by Vivian Lane
The plane jostled with a bit of turbulence and she raised her head. “Was I leaning on you? I’m sorry.”
“Don’t worry about it. Why would I complain about a beautiful woman pressing her body against mine?”
“You’re such a flirt.”
“Tell it like I see it, love.”
She glanced at her watch. “We should be landing soon.”
“Thank God.” I angled toward her. “Care to grab some real food and help a bloke pass the time during his layover?”
“I don’t know, Mike. I’m pretty beat.”
“Think about it. Both strangers in a strange town. Who knows what trouble I’d get in if left to my lonesome?”
She shook her head, but she was grinning. “You think you’re so charming.”
“Promise I don’t bite, ‘less you ask me to.” My arm took a blow for that one. “Is that a ‘no’?”
“I’ll think about it.”
My turn to grin. A friend for a few hours was better than no friend at all.
More chewing gum. More anticipation. More waiting. Finally, we could shuffle off and find Baggage Claim.
“So, am I escorting you to a taxi or will you help me find my gate?” I asked once Catherine grabbed her suitcase.
“I suppose I can spare a few minutes, though the info should be on your boarding pass for the connector flight.”
“So it is, but I don’t know my way around JFK.”
“Don’t look at me. I haven’t been here before.”
“You flew non-stop to London?”
“I—” She looked away. “I don’t know my way around any more than you do. You know, it’s late. It was nice meeting you, but I really should find my hotel.”
“Catherine, wait. In my previous job, I helped people, and I sense you had a recent spot of trouble. You don’t have to tell me what it was, but I’d be a total ass if I ignored my instincts and let you go off alone when something has you spooked.”
She looked up at me with wide eyes. “You wouldn’t…I’m fine. Really. But my travel experiences are none of your business.”
“Duly noted.” Slid my wallet out of my coat pocket and removed a card. “If you ever don’t feel safe, call this number.”
She took the little piece of cardboard. “An 800 number?”
“It’s a hotline of sorts. They’ll help you.”
“Thanks. I, um, I think I should go.”
Nodding, I turned for the exit. “Let’s find you a cab.” Disappointing, sure, but I couldn’t make her stick around. Best I could do was to wish her luck.
Whistled for the first Yellow Cab I saw and opened the door for her once it stopped at the curb. The driver dumped her luggage in the boot.
“Thanks, Mike,” she said, and hugged me, letting go before I could join the gesture. “Have a safe flight.”
And then she was gone.
KNIGHT REJECTS is available now in e-book and paperback.
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