Page 11 of Planes, Trains, and Candy Canes

“Mmm!” This moan was happy, and the snuggling turned to nuzzling, her cheek against his shirt, warm and soft.

Iwanta little crazy.

I want it alot.

His body sent up sleepy signals that his mistress—his immaculate schedule—lacked all sex appeal. Neat, orderly rows of dates, deadlines, and meetings had no soft curves, no long legs, no absolutely grabbable ass...

No magic. Pine Ridge girls seemed to have an unfair share of it, but he’d never found one that put him under a spell.

He wasn’t going to sleep yet. He was going to stare at her a little longer—and pull out his phone and use the in-flight Wi-Fi.

I’m going to have a Christmas Eve surprise for Reese.

“I’d date that guy,” she said. Well, I’m him. I’m that guy.

“I could be that guy you’re looking for,” he whispered, working to free his phone and still keep one arm around her.

“Mmhmm,” Reese agreed in her sleep.

Let’s hope that’s still true when she wakes up.

“GUESS WHAT?”

Reese opened her eyes—and tried to open her mouth. She felt like her lips were gummed together.

I need to brush my teeth. I need water.

I need to pee. Like, immediately.

He needs a shave.

A scruffy face was looking down at her from inches away, snuggled close in low light. Soft voices murmured in the background, and feet shuffled and rustled past as people made their way to the tiny airplane restroom.

“Mm?” Reese settled for an inquisitive noise, pulling away to shield her companion from morning breath. Or was it middle of the night breath?

How could he look so bright-eyed and happy when they’d only had a few hours of sleep?

And why am I smiling back, even though I feel like a crusty old shoe?

“If we take the commuter express at 8 AM, we’ll be in Gainesville in a couple of hours. From there, we can get a train to Cleveland, OH.”

Reese blinked. “Hm?”

“A train to Cleveland?”

“It will get us there in twenty-four hours—there are stops and things—but then we can rent a car and be home for Christmas dinner. I think it’s about a six-hour drive from Cleveland to Pine Ridge. Maybe less if there’s no traffic.”

Gratitude and a confused, angry feeling bubbled up in her chest. “You figured that out? Without me?”

Derrick looked smug. “I sure did. I even got us the tickets on that puddle jumper to Gainesville. I used all my miles, but that’s okay. Work paid for my flights, so I could afford to pay for yours.”

Reese tried to smile and find words at the same time. Her bladder told her words could wait. “Be right back!” she hissed, rose, and stumbled into the aisle, nearly colliding with a bedraggled-looking man making his way back to his seat and knocking over a toddler’s sippy cup with her shoulder bag. Dodging glares and feet in the aisle, she finally made it to safety.

In the cubby-like bathroom, Reese scrubbed her face and rinsed out her mouth while digging in her purse for gum. Bladder emptied, she tried to deal with her full mind.

That was without a doubt the nicest, sweetest, most helpful thing Derrick could have done in this situation. He knew shewanted to get home for at least some part of Christmas—and she didn’t want to go alone. Since Jeff ruined—well, everything—the idea of doing all this traveling alone seemed so much scarier and sadder.

Jeff.

---