Fear of Flying

By J.P. Bowie

When Adam meets Jack in an airport bar, suddenly the friendly skies become a whole lot more than just friendly'.

Adam Ritchie is afraid of flying. So much so that as soon as he clears security in San Diego airport he heads straight for the bar. Only, on this day he meets Jack Brenner, a man who is about to change his life, perhaps forever. The two men bond over a drink. Adam explains his fear of flying, telling Jack that the only reason he is getting on a plane is to attend his twin brother's wedding in Seattle. Jack offers to save him a seat next to him, so he can allay his fears through the takeoff and landing. Adam doesn't expect Jack to also hold his hand, and really doesn't expect a kiss from this attractive stranger, but isn't about to refuse either one.

Jack proposes they meet again when they return to San Diego, but an impatient Jack shows up at Adam's brother's wedding and they take their mutual desire to the next level. When Adam returns home he looks forward to another date with Jack at the end of the week, but he must suddenly return to Seattle when a friend in distress calls for help.

Adam at first sees this as another opportunity to connect with Jack again, but sometimes thoughts and actions can be misunderstood and not everything always goes according to plan. Adam finds he must choose between loyalty to an old friend and the attraction he feels for a relative stranger.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pride Publishing
• Release date: Sep 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781786516022

J.P. Bowie

J.P. Bowie: I was born and raised in Scotland. Moved to London and worked in several West End shows before immigrating to the United States. First port of call was Las Vegas where I worked backstage with the Siegfried and Roy Show at the Mirage Hotel as Head of Wardrobe for the legendary stars. Another move more recently took me and my husband Phil to San Diego where we intend to stay! Love sunny San Diego.

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Fear of Flying

ISBN # 978-1-78651-602-2

©Copyright J.P. Bowie 2017

Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright August 2017

Edited by Sue Meadows

Pride Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Pride Publishing.

Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Pride Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2017 by Pride Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL, UK

Pride Publishing is a subsidiary of Totally Entwined Group Limited.

FEAR OF FLYING

J.P. Bowie

When Adam meets Jack in an airport bar, suddenly the friendly skies become a whole lot more than just ‘friendly’.

Adam Ritchie is afraid of flying. So much so that as soon as he clears security in San Diego airport he heads straight for the bar. Only, on this day he meets Jack Brenner, a man who is about to change his life, perhaps forever. The two men bond over a drink. Adam explains his fear of flying, telling Jack that the only reason he is getting on a plane is to attend his twin brother’s wedding in Seattle. Jack offers to save him a seat next to him, so he can allay his fears through the takeoff and landing. Adam doesn’t expect Jack to also hold his hand, and really doesn’t expect a kiss from this attractive stranger, but isn’t about to refuse either one.

Jack proposes they meet again when they return to San Diego, but an impatient Jack shows up at Adam’s brother’s wedding and they take their mutual desire to the next level. When Adam returns home he looks forward to another date with Jack at the end of the week, but he must suddenly return to Seattle when a friend in distress calls for help.

Adam at first sees this as another opportunity to connect with Jack again, but sometimes thoughts and actions can be misunderstood and not everything always goes according to plan. Adam finds he must choose between loyalty to an old friend and the attraction he feels for a relative stranger.

Dedication

For all those who love traveling but hate the getting there process that entails airports and giant jet planes. I share your fear. Thanks to my lovely editor Sue Meadows for always making my stories end up better than they started out. Love to my husband Phil. Twenty-four years of living together and we’re still talking to each other!

Trademarks Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

YouTube: Google, Inc.

Southwest Airlines: Southwest Airlines Co.

Hyatt: Hyatt Hotels Corporation

Xanax: Pfizer Inc.

7-Up: Doctor Pepper Snapple Group

Neiman Marcus: Neiman Marcus Group

Uber: Uber Technologies Inc.

Chatty Cathy: Mattel, Inc.

Mickey Mouse: The Walt Disney Company

Minnie Mouse: The Walt Disney Company

Cheshire Cat: Lewis Carroll

101 Dalmatians: Dodie Smith

Ken Doll: Mattel, Inc.

Hallmark: Hallmark Cards, Incorporated

Jekyll and Hyde: Robert Louis Stevenson

Pollyanna: Eleanor H. Porter

Facebook: Facebook, Inc.

Chapter One

Adam

If there’s one thing I hate more than airports, it’s getting on the actual plane then taking off then waiting in agony for the landing. Okay, I’ll concede that’s more than one thing, but maybe the whole process can be counted as one. At any rate, as far as I’m concerned, it’s all fucking torture, and I generally solve the problem by not flying. However, traveling to my brother’s wedding in Seattle was a bit too far from San Diego for me to drive there and back over a weekend. So, a living hell in the skies for three hours it had to be. Then, of course, there was the return flight which I would have to agonize about all over again in a couple of days.

Jeez, what I do for love of family. After navigating the annoyingly long line and snippy TSA agents at security, I made a bee-line for the bar. A good stiff Scotch would maybe settle my rattling nerves—not get rid of them, of course, but it would go a long way to help.

What’ll it be? the bartender asked with a disinterested glance over my shoulder.

Scotch on the rocks, please.

Single or double?

Uh…

My hesitancy in replying must have caught his attention as he gave me an irritated look, then said in a tone of long-suffering boredom, Double’s four bucks more. Single or double?

Uh, a double, I said then watched as the grouchy bartender upended a Scotch bottle and filled the shot glass with my favorite amber brew, twice, splashing it over the ice in the glass.

Fifteen dollars. He shoved the glass toward me and I handed him a twenty. Change?

Uh, yeah. This guy is expecting a tip after that lousy service? I stared at the five ones he’d laid in front of me. He was expecting a tip. I let the bills sit there while he moved to serve someone at the other end of the bar, then I picked them all up but one.

I turned at the sound of a deep chuckle to my left. That’s more than he deserves.

Whoa. The man sitting next to me was hot. How could I not have noticed him when I sat down? About my age, or maybe closer to thirty, light brown hair cut short and really arresting deep blue eyes that crinkled at the corners when he smiled. Nice teeth too, I noted as I took a long swig on my Scotch, loving the warm glow it filled me with on the way down.

What is it they say about good help being hard to find nowadays?

I grinned at his slightly misquoted remark. I think it’s a good man nowadays is hard to find.

That too. He held out his hand. Jack Brenner.

I took it, liking the warm grip. Adam Ritchie. Our gazes met and Jack seemed to be holding my hand for a little longer than was necessary between two men saying a casual ‘hello’ at an airport bar. But I didn’t mind at all, although I was glad I didn’t have to stand up any time soon. My hand in Jack’s was causing a definite stirring in my groin that made me shift a bit on the bar stool to ease the tightening in my jeans. When we finally did let go I couldn’t help but take what I hoped was a surreptitious glance at his crotch. Hmm… Nothing like a hot flirtation to maybe take my mind off the horrors of flying that loomed ahead.

I’m not this cranky as a rule, I told him, jerking my attention back to his amused expression. Uh…airports tend to put me on edge.

Where you headed? he asked.

Seattle.

Coincidence, me too. Business trip?

No, my brother’s wedding. One of the few occasions that would convince me to get on a darned plane.

You don’t like flying?

I let out a mirthless laugh. That is a complete understatement. I totally hate flying, loathe it, scared to death of it! I raised my glass to my lips and took another long swallow of Scotch. I almost never do this. They say, in their infinite wisdom, that it’s the safest way to travel, but I say, tell that to the passengers as their plane’s going down, not to mention the dozens of near misses they don’t even bother to report. I’ve seen them on YouTube.

He laughed, a pleasant sound, his gaze scanning my expression—for what? Maybe he thought I was kidding. That bad, huh? he said finally.

Worse. I pity the person sitting next to me. The last time I flew, the woman in the next seat got up and asked the attendant to find her another seat. I couldn’t blame her. I am a master fidgeter before and during take-off. I was making her nervous, she said.

Are you on Southwest flight fourteen ninety-seven?

I glanced at my boarding pass for reassurance. Uh, yeah. The B line.

I’m A, same flight. I’ll try and save you a seat.

That’s good of you, but after what I just told you, don’t you think it’s only fair that I not inflict myself on you? I’ll just search for an empty row and huddle by the window with my eyes closed.

Good luck with that. He grimaced. The guy at check-in said it’s a full flight.

Shit.

I don’t mind holding a seat for you. He grinned again. You won’t make me nervous, don’t worry.

I tried not to stare too hard at him, but it was difficult. It’s not every day you get to sit next to someone as hot as Jack Brenner. As sneakily as I could, I took in the breadth of his shoulders, and the well-defined pecs. I could see the outline of his nipples as he turned to pick up his drink and the fabric of his shirt pulled tight across his chest. I had to shift on my stool again to relieve the stiffening of my cock. I wondered if he was single-o, like me, or if he was even gay. I was getting a relaxed vibe from him that made me think he might bat for my team. Although what I’d do about it was another thing. I’ve never been good at casual pickups.

I cleared my throat. You don’t mind flying?

I’ve done so much of it, I don’t even think about it anymore, he said. I’m like a robot—shoes and belt off at security, settle in, laptop out, all business until we land.

Oh, so this is a business trip for you?

Software convention at the Hyatt. I’ll be there all week.

I was so completely into just gazing into his beautiful eyes that I almost missed it when he asked, Where’s your brother’s wedding being held?

Oh, uh…Collingswood Country Club, just outside of town. You know it?

He shook his head. Can’t say I do.

My dad’s a member, so he got some kind of deal.

Isn’t it usually the bride’s family that pays for the wedding?

I