CHAPTER SEVEN

Remington and Laura sat in first class with glasses of chilled white wine on the little tray separating their seats.  He watched as she kept scribbling and softly mumbling words to herself.  “Holt…Steele…Holt-Steele…Laura Holt-Steele.”  He leaned over and gave her a curious look.  Laura looked up from her paper and asked, “Why can’t I get used to that name?”

He took her by the hand and gently patted the top of it.  “Ah, you will Laura.  It’s all a matter of making oneself a believer.  Take me for instance.  I’ve lived so many different lives that I can’t even keep them straight anymore but the one I believe in the most is precisely who I’m meant to be.  And that is Remington Steele, just as you were always meant to be my little…” Seeing the annoyed expression on her face, he quickly replaced “woman” with “always meant to be my wife.”  Laura smiled as he continued.  “Could you imagine what your life would be like if I hadn’t agreed to become Remington Steele?”

Laura looked at him with a dismayed expression.  “If you hadn’t agreed?  Funny, I don’t recall asking you to waltz into Mr. Steele’s suite and assume his identity.  That was something you decided.  Besides, you should just be thankful I was too nice to turn you in for impersonating someone else.” 

“Hmm… yes, but then you would have had an awful lot of explaining to do when I exposed the fact that Remington Steele was nothing more than a figment of your imagination.”  His dazzling blue eyes sparkled and one eyebrow rose slightly when he tossed that barb at her. 

Laura couldn’t resist his devilish expression and leaned over to kiss his cheek.  She giggled when she moved away from his face.

He grinned with delight and asked, “What was that for?”

“Being the figment of my imagination.”  Laura looked around at the other passengers.  Most of them were involved in books and those who weren’t were trying to get a little sleep.  Then she looked a few rows back at Mildred and noticed that she too was caught up in reading.  Laura shifted in her chair and edged a little closer to his.  She took a deep breath and let out a sigh as her hand ran down the top of his thigh. 

Taken by surprise he shifted his eyes back and forth then nearly blushed when her fingers clutched his knee and then started their way back up his leg.  “Good lord woman, what are you doing?”

“Thinking about the possibilities.  That is what you told me to do, remember?  My beautiful house was gone and you held me while it rained and told me about Marcos and his lost tanker.  You told me that everything would be new again and all I had to do was think about the possibilities.”  Laura leaned in as close to Remington’s ear as she could.  “Care to know what I’m thinking Mr. Steele?” 

Remington sat still with a stoic expression on his face.  “I’m nearly afraid to ask.”

Laura moved a little closer and lightly kissed the side of his earlobe.  “Ever visited the 'Mile-High Club' Mr. Steele?”

Remington’s reaction was immediately pensive and his face appeared to be locked in a shocked expression.  “Laura!  I’m stunned!  I’m absolutely stunned.”  He looked to the door of the tiny compartment.  “Do you think there’s room?”

“One way to find out…”  Laura stood up and slowly walked toward the lavatory door.  She blushed slightly as a flight attendant walked by.  Glancing back to Remington, she inconspicuously tried to wave him over. 

Remington swallowed hard and rose out of the chair.  Laura started to enter the tiny bathroom but left the door slightly open.  As he reached for the door, Mildred’s voice pierced through the quiet cabin.

“Having a good flight Boss?”

Remington stopped dead in his tracks and turned back to face Mildred.  “Fine Mildred, just fine.”

“Anything wrong, Boss?”

“Not at all Mildred, why do you ask?”

“Well it’s just that Miss Holt went to the restroom and then you got up to follow her.  I thought there might be something wrong.”

Remington tried to cover.  “Ah, yes, well… Laura was feeling a little queasy and I was just going to check on her.  Airline food didn’t sit well…”

Mildred quickly rose from her chair.  “Oh my goodness.  I’ll check on her Boss.  You know how women are when they’re not feeling well.  They prefer to have another woman there in case they need anything.”

Remington began to panic and tried to intercept Mildred before she got to the door.  “Mildred!  Really, I’m sure she’s fine.  She’s probably just splashing a little water on her face.”

Mildred practically pushed him back into his seat as she made her way to the lavatory.  She opened the cracked door and stood there in shock.  “Miss Holt!”

A stunned and semi-naked Laura stood there with a flush of heat and embarrassment rising through her body.  She nervously fumbled to put her blouse back on while Mildred blocked the doorway.  “Mildred!  What are you doing here?”

“I saw you come in here and then the Boss got up and started to follow you.  I asked him if everything was okay and he said you weren’t feeling well.  I came to see if you needed anything. Do you need anything hon?”

Remington started to walk back to the door but Mildred held up her hands to stop him.  “You might want to wait a few minutes Boss.  Miss Holt must have had a hot flash and felt faint.  She’s putting her blouse back on.”

He held up his hands and nodded his head in acknowledgment.  He slowly made his way back to his seat and sat down in the chair.  It took everything he had not to burst into uncontrollable laughter at the absurdity of the situation. 

The other passengers stared when Laura emerged from the bathroom absolutely mortified as Mildred led her back to her seat.  “Here you go honey.  All safe and sound.  I’m going back to my seat but you let me know if there’s anything you need.”  Mildred patted Laura on the knees and stood up to return to her seat.  Noticing the seatbelt hanging next to her, Mildred bent down and fastened it around Laura’s waist.  “Now Boss, you keep an eye on her and call me if you need anything.”

“Absolutely Mildred.  If Miss Holt has another hot flash, you’ll be the first person I tell…”  Remington said desperately trying to sound sincerely concerned.

Laura held her blushing face in her hands and alternated between sheer embarrassment, rage and laughter.  “Remind me to never fly with Mildred again.” 

“Now, now Laura.  She was only thinking of you being stuck in that cramped little bathroom, not feeling well and needing a shoulder to lean on…” 

“Hers wasn’t the one I had in mind!”

“I know, I know…  But don’t worry my darling.  I have another idea that may get your motor running.”  He leaned over and whispered into her ear.  A devious smile came across Laura’s face and her tongue lightly flickered on the inside of her upper lip. 

“You’ve got a date, Mr. Steele.  Just do me a favor though.  Don’t let Mildred know where we’ll be.”

The captain’s voice came over the intercom.  “Ladies and gentlemen, as we begin our descent into Los Angeles, I’d like to thank you for flying with us today and I apologize for the turbulence we along the way.  I’ve been told it made for a bumpy ride, especially in First Class.  We’ve got smooth sailing for the remainder of the trip.  Welcome to the City of Angels.  Enjoy your stay.”

As Fred gathered and starting loading their luggage into the limousine, Remington offered Laura his arm.  “Shall we Miss Holt?  I can hardly wait to see one of the angels the captain had alluded to.”

Laura pressed her upper body to his arm and whispered, “You’re going to have to keep waiting Mr. Steele.  Meet me at the loft at 7:30 where it will just be you and me and…”  She ran her tongue behind his ear sending a shiver down his body. 

As they climbed into the car Remington swallowed hard when he discovered Fred had the radio on.  The DJ began playing an old favorite by the ‘King of Rock and Roll’.  “You look like an angel, walk like an angel, talk like an angel, but I got wise.  You’re the devil in disguise…”  He looked at Laura as the song continued playing and couldn’t help but wonder what surprises would await him this evening.