AlTonya Washington - Trust In Us

With that, he escorted Alythia from the office.

* * *

Two delicious mojitos later, Aly was feeling less nervous and far more amused. The dynamics emerging among the newly collected group kept a genuine smile on her face. Whether it was the group or the mojitos that deserved such credit, she couldn’t wager a guess.

Gage had escorted her out to the main cabin and had gotten her settled into a seat somewhat removed from where the rest of the group had gathered. He’d then personally seen to filling the order for her drink.

Alythia kept her gaze trained outside the windows on purpose. She knew Gage’s innocent act of kindness was already being rehashed by her friends.

“How are those nerves doin’?”

Smiling at the question, Alythia looked up at Gage while raising her third mojito, which she was only halfway through. “The nerves are much better.”

Gage claimed a spot on one of the milk-chocolate suede swivels across from where Alythia relaxed. “And how’s the view?”

“The view can’t at all be complained about.”

“Hmph.”

The response drew her stare and she studied him with a knowing intensity. “Guess this is all pretty old hat to you, huh?”

“How often do you travel, Alythia?” he asked, angling an index finger alongside his temple while he watched her.

She turned her attention back outside the window. “Quite a bit, but first class has nothing on this.”

“Well, it doesn’t get old for me,” Gage shared, swiveling his chair a bit. “Every time I take a flight, take time to pull my face out of a report and take a look at the view, I’m reminded of how blessed I am.”

“Must’ve been a hard road to get here.”

Gage grinned. “Hard would’ve been nice. My road was about ten times beyond hard.”

“Ha! I can relate!” Alythia laughed.

“How so?”

Alythia wasn’t of a mind to elaborate. “We’re talking about your hard road, not mine.”

“I’d trade my hard-luck story for yours any day.”

“I’d hate to sour your mood for the rest of the trip, and my story would surely do that.” She sipped at a bit more of the mojito, loving the rejuvenating effects of the crisp drink.

“What if I told you my story could have the same effect on you?”

“All right, then.” Alythia faced him fully, her elbows propped along the arms of the chair. “Suffice it to say that my hard-luck story makes me very appreciative of every good thing that comes my way.” For effect she raised her mojito in a mock toast.

There was a burst of feminine laughter, followed by the roar of male chortling and additional feminine giggling. The sounds drew quick smiles from both Gage and Alythia.

“Sounds like your friends share your point of view.”

Bewilderment sent the elegant lines of Alythia’s brows closer, though she didn’t remain stumped for long. “We’ve all weathered storms and learned from them.”

“Is that right?” He pretended to be stunned.

Alythia rolled her eyes playfully. “Even rich girls have storms to weather, Mr. Vincent.” She aimed a soft smile in Orchid’s direction.

“Hey, Gage?” Myrna called from across the cabin. “Are we gonna fly above the clouds for the whole flight? I want to see the water.”

“Appreciative of every good thing, huh?” Gage spoke the words for Alythia’s ears only and then pushed out of his chair. “Finish your drink.” He squeezed her shoulder on his way to join the group.

* * *

“So?”

“Gage was popping the cap on his Samuel Adams when Dane Spears’s question reached his ear.

“So.” Gage took a swig of the beer.

“Don’t even try it.” Dane’s soft admonishment accompanied a playful frown. “What’s the story?” he persisted.

“What story?” Gage leaned against the Blackwood counter space inside the bar area where his friend had cornered him.

“Come off it, G. You obviously already picked yours.”

Gage eased a measuring look toward his beer bottle. “I think I already had too much to drink.” He shook his head at Dane. “What the hell are you talkin’ about?”

“Don’t take offense, G. Hell, she’s—she’s beautiful.” Dane voiced the compliment as though he was in disbelief of an absolute truth. “If she hadn’t been so late to the party, I’d have probably already staked my claim.”

Grinning as realization hit home, Gage gave another shake of his head. “This isn’t a date.” He downed another swig of the tasty brew.

“Who said anything about a date? I’m talkin’ about a sure thing.” Dane helped himself to one of the assortment of beers chilling in a tub of ice next to the bar. He used the bottle he’d selected to motion toward the women across the room.

“Fine as hell and sure things, every one of ’em.”

Gage narrowed a look toward his friend. “Every one?”

“Well...except the bride, of course.”

“Of course.” Gage enjoyed a few more swallows of beer and enjoyed the view across the room. The view of Alythia Duffy was one that he especially enjoyed. Whether or not he realized it, or would have admitted it if he had.

“Have you met them before?”

Dane settled back against the bar. His arms folded across the snug workout top meant to emphasize an already broad chest as he affixed a keener interest upon the group. “Haven’t formally met any of them, but anybody who’s watched TV or read a paper knows ’em in one form or another. Except for your girl,” he said, referencing Alythia. “Keeps to herself. She’s a beauty but seems kinda standoffish now that I’ve met her.”

Gage smiled, recognizing the last remark as Dane-speak for “She turned me down.” He enjoyed another gulp of the beer, silently admitting that he was as glad of that fact as he was of the appearance of Dane’s sulking.

Alythia being relatively unknown pleased him greatly. What pleased him even more was the fact that she didn’t claim the kind of status her friends seemed to relish.

“Quiet ones are usually the biggest freaks,” Dane chimed in as if reading Gage’s thoughts. He shrugged. “I’m just saying that it doesn’t look like we’ll have to put much work into getting a little somethin’ somethin’ above-or belowground, is all.”

Gage poised his bottle for another swig and changed his mind. “Don’t believe everything you read,” he cautioned.

“Oh, trust me, my friend. Everything I know about that trio, I didn’t have to read.”

Instead of drinking from the bottle, Gage pressed it to his forehead, needing the cool to breach his skin. “Don’t do this,” he sighed. “It’s not the time for conspiracies.”

“That much I know.” Dane seemed to sober. “Already gave it my best shot and Jay’s still over the moon for this one.”

Gage finally pinned his friend with an expression that harbored no trace of amusement. “What’d you do?”

“Felt Jay had a right to know the word on the street about her.” Dane shrugged, downed a bit of the Budweiser he’d selected. “That fool tends to dwell in his own world, you know?”

“Yeah, minding his own business, finding a woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with... Lotta men would love living in that world.”

“Don’t even try it, G.” Dane used his bottle to point in Gage’s direction. “Hookin’ up with the wrong chick can turn a beautiful life into hell on earth.”

“Where’s all this comin’ from, man?”

“Coming from one friend to another.”

“Jay might not see it that way.” Gage went back to girl watching and nursing his beer.

“We usually don’t see it that way when being told something for our own good.”

“Right.” Gage left Dane’s counter-remark unchallenged and pushed away from the bar. “Guys, we can take this stairway down to find our lunch!” he called out to the rest of the group.