Her eyes shift, roving over my exposed legs. Heat gathers between my legs at her slow perusal. “Contrary to what my Gram thinks.”

I should not be having these kinds of feelings for her. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt like this. But this is a job. One that will pay me handsomely by the time I get home.

It shouldn’t be this hard to be her fake girlfriend, right?

“Tell me about yourself.” Raven stirs my thoughts.

“What do you want to know?”

“Anything. Everything. We’ve been dating for a year?—”

I laugh, cutting her off. “Only a year?”

She taps one of her perfectly manicured fingers on my forearm. “I figure that’s a good amount of time to bring someone on a trip like this. But not long enough that people will question why we’re not married.”

I roll my eyes. “Not that it’s anyone’s business but ours, but you’re right.”

“You’re an attorney, right?” Raven asks, getting another glass of champagne for each of us from the passing flight attendant.

“Assistant prosecutor. About as far down on the food chain as you can get.”

“You sound like you don’t like it.”

I snort. “That’s putting it mildly.”

“Why did you go into law then?”

I circle a finger over the rim of my glass. “Money. Prestige. But then my sister came to live with me and I couldn’t work the long hours of a junior associate. So I left my firm and went to work for the prosecutor’s office.”

“Wow. That’s dedication. Why did you take in your sister?”

“Off-limits.” My tone is clipped. It’s the one topic I don’t want to discuss with people.

She throws her hands up. “Okay. Tell me something easier then.”

Raven doesn’t back down. A lesser woman would’ve curled into her seat and let me be. I like this about her. That she doesn’t let me crawl back into myself at the painful memories.

“I love soccer.”

“Playing or watching?”

“Watching. I have zero athletic ability. Atlanta Rising is my club.”

“Your club?” Raven lifts a perfectly groomed brow at me.

“I take it you’re not a soccer fan.”

“Not at all. Explain it to me.”

The plane backs up from the gate and heads down the runway before soaring into the darkening Seattle skies as I tell her about my favorite sport. If the entire flight is going to be like this, I wouldn’t mind one minute.

Raven West is someone I want to get to know.

“I feel like you need to watch a game with me for me to understand all of that. I maybe understand half of our football.”

“I will explain it to you then. It’s easy enough to understand.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.” Raven kicks off her shoes and pulls her legs up onto her seat as the plane levels off. “Favorite food?”

“Nue is my favorite restaurant.”

“Really?”

I nod, cracking open the water bottle at my seat. “I like that I can travel without leaving Seattle.”

“Is that what you’re passionate about?”

“As passionate as one can be when they can’t leave the city.”

A sly smile slides onto her face. “Filing that away for later.”

What later she’s talking about, I don’t know.

“What about you? What’s your favorite food?”

“Dick’s.”

“I’m sorry?” I choke over my water, my eyes nearly bugging out of my head.

“Dick’s burgers. Tell me you’ve had them.”

“I just can’t believe you have. It’s my sister’s favorite.”

“They are the best. Whenever I work late, it’s the best to get me through. Their strawberry shakes are to die for.”

“Aren’t you full of surprises? Who would’ve thought you’d like a bag of Dick’s?”

She matches my stance, inching closer. “Oh yes. Nothing I love more than an entire bag of Dick’s. I love eating them.”

“I’m sure you do.”

“All the time.”

“Umm, I’m sorry to interrupt,”—the flight attendant looks thoroughly shocked—“but are you ready for your meals?”

“Yes,” Raven answers without taking her eyes off me. “It’ll be no bag of Dick’s…”

Being under her stare—being her sole focus—has me squirming in my seat. I take it back. If this is the entire flight, I don’t know if I’ll make it.

Raven West is going to be the end of me.