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Serena couldn’t hold back a whimper as the plane jerked when it encountered a pocket of turbulence. She grasped the armrest and closed her eyes, convinced she was about to die. “Relax,” said the calm voice of
her seatmate on the right, by the window. Serena turned to look at the woman
beside her, noting the startling contrast of the carefully applied
makeup and razor-edged bob style of her ash-blonde hair to the khaki
slacks and pink pinstriped shirt she wore. This woman looked like the
type comfortable in power suits. She seemed out of her element in the
casual clothing, with her hair pushed back by a pink headband. “It’s just a little
turbulence,” she said, smiling at Serena. “It won’t hurt you at
all. You just need some champagne.” With a subtle wave, the woman
caught the attention of the young man serving first class. When he
reached their row, she smiled up at him. “My, you’re a cutie.” A faint blush appeared to tinge his
cheeks. “Thank you, ma’am. How may I help you?” His voice was
thick with an accent, but Serena didn’t know which one. He could be
from Lasënbourg, their destination, or any of the nearby countries,
including Germany, Switzerland, France, or Italy. “Please bring us glass of
champagne.” Serena shook her head. “Oh, just
ginger ale—” She cut Serena off. “Don’t
listen to my young friend. She needs alcohol.” The steward inclined his head.
“Right away, ma’am.” He moved away without a whisper of sound. “I don’t drink—” “Make an exception,” she said
airily. “You can join me in celebrating.” “What are you celebrating?”
Serena asked. “Vacation,” she said with a
grimace, as the steward returned with two glasses of golden champagne on
a silver salver. He offered them a glass before returning to his cubby
at the back of the first-class section. Serena eyed it doubtfully. “You are old enough to drink,
aren’t you?” She nodded. “I’m
twenty-three.” She clinked her glass against
Serena’s. “To new friends.” Serena repeated the toast and
cautiously sipped the champagne, finding it dry and bubbly. “If we’re going to be friends,
we should introduce ourselves.” She sipped her champagne before
continuing. “I’m Regan Delaney.” “Serena Jensen.” “Are you married?” Serena shook her head, feeling a
catch in her throat that left her unable to speak. “Good,” Regan said decisively.
“You don’t need a man to be happy. All you need’s a good vibrator,
and an occasional foray in the bedroom with an anonymous stud, right?
I’ve lived thirty-four years without one, and I’m perfectly
happy.” Serena shook her head. “I don’t
know. I’d like to get married.” Her traitorous heart insisted on
offering up a candidate. Regan shrugged. “If the right man
came along, I guess I would too. I just don’t think there’s any such
thing.” Serena made a non-committal sound,
deciding not to disagree with her new friend. After what she had been
through, how could she offer a counterview anyway? “Where
are you headed?” “Castle Phantasie. I won the trip
by being the one-hundred-thousandth customer at Castle Chocolate
Company.” “That’s where I’m headed too,” Regan said. “I’m long overdue for a vacation. What do you do?” She shrugged. “Whatever’s available. I work part-time at an ice cream store, and I run a dog-walking service…” She trailed off as heat suffused her cheeks. She didn’t need any reminders of Ian McDermott, and she tried to push away his image as it blossomed in her mind. Regan nodded. “I’m CEO of Synergies Systems.” She blinked. “What’s that?” “A high-tech company. We specialize in government contracts for a variety of technological needs.” “Sounds rough,” Serena said, silently adding, and confusing. What she knew about that kind of thing wouldn’t fill a sheet of paper. “What do you plan to do at Castle Phantasie?” “I’m going to get laid,” Regan said. “It’s been too long since I indulged. I may jump the first man I see.” She grinned as her eyes alighted on the elderly man and his wife across the aisle. “Once we arrive at Castle Phantasie, of course.” She touched Serena’s arm. “What about you?” She shrugged, not wanting to blurt out she was just looking to escape. “Maybe we’ll all see if Castle Phantasie’s reputation is deserved,” Regan said as she sipped her champagne. Serena frowned with puzzlement. “What reputation?” “Why, they make your dreams come true,” Regan said dryly. “It’s supposed to be like the fairy tales. They claim Castle Phantasie grants your heart’s desire.” “Hmm.” Serena shook her head. “I doubt it happens, but I’m willing to keep an open mind.” “To our fantasies,” Regan said, lifting her glass. “May they all come true.” She didn’t sound optimistic about the prospect. Serena silently echoed her sentiment as she sipped her champagne and listened to her new friend talk about her job. She already knew her dream wouldn’t be waiting for her at Castle Phantasie. She had found and lost it in the space of one night, two weeks ago. She closed her eyes at the dart of pain accompanying the memory. She bit back the instinctive protestation of innocence as she once again remembered how Ian had ruined what she thought was their perfect night together. She bit hard on her tongue, trying to force back the parade of images that had haunted her for two weeks. Once again, they overwhelmed her, and she was unable to keep herself from reliving the pleasure/pain of that night.
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