On the night Maddie Taylor and Aiden Hughes meet, they end up on a chaotic journey of passion and disbelief. They come from two different parts of the world and they are in two very different walks of life. They each seem to have what the other needs but neither of them believe that it could be so simple as to walk into an English pub one fateful night.
But, as their tale of romance and uncertainty unfolds, another relationship makes its presence known between Maddie’s best friend, Rachel Lewis and her Brother in-law, Ian Taylor. Their relationship has always been laced with longing and hunger and no matter how hard Rachel tries to resist, they always end up in bed together.
Soon, the two couples are intertwined in intense and hilarious conversations and situations. There are naked encounters and alcohol involved admissions. Jealousy and stubbornness are always abound. But as it turns out, none of these four people can survive without the other three. And the only reason they make it though, is because their paths crossed at just the right time.
More From Paths Of Desire
It was the last breath to ever escape his lips. The sound of Grayson’s unexpected intake of breath always caused a terrified scream to lodge in my throat. And then his lifeless body released that faint wisp that reverberated in my head like a sonic boom. Of course, I never actually heard the last breath he ever took, but the sound of his gasp still haunted me. Even though I wasn’t physically there when it happened, I could still see, hear and feel the agony of his last moments in my mind and they would remain with me for the rest of my life.
The ear piercing sound of rubber screeching on the pavement made me cringe. I could feel the seatbelt tighten as the car went hurling through the air and smashed into the cold hard cement pillar. My eyes widened in fear as the concussion of the impact shook me and the shattering of glass echoed in my ears. These were the haunting ideas that my horrified mind had concocted and burned into my brain.
“Oh God, why?” I gasped as the screaming engines of the plane howled in my ears.
Just the thought of the horrors of the plane crashing brought back the heart stopping emotions of the car crash. I was bound to my seat and I suddenly gasped for breath. I tried to remind myself that it was turbulence throwing the plane all over the place. It wasn’t the force of the car crash. It was the plane’s seatbelt that was cutting into me. Not the seatbelt of the car locking up from the force of impact. My stomach churned in nauseousness as I squeezed my eyes shut and wondered if the glorious silence would come quickly. If the empty abyss of death would be a welcoming feeling as I was finally allowed to join my husband.
“Why did I get on this plane?” I cringed and gripped the armrests of the seat tightly. Was Chicago really so bad? I was starting to hyperventilate and I knew I had to keep a grip on myself and not let my mind run away with me. My eyes suddenly snapped open and I held my breath until my lungs burned. Yes! I need a change in my life and this is going to be the change that I need. I desperately tried to convince myself that I had to move on and not disappear into that great blackness again. This was going to work. It had to!
“What did you say, hun?” The flight attendant looked at me questioningly as she slowly pushed her cart down the narrow aisle.
Oh good Lord! Did I say that out loud?
Again the attendant smiled kindly. “Can I get you something?”
Where did she even come from? I stared at her as if she had come from another planet. She wasn’t there just a moment ago. Was she? My throat suddenly constricted again and my need for air was imperative. Where is the air in this plane?
“I need a drink!” I blurted out so loud, I knew even the people in the seats back by the blaring engines could hear.
The kind attendant stared back at me for a moment with a patient smile. “Can I offer you some champagne…or maybe a soda?”
Could I possibly have shouted that any louder? My heart was still pounding in my chest and my ears felt as if they were going to explode. I could feel everyone’s eyes on me and I started to shake. What do I want? Ginger ale or good old Johnny Walker? Anything to get her to stop talking to me.
“Ice water.” I barely whispered back.
“I’m sorry, hun. I didn’t hear you. Can you speak up a bit?”
The irritating woman was so polite. Now what do I do? Speak up? She was lucky she even got that out of me.
“Water! Please!” I shouted again as I continued my tight grip on the armrest of my first class seat.
Why am I shouting at her? Why won’t my heart slow down? I guess it could be worse. I could be passed out in this uncomfortable seat with its hard armrests. Someone, please, just kill me now so I won’t have to converse with her anymore!
“Perrier?” she suggested as she picked up a bright green bottle.
I don’t know! Don’t they have tap water thirty thousand feet in the air? I looked around and I saw the calm sweet little old lady across the aisle from me had a Perrier bottle. How could she sit there so calmly?
“Here you go, hun.” The attendant poured an open bottle over ice and placed it on my tray. “Would you like something to snack on?”
Oh God! A snack? Why was she asking me about a snack? I’d already answered her question about a drink! Why did she want to make my life even harder? I was already on the verge of passing out from the pressure in my chest and she was asking about pretzels! Where is the air? I need air. Aren’t they supposed to supply oxygen masks in case of an emergency?!
I reached up and quickly moved the air conditioning spout toward my face and tried to inhale the overly recycled stale air. I had spent eight hours of restlessness on this plane and I wanted out. I wanted out now!
The look she gave me was one of pitiful concern. “Hun, are you all right? You look a little pale? I know this has been a tough flight for you. What can I do to help?” It was only the fifteenth time she asked me that question since we took off from JFK.
I squeezed my eyes tightly closed. “I just need to breathe!”
