Page 35 of Must Love Alligators

Chase’s chest tightened as he watched the ring come to a rest.Another man’s dress shoe just missed it, but then a black suitcase wheel hit it, pulled it along for about a foot, then bumped over it.

“Oh crap!”Bailey started after it.

Chase was right on her heels.

Another suitcase hit it, then someone stepped on it, then someone picked it up.That someone was about six years old.

“Mommy!Look!”

“Don’t pick things up off the floor,” the woman said, as she pushed a stroller in front of her and pulled a suitcase along behind.

“But it’s pretty!”

“Put it down, Spencer,” she said, her voice tired.

Spencer sighed.“Okay.”

“Hi, Spencer,” Chase said, quickly.

But Spencer had already let go of it.

The ring hit the hard tile and bounced again.Chase rolled his eyes.It landed about two feet away and was stepped on again before Chasefinallyswept it up.

He turned, holding it up triumphantly.Just as a man, who was walking backward, keeping an eye on his three kids, plowed into him.

Chase hit the ground hard.The man stumbled and nearly landed on top of him.The guy’s heavy duffle bagdidland on him.

“What the hell, man?”the guy demanded.

“Really?”Chase asked, shoving the bag off of his lap.

But before he could say more, Bailey was there.“Who walksbackwardin anairport?You need to watch where the hell you’re going!”she told the guy.She was a foot shorter than the man, but she had her hands on her hips, her head tipped back, and she was clearly mad.

“He can’t just stand there in the way!”

“What wereyoudoing?Are you even aware of the fact that there are other people here around you?”

“I’ve got three kids!”the man blustered.

“So we’re all just supposed to clear the way for you guys?”Bailey demanded.

As a matter of fact, people walking around them were giving them plenty of space at the moment.

“Okay, let’s go,” Chase wrapped an arm around Bailey’s waist and picked her up.“Let’s not start any fights.”

“But he could have hurt you!”Still, she didn’t resist his hold.

Chase was sure she was glaring at the man as he turned and started in the other direction with her.

When they were several yards away, back by their bags, he set her down.“Bailey.”

“What?”She was still frowning.

“I love you.”

Her eyes snapped to his and her expression softened immediately.“I love you, too.”

“I can’t wait to marry you.”

---