Glancing at the clock on her side of the bed, he saw it was already eight in the morning. The airline had said to call to check on flights. He stood up and walked to the window and peered out through the gap in the drapes. A good two feet of snow sat on the ground. Denver was equipped for this sort of situation so he doubted it would be long before things got back to normal.
He turned and looked at Sophie. Could things get back to normal for him now he’d met her? Flynn bit his lip and reached for his phone to check on his flight. He had to get home. It was Christmas Eve and he knew Jonie was bitch enough to use even a snowstorm as a weapon against him seeing his babies.
He crept into the bathroom so he didn’t wake Sophie.
“Hi, I’m checking on the flights to Helena.”
****
Sophie woke with a jerk. She’d heard a man’s voice saying shit and had completely forgotten where she was until she looked up and saw the cowboy hat and boots.
It hadn’t been a dream. Well, if it had, it would have been the first time she’d had so many orgasms in one.
Flynn tiptoed out of the bathroom with the phone in his hand.
“Sorry did I wake you?” he asked.
“No.”
“I just called the airline and looks like things are going to be backed up everywhere.”
That was good news in a way. Longer with the cowboy, but she knew he had a valid reason for wanting to get home.
He sat on the edge of the bed, his head down.
“I guess I could try driving home. Not sure if I can get there in time for Christmas Eve with my babies.”
“Have you tried talking to their mother?”
“Oh yeah and she’s not the type to let things go for any reason. Doesn’t even want to hear why I’m in fucking Denver in the first place.”
Sophie put her arms around him and snuggled into him. “Let me see what I can do.”
He turned to her. “You can’t get a flight and a car’s going to be too slow.”
“Like I said, let me see what I can do.”
****
Flynn paced up and down. Sophie had been on the phone for about fifteen minutes. Dialing different numbers and talking to what must have been three or four different people.
Finally she pressed the end button on her cell phone and looked more than pleased with herself.
“Be ready to head to the airport in thirty minutes,” she said.
“What?”
“You heard me, hurry. I called in a favor with one of my clients. He has a private jet and I told him a wonderful father needed to be home in Montana to see his children.”
“Sophie, I don’t know what to say.”
“It’s my Christmas gift to you.”
“I’ll pay for the fare, the gas, or whatever it takes,” he said throwing everything into his bag.
“It’s taken care of. I just have to sleep with him for a whole week.”
“What…no…”
The thought of her being with another man suddenly made his blood boil.
“I’m just kidding. Go to the concierge desk and ask for Shaun Talbot and tell him you’re the friend of Sophie Dupree.”
He slipped on his boots and put on his hat, not believing what she’d done for him.
She stood and walked over to him. “Thanks for letting me share the room, and it was wonderful meeting you. Merry Christmas and I hope your New Year is the best one ever, and that you get your babies.”
She kissed him. He swallowed. Could he let her go like this? He had to because time was of the essence and he couldn’t let Jonie win. They were his children, too.
“I’d love to give you a long goodbye kiss, but I might not be able to stop at just a kiss. Maybe we’ll get stranded again one day.”
He saw tears in her eyes. She felt something for him. He knew it.
“Sure we will. Now go before it’s too late. Kiss your children for me.”
He put his hand on his hat and nodded as he picked up his bag and headed out the door. He wouldn’t turn back because he was certain he’d never be able to leave.
Chapter Eight
Sophie sat on the bed and cried. How she’d been able to keep it together as she’d said her goodbyes to him she’d never know. She pulled out the menu and thought about ordering room service, knowing she was probably stuck here for another day, and possibly another night, until the airlines got caught up on the backlog of cancelled and delayed flights.
She ran her hands over the sheets where they’d made love and slept together. She’d love to pack them up and take them in her bag as a memento of something special she’d had one Christmas. Falling down onto the pillow she took in Flynn’s set. Sage and spice clung to the material.
She’d probably never see him again, but he’d always have a special place in her heart.
****
Flynn looked down over the snow-capped mountains as they flew over Montana. He pulled out the scarf belonging to Sophie. He’d taken it without her knowing. He wanted it as a souvenir of a special woman he’d met one holiday. Not matter how long he lived he’d never forget her and her kindness with arranging this flight for him. He pulled the material up to his nose; the floral bouquet of her perfume still clung to it.
“Sir, you want to fasten your seatbelt because we’re about to land at Helena.”
“Yes, sure.”
Flynn strapped himself in and watched as the runway got closer and closer and then a bump, and he was back home. He looked at his watch. He had an hour to get to Jonie’s to pick up the kids and take them to his apartment.
The pilot pulled the plane up and turned off the engines.
“Thank you for the ride,” said Flynn.
“Anytime. Anything else I can do for you?”
He had an idea. “Yes, yes, in fact there is.”
****
Sophie hadn’t been able to stay in the room any longer. She’d headed to the airport where she’d settled down on an uncomfortable seat with crowds of others waiting to go home for the holidays. She looked at her watch, hoping Flynn had made it home in time. She would probably be spending Christmas Eve at Denver Airport.
Opening her mystery novel, she prepared to settle down for the evening.
“Paging Ms. Sophie Dupree. Please come to the reception desk on the lower level.”
That was her. Well unless there was someone else with her name at the airport. Guess she’d go check it out. She lifted her bags and made her way along to the desk.
“I’m Sophie Dupree, you paged me.”
“Yes, this gentleman here would like to speak to you.”
She turned to see a tall man with grey hair standing there. He extended his hand.
“I’m Shaun Talbot, pilot for Reeves Enterprises.”
“Oh hi. Did Mr. Whelan get to Helena?”
“Yes, yes, he did ma’am and he asked me to do something for him and that’s why I’m here.”
****
Flynn cuddled both his babies at the same time, hearing them squeal with laughter as the three of them rolled on the floor in front of the Christmas tree.
“Do you think Santa’s stopped by daddy’s house yet?” he asked.
They both nodded and pointed to the packages under the tree.
“I guess he has.”
Flynn pulled them toward him as eager little hands ripped at the paper, stripping it off in seconds.
“Dolly,” said Emma.
“Yep, the dolly you wanted.”
“Robert Robort.”
He laughed as his son tapped the plastic covering around the robot Flynn had bought him.
“And there’s this one for you to play with together.”
He pulled the paper off an activity set that the girl in the store promised him would help them one day with learning to read. Hey, if he had anything to do with it, his babies were going to be the smartest kids in the world.
He pushed a stray stand of hair out of Emma’s eyes, wondering if Sophie had tak
en him up on his offer.
****
Sophie had never been to Montana before. She looked down, but now that it was dark all she could see was lights twinkling here and there.
“Ms. Dupree, you want to fasten your seatbelt, I’m approaching Helena. It might be a bit bumpy as it’s snowing again.”
“Sure.”
Sophie fastened her belt and watched as the lights of Helena got clearer and then as they got lower, snowflakes splashed on the window of the plane.
It looked like something from a Christmas card.
Shaun pulled the plane up and taxied to the nearest gate.
“Sit tight until I open the door and get the ladder secured.”
Sophie waited and then held Shaun’s hand as she got down onto the runway.
“The exit’s over there,” he said handing Sophie her bags.
“Thanks and please say thank you to Mr. Reeve for the use of the plane.”
“Will do and Merry Christmas.”
“And to you, too.”
Sophie made her way toward the terminal and looked up and stuck her tongue out to let the snow fall upon it. She felt like a child.
As she glanced toward the window above the tarmac, she saw him. He waved and so did two toddlers who looked to be standing on chairs so they could see her.
She waved back before heading to the door.
“Merry Christmas,” said Flynn, kissing her.
“Merry Christmas, and who are these two cuties?”
“This is Emma and this is Michael.”
“I’m so happy to meet you both.”
“I got a dolly.”
“And what’s her name?”
Emma shrugged.
“Maybe she can be Sophie,” said Flynn.
“I got a Robet.”
It’s a Robot, mouthed Flynn.
“Well, that’s wonderful. Maybe he’ll cook Christmas dinner for us.”
****
Flynn put his arm around Sophie’s shoulders as they made their way to his apartment.
“I hope you’re not disappointed, because it’s not much. Just one bedroom, and the smallest Christmas tree you’ve ever seen.”
“Oh, I think I’ll enjoy anything now that I’m spending Christmas with a cowboy.”
“And when the babies return to Jonie tomorrow, you know what we’re going to do?”
She smiled.
Yeah, they were going to do that too, but there was something he needed to teach her first.
“I’m going to give you a driving lesson.”
“Me?” asked Sophie.
“How to drive in snow so you don’t hold up traffic behind you.”
“Wait a minute you were the obnoxious guy who was trailing me for miles!”
“Guilty as charged.”
“If I’d know that I wouldn’t have slept with you.”
“Really?”
She shook her head.
“And why do you think I’ll need that skill in Florida?”
“I have a feeling in the New Year you’ll be changing your address and where you’re going to live you definitely need to know how to drive in lots of snow.”
“And where would that be?”
He winked at her. “I’ll let you guess.”
The End
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Other Books by Vanessa Devereaux:
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Christmas with a Cowboy Page 4
