Maybe my luck has changed. As I stare at her gorgeous face, I can see the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. I suppress the smile, but I finally relax.

Claire narrows her gaze, pressing her lips into a thin line. Or maybe I spoke too fast. The ice queen is taking over.

“Well, Ms. Solis,” I say with a grin. “I have a proposition for you.”

She takes a step backward, and as she’s about to speak, the voice over the speaker announces a flight, “Ladies and gentlemen, Flight 8934 traveling to Cancun will start boarding in a few minutes.”

“That’s us,” she says politely. “Have a nice trip, sir.”

“You can proposition me anything you want, Mr. Archer,” the blonde says with a wink before they leave.

Claire glances at me and then at her friend. She tosses an eye roll in before walking away.

“Seriously, Madeline. He’s my boss.”

“I wouldn’t mind having a little fling with him. That’s why we’re going to Cancun, to have some fun. You said it yourself, you’re going to have fun and all the sex you haven’t had since Jordan.”

“Not with that guy. He’s off-limits,” she says, growling at her friend.

I nod as they walk by me and go to the counter.

“Would you mind?” I pull out my boarding pass and my frequent flyer card. “My girlfriend and I aren’t seated together.”

“What’s her name?”

“Claire,” I say, grinning at her. “Claire Solis.”

Five

Miller

Claire Solis is an asset.

My clients adore her.

In the three years she’s worked for me, we’ve exchanged only a few pleasantries. She always knows what our customers need and gives them exactly what they want—within reason.

We don’t have a working relationship.

But I have big plans for her.

She has a future in my company. The last thing I want to do is jeopardize our working relationship, but I don’t have many options. She has to be my plus one.

As we’re about to board the plane, I’m trying to figure out who I’ll be dealing with during the flight. Would she even let me talk to her about my proposition?

For a second, I play with the idea of inviting her friend, Madeline.

She seems willing, but too willing could end in disaster. I need a person who understands the circumstances and agrees to play along.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we’re now boarding passengers in first class.”

Claire whispers something to her friends, grabs her big bag, and walks toward the gate. I walk right behind her without making a sound.

“I hate aisle seats,” she mumbles under her breath, once we board the plane. She takes a seat and places her bag right in front of her.

“Ma’am, your belongings go in the overhead compartment,” the flight attendant says, pointing at the ceiling.