Page 14 of Mr. Green (Mr. #2)

Lana

T wo weeks later, we’re on the way to Hawaii in Matt’s plane.

I had to leave Queenie with my parents since they don’t let you bring dogs to the island.

I miss her already. At least it’s only for the weekend; we’ll be back Sunday night.

We’re all managers, so we all couldn’t be away from the gym for too long.

Matt and Scarlett arranged for everyone to have a hotel suite.

They’re staying in a beach hut. I’m beginning to wonder why we’re invited on their pre-honeymoon.

Going to Hawaii is a little consolation.

I might be able to see whales on this trip.

Primetime to see them was January to March, but some people have said you can see them until May.

I’m hoping I’ll be lucky. Paige and Jason are hoping they’ll get lucky too—wink, wink.

It'll be nice to hang in the sun and swim in the ocean. Unfortunately, I’m currently in a plane close to man bun guy who is staring me down through dark, hooded eyes instead of their normal brown color.

His legs are spread, elbows taking up both armrests while one of his hands strokes his beard.

It’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s moments like these I hope I’m not drooling.

Can’t get caught up with that one, though.

No guy is safe, no matter how good of a guy they might seem to be.

I have to keep my head clear and keep my heart closed.

All they want to do is fuck you and then leave you.

I’m saying bye before they have a chance to say hi.

Besides, I’m doing them a favor since all I can think about is Ryan anyway. I’m not ready to move forward yet.

There’s no reason for a guy to want me . Especially someone like Grant. He’s never been married, which means he’s had plenty of experience, I’d bet. Experience with hot, sexy girls; the complete opposite of me.

I focus on my coding, building the app for our business. I’m not going to look at the guy across from me. Not going to do it. Two seconds later some rustling catches at the corner of my eye. My eyes dart up to the cause without permission. Damn them.

Grant’s adjusting his sleeves so his forearms are visible. His long, thick fingers maneuver the material with finesse. His fingers are probably an indication of what he looks like below the belt.

Ahhh! Focus brain! Keep your eyes on the fucking laptop or I’ll gouge your eyes out.

I’m threatening myself? That’s fucking weird.

This is going to be the longest flight of my life. I can’t enjoy the fact that it’s in a clean and airy private plane with my best friends. This is a dream. I should be enjoying that, not thinking about some guy that’s waiting to get a hold of my heart so he can stomp on it.

“Who wants to take a shot with me?” Jason asks.

See? He’s making the best of this trip on a freaking private plane. I wish I could be like him. If I start taking shots, I’ll surely make a fool of myself. I’d do something like confess my feelings to Grant fucking Green. Nope. Need to keep my head clear.

“I’m down!” Paige yells. Jason brings her a shot. They’re going to pass out before we get to Hawaii.

“No one else?” Jason looks around to see if there are any takers.

I shake my head and then turn my body so I’m facing the puffy clouds and blue sky. I’m on the bench seat with Paige. She gets up as I try to focus on my window and computer. I don’t know where she’s going; the plane isn’t that big. To get more shots, maybe.

Then a forest, man smell envelops me within seconds.

“Hey, Sunshine.” He puts his arm around the back of my seat. He doesn’t touch me, just takes up all my air. I start breathing at a quick pace and my heart rate picks up. When did this plane get so hot?

“I thought you were sitting over there.” I point to where Paige is watching. She turns away and picks up a magazine like she was doing that the entire time. Liar.

“The scenery seemed better on this side.” He’s staring at me.

I give a sarcastic grin and get back to my work. Well—I try to work, but all I can think about is his hair between my fingers as he pounds into me on this bench seat. That’s never going to happen. Paige and Jason are right there. I’m safe from my thoughts for now.

“What are you working on?” his voice vibrates.

“An app.” Keep your answers short, Lana .

“Oh yeah. I heard you do coding. That’s really cool. Do you like it?”

Do I like it?

I was pushed into coding by Ryan.

“Lana, you should do something that’ll make you money,” Ryan states.

“Isn’t it kind of hard? To be honest, I was thinking about becoming a chef.” I shrug.

“You think your cooking is good? I’m not trying to be offensive, it’s just that you won’t make much money being a line cook.”

That’s not what I had in mind. I love cooking, so I was thinking I’d open up my own restaurant or catering business. Sharing my love for food with everyone else who appreciates it.

“I know I make some good dishes.”

“Sure, babe, but you should think about an option that people need right now and that’ll make you a steady income.”

I nod. “Yeah. You’re right.”

I know Ryan was just looking out for me and my future. He told me in no uncertain terms that maybe my cooking isn’t as good as I thought. I can appreciate the constructive criticism. He was just trying to help. Grant is not helping me focus on my work in front of me, though.

“I’m trying to get this done,” I tell Grant, pointing to my computer. “Maybe you should go back and sit in your original seat.”

He doesn’t budge and continues the conversation like I didn’t say a thing. “I love numbers. They always come together and make perfect sense.”

“Cool.” That’s what I always say, but I can’t let him know I think that. Then we’d have something in common.

He leans in to see what I’m working on. I have to hold my breath, so I don’t hop on him.

Lana! You’ve sworn off men. They’ll leave you. You don’t need them!

He’s so broad, and he smells so nice, and that beard is so sexy.

Goddammit! Focus Lana!

I get up and go to the restroom for a break. I don’t know what I’m going to do once I get back. I can only stay in here for so long. At least I can breathe in here.

~

I’ve waited twenty minutes. I wish I would’ve brought my laptop with me so I had something to do. It smells like weird dish soap in here. I miss the pine scent I had filling my nostrils minutes before.

A knock sounds on the door.

“Someone’s in here.” I’ll camp out in here the entire flight if I have to. I was thinking it would make me look like I took a really bad number two, but I don’t give a fuck as long as I don’t have to give in to temptation with Grant.

“I know.” His voice hums so much it’s about to break down the door—or maybe that’s me wanting to be next to him. “I’m just checking to see if you’re okay. It’s been a while.”

Just as I expected, he thinks I’m taking a huge dump. That’s not sexy. I’ve managed to make this awkward as hell. What do I do now? Stay in here anyway? Maybe he has to go to the bathroom and I’m taking up the only restroom. That’s a dick move.

“Do you need something?” I ask in the smallest voice I’ve heard from myself. I look in the mirror to blushing cheeks. If I have to go out there, I’ll die of embarrassment.

“Just to see your face.”

“Oh, God.” I roll my eyes. “Go away.”

“Come on, Sunshine. No need to be embarrassed. Everyone uses the bathroom.”

My fists clench. “I wasn’t using the restroom; I was hiding from you.”

“Yeah, I figured. But, I found you. So, it’s probably time for you to come out now.”

“I don’t think so.”

Scarlett interrupts, “Hey, La La. I need to use the facilities. Do you think you could come out?” If I see her face and she’s trying not to smile, I’ll push her off the plane.

I reluctantly unlock the door and stick my head out. Scarlett is waiting with her arms crossed and bouncing her knee. It doesn’t look like there’s a smile, so I step out. She rushes in and I catch a glimpse of her lips turning up.

Goddammit! She tricked me!

I’m tempted to throw a fit and knock on the door until she gets out. Grant steps in front of the door and puts his arm up as if he’s showing me the way back to my seat like I must’ve forgotten. I know.

I trudge over to the bench seat where we were sitting previously.

I’m looking for some way to get out of this.

The door to the bathroom squeals as Scarlett opens it again.

I could make a run for it, but I’m not in a threatening situation.

The thought of smelling Grant’s cologne instead of the bathroom is a nice consolation.

I stay seated, crossing my arms over my chest.

Just as I predicted, Paige and Jason have passed out in their chairs. Poor things just want to party. That means Grant and I are basically on our own now—in close proximity. Nothing could go wrong.

“I wanted to show you something. Scarlett and Matt have the weekend planned out, but there’s some free time. I made reservations for this whale tour. You’re welcome to come.” He shows me the evidence pulled up on his phone.

My jaw drops to the floor. The screen shows a catamaran-type boat and pictures of whales and dolphins.

It includes a sunset dinner and drinks. There’s lots of people in the picture.

The boat could hold twenty or so. It sounds wonderful and like the most perfect date I could ever dream of.

I could skip the dinner and hang out on the deck the whole time.

Surely that would help me escape making a mistake with Grant in a romantic setting.

I’ll blend in with all the other people looking at the scenery.

I make the executive decision that seeing whales is more important than staying away from Grant.

I’ve dreamed about seeing them again since my vacation long ago with my family.

Maybe they could telepathically tell me what to do with my life—not that they care.

They have more important things to worry about.

“I’ll go with you,” I start as Grant smiles, “ if you tell me why you always call me Sunshine.”

His face turns serious. “I see you, Lana.” He tucks a piece of my hair behind my ear, all without touching my face.

“You can see the moon, too, it doesn’t mean you have to go around here calling me moon baby.”

He smirks. “I know you’re hiding behind clouds, but I fucking see you, Sunshine.”

I look away from him, staring out the window. He keeps his arm behind me on my seat. We sit in silence as I mull around what it’d be like to be with Grant. A real guy who knows what he wants.

I want to lean into him. I want to kiss him. I want him to tell me he’ll never leave me. But that’s never going to happen. Even if he did promise to stay, he’d never be able to keep it. Guys like him don’t go for girls like me. I hope I’ll remember that tonight.