It was just another routine flight from Hong Kong to Manchester for Flight attendant Nigel Grimond until he spied sexy bodybuilder Phil Wilson crammed in seat 12E. Upgrading Phil to business class, Nigel spent as much time as possible talking with the man as well as admiring his muscles and his eagle tattoo. As a thank you for the upgrade, Phil asks Nigel out to dinner at a village pub. Pessimistic at his chances of scoring with such a hunk, Nigel’s hopes are lifted by his psychic friend Tracy who is convinced this is Nigel’s big chance at finding love. Nigel waits at the pub for Phil, who is running late. Through a series of text messages, Phil assures Nigel he won’t be long. But after two hours of waiting, Nigel goes home alone. Phil begs for a second chance, so Nigel is back at the pub the next night, but the excellent food and friendly bar staff will be little consolation if Nigel is stood up a second time. What if Phil doesn’t show? Why is Tracy so insistent that all signs point to love? Shouldn’t Nigel just go home, get drunk, and forget all about strong muscles and tattooed eagle wings?

With These Wings

Then Nigel remembered Phil’s eagle tattoo. He hadn’t told Tracy about that. Maybe she was really onto something. Nigel’s heart began to beat faster.


He’d immediately raided his wardrobe, and over the video link, Tracy had advised him what would have the maximum impact on Mr Muscles as she called Phil. “For a gay man your fashion sense is terrible,” she sighed when Nigel hauled out a multi-coloured silk shirt he’d bought during an extended layover in Sydney the previous year. “Black is your colour, darling.”


“I don’t want him to walk past me because he can’t see me if it’s dark in this pub.”


Tracy shook her head and from over four thousand miles away, picked each item of his ensemble. “All you need now is a haircut and a splash or two of that aftershave I bought you for your last birthday, and you’ll have Mr Muscles well and truly hooked.”


Chapter 4