Page 22 of Too Much In Common
Darleen lifted her chin. “Like anyone will care about your letter.”
Sweats were not nearly as intimidating as his suit, but Chris folded his arms and gave her the glare. The woman slunk back into her office without apology.
“I am so sorry, miss. My boss —” Paulo looked over his shoulder.
Tian leaned more into the counter.
Chris touched her elbow. “Why don’t you sit down? Paulo and I will figure something out.”
Tian nodded and walked over to the nearest of the lobby chairs. Whatever snack she’d had earlier wasn’t enough. “Paulo, do you have a candy bar or anything back there?”’
“Warm chocolate chip cookies?”
“May I have one?”
“Sure.” He went into the back office and returned with a plate of chocolate goodness and a two pint bottles of milk. Chris took them over to Tian. “Eat.”
“Neanderthal much?” Her soft smile took the bite out of what could have been an insult. She took a bite of the cookie, and her smile grew.
Chris returned to the counter. “Any options for us, Paulo?”
“Every room is full. I don’t even have a foldaway bed left.”
Chris rubbed his face. There was an option, if Candace would agree. However, his name double was another matter.
* * *
“Come on. You have a room.” Chris extended his hand.
Being rescued wasn’t her style. If it wasn’t for her headache, she’d tell him so. Instead, she took his hand and stood. She couldn’t remember the last time someone offered their assistance. Maybe it was a bodyguard thing. She dropped his hand and grabbed her suitcase.
“You have chocolate—” He pointed to the side of his own mouth.
The cookie and milk hadn’t diminished her headache, but at least it wasn’t growing. Tian pulled the tissue she’d used to wipe her fingers from her pocket and wiped her mouth. “Did I get it?”
Chris shook his head and guided her hand to the right place. “There.”
He removed his hand from hers, but the connection remained. Her pounding head must be playing with her hormones, as they were sending all sorts of signals to her mind and heart.
They entered the elevator. Tian stared at the button Chris pushed for a moment before she realized it was the same floor they’d come from. “Where is my room?”
“We played musical chairs, or beds. You have the room I was in.”
“Where are you going?”
“Mrs. Ogilvie and Dana have a two-bedroom suite, with a couch in a separate seating area. As far as security, taking the couch is a better option.”
Tian closed her eyes against the fluorescent lights of the elevator. “So I am kicking you out of your bed? That isn’t right.”
“Actually, it is very selfish.”
She opened one eye. “How?”
“If you don’t sleep, you can’t fly. And if you can’t fly, we can’t fly. Which means I should have driven to Seattle the moment we picked up the SUV. I don’t like unplanned detours when working, so I need you to sleep.”
His explanation was too logical. Not the friendly gesture she’d assumed. “Oh.”
The elevator doors opened. Chris took her bag before she could. Per airline protocol, she never let anyone take her pilot bag. At least it was still in sight. He opened the door, set the bag inside, and handed her the key card.
