"So Anastasia, where to begin... what do I have to do to convince you to come out for dinner with me in Seattle this evening?"
"Wow, slow down! Why was that flight attendant asking for your autograph? And why me? Are you usually this forward? Why would I ..."
"Calm down Anastasia, let's take this one question at time", he smirks cutting across my question tirade. His face quirking up at the edges, an all American grin plastered over his face.
"You know, you really shouldn't look at people like you want to..." Crap! What the hell am I saying! So much for an internal filter!
"Want to what Anastasia?" he quips, not missing a beat.
"Oh, I umm didn't mean that. I err just mean you look really good and all... wait I mean I'm not judging you on your physical appearance or anything... it's just that, well you obviously know you're attractive and ..." Who the hell has taken over my mouth?!
"So you think I'm attractive?" he smirks looking satisfied. "It's just a face though", he grimaces slightly, his face rearranging into an expressionless mask. I've obviously hit a nerve! "Back to my original question though, can I take you out to dinner tonight?"
"What!?" I splutter. "But I don't even know who you are!"
For God's sake, this guy could be anything from your garden variety weirdo to a full blown psychopath for all I know! Boy Anastasia you really know how to attract the creeps!
"We'll get to that. What I really want to know is more about you", his voice is doing that sexy velvety thing again and despite all my warning signs going off, I'm totally caught up in him.
"Well number 1, I'm Ana, you know that of course though", I smile sheepishly. He nods encouragingly and I continue. "Number 2, I'm from London. You can probably also figure that out by my accent", I blush, embarrassed under his scrutinising gaze.
"I love to see you blush Ana", he murmurs making my heart stop momentarily. "Do continue though", he grins after a moment, obviously aware from my animal-caught-in-the-headlights expression that he's thrown me off my game. I glance around the cabin, frantically trying to re-gather my scattered wits before I continue.
"Umm... number 3, I'm a medical student. I'm on holiday at the moment though and I'm nowhere near finishing yet so please don't collapse or anything because I probably couldn't save you". He grins again at that, grabs at his chest and feigns a dramatic collapse. I stare wide eyed back at him, not sure what to do.
"Relax Ana, I'm only teasing!" he laughs patting me carefully on my knee. His hand is cool and soft on my knee and his touch sends a little jolt of sparks right through me. I jump slightly in my seat which of course he notices. He withdraws his hand quickly, glancing at it as he does, looking back at my face with a look of concern flooding his darkly hooded eyes.
"Sorry", I murmur. "It's just this is my first time overseas by myself and I'm just a little jumpy at the moment". He nods, reassured, but I'm sure he's put two and two together and is well aware of the effect his touch has on me. Pull it together Steele! Stop being so obvious!
"So Ana, the medical student from London, what brings you to Seattle?"
"Well loads of my friends including Kate are off travelling these holidays. Kate's my best friend and she's off to the Greek Islands, you know how the other half live? Anyway, I've been working at the local hardware store since I was 15 and I've saved up a bit of money so I thought I'd finally go to America and get a look in at the American dream and all that..." I peter out, unsure how to justify this totally out of character trip I got talked into taking by Kate and my dad.
"And do you know anyone in Seattle? Have you sorted out somewhere to stay yet?" he questions sternly.
"Umm no, I don't know anyone there. It was kind of a spontaneous decision. To be honest, I actually wrote down several cities on some pieces of paper and drew one out of the hat", I admit, embarrassed. "I'm booked in a dorm at a hostel for 10 days then after that I'll find somewhere else to go".
"That sounds a little reckless to me" he grits out, looking angry now. "Look, I have a large apartment in central Seattle and you're more than welcome to stay for a few nights while we sort something more suitable. In fact I insist upon it".
He insists upon it?! Umm hello Mr Gorgeous I met you like an hour ago and you're already trying to lure me back to your apartment! Like that's going to happen! Breathe Anastasia, whole conversation is escalating rather too quickly for my liking and I'm beginning to wonder what the hell his motives are here. I thought he was into me at first but now he's treating me like some charity case. Either that or he's trying to force me into his apartment so he can rape or kill me or turn me into some kind of sex slave or something. Setting my face into a stern expression I manage to articulate my concerns to him.
Without batting an eyelid he replies firmly. "I understand this is all rather sudden but I'm certain we're making the right decision here". Umm why so cryptic Mr Mysterious! I'm feeling like this whole conversation is going way above my head! He seems to have some hidden agenda he's working off and I'm completely in the dark about it all.
"Anyway, back to my original question", he starts, the picture of self-assured confidence. "Dinner tonight. You and me. How does that sound?"
Wow, way to keep a girl on her toes. I can barely keep up with this conservation let alone contemplate dinner.
Thankfully the flight attendant picks this moment to bustle in, disrupting the conversation and putting an end to this uncomfortable line of questioning. Mr Controlling fixes her with a stare that looks as though it has the potential to turn her body to ice but she bats her eyelids back at him and ignores his frosty demeanour. With a flourish she pulls out the table so it sits between us and dresses it elegantly with a white table cloth and a small posy of soft pastel coloured flowers. She disappears again and I take the opportunity to gaze at the flowers with delight. They're so bright and hopeful and I can't help glancing back up at Mr Mercurial who winks at me much to my surprise.
"Those were my idea", he smiles bashfully. "You'd be amazed what they can whip up at 30,000 feet!"
"Thank you" I murmur. "How did you know pansies are one of my favourites?" I joke.
Looking at me seriously again he gives me a slow lazy smile. "I want to get to know everything about you Anastasia".
My heart steps up into overdrive with that comment and my stomach feels as though a flight of butterflies have just taken off. Fine. I admit it. I have a massive crush on this guy. He might be totally over the top and overly beautiful but he is undeniably cute.
Returning with our food, the flight attendant sets it before us and offers us salt and pepper from ridiculously oversized grinders. The food smells absolutely divine and I'm overwhelmed with the sudden turn of events my life has taken. Not one week ago I was slogging my way through piles of textbooks and patient notes and now, by some crazy twist of fate, I'm luxuriously ensconced in first class on my way to Seattle opposite a complete (albeit beautiful) stranger. I really should buy a lotto ticket when I arrive because all the luck appears to be on my side at the moment!
Thanks again for all your beautiful feedback. I hope you're all enjoying the story so far! Plenty more to come so don't go away!
x Saskia
