Mina

"Are you sure you remember how to land?" Nervous energy made my body buzz.

"Flying a plane is like riding a bike or having sex.” He flipped off the autopilot, then took hold of the yoke. "Once you do it, you never forget.”

The gorgeous Asgardian man-god winked at me.

"I'll have to take your word on that one."

"Which part? Landing a plane, riding a bike, or having sex?" His brow arched.

"That flying a plane is like riding a bike?" I wasn't about to touch the whole sex comment. Well, not aloud, anyway.

A warmth covered my neck and traveled up to my face, making my cheeks grow hot with embarrassment. And from prior experience, I knew just how red my face had become. Of course, having milky-white skin, compliments of my mother's European ancestry, and my father's dark hair didn't help the situation.

"So, Mina, what's the plan?"

His question caught me off guard.

"What do you mean?"

"When we land?" He adjusted some controls. "What are you doing in Luxembourg? Sightseeing, some rest and relaxation, what?"

"Oh, uhm, I have a forty-eight-hour layover—looking forward to sleeping, god, I need some sleep—then once cleared, I'm due to fly out again. What about you?"

"Cleared?"

"Yes, after long assignments, flight attendants go through a health screening."

"Hmm. Didn't know that?" He checked the instruments, then made a few adjustments.

"Yeah, it's something the general public isn't aware of, at least, not usually? But to answer your question, once cleared, which usually happens after the first eight to twelve hours, I can either go sightseeing or stay indoors. I usually like to lounge around and stay off my feet, maybe even read a book."

The man seemed at ease in the pilot's chair. "Hey, you should check on the flight crew, see if they need anything. They've been pretty quiet back there."

"Good idea."

I pulled the door all the way opened between the cockpit and the small cabin, then did a quick check of Will and Dan.

Thank God, I exhaled a sigh of relief. They're still breathing.

Dan opened his eyelids and glanced at me with unfocused eyes.

"You okay, Dan?" I kneeled next to him.

Touching his forehead, it felt hot, and not just a little. The man was burning up.

A quick inspection of the first aid kit confirmed they had already wiped out the over-the-counter fever reducers.

"I'm going to find something to bring down your temp, okay?" Maybe even locate a thermometer while I'm at it.

He only nodded, then moaned.

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I bet Mona has one of those electronic fancy ones that scans the forehead in her purse, among other things.

The woman carries a mini-kitchen and bathroom in that thing along with a sewing kit containing a variety of threads representing every color under the rainbow.

Without disturbing the resting men, I first pulled off Dan's shoes—placing them at the foot of the bed—then did the same for Will. Rising, I made my way to the small vanity and washed my hands twice, left the room, and then entered the cockpit once again.

"Well? Any change?"

"No." I shook my head. "They're about the same?"

Dominic rubbed his eyes with one hand, then slid his palm onto his chin.

"Tired?" I recalled how I had found him—sitting up with his nose in numbers.

It left me wondering if he had slept any or if, like me, he had remained awake for the duration of the flight.

"Naw, I'm good." He leaned back in the chair.

"I'm gonna get some hot tea?" I made my way to the exit. "Want anything?"

"Well, you do owe me a drink?" A wolfish grin tugged at his mouth. "Whatcha offering?"

"Oh, uhm, black tea—hot or cold—soft drinks and juices? Oh, and there's milk too." I could feel myself rambling, but I couldn't stop the flood of words from spewing forth. "And there's a few select beers and some hard liquor? But you shouldn't drink those and fly. It'd be against regulations."

"You don't say?"

"Well, of course?"

Oh, God, I just need to shut up now.

"Coffee?" That sexy-ass grin of his widened. "Black?"

"So, no sugar or creamer, right?"

"That is what black coffee is." He winked, and I swear, my knee joints almost turned to jelly.

"Oh, uhm, right. I'll be back." I couldn't exit the cockpit fast enough.

"Close the door on the way out. We don't need other passengers wandering in only to find another passenger sitting here?" He shot a glance over his shoulder, flashing those hazel eyes, and I just know, panties somewhere must have dropped. "Just knock, and I'll let you in."

"Yes, Sir." I gave him a little salute.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Can I be any more awkward?

Hmm, maybe I shouldn't answer that.

Halfway down the aisle, the nursing mother with the toddler flagged me down.

"What's going on?" Her son struggled to climb out of the belt holding him in place. "Is everything okay?"

Several other passengers turned there gazes in my direction.

"Yes." I nodded. "We just hit some turbulence from a mild storm earlier, so it's only a precaution."

Telling half-truths made my chest feel tight, but it beat the alternative—alerting the passengers to a potential crisis. I could only imagine what people would think if they knew the pilots and some of my crewmates were sick, and a passenger now flew the plane.

Keeping my head down, I made my way to the service area. It didn't take long to brew a pot of hot coffee, microwave a hot teacup, and rummage through Mona's stash. I didn't find a thermometer or anything for nausea, but I did find an analgesic to help bring down the fever.

When the microwave rung, I splashed a bit of creamer into my mug, then headed back.

Once inside the cockpit, I took in Dominic's profile. It didn't take long for him to glance my way.

"Here you go." I set the mug down along with my tea. "Be careful. It just brewed, so it's sweltering."

"Thanks," he said. "I'll let it cool a bit."

Steam rose from the mug.

"I'll be back." I headed into the pilots' chamber and gave Dan and Will something for fever, then returned to the cockpit and took a seat next to Dominic.

"How are they?" He held my gaze. "They doing okay?"

"I think so." I picked up my teacup. "Mona had some over-the-counter medicine for fever, so that should help. I hope."

Silence filled the space between the chairs Dominic and I sat on.

"So, Mina, I didn't see a ring on your finger. Is there someone waiting for you back in the states? Back in Texas?"

"Well, now, you get right to the point, don't you?" I took a sip of my tea and avoided his probing gaze.

"Are you going to answer the question?" He wrapped his hand around the mug, brought it to his mouth, and then took a drink. "Or are you going to leave me wondering?"

"That's a rather personal question, and I hardly know you."

"Tell you what, when we land, you can have a drink with me—since you owe me one—and we can get to know each other better."

"What? I just got you coffee." As hard as I tried, I couldn't hold the smile back that danced across my lips. "Besides, what makes you think I want to get a drink with you anyway?"

God, I'd have to be blind and non-humanoid not to want to get a drink with the man.

Hell, an alien from another galaxy would more than likely jump at the opportunity to drink a few cold ones with him, among a few other things.

The conversation stayed light over the next several hours, not because he didn’t try to pry to see what personal information he could extract, but because I chose to keep things that way.

Dominic was a passenger, eye candy to look at, and as a flight attendant, I had no business fraternizing with the clientele. Plus, constantly moving from one flight to another gave me the perfect excuse to never set down any roots, and I liked it that way because it was safer.