Wish For It

1 Cole Bryant sipped his whiskey at the bar, waiting for a phone call. He needed to know if things were as bad as he thought they were. He had to know what he was walking into. And if there was a way out. He ordered a second glass of whiskey, starting to feel the effects of the liquor settling into his system. He knew he shouldn’t be drinking so much, but he couldn’t bring himself to stop either. The alternative, facing the phone call sober, was not at all appealing. His phone finally vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered with a gruff, “Yeah?” He heard the sigh before his lawyer, Clarence Underwood, spoke and knew he wasn’t going to get good news. He signaled for another drink, knowing he’d need it. “It’s not good, Cole. She said she has proof.” “Is it something that can be handled?” Handling his issues was what he paid the man ten percent of his salary for. So Cole didn’t have to worry about s**t like he was worrying about over three glasses of whiskey before he flew to town to meet with Clarence. “I don’t know. She said money can’t fix it.” “Money can fix everything,” Cole growled, knowing the words were true. They’d fixed everything for him. A kid from the wrong side of the tracks. A boy who was more interested in nice things than anything else for as long as he could remember. Once that first paycheck was dangled in front of him, he pulled his s**t together and committed himself to making sure he never had to worry about affording what he wanted, let alone what he needed, again. Money had fixed a lot of things in his life. It would fix this, too. “We’ll talk tomorrow. What time does your flight leave?” Cole checked his Rolex, noting the way the hands spun before settling on the current time. He was more drunk than he thought. “Soon. I should go.” “Are you sure you don’t want me to send a car for you tonight?” Cole shook his head as he swallowed the last of his whiskey. “No. I’ll be fine. Besides, a cab will draw less attention. If the hotel is as secure as you say it is, I shouldn’t have anything to worry about.” “Have a good flight. I’ll see you at nine. You have the itinerary for the rest of the day on your email.” “Got it. Keep working on her, Clarence.” “I will, Cole.” Cole hung up the phone and headed to his gate. When he arrived, it was nearly empty, but the flight doors were still open. He had about five minutes before they would close them. Just enough time to sneak on the plane without having a parade of passengers walk past him and try to talk to him. It was one of the many things he hated about flying. People recognized him, even out of his uniform. Granted, as a catcher for the Houston Wild Bats, many didn’t, but once one did, it was all over. It was easier to just avoid the public altogether and save himself the hassle. Especially since he had more than enough to worry about already. Cole scanned his phone under the machine at the gate and smiled to the agent. Her eyes passed over his body appreciatively, but they didn’t light with recognition. He was okay with her thinking he was hot, but he had a plane to catch. Then again, even if he had the time, his brain was too full of s**t to go home with a woman. Any woman. The stuffed plane was already buzzing with conversation and excitement. He spotted his vacant seat and moved toward it, thanking God he was in first class and didn’t have to go any further than the second row. He gave a nod to the man across the aisle and the woman next to him. She had her nose back in her computer before he’d stored his carry-on and settled into his seat, which he was grateful for, and the guy looked more interested in the flight attendants than Cole. He was safe. He just had to make it to his hotel and he’d be able to breathe. Allison O’Neill pushed her blonde hair off her forehead and sighed. She was more than ready for her weekend. Just a few more hours and they’d be on the ground and she could go home. Not that she had any exciting plans for her weekend alone, but at least she could get some sleep. Ollie Perkins sidled up next to her, looking perfect as always. His hair was stylishly spiked in the front and his uniform was perfectly pressed, even after a long day with irritating passengers. Allison grinned when she saw the gleam in Ollie’s eyes. He was always up to something. “Did you see the hottie in 2B? Oh. Em. Gee. He is beautiful.” “Don’t let Eli hear you say that,” Allison teased. Ollie shook his head. “Please. He knows I look. As long as I go home to him at the end of the week, he doesn’t care. He knows I’d never cheat on him. But that man is Y-U-M, yummy. When I gave him his whiskey he smiled at me. Think he’d be up for a threesome?” Allison laughed and shook her head. “You wouldn’t know what to do with two men at once, Ollie.” “You’d be surprised at how vivid my imagination can be.” Allison chuckled again. “Did you say you brought him a whiskey?” Ollie nodded. “Yeah, why?” Allison shook her head. “I did, too. We probably should watch out and make sure he doesn’t get too drunk.” “If he does, you can take him home and have your way with him. God knows a drunk man is the only way you’d attract one these days.” “Hey! What does that mean?” Ollie gave her a pointed look. “You know exactly what that means. Your dry spell is so long I think there’s a desert in there. I’d even give up my fantasy of a three-way if it meant you’d get some action.” Allison rolled her eyes. “I’d never sleep with a man who was unconscious.” Ollie shook his head. “You have too many rules for sex.” “You don’t have enough,” Allison shot back. Ollie smirked. “Hard and in the same room are all I require.” Allison rolled her eyes again, wishing she could be as free as Ollie. “I think 2E might meet your requirements. Be careful though. He’s a little grabby.” “Did he touch you?” Ollie asked, his voice turning hard and dangerous. Allison loved working with Ollie. He was sweet and kind, but he didn’t take any s**t from anyone. He didn’t let her take s**t either, not that Allison was the type to let a man, or a woman for that matter, walk all over her. She gave as good as Ollie. “He got his one warning. The second warning will come with a hot cup of coffee on his crotch.” “If he’s lucky. Why do men think they have a right to touch you just because you have a great a*s?” Allison laughed. “I do have a pretty great a*s, don’t I? We both know some men are going to think they can do whatever they want. Others are decent.” “2B seems more than decent. I think you should go see if he needs anything else.” Allison shook her head. “I’m not going to sleep with him, Ollie.” “Never say never. Now take your amazing a*s out there and see if the sexy man needs another drink. Or a blow job.” Allison stepped between the seats with a smile on her face. She asked the guests in row one if she could get anything for them and brought a few snacks and drinks back out for the row. When she moved on to row two, her breath halted in her throat when she met the eyes of 2B. He really was beautiful. Dark hair on the long side, but definitely not unkempt. Bright blue eyes that she wanted to drown in. And a chest that she’d love to dig her nails into when she rode him. Because she liked to be on top. She was always in charge during s*x. “Can I get you anything else?” Allison said, admonishing herself for the breathless sound of her voice. “Another whiskey would be great,” 2B said, his voice sliding over her like warm honey. He was a man she could definitely get lost in. All the more reason she should let Ollie help him going forward. His neighbor asked for a drink as well so Allison headed back up front to grab their drinks and some snacks for them. They’d be landing before too much longer, so they’d already eaten, but a man the size of 2B needed more than just a tiny meal. When Allison got back to the seat, she handed over the drink to 2A first, leaning past 2B to reach. She felt a hand on her a*s and a squeeze and jerked back to a stand, spinning on 2E. He sat the with a smug grin on his face, looking like he’d gotten one over on her. “I believe I’ve already asked you to keep your hands to yourself, sir. Do you have a problem with that?” Allison set 2B’s drink down on his tray and flashed him a smile before turning back to 2E. “I don’t have a problem with my hands at all, sweetheart.” “Did you touch her?” 2B asked, his deep voice slipping from sexy to menacing in a flash. 2E spared him a look before he focused on Allison again. “I think she’s just trying to put on a show here. She was flirting with me before you got on the plane. She wants me. Nothing for you to worry about.” Allison glared at him, her arms crossed over her chest. “Excuse me, sir, but what you seem to think is flirting is simply being polite and friendly. It’s my job to be courteous. I’d probably lose my job if I were to tell you you’re disgusting and my partner and I warned each other about you.” 2E’s smile slipped but a snarl quickly replaced it. “You wish a man like me would pay you some attention. I figured I’d give you a little thrill to keep you warm over the weekend. A chubby b***h like you probably doesn’t get hit on by many men, especially those of us who can afford to fly up here. A little a*s grabbing and a quick f**k in the bathroom would be the highlight of your year.” Before Allison could respond, she was pushed out of the way by 2B. He stood menacingly above 2E, glaring down at him for a second before he delivered a quick, swift blow to his nose. Allison heard the c***k and covered her mouth the same time 2E went for his nose. “You son of a b***h,” he sputtered. “I’m going to sue you, you asshole. You broke my f*****g nose.” “You’re lucky that’s all I did. You don’t ever need to speak to a woman that way. She’s beautiful and doesn’t deserve your ‘pity.’ You’d be lucky to have someone as attractive as her give your disgusting a*s a second look. No woman deserves to be man-handled by a scum like you. If you sit there the rest of the flight and keep your hands to yourself and don’t insult her again, I’ll cover your medical expenses. If you say one more word to her, or touch her again, I’ll make sure my attorney meets this flight with the local police to take my statement about your s****l harassment and a***e of her. Do we understand each other?” 2E glared at both of them, one hand pinching the bridge of his nose and the other trying to catch the blood pouring down his face. “You’re f*****g nuts.” 2B chuckled. “You’re not the first person to tell me that today. Trust me when I say I held back. What’s it going to be? Behave or meet the cops?” “She’s not f*****g worth it. f**k you both.” “So creative,” 2B snarled. “I’ll take that as your agreement that you’re going to sit there and keep to yourself. If you do, all will be fine.” “f**k you.” 2B sat back down with a smile. He met Allison’s eyes and winked at her. For the first time, she was more than happy to let a man take care of her.