Page 7 of Snowed In With the Mountain Man
“I can try and get you on the next flight,” the woman was saying, the sound of typing interrupting Dahlia’s mantra.
Her head snapped up. “Yes. Please.”
“It’s not for another two hours,” the woman said. “And there’s a layover in Salt Lake City.” She glanced up from the computer and cringed. “The weather there isn’t the best today, but—”
“I’ll take it,” Dahlia cut in.
I don’t care how you do it, just get me on a flight that will take me home!
She hadn’t meant to sound so intense. It was eagerness at play, but unfortunately it came out sounding…harsh. Like she was snapping at the woman and not simply leaping on the offer.
The blonde behind the counter flinched.
A familiar, low voice behind her made Dahlia jolt as well, but for an entirely different reason.
“Thank you kindly for the assistance…” JJ’s arm brushed Dahlia’s as he joined her at the counter, leaning forward to read the blonde’s name tag. “Susan. That’s a nice name. We sure do appreciate your help today.”
She beamed at the mountain man with his easy smile and Southern drawl.
Dahlia speared him with a sidelong glance, just long enough to see that yes, he was in fact wearing his grin, the one that made her belly do death-defying flips.
So annoying.
“Why are you still here?” she asked in a tight voice, her gaze fixed on Susan. More precisely Susan’s fingers, which were flying over the keyboard.
JJ had insisted on helping her with her luggage. Totally unnecessary, but fine. Whatever. She’d said a quick goodbye and had assumed he’d taken off. Back to Aspire, or the ranch, or wherever it was he stayed when he wasn’t hanging around the O’Sullivan property.
“Wanted to make sure you made your flight,” he murmured.
He was rewarded with another beaming smile from super-sweet Susan.
“We’ll get you home eventually, don’t you worry,” the woman assured her.
Dahlia tried to smile, but it felt more like a grimace.
“Eventually” wouldn’t cut it. She could only imagine calling in to her office and explaining that they shouldn’t worry becauseeventuallyshe’d be back to work. New Yorkers weren’t quite as easygoing as these Montanans.
“Let’s just say a prayer that this next flight isn’t canceled,” Susan said in a conspiratorial whisper, like she and God were hatching a plan together.
She handed over the new boarding pass, and Dahlia took it with what she hoped was a smile. But she was too tense, and whatever expression she was throwing this sweet lady behind the counter must have been something quite hideous, because the woman kind of frowned and looked like she wanted Dahlia to walk away quick-smart.
“Thank you, Susan.” JJ put a hand on Dahlia’s arm and started to steer her toward the waiting area.
“Two hours,” Dahlia muttered. A long line was forming behind her, and no amount of pestering Susan was going to make her flight un-canceled.
She shrugged JJ’s hand off her arm. She didn’t need to be led away like a child.
With her luggage in one hand and her carry-on in the other, she wandered over to a handful of empty chairs near a coffee kiosk. She fell into one with a sigh, frowning when JJ took the empty seat beside her.
“You don’t have to stick around, you know.”
“I know.” He nestled back in his seat and threaded his fingers together, resting them on his stomach and getting all comfy like they were about to start watching a movie.
His easygoing manner made her feel even more churlish.
She pressed her lips together and made a point of staring at her phone, even though the airline app had no more information other than what Susan had already told her. The weather was terrible all along the East Coast, especially in New York City. Flights were being canceled or rerouted…
And Dahlia was out of luck.
