Genre: Romantic Comedy

In 1989, at the age of twenty-two, Deb was in a life or death situation. As the engines started, accompanied by the fasten seat belt sign, Deb felt her skin crawl with immobilizing fear. She had two choices, either get off the plane or die in her brand-new Gucci stilettos. Deb couldn’t get on a plane for love that day, but she could do it twenty years later for money. Money was worth dying for.

Excerpt

Prologue

In 1989, at the age of twenty-two, Deb was enrolled in Embry Riddle Aeronautical University learning to fly commercial planes. But somewhere between dating her yuppie fiancé and planning their wedding in Chicago, Deb developed both agoraphobia, a fear of open spaces—and claustrophobia, a fear of closed spaces.

I blame the yuppie.

Deb’s life switched lanes on that flight from Syracuse, New York, to Chicago. The yuppie placed so much pressure on Deb, what with the wedding arrangements and meeting his wealthy, stuck-up family, that as the plane sat on the runway, something came over Deb. Her chest tightened. The sounds of the cabin crew preparing for takeoff faded, replaced by Deb’s pounding heart. And around the time the announcements came on, Deb felt trapped, like bait on a fishhook. The Boeing 737 transformed into a metal tin can with wings, and she was locked inside.

Deb peeled her fingers from the plane’s armrest to take Adam’s hand in a death grip, seeking comfort. If she could, she would have crawled in his lap. He watched her like a zoo animal from his wide first-class seat, motionless in his neatly pressed J. Crew shirt. “Why is your hand so clammy?” Adam winced. His face was freshly shaven, and he smelled of sex and desire. He looked like a catalogue model, seductive and pensive. Tall, dark, Italian and handsome... and rich. Deb’s favorite combination.

The temperature rose, and Deb sighed loudly as her seatbelt cut into her curvy hips. With one hand in Adam’s, Deb dug at the offending belt with the other, her entire body trembling with anxiety. Adam’s eyes narrowed as he watched her place a manicured finger to her neck to check her racing pulse. Her throat tightened.

Now the yuppie was openly staring, his lip curled in annoyance. “What are you doing?” Adam asked. “Just leave it alone.”

But the cabin seemed to darken, and Deb took deep breaths, exhaling as she fanned herself with her free hand.

“Deb, stop that. People are looking at you,” Adam growled as he twisted his hand from Deb’s clinging death grip. He searched for an unoffending surface to wipe his hand off. Finding none, he swiped it down the leg of his ironed jeans. “And where are our hot towels?” he whined. “This is supposed to be first-class.”

Adam hated scenes and cared deeply about what strangers thought of him. Petulant, he stared at the wide television screen in front of him. He had become increasingly annoyed at Deb’s dramatic behavior since they got engaged.

Deb looked over at the man she was going to marry. “Nope! Not flying today!” she chirped.

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About the Author

Rebecca Henry is an American author living in the UK. Her books range from vegan cookbooks to fantasy to sci-fi to Rebecca's latest release with Urban Edge Publishing, Louisiana Latte: A Chick Lit Comedy About Sisters, Stilletos, Coffee, and One Fabulous Diva! You can find all Rebecca's books on Amazon.

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