Mansfield Ellington lingered for a moment, reluctant to look away as he watched her leave.


    A staff member nearby leaned in and reminded him quietly, "Mr. Goodwin, we can board now."


    Ian Goodwin waited until Mansfield finally turned and walked away before he tore his gaze from the departure gate. His face gave nothing away as he nodded and headed toward the ne.


    Eleanor Sutton slid into her seat, ncing at the empty spot beside her. Was her seatmate runningte or maybe, just maybe, she''d get lucky and have the row to herself?


    As she pondered the possibility, the cheerful voice of a flight attendant echoed through the cabin, greeting new passengers.


    Eleanor looked up, her eyes widening in surprise.


    What was he doing on this flight?


    He nced at her, the corners of his mouth barely twitching. "Small world, isn''t it?"


    Eleanor immediately turned toward the window, wishing she could melt into the ss. Was it toote to switch seats? But she''d seen when she boarded-the ne was packed, every seat taken.


    As the ne elerated, Eleanor felt the surge press her back into the seat. Her grip tightened on the armrest, knuckles white.


    She cracked one eye open and shot him a look, but said nothing.


    Soon, the ne broke through the rain and climbed into calmer skies, the turbulence fading as they leveled out.


    "Would you like something to drink?"n''s baritone cut through the quiet.


    "I''m fine," Eleanor replied coolly, her gaze never leaving the window.


    When the attendant came by with the beverage cart, though, Eleanor changed her mind and asked for a ss of lemon water.


    A sudden jolt rocked the ne. Eleanor fumbled her cup, and cold water spilled onto herp.


    Before she could react,n had already produced a napkin and was reaching over to help.


    "Don''t touch me." Her voice trembled as she pped his hand away, almost on instinct.


    A few passengers turned to look. Ian''s hand froze midair for a moment, his expression darkening, before he pressed the call button.


    "Could we get a nket for thedy here?" he asked the attendant.


    The flight attendant soon returned with a nket. Eleanor epted it with a grateful nod. "Thank you."


    "Would you like a nket as well, Mr. Goodwin?" the attendant offered with a warm smile.


    "No, thank you," he replied, his tone even.


    After the attendant left, silence settled over their row. Eleanor pulled the nket up to her chest, subtly edging away from the man beside her.


    Outside, the clouds swirled past the window. Ian tapped his fingers absently on his knee,shes lowered, lost in thought.


    Suddenly, the ne dipped and swayed. The attendant''s voice came over the inte, reassuring passengers that it was just a patch of turbulence.


    But after several minutes of uneasy rocking, a violent jolt sent the cabin into chaos-cries and gasps erupting all around. Eleanor''s face drained of color as she clung desperately to the armrest.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, please remain seated with your seatbelts fastened. We are experiencing unstable air currents," the captain''s voice rang out.


    Another wave of turbulence hit, harder this time, and Eleanor felt herself lurch sideways, unable to hold herself upright.


    In the next instant, their shared armrest flipped up, and a strong pair of arms caught her, pulling her securely into an embrace.