DESIGNED FOR LOVE
By
Roseanne Dowell
ISBN: 978-1-927111-69-7
PUBLISHED BY:
Books We Love Ltd.
(Electronic Book Publishers)
192 Lakeside
Greens Drive
Chestermere, Alberta, T1X 1C2
Canada
http://bookswelove.net
Copyright 2012 by Roseanne Dowell
Cover art by: Michelle Lee Copyright 2012
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
Dedication and Acknowledgements
This book is dedicated to all my family and friends who supported and encouraged me through all the years of my writing
A special thank you to my friend and fellow author, Gail Branan for time and patience in reading and editing this book
Chapter One
"What the hell?" My carry-on bag slid across the floor and slammed into the wall. My feet slipped out from under me, I landed flat on my back, and someone fell on top of me, pinning me to the floor. The breath knocked out of me, I lay still a moment.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" I finally caught my breath and pushed him off. "Everyone's always in such a big hurry."
"Why'd you slow down? You darned near stopped in front of me." He stood up, brushed himself off and held out his hand to help me up. "Sorry."
I knocked his hand away, got to my knees and stood. I didn't need his help. Not his or anyone else's for that matter. What I needed was to find my bag and get on to my gate.
"Look, I'm sorry. It was entirely my fault. I shouldn't have been in such a hurry." He held his hand out to me again, but I ignored it. "Here, let me get that for you." He hurried to pick up my bag, but I grabbed it first.
"Look, Mister, I have a plane to catch, so excuse me if I don't have time to chat." I straightened up my bag, grabbed the handle and started toward my gate. Good looking in a rustic sort of way, I had to admit. Probably worked outdoors or at least spent a lot of time outside. Not that it made any difference. I didn't have time for him. Or any man for that matter. I had a career to build, and men didn't figure into it.
It wasn't that I didn't like men. I did. Even dated occasionally. Eventually I'd like to have a relationship, even get married. But relationships and marriage took time, not a priority right now. My career came first. Something about him, though.
I couldn't resist looking back. Great. He stood watching me with a silly smirk on his face. Nice eyes, soft gray. I loved gray eyes. Maybe because my grandfather had gray eyes. He lifted his hand and waved at me. Heat burned my face, and I hurried off in the direction of the gate, looking at the signs above. Only at Gate 2. Not even close. Of course my gate was at the farthest end of the airport. Thankfully, there was plenty of time to get there.
I avoided a heavyset man, hell bent on his mission. I hated this time of year. Everyone was in such a big hurry.
To make matters worse, my butt hurt but I resisted rubbing it. Didn't need to look like any more of an idiot. Ah, Gate 11, finally. Now I could sit down and relax, since there was still forty-five minutes before my flight. I took a book out of the side pocket of my carry-on and settled back to wait. Not that I could concentrate, anger at my boss raged inside me. Who in their right mind set up a meeting with a client right before New Years? And in Florida, no less. Obviously, Nick didn't care that I had plans for New Year's Eve.
So I was getting out of Ohio, big deal. Sure, my friends thought I was lucky, especially with the predicted snowstorm. Didn't make any difference to me, I liked snow.
I glanced out a window. Already it was coming down pretty heavy, and there was still a good half hour before my flight.
Damn it, I hated flying. I could have sent the samples just as easy. What was so important they required me to personally bring them? I thought we'd settled everything before the client left. Why the sudden change? They could have at least waited until after the holidays.
Nick, my boss, promised I'd be home by New Year's Eve. Yeah, right. I knew how these things went. First this problem, then that one. I'd be lucky to be home in time for my nephew's birthday on the sixth. Nick better not have any funny ideas. This was strictly business. I'd heard about his reputation with women. So far he hadn't shown an interest in me, and I certainly didn't have a problem with that. Good-looking though Nick was, nothing about him attracted me. Definitely not my type. Not that I had a type.
"Looks like we're on the same flight," a masculine voice said.
I looked up and almost groaned out loud. This couldn't be happening. What were the chances we'd be on the same flight? I tried to ignore him, but something drew my eyes to his.
"Bill Johnson." He extended his hand toward me. "I really am sorry about knocking you down."
I shrugged and shook his hand. "No problem." A quiver started deep in my stomach when he held my hand a bit longer than necessary. Rough, calloused hands. Does hard work. Maybe construction. I pulled my hand away and turned my attention back to my book. I hated talking to people at airports. Lord, please tell me he doesn't have the seat next to me. I couldn't be that unlucky, could I?
Of course I could.
Taking a peek at the ticket sticking out of his coat pocket, I groaned. Seat 16A. No way, what were the chances? I hoped he'd take the hint and leave me alone.
"Are you staying in Fort Myers?" He sat down next to me.
Figured, no such luck. I nodded. Maybe if I didn't contribute to the conversation, he'd go away. I kept my eyes on my book but couldn't concentrate. I had the irresistible urge to look at him, but ignored it. What was it about him?
"Visiting or business?"
I looked up from my book. He just wasn't going to quit. "Business, no time for pleasure." Maybe that would shut him up.
He smiled. "Everyone has time for pleasure. All work and no play..." He let the rest of the saying hang.
I put the book in front of my face. "I guess I'm a dull boy then." Why didn't he just let me read in peace. I couldn't be much ruder. Some people just couldn't take a hint.
Bill laughed. A big hearty laugh that caused people to stare. I wanted to crawl under my seat. "What's so funny?"
"Honey, you look like anything but a boy." His gaze took me in from top to bottom and came to rest on my breasts.
Okay, I'm well endowed and wished I had left my jacket on. Not that there was much to see through my bulky sweater, but enough. Heat rushed to my face again. Crap, why did I blush so easily? My face was probably as red as my hair. "Okay, so I don't look like a boy. Just finishing the saying. And DON'T call me honey!" I put the book in front of my face, turned away from him, and tried to read. Lord, spare me friendly people. Especially men.
The last thing I needed was a man trying to pick me up. I wished he'd just go away. I could call airport security, but didn't want to cause a scene. He'd done enough of that.
"Since you won't tell me your name, I don't know what else to call you."
"Don't call me anything." I slammed my book shut, stood, and walked to the window. What more did I have to do to let him know I wasn't interested? I stared out the window. Things didn't look good outside.
"Full blown blizzard." Bill's deep voice came from behind.
I felt his breath on my neck and shivered from the warmth of it. Or was it from his nearness? Whatever it was, I didn't like it. I looked at my watch. Still almost a half hour before takeoff. So far they
hadn't cancelled the flight.
As if my thoughts magically conjured it up, a voice came over the PA system. "We regret to inform you that all flights to and from Cleveland Hopkins Airport have been cancelled until further notice. New flights can be rebooked as soon as we resume our schedule. Sorry for the inconvenience. Airport shuttles are standing by to take you to a hotel. If you can't get a room, you're welcome to stay at the airport. Concession stands and restaurants will remain open for your convenience.
Great, just great. What more could go wrong? At least I could go home. If I could get a cab, that is. With the way it looked outside, I had a feeling most of the roads were closed, too.
I moved away from Bill and took my cell phone from my purse, got the number for the cab company from information, and punched it in. Crap, a recording. "No cabs due to weather." Terrific. I punched in information for the number of the Sheraton Hotel. Hopefully, they still had a room. Spending the night sleeping in an airport wouldn't improve my mood.
"Sheraton Hotel, how can I help you," a female answered.
"Yes, I'd like a room for the night." Please don't tell me they're all booked, I prayed. I didn't care what kind of room as long as it had a bed.
"Yes, I have one room left. Two double beds. One hundred and fifty dollars."
I let out a low whistle. A bit more than I cared to spend, but no matter. "I'll take it." I read my credit card number, grabbed my bag and raced to the exit while I spoke. Now to find an airport shuttle. Talk about luck, a shuttle parked just outside. I pulled the door open, and someone bumped into me.
"We have to stop meeting like this."
I turned and looked into familiar soft, gray eyes. "Are you following me?" This was beginning to feel creepy. What was with this guy?
"Don't flatter yourself." Bill let out a low chuckle. "We can share a ride if you don't mind. Give the driver a break."
He followed me into the car. "Sheraton Hotel and..." He looked at me. "Where to?"
What were the odds he'd be going to the same hotel? This was getting scary. "Sheraton."
"No kidding. Hey, maybe we can get together for a drink or something."
Like I couldn't guess what the or something was. I shook my head. Jerk. What made him think I'd even want to have a drink with him? "No thanks, I have work to do." I looked out the window. How the driver managed to see where he was going was beyond me. All I could see was white. Thick, white, blowing snow. This was by far the worst snow storm I remembered. I just hoped it let up by morning like the weatherman promised.
Chapter Two
It amazed Bill the driver found his way through the blinding blizzard and pulled up in front of the Sheraton. The girl heaved a sigh of relief. Poor thing had really been tense. For all her bravado, she really was scared.
Bill opened the door and reached for her hand to help her out. It didn't surprise him when she ignored it. Smug little thing. Attractive or not she had an attitude. Independent too. But he liked that about her. Wasn't the type to take flack from anyone.
He followed her inside to the reception desk. She walked up to one clerk, and he went to the other. "I reserved a room for the night. Johnson, Bill Johnson."
"Oh, yes, Mr. Johnson." The clerk took his credit card and processed it.
He glanced at the girl while he waited. She sure was standoffish. Too bad, he really would like to have a drink with her. She stared at him for a moment, and he looked into the greenest eyes he'd ever seen. Green eyes and gorgeous red hair. Sexy as hell and a volatile combination. But still something about her. He turned his attention back to the clerk, signed the register and put his credit card in his wallet.
* * *
I couldn't help but look at Bill. He really was good looking. Maybe in another time, another place, I might have agreed to have a drink with him. There were just too many coincidences to suit me. Really, what were the odds of bumping into a stranger, having him on the same flight, in the next seat, and now at the same hotel? Just too much of a fluke, if you asked me. Some might call it a twist of fate, but I didn't believe in those things.
"Okay, Miss Seidel, you're all set. Here's your key. Room 324. Enjoy your stay."
I took the key card and started for my room and glanced back at Bill. Maybe I would have that drink. What did I have to lose? It didn't have to go any further– in fact it wouldn't. It never did. Besides, it beat sitting in an empty hotel room. I waited at the elevator until he headed toward me.
"Bill, I was thinking, and uh...if you still want to have that drink, give me a few minutes to freshen up, and I'll meet you in the bar."
"I don't know about you, but I could go for a bite to eat too. I haven't had dinner yet."
What the heck, why not? Besides, I was hungry. Why look a gift horse in the mouth? "Sure, sounds good."
The elevator door opened, and we stepped in. I pushed three. "What floor?"
"Three. Looks like we're neighbors."
This was too eerie. Hopefully, he wasn't right next door. That was just too close for comfort.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped into the hall and turned to the left. Bill followed behind. Wonderful, his room was in the same corridor as mine. Stopping in front of room 324, I smiled. "I'll see you downstairs in..." I looked at my watch. "Say fifteen minutes."
Bill looked at me, a silly grin on his face. "You aren't going to believe this."
"What?"
He held out his key envelope. Room 324 practically jumped off it.
"No way!" This absolutely couldn't be happening. "There has to be some mistake." I blocked the doorway. "Look, I don't know how this happened, but no way am I sharing a room with you. I suggest you go back to the desk and sort it out."
Bill leaned against the door frame and smiled. "I'm afraid you have no choice. According to the clerk, this was the last room." He straightened up and crossed his arms over his chest. "And I'm not sleeping in the lobby." He reached around me, inserted his key card, pushed the door open, and went inside.
He walked toward the farthest bed and threw his duffel bag on the chair. "I'll take this one." He fell on the bed and leaned back, hands behind his head.
I stood at the door. "Oh, no you don't. Damn it! I AM NOT sharing a room with you." I dropped my bag near the doorway and hurried into the room, picked up his duffel bag, walked to the door and set it out in the hall. "Sorry, Mr. Johnson, but this is my room."
Chapter Three
Bill sat up. Spunky little thing, he'd give her that. Kind of cute when she's mad too. He liked the way her cheeks turned red, and her eyes sparkled. Although most people probably wouldn't call them sparkly. More like fiery. Definite anger in them. Sure has a quick temper. He slid off the bed and looked at her.
She stood at the door, arms crossed, tapping her foot. As if that was going to make him leave. He almost laughed at the irony of it. "Look, I'm sure we can work this out. Freshen up and we'll get that drink and talk about it."
"There's really nothing to talk about. I'm not staying in the same room with you, and that's that."
"Look, honey. I'm not going to attack you. You're not even my type." The hell she wasn't, but somehow he had to convince her he was harmless. The thought of sleeping in the lobby didn't do much for him. If they'd even let him. Although they made the mistake and double booked the room. He actually found the situation kind of humorous.
He didn't think it was possible, but her face turned even redder. Now what did he say that ticked her off?
"I don't much care if I'm your type or not, and I told you before, DON'T call me honey!"
Obviously, she wasn't too happy with him right now. The whole situation almost made him laugh again, but he thought better of it.
"No disrespect intended. But like I said before, I don't know your name."
"My sister couldn't have written a more amusing scene in her romance novels," she said. "Not that I find the situation romantic. Far from it. Annoying describes it better." Suddenly, she burst out laughing.
&
nbsp; "Okay, Mr. Johnson, here's the deal. You stay on your side of the room. I'll stay on mine. No funny business."
He liked her laugh. It had a tingly, musical sound to it. Liked her sudden change of heart too. "Scout's honor." He crossed his heart. "I don't know about you but I'm starved. How about some dinner?"
"After we stop at the front desk and straighten out this room situation."
Bill looked at her. "Didn't we just straighten that out?"
She laughed again. "We both paid for the room. I don't know about you, but a hundred and fifty for the room was more than I wanted to pay to begin with. I think three hundred is way overdoing it."
"You paid a hundred and fifty?"
"Yeah, didn't you?"
Bill shook his head. "Only one twenty-five."
She waved her hands in the air. "Sometimes it doesn't pay to be a woman. I swear we get cheated over everything."
"Did you always have such a quick temper?" He swore he'd never met a woman like her before. She should laugh more often. It suited her. Her eyes really sparkled when she laughed. In fact her whole face lit up.
"Excuse me. Are you saying I don't have the right to be angry?" She glared at him.
"I didn't say that. Sure you do. But come on, it was probably an honest mistake that they double booked the room."
"That's not why I'm angry. They charged you twenty-five dollars less– that makes me angry. Men get charged less for everything." She hung up her coat while she talked.
"You're kidding, right?"
"No, I'm not kidding. Take the dry cleaner for example. It's been proven that men get charged less than women."
"Come on, where'd you hear that?"
"It was on the news not long ago. They proved it. A woman's blouse cost three times the amount to clean than a man's shirt. Same fabric, nothing frilly, same basic style as the man's shirt. Women still don't earn as much as men for the same job either."
Designed for Love Page 1