by Lola Karns
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Bad Traveler
Copyright © 2014 by Lola Karns
ISBN: 978-1-61333-728-8
Cover art by Tibbs Designs
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work, in whole or in part, in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by Decadent Publishing Company, LLC
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www.decadentpublishing.com
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Bad Traveler
By
Lola Karns
~Dedication~
In memory of Judi McCoy who read the first draft of Bad Traveler and gave me advice I wasn’t ready to hear.
I’d like to thank my wonderful editor, Dana Horbach, and the entire crew at Decadent for their belief in this story. To my peeps at Chesapeake Romance Writers, I raise a glass of wine in your honor and can’t wait to return for a future conference. Stacey, you are the best cheerleader ever. My children not only offered inspiration for Gwen’s flying experiences, but kept each other entertained while I worked the keyboard. Last, but never least, thanks to my husband for his continued support.
Chapter One
“Where on earth is that teething ring?”
Gwen Jones patted the sides of the stroller, stuck her finger into every crevice she found, and tried not to catch one of Chloe’s flailing legs in the chin. Pain pierced her scalp as her baby clutched a fistful of her hair and pulled. Hard. If only she could howl as loud, but crying wouldn’t help. It hadn’t helped her inconsolable daughter in the two hours since encountering turbulence on their last flight.
Liberating her hair from Chloe’s grasp brought more discomfort and her heart sank. The last time she had seen the teething ring, it was flying through the air, along with a leaky airsick bag and an Arizona Diamondbacks novelty rattle. She wouldn’t miss the stupid rattle her ex bought, but that nubby little teething ring…. A loud exhale pushed the oxygen and hopefully the bad luck from her body as she stood. Salvation lay across the crowded airport terminal.
Pretending the dirty looks and wrinkled noses of disgust from her fellow travelers didn’t exist, she pushed the umbrella stroller with the same determination as the day she pushed her little girl into the world six months before. With any luck, the newsstand would have something, anything, to ease their mutual misery, but luck was a luxury.
The tag on a “special sale” I Love Detroit T-shirt showed, no, twenty dollars! She couldn’t tolerate the stench of her sweat and vomit-stained shirt. Chloe had a fresh outfit, but she didn’t and wouldn’t until retrieving her luggage at the end of her journey. Spending twenty dollars on something of such poor quality was absurd. The teething ring was more important. Moving to the back of the store, she passed the mints.
Is that? It is! Who knew they still made Binaca Blast? She tossed the blue blister pack into the stroller cup holder and continued toward the small-kid section. Nothing. Well, not quite. There were plenty of choking hazards and diapers. A sticker on the corner of the package drew her attention. “Holy Cow. Is that the price for one?” The teething ring, if they’d had one, would likely cost more, but she couldn’t find a binky for sale.
Chloe’s cries grew shriller. She peeked in the stroller. Her little girl appeared ready to explode, her face the color of a ripe tomato. Her eyes disappeared behind two lines of eyelashes, tears no longer forming. She was upset, overtired, and hungry. Gwen’s breasts ached. Only a meal would bring them comfort.
“Soon, baby. I promise. Mommy will feed you soon. We just have to get to our next flight. It will be better, soon. I promise. Mommy’s here.”
She disbelieved the optimistic words and the soothing, singsong tone known to mothers around the world. In a few short hours, she’d be back at home with her mother. If Mom spoke those same words to her, she’d cling to the hope they offered.
She slid six singles and two quarters across the counter. The cashier wrinkled his nose and curled his upper lip at the crying baby, the stench, or both. Leaving the change, she steered the stroller with her elbows, freeing her hands to rip into the package. After stepping into the corridor, she spritzed herself head to toe with the powerful liquid mint. One problem solved. A million more to go.
Looking at her watch, she rushed toward the crowded gate area, fearing the time for pre-boarding had passed. Instead, the flight board listed a delay. Her abdominal muscles twitched in preparation to either laugh or cry, but she suppressed any response. She had a baby to feed. After reaching an open spot of carpet by the window, she lay out a receiving blanket and sat holding Chloe in her arms. The woes of the world slipped away.
Her exhausted, precious little sweetheart snuggled against her chest. She offered Chloe puffed rice, which she accepted, but rather than gobbling it up and reaching for more, she sucked on the piece and stared out the window with oversize, round, bluish eyes. Papery eyelids fluttered and then closed. Tiny lips pursed. At last, Chloe slept. She didn’t mind cradling the sleeping girl in spite of the numb wrist from the limp weight. Watching the rise and fall of Chloe’s chest soothed her into an almost hypnotic state.
Out of her peripheral vision, a large pair of shiny black shoes grew closer until they stopped beside her. A familiar, deep voice rattled her.
“Gwendolyn Jones, is that you?”
A gorgeous, sandy-haired man bent toward her. She’d recognize him anywhere. The most horrible day of her life just got worse.
“Kyle Collins, how have you been?”
She was a mess, flecked with splats of vomit? Good thing his gag reflex had quit working part way through his first tour of duty. Her brown hair appeared disheveled but not unrecognizable. How many times had he glimpsed a brunette only to be disappointed when she turned around? The lilting way she said his name left no doubt, this was the same Gwen. Her quick-to-flush cheeks hadn’t changed either. The babe in arms was new. Gwen’s a mother?
Taking her words as an invitation, he settled on the floor. He preferred chairs. His legs ached when he sat too long, but no empty chairs remained in the crowded gate area, much less one with a view like this.
Her expectant, wide-eyed gaze bore into him, demanding a response. How was he? He could give an honest answer, but in his opinion, most people wanted the believable lie.
“I’ve been good.”
The soft smile and way she tilted her head made her seem pleased, as if she derived a sense of peace from the world. The sleeping baby in her arms gurgled. He missed his sister and his niece already, even though he’d left their house only a few hours before. Gwen looked right holding a baby. She would be a great mom and wife if the way she’d nurtured their ragtag study group was any indication. But he wasn’t ready for her or the home front she represented. College was a long time ago. Of all days to run into her. He couldn’t escape the Land of Happy Families, a place where every step brought joy if you held the right map.
His gaze kept returning to the baby. “I see you’ve had a few changes over the past few years.”
“Nine years. Can you believe it’s been that long?” She dropped her chin, indicating the baby. “This lovely little girl is my daughter Chloe. She’s six months old.”
“She’s beautiful.” Like you.
Her pearly whites pressed against pink lips. Every time she’d borrowed a pen from him, it had come back with teeth marks.
“I must apologize for my appearance. We hit turbulence on my last flight.”
“You always were a bad traveler. Remember that trip to the Air Force museum in Dayton?”
Her laugh jostled the baby, but Chloe slept. “I rode in the front seat of Matt’s two door while three six-footers crammed in the back.”
“On the way back, you took that medicine, fell asleep, and drooled all over him.”
He’d been jealous of his friend. Besides, at the time, she’d had a boyfriend. Reality set in again. A husband or at least a boyfriend waited in the wings somewhere. There was no way she was single. Luck had abandoned him long ago, right about the time Gwen disappeared. Past her shoulder, he scanned the walkway in search of someone who belonged to her.
“Where’s your husband? Shouldn’t he be helping you with Chloe so you can take that stuff that knocks you out?”
Her mouth twisted, probably from her old habit of chewing on her cheek in concentration. She never could hide her thoughts from him.
“Actually, I’m not married. Never was. Chloe’s father and I were….” The sparkle in her eyes faded. “It’s a long story that doesn’t end well. How about you? Are there any little Collinses running about?”
He swallowed hard. Unlike earlier, a lie seemed downright dishonest, but he didn’t have to reveal all, did he? He caught sight of his hands, resting on his thighs.
After lifting his left hand, he pointed to his ring finger. “No ring, no tan line, no indent, so no kids.”
“That doesn’t mean anything these days.”
“It does to me. No kids, just nieces and nephews.”
Based on the way she rolled her eyes up and to the left, he suspected marriage and wedding vows meant something to her, too, even if plenty of people didn’t think much of them. His ex-wife sure didn’t. He needed to change the subject. Why waste this chance encounter making themselves unhappy?
“So, are you headed out to see your parents?”
The intercom announced yet another delay.
“Yes, if this flight ever gets off the ground.” She exhaled a whoosh of air. “Sorry, that came out harsh. The delays are making me more nervous.”
“Since there’s plenty of time before we leave, why don’t I try to change my seat? That way, if you need help, you’ll have a friend to turn to.”
A strange expression swept across her face. Her eyes closed and jaw slackened in a blend of discomfort and relief. He tried to be reassuring. “I’m good with kids. I just spent a week and a half visiting my sister and helping with my nephews and one-month-old niece.”
Her shoulders relaxed, and the corners of her mouth softened for the first time since he’d noticed her sitting in the corner. “Having another set of hands to help with Chloe would be great. Promise not to yell if she gets grabby.”
“I promise.”
She trusted him with her boarding pass. Lacking trust was never their issue. As he walked to the podium, she forgot her own problems for a bit and admired the view. Time had been kind. His shoulders had grown broader, but he still maintained the fit body he’d had in college. The sight of him in swim trunks back then had been enough to make her forget to worry how she looked in her own swimsuit. His backside was ogle-worthy, but he must be worn out from his travel or babysitting. Maybe his leg had fallen asleep after being on the floor because he seemed to limp a little. She stretched her ankles and toes inside her sneakers, in hopes of avoiding that problem.
Of all the people to run into…. She’d expected to see people she knew since she was moving back to her parents’ house. She didn’t expect to run into her college classmates, especially not Kyle. He was supposed to be off in some exotic part of the world in one of those elite military forces. All through college, he’d trained extensively for an endurance test, sometimes letting her hold the stopwatch. At the very least, she’d figured he’d be married. A trail of women had vied for his affection back in the day. She wasn’t as flashy as the others, so he’d never noticed her as anything other than a pal.
How different her life could have been if a good man like him had fathered Chloe rather than that louse Cody.
A soft noise ended her trip down self-pity lane. She startled at the intrusion, but not enough to wake Chloe, as he dropped a plastic bag on the floor.
“We’re set with the seats. I needed some gum, and I thought you might want a few things, too.”
After sitting, he spread out the thoughtful bounty, ginger ale, non-drowsy Dramamine, pretzels, and a picture book with a fuzzy yellow duckling on the cover.
“Thanks. Chloe is going to love this. How much do I owe you?” Please be less than five dollars.
“Nothing. I sent a similar one to my oldest nephew when he was an infant. My sister told me how much both my nephews liked them. The younger one thought they were delicious. After seeing how bedraggled her collection is, I know what to give my niece for Christmas. It seems everyone, including me, bought frilly dresses to welcome Ashley’s arrival. I didn’t think about books until I saw how much my nephews had chewed the rest. Most were covered with tape.”
He offered her the bottle of Dramamine and the ginger ale. “I know you’re supposed to take these before your flight. Since your hands are full with that adorable little girl, can I open them for you?”
Her arms tingled from the weight of her sleeping baby. She glanced at the floor, the items in his hands, and then at his face. “You’re a good uncle.” It was too much. “Actually, I can’t use the medicine. Chloe nurses, and I didn’t get the doctor’s approval. I’d love some ginger ale though.”
He didn’t blink an eye when she mentioned nursing. Nor did he glance at her boobs, as most men did. She looked away before she got lost in his green eyes. Desperate to regain control, she forced a slow breath through her nostrils before peeking at him.
“Thank you, for everything. It was thoughtful.”
An announcement for pre-boarding came over the loud speaker. After helping Gwen to her feet, he gathered all their carry-on items. Chloe stayed asleep in her arms. The airline employee treated them as if they were a family, allowing them advance seating without questioning. The cool air in the cabin reminded him of his sister’s words about babies getting cold easier than adults. He pulled his jacket out of his carry-on.
“This should help keep her cozy.”
The corners of her eyes crinkled as her mouth lifted into a grin. “Thank you. Most of her blankets got dirty on the last flight. I’ll try to keep your jacket clean.”
She had so many smiles—the smug Yes!-I’m-so-prepared-for-this-test smile, the cockeyed I’m-a-bit-tipsy version, and this one, her slightly coy, grateful one, as if she were embarrassed that someone would do something nice for her. Her eyelashes seemed
impossibly long when she lifted her gaze, but not her whole face, to look at him.
“It’s washable.” He shrugged. Travel had wrinkled it anyway. “Do you think she’ll let me hold her while you fasten your seat belt?” Although impressed with what she’d accomplished one-handed so far, he doubted she could manage this two-handed job.
She glanced at Chloe then, cradling the baby with both arms, and lifted her higher. “Actually, would you mind fixing it?”
“No problem.” He reached across her body, tugging the strap snug across her hips. He swallowed hard, performing the simple act. His fingers scarcely grazed her jeans, yet the intimacy seemed something a husband would do for a wife. She trusted him to protect her. Or maybe, he read too much into it. Her voice brought him back to the moment.
“Is it homecoming weekend, or do your parents still live in the area?” She shuffled her daughter into more upright position against her chest. The baby sighed but did not awaken. She tucked his jacket around the sleeping girl.
“I’m headed home. This is my first year as an assistant basketball coach at Corwin.”
“Really? I remember you played, but weren’t you gung-ho on a military career? You spent a lot of time training.”
“I joined the Rangers and served my country for six-and-a-half years. I left the army about a year ago.” He stopped short of saying more, not wanting to tell her the circumstances around his honorable discharge. His stupid, ruined leg offered frequent reminders. “When Coach Meyer found out I was a civilian and looking for work, he offered me a job and here I am.”
“I can’t believe Coach Meyer is still there! He has to be getting close to retirement age, but the team did okay last year, right? My dad didn’t complain, much.”
“They had a winning record, but lost the conference playoff. Coach Meyer is sixty-four, but I don’t think retirement is in his future. He’ll stay at Corwin as long as the athletic department renews his contract. He’s happy there, even when he grumbles about the increased traffic and weekend noise. He loves the place. Me, too. There are a lot worse places to be. You, on the other hand, couldn’t leave fast enough. How long are you visiting your parents?”