Page 25 of Something Borrowed

ChapterTen

Standingin the crowded terminal baggage claim, Adrianna’s muscles were as loose as Jell-o. In less than ten minutes her phone would ring, and Jaxon would be telling her he was off the plane. The past week had easily been the longest of her life, and she wasn’t certain how much longer her nerves would holdout.

With a quick glance around she tugged at the raincoat. To the average person, it likely looked like she was planning for the typical flash rainstorm that passed through New Orleans damn near every day in summer. However, she was doing something incredibly unlike her and had nothing more than a lacy black bra and matching g-string on underneath. She’d never done anything even remotely risqué before falling into bed with Jaxon, but she couldn’t think of a better way to welcome him home than with the clique image.

Just breathe. Just breathe.She chanted over and over in her head as she watched the electronic board shift and add new flight numbers and where the luggage could be claimed. Jaxon’s flight had been up for nearly fifteen minutes – which was what had her on edge. He hadn’t reached out to her. So naturally, her mind began to wonder if he’d changed his mind at the last minute and was just going to sneak by and get back to his dad’s without bumping intoher.

“I’ve missed you,” Jaxon whispered into her ear as his arms slipped around her waist from behind.

“Jaxon!” She shrieked, more in shock than joy. Immediately, she blushed as a few heads turned to look at her. Spinning in his arms, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, lingering longer than she should have in public. Tingles raced along every nerve ending when she finally pulled back from thekiss.

Her eyes lingered over him, taking in every detail she could see without stepping out of his embrace. Everything looked exactly as it had five weeks ago when they’d Skyped, but it still made her smile. She’d wished they’d video called more after their serious conversation, but now that he was home there was something even better about seeing him for the first time in so many weeks. His glass-blue eyes shined with happiness and the wicked smile on his lips could only mean he was pleased with himself for sneaking up onher.

“I was beginning to think you’d changed your mind.” She punched him playfully in the shoulder. “Not nice, Mr. Donovan.” Her eyes lingered on his uniform, and she couldn’t help but sigh. He didn’t look any better in it than he did in regular clothes, but there was something undeniably sexy about the way the camo made himlook.

“I like surprises better.” He winked and unwrapped his arms from hers, quickly twining their hands together.

That brought a sly grin to her face. “Well then, I think you’ll be quite happy to hear I have a surprise of my own planned for you.” A wave of desire washed over at the mere implication of showing him what was under her coat . . . or rather, what wasn’t underit.

His eyes narrowed, and she could almost feel his desire colliding with herown.

“My baggage better get here quick if that look in your eyes means even half of what I think itdoes.”

She chuckled and tugged him toward carousel three, reveling in how wonderful it felt to finally have him back, even if it was only for a short time. Her nerves vanished, leaving her feeling nothing but the surge of lust and happiness that had come after she’d recovered from him sneaking up onher.

“How was your trip?” she asked, not taking her eyes off him even though the buzz of the baggage claim boomed in the largeroom.

“Long. I slept through most of it and all I could think about was you.” He ran his thumb over her palm. “That sounded far naughtier than I had meant for ittoo.”

Chuckling, she saw him move toward the carousel and let go of his hand. There was no helping the way her head tipped slightly to the side to watch as he bent over to grab a long duffel bag. When she was with him, it was as if her inhibitions vanished.

Turning back to her he grinned as he slung his bag over his shoulder. “Shall we get out ofhere?”

“I thought you’d never be ready.” Slipping her hand into his waiting one, she smiled to herself. “I didn’t believe it would be possible to miss someone you’ve only just begun seeing.”

“Well, to be fair, we’ve actually been dating threeish months now.” He smirked as the airport door slid open, dumping the August humidity over them. “Now this is something I did not miss. Ugh.”

“Not too far to the parking lot at least!” She wasn’t cheerful because she hated the climate, but because the sooner they got to the car, the sooner they would be at her home. They made quick work of crossing the drop lanes and heading into the parking structure. “You’re certain you don’t want to see your dad first?”

“This your car?” he asked as they walked nearit.

“Yup,” she nodded, walking up to the door and pushing the unlock button on the handle without taking the key from her purse. Pulling open the bag door she unlinked her hand from his and then opened the front door, getting in while he dropped his luggage in theback.

“Do you know what the hardest part of being deployed is?” Jaxon asked

“No, tell me.” She said, not looking at him as she backedout.

“Not driving. We’re not trapped where we are, but in most cases, you don’t step foot in a vehicle.”

Lifting a brow, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Why is thatbad?”

“No independence. We give up more than we realize when we sign up to serve and for me, that’s the one thing I never thoughtof.”

Snorting, she started to merge onto the 90 east. “Is that your less than subtle way of asking me to pull over so you can drive?”

“Not in the least – though next time I’d love to drive.”

“Next time it is, you can chauffeur me around anywhere.”

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