Goddess of the Sea by P. C. Cast Page B

stow your carry-ons, but I thought I’d better remind you since you’re not used to riding in the back seats.” He chuckled at his lame joke as he made his way slowly through the cargo bay, checking the security of the pallets and the pilots. The pilots paid him about as much attention as did the pallets.
    CC sighed as the numbing noise of the giant, rotating propellers started to vibrate through the plane. The sound made her realize that she had left her earplugs in her carry-on. CC unsnapped her seat belt and crouched down to pull her carry-on out from underneath the seat, and as she was feeling around in the side pocket her eyes traveled to the wall behind her seat. Her brow furrowed in confusion. That was odd; she hadn’t noticed before that framing her seat were two thick, red stripes painted on the inside wall of the plane. Between these stripes were stenciled in bright red the words DANGER and PROPELLER, over and over.
    â€œSarg, you need to stow that and take your seat.” The master sergeant had made his way over to her.
    CC grabbed her earplugs, shoved the bag back and regained her seat. But when the master sergeant tried to walk on down the bay, she called him back.
    â€œSergeant,” she almost had to yell to be heard over the propeller noise. “What do those red lines and words mean?” She pointed over her shoulder.
    â€œThat’s marking where the propeller would come through the aircraft if we was to throw one.” He grinned, showing her a wealth of yellow teeth. “But that don’t happen very often.” He laughed and moved on.
    CC wasn’t sure if she should cry or scream—but her body had suddenly frozen solid, so she found she was only able to sit there, ramrod straight and perfectly still.
    Across the aisle Sean had overheard the whole exchange. He grimaced to himself as he watched the little sergeant’s face turn a ghostly shade of white, which only made her big amber eyes look more fawn-like and appealing. She was such a small, young thing. She’d already looked a little scared when she’d bumped her head and stumbled into the plane, and now she looked practically terrified. Something inside of him lurched insistently.
    â€œCC,” he called to her.
    She didn’t respond.
    â€œCC,” he repeated, noting the glazed look in her eyes when they finally met his. “Would you trade seats with me? I hate flying on this side of the plane.” He thought for a second, then added. “It’s one of those weird pilot superstitions.” He shrugged helplessly, like he was ashamed to admit it.
    â€œTrade seats with you?” she asked as if she hadn’t heard him correctly.
    â€œYep. I’d sure appreciate it.” He beamed his best nice-guy smile at her.
    â€œI suppose so,” she said slowly. “If you really want to.”
    â€œI really want to,” he said.
    â€œOkay then.”
    He unbuckled his seat belt and grabbed his flight bag from under the seat. Before she could get her own carry-on, he crossed the ten feet or so that separated them.
    â€œI’ll get that for you,” he said, taking the bag from her.
    CC looked up at him. This close he was even more gorgeous. And just how tall was he? His muscular body seemed to stretch on forever. His short, military cut hair was a medium shade of blond, shot with glistening streaks that looked like they had been dipped in the sun. Actually, his whole body, or at least what could be seen peeking out of his flight suit, looked like he had been blessed by the god of the sun. Unlike so many blonds, he wasn’t washed-out looking. Instead he was an irresistible shade of golden tan. His face was made of strong, square lines, and his lips . . . CC felt herself staring and she jerked her gaze from those amazing lips to his soft, brown eyes, which were smiling down at her.
    â€œThank you,” she managed to stammer.
    â€œNot a problem. Actually,