Valentine Fling

4|Off the Market

“So, Mr. Walters, business trip?” I asked, opening the subject.

“Business trip to Hawaii for Valentine's Day?” he teased. Wow! He remembered that day? What a rare man.

“Men who look like you usually go there for work, even on weekends.” The workaholic Orlando was like that.

“Not this time. I'm going on vacation with my girlfriend after not seeing each other for a few months. The risks of a long-distance relationship,” he said.

Damn. I'd forgotten about that possibility. No wonder Dylan was indifferent to the flight attendant. He had a girlfriend. How stupid of me. There was no way a man as perfect as him would still be single. Today wasn't my lucky day.

“By the way, call me Dylan. I'm not comfortable being called by my surname outside of work.” He put on his seat belt. “How about you? Are you on vacation?”

“Yeah. Something like that,” I answered, trying not to lie.

“How are you doing? Are you okay?” he asked.

“I don't understand,” I said in confusion.

“You went to the toilet after that stressful incident,” he pointed out, giving a hint.

“Oh. Oh, you mean...? No, I didn't. I went to the restroom to pee, not to get over a stomachache or reduce panic,” I explained. “Again, thank you for helping. I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't gotten my purse and phone back.”

“My pleasure,” he replied.

The flight attendants walked around checking on passengers as the plane moved. The woman stood near us to demonstrate the procedures in case of an emergency. I glanced at Dylan, who was turning off his phone. He wasn't interested in the beautiful woman.

I picked up my phone and did the same. I hid my smile as the woman moved her body parts excessively to attract Dylan's attention. Girl, where's your pride? Her attitude reminded me of Paris.

Since Dylan claimed to have a girlfriend, I kept our conversations and interactions formal. I didn't want to get into trouble with a jealous woman. I'd had enough of dealing with one Paris.

“Is there anything in the baggage?” Dylan asked. He glanced at the overhead compartment.

“No, I just brought my sling bag.” I slung the bag over my shoulder.

We walked towards the exit. The flight attendant looked at me briefly as she greeted and thanked me. She looked at the person behind me for longer than she should have. I couldn't believe she'd done that since departure.

I turned on my phone while waiting for my luggage at baggage claim. It vibrated, indicating a notification. I frowned at the incessant vibration. Feeling uncomfortable, I changed it to a silent profile.

Finding so many incoming messages from Orlando, I rolled my eyes. Couldn't he figure out how long the flight from NYC to Honolulu was? I sighed and replied to one of his messages. A few minutes after sending it, my phone vibrated.

“Where are you?” Orlando impatiently asked.

“I'm at baggage claim,” I replied.

“What took you so long to land? Did something happen in the air?” he urged.

“Andy, take a breath. I'm fine. It isn't my first trip out of town by myself.” I rolled my eyes.

“I sent someone to look after you. I shouldn't have let you go alone. Your bodyguards are nervous because they're worried about you.” He heaved a soft sigh.

I furrowed my brow. “Did they tell you about the pickpocketing?”

“Of course. Do you think you can hide something that big from me?” he protested. I knew it!

“I handled it just fine. Okay? My purse and phone are back.” I looked at the basket filled with stuffed animals that passed before me. “I have to find my suitcase and go to the hotel.”

“Okay. We'll talk again.”

People picked up the teddy bear holding a bouquet of pink roses. Reading the words, “Please take one,” in the second basket, I smiled. I took one of the stuffed animals. It had Happy Valentine's Day written on the ribbon.

Looking at the emblem of the airline I was traveling on, it seemed like the souvenir was their gift, not a surprise from the airport. I looked at the other baggage. Yep. Our luggage was the only one with those baskets.

“What's wrong?” I asked, seeing Dylan just watching the basket pass by.

“Do you think my girlfriend will like them?” he asked.

I picked up one of the teddy bears and gave it to him. “Of course. Do you think only kids like them?”

“Thank you.” He accepted the stuffed animal. “She'll be surprised to know I came a day early from our appointment.”

“Oh. You are supposed to meet tomorrow?” I asked.

Dylan nodded. “She works here. She had a conference at the hotel, and today is the last day. I wanted to surprise her.”

“Did you prepare anything to meet her?” I asked.

“Is an engagement ring enough?” He patted his pants pocket.

I gasped. “No way. You're going to propose to her?”

Dylan blushed. “She's always dreamed of being proposed to on Valentine's Day. I'm ready. So, this is the perfect time.”

“Aw... She's a very lucky woman,” I complimented.

“I'm the lucky one.”

After picking up our suitcases, we walked together to the exit. We turned out to be heading to the same hotel, but I refused to take the same taxi. His girlfriend would misunderstand if she accidentally saw us coming together.

I smiled on the way to the hotel. Why didn't I get such a perfect guy? Dylan thought of everything well. He was polite to me when he helped me find a lost item. He wasn't tempted by that flirty flight attendant either.

I wondered what kind of woman had captured his heart. She must be successful, beautiful, confident, and intelligent. She even attended a conference on the weekend. The two of them were lucky to find each other.

“Hi, Violet,” Dylan greeted me. He got out of the cab behind me.

I chuckled. “We should pretend we don't know each other. I don't want your girlfriend to get the wrong idea,” I suggested.

“Yvonne is not a jealous woman,” he said. I heard a note of pride in his voice. “She will like you and not be suspicious.”

“Are you sure she loves you?” I teased.

“She's a confident woman. Besides, she knows I only love her.” Dylan accepted his suitcase from the hotel clerk. “Thank you. I'll carry it to the room myself.”

“I can't believe such a woman exists.” I followed him into the lobby.

“Once you meet her, you'll understand what I mean.”

I secretly felt jealous of his confidence in his girlfriend. Vaughn never complimented me like that when we were with our friends. I was certain he didn't praise me when I wasn't with him. It was evident from his friends' attitudes towards me.

They weren't jealous of our intimacy. What I felt was that they didn't like my presence among them. That was why I rarely accompanied Vaughn when he had appointments with his friends.

“Honeymoon suite,” Dylan murmured. He looked at me meaningfully. “You didn't say you had a boyfriend or were married. Where's your husband?”

I chuckled. “Is it only couples who can stay in the honeymoon suite?” We walked to the elevator.

“I don't know the hotel regulations, so ....” He shrugged his shoulders. “There were a lot of coincidences today. We were on the same plane, sitting next to each other, and now, staying on the same floor.”

“Although your lover won't be jealous, I beg you not to greet me when we meet. I want to enjoy my vacation in peace,” I pleaded.

Dylan looked at me intently. “Alright. It was nice talking to you. Hope you enjoy your vacation,” he relented.

“You're welcome. I hope your surprise is successful,” I replied.

We turned in the corridor towards the elevator. Seeing a poster of the conference in the hotel hall, I smiled. Dylan told me the truth about the event. And the event ended tonight. I wanted to ask him about his girlfriend's job.

However, I curbed my urge when I saw the expression on his face. Dylan looked unblinkingly ahead of him. I turned to find out what he was staring at.