Caught in the Act

Denise Richards & Richie Sambora's 'Very Happy' (and First Class) Flight

06/07/2012 at 05:55 AM EDT

Accompanying her beau Richie Sambora, a presenter at Nashville's CMT Awards, Denise Richards boarded an American Airlines flight late Tuesday morning.

The couple sat in first class, across the aisle from comedian Tom Arnold, another presenter at the show.

Both sans sunglasses, "Denise sported a simple white T-shirt and had minimal makeup on, if any at all," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "Sambora was in his usual all-black rocker chic gear."

While boarding, "Richie typed on his phone, occasionally showing Denise, who would smile," the source says. "During the flight, Richie read the newspaper. The pair looked very happy together."
– Jennifer Garcia

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