From Mishap to Kisshap: Sofia & Morgan

Chapter 1 — The People at the Bar The champagne glass broke in Sofia’s hand with a sharp crack. Three people at the hotel bar turned immediately. “Oh, damn,” one man said. Sofia dropped the broken stem, staring at the thin line of blood running across her palm. Before the bartender beside her could move, the elegant Black woman sitting directly opposite Sofia was already out of her chair. “She cut herself,” a woman at the bar said. “I can see that.” The stranger walked straight around the end of the bar. “You probably shouldn't be back here,” Sofia said. “And you probably shouldn't be bleeding on the champagne.” That got a laugh from several customers. The woman took Sofia gently by the wrist, wrapped a clean bar towel around her palm and held it firmly. Sofia looked up at her. Then just kept looking. “Oh,” the woman watching from the bar murmured. Her companion glanced over. “What?” “Look at them.” The stranger said something quietly to Sofia. Sofia smiled. Not her bartender smile. A very different smile. A few minutes later, the stranger led her toward the little service corridor beside the bar, still holding her hand. “They just met, right?” the man asked. “As far as I know.” Twenty minutes later they came back. Sofia's hand was neatly bandaged. The stranger stopped beside the bar. Sofia stopped with her. They exchanged a few words. Then Sofia reached up and kissed her. The man almost choked on his drink. “Oh, come on.” The woman beside him laughed. “What?” “I cut myself opening wine last week. Nobody like that showed up.” Chapter 2 — Sofia I heard the glass break before I felt the cut. Then came the sting. Then the blood. Perfect. Twenty people watching me embarrass myself behind my own bar. And then she stood up. I'd noticed her earlier—the beautiful woman in the captain's uniform sitting alone with sparkling water, looking far too composed for somebody surrounded by drunk wedding guests. She came around the bar like she belonged there. “You probably shouldn't be back here,” I told her. “And you probably shouldn't be bleeding on the champagne.” I laughed despite myself. Then she took my wrist. That was when everything changed. Her hands were warm and careful, and when I looked up, she was watching me with an expression that made my heart do something ridiculous. “I'm Morgan.” “Sofia.” She helped me into the first-aid room. She cleaned the cut. Bandaged it. Asked if it hurt. I barely knew how to answer because by then I was thinking about her mouth instead of my hand. When we returned to the bar, I knew she was about to leave. I didn't want her to. “So,” I said, “is rescuing bartenders part of being an airline captain?” “Only the attractive ones.” I stared at her. She smiled. I kissed her. Right there. I heard somebody at the bar make a choking sound. I didn't care. Chapter 3 — Morgan I had been watching her before the glass broke. Not deliberately. At least that was what I told myself. She was quick, funny, beautiful, and somehow managed to make every customer feel like the person she had been waiting to see. Then the glass shattered. I saw the blood and moved. Simple as that. Except when I took her hand and she looked at me, nothing felt simple anymore. She had enormous brown eyes. And that smile. God, that smile. I took her to the first-aid room because she needed a bandage. I stayed longer than necessary because I wanted to. “Does that hurt?” “A little.” “Tell me if I make it worse.” She looked straight at me. “You're definitely making something worse.” I understood exactly what she meant. By the time we walked back out, I was already wondering whether asking for her number would be too obvious. Then she asked whether I rescued bartenders often. I said, “Only the attractive ones.” For one second she just stared at me. Then she grabbed the front of my uniform jacket with her good hand and kissed me. There were people watching. I knew that because someone behind us nearly inhaled his drink. But Sofia was kissing me. So for once in my life, I didn't care who was watching.