Shayla's Story (The Mathews/Clemmins Family Series) by Beverly Preston Page A

softly.
    She watched silently
as JC grasped his hand, holding on to it for dear life. Shayla unbuckled and
wriggled forward to get a better view. JC’s head tilted back and the pink blush
dusting her cheeks moments ago turned ashen white under the overhead lights. Her
eyes remained closed while she concentrated on deep breathing through pursed
lips.
    “She seemed fine
when she got on the plane,” Shayla stated in a hushed voice.
    He continued
rubbing, keeping physical contact with JC. “She tries to psych herself out before
she flies. Especially today. It’s such a long flight and she wanted to enjoy
her first private jet experience. She’s been willing a happy flight for two days.”
    “Manifesting, John.
I’ve been manifesting a great flight.” JC grumbled with heavy breath, peeking
through the seats. “I’m subconsciously making it happen.”
    John mouthed
quietly. “She reads one book and now she can control the outcome of her life.”
    JC scowled, turning
to point a finger at her brother. “I heard that. Manifesting is the art of creating
what you want at the time you want it. Don’t make fun of me.”
    Shayla smiled, happy
to see JC’s color returning with her feistiness. “It’s kind of like mind over
matter.”
    “Not you too?” John
frowned.
    Every preconceived
notion of John as a tough guy or an intimidating bully began to fade like the
ground beneath the plane as they took off higher into the sky. John treated his
sister with the compassion of a loving brother or a small child taking care of
an injured animal.
    John’s elbow came to
rest on Shayla’s knee as they gathered at the crack between the seats. The
dusting of dark hair on his brawny arm stood at attention. She startled at the
sight of his goose bumps. He ran a slow burning gaze over her legs. The flight
attendant broke his stare as she handed out fluffy pillows and down blankets.
    After days with a
lack of sleep, Shayla let out a big yawn. Merely catching sight of a pillow
made her drowsy. Preparing for the long flight, she kicked off her boots and
tucked her legs up under her bum, snuggling into her chair. The combined stress
of Thanksgiving, Mat’s proposal and her angst about meeting the man sitting
beside her had taken its toll. Shayla tucked the white throw under her chin,
adjusting the soft pillow beneath her head.
    JC had calmed down
considerably, and the girls all settled in for the long flight ahead. Tracy
turned on a movie and they burrowed into their recliners.
    “Are all of you
going to sleep?” His disappointment echoed through the plane.
    His sisters each
raised a hand in the air. “Yep. Night, Romeo. See you in Greece.”
    “Greece? That’s at
least twelve hours away!” His gaze wandered over Shayla. “Are you going to
sleep too?”
    She yawned again.
“I’ve had a really long, rough week. They have a great selection of movies.”
    Thankful for the
opportunity to give in to her collapse, her lids closed and she took a deep,
cleansing breath. The scent of John’s cologne sparked her senses. Glinting
through tired slits, she noticed he examined the ring on her finger with a
puzzled frown. Shayla tucked her hands tighter into the folds of down.
    “No hard feelings?”
He held out his hand again.
    A flirt of a smile
tugged at her mouth. “I wouldn’t count on it.”

 
 
 
 

CHAPTER
FIVE

 
    The smell of coffee
and women’s laughter sifted through her sleep with a soft hum. Shayla
stretched, extending her arms straight with a shiver and a groan. The heavy arm
draped over her side lifted and coasted down her arm.
    Her eyes sprung wide
and she lurched forward in shock, but John settled her frantic response with
another soothing stroke. In a sleep drunken daze, she wiped the drool from the
corner of her lips with the palm of her hand.
    “Well, good
morning.” He brushed a strand of hair from her face. “I thought you were going
to sleep through the landing.”
    “Oh, God.” His shirt
wore a drool