by J L Taft
“Just take a later flight.”
It was oh so tempting but she couldn’t do it. She did have to work but not until Monday. She just didn’t want to drag this out. She already had a hollow feeling inside her.
“I can’t, I have to work and… I just can’t,” she told him. He stared down at her intently for a few seconds before rolling away.
“I’ll help you pack,” he said as he stood and pulled his same pants from the day before on.
Gwen was somewhat disappointed that he hadn’t pushed a little more but she couldn’t blame him. She got dressed as he threw her clothes in her suitcase and zipped it up.
Too soon it was time to go and he walked her down to the lobby. She dealt with checking out and was lucky enough to find that the shuttle to the airport left in ten minutes.
Steve walked her out and handed her suitcase to the waiting driver. Everything had happened so fast that she stood at a loss on what to do. A lump formed in her throat and she knew it was silly but she didn’t want it to be over.
He took one look at her and then pulled her into his arms, holding her tight.
She hoped that he would say something, anything that would let her know he wanted to see her again.
He pulled back and, cupping her face, kissed her long and deep. She forgot about the plane, the shuttle bus and her rush to get away.
When he pulled back, still cupping her face, he gazed deep in her eyes and said, “Thank you, Gwen.”
But before she could answer he turned and walked away. She watched him until he was out of sight and then boarded the bus that would take her back to reality.
Vacation was over. The airplane was hot and stuffy to her and as she waited for takeoff she leaned her head back and tried to keep her tears at bay.
She knew it was crazy to be so upset over a man she had known for hardly a week but he had touched something inside her. Sniffing and then digging in her purse for a tissue, she pulled herself together.
He knew where she lived and worked, maybe he would contact her once they were both home.
She hoped so. Otherwise she had gotten exactly what she wanted. A fling to put all the others to shame. A man who didn’t make her a bunch of promises that turned out to be empty air.
But if she really had gotten what she wanted then why did it feel so wrong?
Trying to find a comfortable position in the seat, she closed her eyes and blocked out the noise of the other passengers.
It took Steve all of two minutes to realize that he was an idiot. Then another two minutes to race to his room and pack. He left his keycard in the hotel room he had spent hardly any time in and grabbed the first available cab.
He changed his flight on the way there, incredibly thankful that there had been seats left. He called the hotel and checked out over the phone and if the person at the front desk thought it was strange, Steve didn’t take the time to notice.
He made it to the airport with minutes to spare and boarded the plane. He knew that he wasn’t going to be sitting anywhere near Gwen but he figured he could talk to her midflight.
He swore that fate was on his side when he found his seat and a beautiful woman with long dark hair was sitting next to him. He didn’t have to see her eyes to know they would be violet and would sparkle when she laughed.
She had her head back and her eyes closed so he took his seat quietly and gathered his thoughts.
After they had taken off and Gwen still hadn’t opened her eyes, he thought she had fallen asleep until she sniffed lightly. Was she crying? For him?
He didn’t know but he wasn’t going to let it go on. He turned to face her as best he could in the seat and placed his hand over hers. Her eyes popped open and all the things that he had thought out on the way over scattered and all he knew was that he wanted her. “Hey,” he said.
Gwen figured she really was going to end up with an assault charge before the trip was over when she felt someone try to hold her hand. But when she opened her eyes, the ass-peeling that was on the tip of her tongue died a quick death.
“Steve? What are you doing here?” she asked in surprise.
“I’m flying home, of course,” he said with a grin. “With you now instead of later alone.”
Her heart sank. She had thought the worst part was over and now here he was, grinning at her. He must have seen something on her face because his smile faded.
“Actually I wanted to say something.” He cleared his throat and glanced around before lowering his voice. “I know that you said you wanted someone who wasn’t going to make you a bunch of promises and feed you lines. And I’m not going to. But I took a chance on you, Gwen, and it turned out to be the kind of chance that makes all the others disappear. I’ve never had a woman accept me for who I am so easily and I’m just not ready to let you go yet.” He reached out and cupped her cheek and she felt the tears start to flow again as he continued.
“Maybe I’m a sap but when a boring history professor meets a beautiful accountant in a tropical paradise, and then to find out we only live an hour apart, smacks of something special. Then when fate stepped in and I got a seat right next to you on this airplane, I think giving us a chance at a relationship is worth a try.”
His brushed her tears away and she asked haltingly, “You didn’t ask for the seat next to me?”
“I didn’t even try. I thought I was lucky enough just to move my flight up.” He smiled slightly and she smiled back.
“Well, when you put it that way, Steve, how can I say no?”
His smile turned into that full-blown grin and her tummy went haywire. He leaned in close and kissed her with all the passion that she thought she had left behind her in the Bahamas.
Vaguely she heard someone in the background shout, “Get a room!”
Steve pulled back and shouted to no one in particular, “Working on it!”
Gwen giggled and laced her fingers with his. Staring into his chocolate-brown eyes, she saw what she had been missing all along shining back at her. Vacation may be over but she got the best souvenir ever—love. And she had a feeling that with Steve by her side, it would never be boring.
Glancing over at him, she smiled devilishly as she kicked her shoes off and laid her bare feet in his lap.
About J L Taft
J L Taft believes that variety is the spice of life. The love of a good man is irreplaceable and that determination will get you anywhere you want to go.
She lives in upstate New York with her husband, daughter and two dogs. She has a large extended family that provides her with a constant source of amusement and inspiration.
She spends her days glued to her laptop with her head in the clouds. When she isn’t writing she can be found reading, gardening, listening to Trans-Siberian Orchestra and enjoying great Finger Lakes wine.
J L welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email addresses on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
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Also by J L Taft
Ain’t No Angel
Dream Cravings
Hooked for Life
Submitting to the Officer
Unleashing the Animal
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
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Barefoot Paradise
ISBN 9781419949357
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Barefoot Paradise Copyright © 2013 J L Taft
Edited by Beverly Horne
Cover design by Syneca
Cover photography by Kletr/shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication December 2013
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