Abbie shoved her carryon bag under the seat in front of her as far as it would go. She had the row all to herself, and she fervently hoped that the two seats next to her would remain empty. She was in no mood for casual airplane chitchat.

From her seat, she could see down the length of the plane, and it appeared most of the
passengers had already boarded and seated themselves.  Good, she thought with satisfaction, stretching her legs in front of her and placing her paperback on the seat next to her.  What kind of idiot takes an 8 p.m. flight to Anchorage, Alaska, in September anyway? She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Besides me.

Abbie let loose a sigh which began deep within her soul. It came out louder than she planned, and she hoped no one on the quiet plane heard the understated groan.  She opened her eyes and found a tall man standing in the aisle next to her seat. Startled, she blinked and met a pair of almond-shaped, obsidian eyes that crinkled at the
corners. His friendly smile widened to a grin.

"May I," he asked, indicating the window seat past her.

"Oh, sure." Abbie quickly scrambled out of her seat and stepped into the aisle to allow him to pass. She caught her breath when he slid past to take his seat. His face was strikingly handsome. Exotic eyes were the prominent feature in an angular bronze face with a narrow nose and full lips.

As the plane rolled onto the runway, Abbie leaned her head back and closed her eyes for a moment. It wasn't too late. She could still jump up and ask the attendants to stop the plane and let her off. She smiled imagining the scene. Would they open the doors and let her out onto the runway to trudge back to the terminal on foot? Would they take the airplane back to the terminal and boot her out the door, forbidden to book a flight with them again?

A quiet hysterical giggle escaped her wayward lips. Or would they force her to inexorably march on and continue the flight to Anchorage against her will?