Chance Encounters (Paperback)

Pages : 152
ISBN : 9798321091388
Weight : 156g
Dimensions : 203 x 9 x 127 mm

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- Sapphic romance
- Chance encounters
- Sexual awakening

“Are you a member of our Frequent Flyers Club?” The ground stewardess labelled Ally’s suitcase and typed something into her system.
“Yes. Sorry, I forgot.” Ally searched through her wallet. Like her life, the bulging mass of leather overstuffed with receipts, crumpled bills, and forgotten cards was a chaotic mess, and it took her a while to find her membership card.
“Thank you. Just give me a moment.” The woman frowned as she stared at her screen; Ally suspected her account had expired as she hadn’t flown with the airline in years.
“Is everything okay?”
“Absolutely.” The woman looked up with a smile. “Would you like an upgrade? Free of charge.”
“Seriously?” Ally’s dark brows shot up. She hadn’t flown business since she’d resigned from her job three years ago, and she’d braced herself for a long, uncomfortable flight that would likely leave her exhausted by the time she arrived in Amsterdam. “Of course, I would love that.”
“Excellent.” The ground stewardess printed her boarding card. “Here you go. Have a great flight, Miss Brenner. The lounge is a five-minute walk from your gate. Enjoy.”
***
Ally had missed the Emerald lounge at Vancouver International Airport, with its polished marble floors, the soft glow of recessed lighting, plush armchairs, and leather sofas that looked out over the runway. The familiar notes of oak and vanilla made her feel a little nostalgic as she secured a table by the window and removed her trench coat. She used to come here with her colleagues every other Monday, and although she didn’t miss her old job, she did miss the perks of having a big travel budget. Running a small project management company with her friend now, Ally didn’t splash out on expensive flights. Perhaps that would change if her upcoming pitch was a success.
As she ordered a glass of chilled Chablis and helped herself to a few salmon blinis and a small bowl of olives, she noted not much had changed. She even recognized one of the bartenders, despite him having grown a beard since the last time she had been there.
Heading back to her seat, a woman across the bar caught Ally’s eye. She ordered a martini and took a careful sip before scanning the lounge. She had short, blonde hair and big, blue eyes emphasized by eyeliner. She wore a sharp-cut black suit, and a leather laptop sleeve was wedged under her arm. Their eyes met, and the woman smiled. There was something familiar about her, but Ally couldn’t recall ever meeting her. Curiously, she kept her gaze fixed on the woman and failed to spot a passing waiter carrying a glass of red wine. She bumped into him, causing the wine to tumble off his tray and splash everywhere.
“Fuck,” she muttered and winced when she saw the big, red stain on her white shirt. “I’m sorry, it was my fault. I was distracted.” She noted the waiter’s shirt was covered in red stains, too. “I’m so sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” he said politely, wiping his neck with a napkin. “I have another shirt in the back, so don’t worry. Wait here, and I’ll get you something to clean that stain with.”
Ally sat in the nearest nook and inspected the damage. She didn’t have a change of clothes in her hand luggage and doubted the stain would come out.
“Thank you,” she said when the waiter returned with a wet cloth. She was about to start rubbing it over her chest when someone put a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t.” It was the woman from the bar. “You should put salt on your shirt instead. It will soak up the stain.” She picked up the salt from the table and handed it to Ally. “It’s best to take the shirt off and sprinkle the salt over it.”
Ally arched a brow as she looked up at the woman. “Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I promise it works.”
“If you say so…” Ally started unbuttoning her shirt, then remembered she was only wearing a bra underneath. “I can’t,” she said with a goofy grin. “I’ll be near naked if I take it off.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad,” the woman said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
No idea how to reply, Ally laughed nervously while she let her comment sink in. Is she flirting with me? It was a strange thing to say.
“Seriously. It’s a nice shirt. It’s a waste if it gets ruined.” The woman pointed to Ally’s trench coat. “Why don’t you put that on? I’m sure the flight attendant can get you a pajama top from first class to wear on the flight. They’ll have spares.”
“Okay. That’s a good idea.” Ally contemplated going to the restrooms but decided her seating nook was private enough for a quick change. She grabbed her coat, turned around, and swiftly swapped her shirt for her coat. “I look like a flasher now, don’t I?” she said sheepishly, tying it firmly at the waist.
The woman laughed. “I wouldn’t run away if I saw you standing behind a tree.”
There it was again. Another comment that could very well pass for flirtatious. Before Ally could reply, the woman had grabbed her shirt, draped it over the coffee table, and emptied the salt dispenser over the stain.
“There you go. That should work miracles if you leave it for a while. The rest will come off in the wash.” She smiled. “And now that I’ve seen you in your underwear, I might as well introduce myself. I’m Candice Blackwater.”
“Ally Brenner,” Ally said. “Thank you so much for your help.” Part of her was intrigued by Candice’s strange comments. Was she giving off gay vibes today? Ally wanted to clear the air, but randomly announcing she was straight seemed like an awkward thing to do, so she let it go and pointed to the chair next to hers. “Want to join me? I’d buy you a drink but it’s free here. I can get you one, though.”
“I’m good. I already have a martini, but yes, I’d love to join you.” Candice sat, stretched her legs in front of her, and sipped her drink. “Mm…I needed this. It’s been a long day,” she said with a sigh.
“Did you come straight from the office?” Ally asked.
“No. I worked from my mom’s house today, but I started at six this morning and I haven’t had a break.” Candice checked her watch. “I like long-haul night flights. They’re an excuse to relax. Don’t you think?”
“It is now. I was lucky to get upgraded.”
“Oh, good for you.” Candice raised her glass in a toast. “I’m off to Amsterdam. What about you?”
“Me too. What takes you there?” Ally asked. “Let me guess. You’re in the laundry business?”
“I wish. That would be blissfully straightforward and stress-free. No, I’m a private investor. I got lucky in the property market, which enabled me to move on to bigger commercial builds. I only focus on the financials, though. I don’t get involved in design or build, but I found that the Netherlands is a fruitful market, so I relocated there.”
“Interesting.” Ally regarded Candice. Despite her no-nonsense dress sense, there was something playful about her. “Are you based in Amsterdam?”
“Yes, but I’m Canadian. I fly back and forth regularly. I have investments in Vancouver, and my family is there. Do you live in Amsterdam?”
“No, I live in Vancouver. I run a project management company together with a friend, and I’m pitching for a job in Amsterdam tomorrow. It’s for a huge warehouse conversion.”
“So, we’re in the same kind of business,” Candice concluded.
“Yes, albeit at opposite ends. You hold the reins, I’m just the workhorse,” Ally joked. “We’re in the final stage of the selection process, so one of us has to be there in person.”
“Cool. Are you nervous?”
“Yes,” Ally admitted. “I’m terrified.”
“I can’t tell from looking at you. You have a calm presence.” Candice shot Ally a smile over the rim of her martini glass. “Are you prepared? Do you have a clean shirt with you?”
“Always.” Ally laughed. “I’m totally OCD when it comes to pitching, and I packed ten decent outfits, which is ridiculous since I’m only there for two nights.”
“That’s a shame. Amsterdam is a beautiful city. Will it be your first visit?”
“Yes, but we’re busy wrapping up a job here, so I couldn’t spare more time.” Ally narrowed her eyes at Candice. “You look familiar. Have we met before?”
“I don’t think so.” Candice looked away for a beat. “But perhaps we’ve crossed paths in Vancouver?”
“Hmm…” For some reason, Ally wasn’t sure she believed her. She was good at reading people, and she had a feeling Candice was lying. Not that it mattered; Candice was just a fellow passenger, and it was unlikely they’d ever see each other again. “Well, I’m glad we met now,” she finally said, pointing to her shirt. The salt had soaked up some of the wine, and the red stain was fading. “It looks like you saved my shirt.”