Page 119 of All I Want For Christmas

“But he’s never flown before,” Molly said, as if that was the most adorable thing she’d ever heard. “So I explained how baggage claim and everything works. But he also wanted to explore the airport a little and almost got in trouble with security.” She giggled and reached over to squeeze Theo’s arm. “I was able to explain that he was just excited. He had questions about security and layovers and things since this was a direct flight.”

Savannah stared at her for a few seconds. She didn’t love that Molly had been giving Theo tips and a tour, but that wasn’t what hit her hardest.

No, that was the realization that she’d let him down.

And thatshe’dmissed out on answering his questions and explaining how all this new-to-him travel stuff worked.

Well…fuck.

She hadn’t thought of the fact that he would have questions and would be curious and would want to know more about how airports work. Not thatthisairport in particular mattered, but maybe he would find all airports interesting. She kind of did. Not necessarily the buildings themselves—though some of them were kind of cool—but she did love to people watch. Savannah felt her heart thump hard in her chest and disappointment hit her hard. She should have thought more about this being his first time flying.Sheshould have been the one answering his questions and giving him a tour of the airport.

Finally, she made herself look up at Theo. He’d been watching her this entire time, not saying anything.

“Oh.” That was all she said.

“Molly was sitting in the same row but across the aisle,” he said. “The guy next to me was also a big dude and she offered toswitch with him when she saw that we were pretty cramped for space. She was next to a little girl and her mom. The little girl was a lot smaller,andshe loved the guy’s dog. So it was a good switch in a lot of ways.”

“Definitely,” Molly said with a big smile.

“Molly taught me all about travel miles on credit cards and frequent flier programs and everything,” Theo said. “Did you know that you can accumulate points and getfreeflights?”

When Savannah looked up at him, he gave her a wink.

So he knew his coach seat had cost her fewer points than one in first class would have. And he suspected that she’d had enough to put him up in first with her.

She got all of that from that one wink.

God, she liked him. But she forced herself not to smile.

“Molly thinks I should definitely start using a credit card that will get me travel points,” Theo went on. “She said a big guy like me would be a lot more comfortable in first class. The seats up there have more leg room.”

“Oh, definitely,” Molly piped up. “I mean, I’mveryglad you were in coach today.” She smiled up at him as if he’d flown the plane and landed them in spite of one wing being ripped off and the engine dying. Then she swept her gaze up and down his body as she said, “But you’d be more comfortable in first, for sure.”

Savannah pressed her lips together. Theo was born lucky, or something.Hedidn’t even have to do anything to make her regret sitting him in coach. Molly was doingallthat work.

Savannah took a deep breath and decided that she was going to get this back under control. He was here withher. And she wasn’t going to let some pretty little seasoned traveler sashay her cute-sweater-and-boot self into Theo’s thoughts during this trip.

Savannah couldn’t go back to before she missed being with him during his first flight, but she could make the rest of this trip fun and memorable. He’d been to North Carolina before,but he hadn’t been with her or to the Monroe Family Farm. And maybe he’d had sleigh rides and hot chocolate and made out to Christmas carols, but she was going to make surethiswas the best sleigh ride, hot chocolate, and Christmas-carol-make-out he’d ever had.

And it wasn’t just about Molly.

Savannah really was sorry she’d missed some of these firsts and his excitement and she didn’t want to miss any more of it.

“Well, I’m glad you finally found your way down here,” Savannah said, stepping to his side and looping her arm though his. “We should get to the inn and check in before it gets too late.”

“Sounds good,” Theo said. He nodded at his bag on the floor. “You grabbed my bag?”

“I couldn’t risk it getting lost. My vibrators are in there,” she said casually, reaching for the handle on her roller bag.

Savannah felt Theo pause and his arm tense. But he simply cleared his throat and leaned to grab his bag.

“Um, so, I—” Molly started. Her eyes were darting back and forth between them.

It was fair that she was a little confused, Savannah figured. She and Theo hadn’t been sitting together, and he hadn’t, apparently, said anything about meeting someone.

“Thanks again for helping me out,” Theo said. “And sitting next to you was so much nicer than sitting next to the other guy.”

Molly gave him a big smile. “Of course. And you have my number. If you need anything while you’re here. Or another time you’re in town.”

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