WHO: Rhett Wyatt and Xo Valdez Munroe WHEN: Flashback: About six years ago WHERE: The JFK SUMMARY: Rhett Meets Xo WARNINGS:
In an ideal world, Rhett Wyatt would have been in London an hour ago, but even a luxury plane couldn’t do anything about the weather. Fortunately, for an airport bar, The Martini Bar wasn’t half bad. His sunglasses and hat gave him a certain degree of anonymity and Rhett’s security team was doing their very best to blend-in, inside and outside the bar.
The one pretending to be very interested in the magazine kiosk outside grimaced when Rhett abandoned his table to approach a young woman who had just signaled the attention of the bartender.
“Excuse me,” Rhett said, “Would you care to join me?” She was alone. He was alone. It seemed senseless not to drink together and solve both of their problems.
Xo was supposed to be on her way to DC, but apparently, the weather had other ideas. Her four-hour layover was extended and while there was a hotel room at the airport waiting for her Xo was torn between just waiting it out or slipping into the city. With her luck slipping out would mean missing her rescheduled flight so here she was, perched at the bar to get a drink.
She turned her head when someone spoke to her, a smile fixed in place. And the smile was not without merit, behind the bar and glasses seemed to be someone handsome enough to be charming on those merits alone. “That depends, do I have to join the sunglasses at night club?” She answered.
Rhett laughed. “Occupational hazard.” He smiled at her before his expression straightened. “Though, if you are interested, I think there is a kiosk about a block from here.” The JFK was nothing if not accommodating.
“You know, I think I’m good.” Xo tilted her head towards the bartender. Occupational hazard, which meant recognizable. It was a puzzle and Xo did like puzzles. But for now, she just liked the fact that someone was paying attention to her. It had been a long day. “I mean, I haven’t even gotten my drink yet.”
He looked at her. That was a travesty, but it was easily remedied. The bartender was midway through pouring drinks for a couple, but when Rhett signaled, his response was almost immediate. “Put whatever this fine lady wants on my bill,” he said. He waited for her to order.
“I’m sorry,” he said to her. “I never caught your name?”
Xo’s smile grew and she put in her order. If all she got was a drink then that would be all right. But if there was more than a drink involved she had no reason to not.
“You'd have to have been listening for a while if you had.” She laughed gently. “It's Xo. Do I get a name in exchange for mine?”
“Xo,” Rhett repeated. He leaned against the bar while they waited for her drink to arrive. “That’s beautiful.” He offered her his hand. “Rhett.” Once she had her drink, he lead her back to where he’d been sitting before.
“So, Xo,” he said, “Where are you flying today?”
“Why thank you, I'll have to give my parents credit for it.” Xo took the drink in one hand, letting her other go to Rhett’s. She could let herself be guided for a while. After all, this was supposed to be the beginning of the grand adventure.
“Well, today depends on the rain.” She chuckled as she took her seat. “But DC. How about you? Anywhere exciting?”
Ever the gentleman, Rhett pulled out the stool for her. “DC. That is exciting. For business or pleasure?” He took his drink back into his hand. “London,” he answered with a smile. “If the weather decides it’s in the cards, anyway.” He took a sip.
Xo’s head tilted with a smile at the stool being pulled out for her. It had been a while since anyone had done that for her. “Business. But the best kind of business, so no complaints from me.” her smile continued over the rim of her glass as she took a matching sip. “London, that sounds like quite the flight. Business or pleasure?”
“I always like to meet people who love what they do,” Rhett said. He smiled, wry. Rhett was no stranger to long flights. “The secret is to always try to sit next to the most interesting strangers. And it’s a mix of both. Mostly pleasure. I’m visiting my daughter.” She was performing at a concert there the next day.
“If you don’t love something about it, why do it? That’s how I’ve always seen it.” Xo answered, chipper and eager. This was a huge step, something that was so much like when she had stepped off the plane in NYC all those years ago for college. Places where no one thought she would ever go.
“I agree,” Rhett said. He took another sip of his drink.
But she focused back in as he mentioned his daughter. She couldn’t exactly place his age, but that seemed more because he had one of those faces that could be anywhere within a twenty-year radius. “Well, I hope I’m interesting enough for now. And that’s so lovely, I’m sure she appreciates you traveling all that way.”
“A beautiful and confident woman on her way to DC is always fascinating.” Rhett smiled at her. “And I hope so. She’s always been close to her mother since that’s the one she’s lived with, but I try to do what I can when I can.”
“You have no idea.” Xo gave him a wink at that. She liked to think she was fascinating, not just some girl from a small town but someone who was going to be more than what she should have been, what people had told her she should be. Plus who didn’t like being told they were beautiful by an attractive man who bought her a drink? “I hope the rain lets up so that you can be on your way to her.”
Her smile went a little sly. “But I wouldn’t mind it raining just a little longer.”
“You know,” he said, “I think a little rain is lovely this time of year.” Rhett’s smile curved with hers as he made eye contact. After all, his daughter’s concert wasn’t until tomorrow.