by Lucy Leroux
Frowning, Nina sat, giving her underarms a surreptitious sniff.
All right, so perhaps she was asking a bit too much from her deodorant. She’d been forced to run the last hundred yards to make her flight, but she didn’t smell that bad.
What a butthead. I hope I did drool on him. It would serve him right. Indignant, she returned to her notes, doing her best to ignore the man. That was easier said than done, however.
Despite having one, she didn’t need an advanced medical degree to notice the stranger was tense. A quick glance at his face showed he was flushed and damp. The muscles in his forearm were rock hard, the veins popping out in stark definition.
That last was common enough among bodybuilders. Though this guy’s musculature was on par with that, she didn’t get that vibe from him.
No, this guy was reading as a terrorist.
Chapter Two
Fear gave Nina’s heart a good squeeze. The man’s demeanor, the way he watched her from the corner of his eye before furtively darting his attention away, was all very suspicious.
Turning slightly, Nina pretended to work on her computer. Was she overreacting? Some people didn’t like to fly. Even men built like oversized Greek Gods could have a phobia. Besides, with the political climate being what it was, security had been pretty tight. What were the chances this man had been able to smuggle a weapon on board?
Pretty damn good if the news was to be believed. Whenever they did tests, a scary number of weapons and contraband always managed to get through security.
She peeked at her neighbor one more time, just in time to catch him doing the same to her. They looked away at the same moment, but she was able to catch the distinctive flutter of a rapid pulse beating in his neck.
Her stomach churned. Nina had seen enough ‘see something, say something’ advertisements to know she was supposed to get up and make a report to the aircrew, but this guy was so damn big. He had at least sixty pounds of muscle on the biggest member of the crew. The size of his hands alone….
Unbidden, an image of those massive hands wrapping around her neck flashed through her mind. She imagined them squeezing the life out of her. Despite her own generous build, it wouldn’t be hard for someone of his obvious strength.
Don’t panic, she ordered herself as the airplane dipped suddenly. Nina tensed, and then tried to relax. This was normal.
Unfortunately, it was just the start. The plane hit a large pocket of turbulence. The cabin shook so hard the meal trays rattled.
It was as if the plane had decided to read and reflect her state of mind.
Across from her, the man gripped his armrests as the plane rocked and shuddered. His fingers were white against the metal and plastic frame.
There you go. The giant was afraid to fly. Her imagination had simply run away from her. Nina released a pent-up breath. A few minutes later, the shaking subsided. She transferred her attention to her computer again, deciding her notes could wait. Instead, she settled in to watch a bloody action movie she’d rented weeks ago but hadn’t gotten around to watching.
Her relief was short-lived. The turbulence had returned worse than before, enough for the seat belt sign to turn back on. A few minutes later, the pilot got on the PA system. She instructed the flight crew to take their seats.
“We’ve hit some bad weather, folks,” she announced in a voice far too chipper for Nina’s nerves. “For your safety, please remain in your seats. We’re going to see if we can get some altitude to pull us above this storm. In the meantime, put your seats back in the upright position and stow your tray tables away.”
Outside, the dark grey clouds lit up as lightning streaked so close by she had to shut her eyes. She sucked in a breath. Had it hit the plane?
Nina was still staring out the window when a sudden jolt propelled her forward. Though loose, her seat belt kept her in place, but she did shift enough for the tray to dig into her stomach. Faster than she could blink, a pair of massive hands held her shoulders back before a second jolt could slam her forward again.
“Here, let me.” Her neighbor closed her computer, handed it to her, then put the tray away before she had a chance to react.
He didn’t sound at all anxious now, despite the brutal buffeting the plane was getting.
“Thank you,” she gasped as the plane suddenly dipped, taking her heart with it. She slipped the computer into its sleeve, holding on to the seat in front of her as she stowed it in the vintage leather messenger bag at her feet.
“Are you all right?” her neighbor asked.
The man’s deep voice rivaled the thunder outside. For the first time, she noticed he had a pretty thick accent—something Slavic or Russian. And he still hadn’t let go.
“I’m fine,” she assured him, blushing and nudging his arm off. That small contact was the most action she’d gotten for the better part of a year.
Embarrassed for her previous suspicions, she racked her brain for small talk. Maybe she could help distract him from his phobia…although oddly enough, he seemed calmer the worse the turbulence got.
All around them, the plane continued to rattle and shake.
Whenever the plane dipped more than a few inches, people would gasp. An experienced flier, Nina was certain they would pull out of it soon enough, but it went on and on.
“Hello again, folks. This is your pilot speaking. We’ve diagnosed a minor problem with our system. It’s preventing us from climbing to a higher altitude. For everyone’s safety, I’m afraid we’re going to have to make an unscheduled landing. The plane will be examined by a technician to diagnose the issue. We’ve been given a priority slot at Wyoming’s Rock Spring airport. It’s about half an hour away.”
The passengers groaned in unison.
“Damn it,” Nina swore. This was the last thing she needed.
“It gets worse.”
Nina started, realizing her neighbor was talking to her. “What? Why?”
He pointed out the window. The sky was filled with dark clouds. She leaned forward, but there was no break in the mass, no hint of blue sky.
“This isn’t just a storm. It’s a blizzard.”
Dmitri kept a close watch on his mate’s expression as the plane made its bumpy approach to the Rock Springs airport. She looked as concerned as the next person, but he didn’t pick up the stink of fear from her that he caught from the other passengers.
A little corner of his heart lit up with pride. His woman had nerves of steel.
Her name was Nina. He’d rifled through her bag when she’d been in the bathroom, so he knew her name and address now. If he somehow lost her, he would be able to find her again.
Dmitri had also peeked at her computer, finding a PowerPoint for a recent medical conference. She’d been the keynote speaker. The woman was a rock star.
He wasn’t going to deny who and what she was to him. Her scent was unmistakable. In the few short hours he’d been sitting next to her, that damn perfume had been working its way into his system, imprinting itself on his brain. It had been all he could do not to grab her and claim her then and there.
However, the minute their flight had begun to have trouble, he’d made a complete turnaround. If they had a problem, his lust would have to wait. He had to be ready to protect his mate however he could.
Dmitri didn’t fool himself into thinking he was indestructible, but Weres were stronger and faster than humans. Their muscle density and heavier bone structure afforded them a good deal of protection during accidents. He’d do what he could to shield her in case of a crash landing.
A few minutes later, they began their rough descent. Dmitri could feel the plane slowing in preparation, but the view out the window was unchanged. The clouds were a thick ominous blanket. He could barely make out the vessel’s wings. Snowflakes pelted the small oval window, streaking across the surface.
The severity of the storm was difficult to judge from this altitude, but he’d been through some bad ones in his native country Russia. Tho
ugh severe, this one didn’t appear as bad as some of those. However, if they managed to land without incident, would they be able to take off again?
It was doubtful. They had to be close to the ground now, but the tail end of the plane was swinging like a pendulum. The oscillation wasn’t too wide, but it signaled the pilot was having a rough time keeping the plane on a straight course.
He reached for his mate’s hand, but she had them gripped tightly in her lap. Chagrined, he pretended to reach for his phone, but then decided it was a good idea. He’d never heard of Rock Springs airport. If this flight was grounded, along with the rest of the airport, then there wouldn’t be enough rental cars to go around. In any case, Dmitri preferred to travel in style whenever possible.
He fired off a quick text to Cass, instructing her to buy him a four-wheel drive from the nearest dealership, something that could withstand a Russian winter.
I’ll pay a premium to have it delivered to me at the airport within the hour, he texted.
If you land at all, Cass replied.
Dmitri snorted. He knew he wasn’t Cass’s only client, but his booker’s income would take a big hit if he was taken out of play prematurely. He was crafting an equally sarcastic reply when the pilot came over the speaker.
“We’ve begun our descent, but visibility is poor. Normally, we’d circle a while longer to see if things improved. But given the nature of the problem with our electronics, we’ve decided to land. Emergency crews will be waiting for us, strictly as a precaution. Nevertheless, I’d advise that everyone take the brace position—heads down.”
Nina’s indrawn breath was sharp in his ear. He ignored the other murmurs and gasps as the plane began to touch down. A quick glance confirmed they were landing in white-out conditions. He couldn’t even see the ground.
“Brace for impact!” The pilot’s shout was met with muffled screams from the rest of the passengers.
Nina’s lips were pressed shut. The second the plane touched land, it slid haphazardly on the slippery snow-covered runway. Inside, the passengers were jerked violently back and forth. He threw himself across his mate’s seat, leaning over to cover her upper body as best he could. His hold kept her safely down, but the tail of the plane fishtailed, putting them in a dramatic spin.
The squeal of the brakes and continued screams filled his ears. He was still protecting Nina’s back, but missed the briefcase flying up from behind them. It struck the back of her head.
Dmitri swore, backhanding the case to the ground as they finally came to a jerking stop.
“Nina, look at me.” He cupped the sides of her face, checking her pupils for signs of a concussion.
She murmured something, but her protests were weak, her eyes dazed. Dmitri felt the rising bump on the back of her head, removing his fingers to check for blood. Fortunately, there was none.
The wail of the sirens was muffled by the wind, but Dmitri caught a glimpse of flashing lights from the window.
“I’m fine. Let go.” Nina weakly pushed him away. Her big brown eyes blinked at him, but they weren’t as focused anymore.
“Not a chance.” He hopped up as the passengers began to rise, unbuckling her and lifting her in his arms. Dmitri shifted her, so he was holding her with one arm. He used the other to throw her wool peacoat over her upper body.
He didn’t let go until he had to—into the waiting arms of the paramedics.
Chapter Three
The ice pack wasn’t doing anything for the throbbing pain in the back of her skull.
She was inside the airport, being checked over by a paramedic. As far as she could tell, hers was one of the worst injuries. All things considered, the bump wasn’t bad. There was also a minor cut at her hairline she didn’t remember getting, but it didn’t require stitches.
No, it could have been a lot worse. Her seatmate, the man she’d suspected—albeit briefly—of being a terrorist, had thrown himself over her, doing his best to shield her with his body as the plane made its terrifying emergency landing. However, he hadn’t been able to protect her from a falling suitcase. Other passengers had bruises, one a likely sprain. Thankfully, no one had been killed.
“You’ll have to watch out for signs of a concussion, but I guess I don’t need to go over those with you, Dr. Briggs.”
She nodded. “I’m fine. You’re sure everyone else is all right?”
“Yes, Doctor.” The male paramedic smiled winningly. “Except for being stuck here in the middle of a snowstorm that is.”
Nina glanced out a window. “It doesn’t look that bad now.” The sky was almost clear, at least compared to the blinding wall of white they’d been forced to land in.
The man cocked his head to the side as he put away his otoscope. “This is the eye. It’s all over the news. What do they call a winter hurricane?”
Her heart dropped in her chest. “A bomb cyclone.”
There had been one in Boston earlier this year. She’d spent most of it stuck at the hospital. There had been fewer gunshot patients due to a precipitous drop in crime, but an uptick in traffic accidents. The city had been a mess for days.
How bad could a storm get out here in the Midwest? Didn’t she read somewhere that it could get a lot worse without the moderating effects of the ocean?
The EMT was downright chipper. But they were safe and dry for the moment, and he appeared quite young. It was likely one of the most exciting things that had ever happened to him.
“Some people have been talking about getting out before the next part hits, but unless you get lucky, I think you’re going to be stuck here, at least for a couple of days. They canceled tomorrow’s flights, and it’s not looking any better for the day after. So…maybe if it’s not too bad out later tonight, you’d like to get dinner? My place is near the Holiday Inn. That’s the nearest hotel to this airport.”
Nina blinked a few times. It had been a while since she’d been hit on so blatantly. “Err…I’m afraid I’m going to be one of the people trying to make a break for it before the rest of the storm hits. I have to get back to Boston. I have an event there in a few days that I can’t miss.”
The EMT looked disappointed, but he took her rejection with good grace. “Oh, I’m not sure you should get up, let alone drive. You’re sporting a nasty bump. Not to mention the big guy who brought you inside was insistent you wait for him right here. He told you not move an inch. Don’t you remember?”
She didn’t. Her head had been muddled for a few minutes there. “He said that, did he?” Her voice was wry.
Mr. Muscles may have carried her out of the plane like a hero, but it might have been a tactic to get out of the plane first. That way he could run and snag a rental car before anyone else. He was probably miles away from the airport by now.
Taking a deep breath, Nina stood. “I better get to the car rental desks. If what you said is right, I don’t have much time.”
The paramedic grimaced. “If you insist on leaving AMA, you better hurry. This isn’t a big airport. There may not be many cars left at this point.”
She hadn’t considered that. “Thanks.”
Grabbing her bag, she hurried to the car rental desks as fast as her throbbing head would allow. Unfortunately, the paramedic was correct. The first agency had a ‘Closed’ sign on their counter. When she finally reached the front of the queue at the second desk, there were no vehicles left.
“Is there any chance you’ll get more vehicles? Maybe tomorrow morning?” she asked hopefully.
The woman behind the counter shook her head. “It’s not likely, ma’am. I’d suggest you get a hotel room before they all book up. If you’d like, I can call the Holiday Inn for you.”
So even the hotel rooms are in danger of running out? Defeated, Nina put her head on the counter. “My mother will never forgive me if I miss my sister’s wedding.”
The woman tsked sympathetically. “I can put you on the waitlist, honey, but honestly your best shot is to run out to the parking garage. Some o
f the people before you made plans to carpool. Maybe some of them are headed in your direction.”
She was right. It was her only chance. “Thanks, I’ll do that.”
They may have been in the eye of the storm, but that didn’t mean the weather outside was calm. As soon as she stepped outdoors, the howling wind ripped the hat from her head. She had to run to catch it, but it was too wet from the snow to put back on, so she shoved it in the side pocket of her purse.
The garage was just across the road from the terminal entrance. She hurried across, eager to get to the partial protection of the covered building. The car rental spaces were conveniently marked by the company’s logo, but the small cluster of carpoolers she found was headed in the wrong direction. Their car was also full.
“The other rental agency keeps its vehicles across the lot,” a man volunteered, pointing. “You should try there.”
Nina thanked him and hurried off in the direction he indicated, wondering why she was killing herself to be at what promised to be the most excruciating experience of her life.
The universe is trying to spare me. It had to be why it was throwing up a huge roadblock to returning to Boston. Did she really have to keep trying so hard to get back?
Hiding here in a Wyoming blizzard was so tempting, but she knew nothing short of losing a limb would excuse her in the eyes of her mother and sister.
If you miss it, you’ll never hear the end of it… She’d never be able to look any of her relatives in the eye.
They’re going to pity you anyway. In fact, they already did. Hastily wiping a tear away, she quickened her step.
“Hey!”
Nina turned, a thrill of fear coursing through her as she caught sight of a massive figure charging her way.
His back was against what little light illuminated the garage. She couldn’t see his face, but he was moving too fast, and he was coming for her.
Pivoting on her heel, Nina started to run, but she didn’t get far. Big hands spun her around at the edge of the parking garage. A brief impression of dark eyes and cut cheekbones was all she could make out before she was engulfed in a pair of rock-hard arms.