Page 59 of One Night Bride
“Ma’am, you need to close that and have a seat.”
“I need to get off the plane!” I nearly shouted, sweat coating my upper lip. Remy was here. I needed to get off this tin can before I found myself thousands of miles away from him again. The suitcase came out of the compartment like a rocket, nearly taking me down with it. The thing hit the seat back across the aisle—thankfully not the back of someone’s head—before slamming to my feet where I finally caught it. Groans everywhere told me I wasn’t the other passengers’ favorite right now.
Another flight attendant came up behind me, the two of them flanking me and talking all at once while we made an awkward dance up the aisle and to the exit door.
“Do we need to call security?” the woman asked the male flight attendant.
“Please, you don’t understand. My husband and I had this horrible fight and I was on the plane to go to Wyoming to beg him to come back, but he just texted me he’s here. Don’t you see? I have to get off this plane.” I finally ran out of breath.
The two attendants looked at each other and then the woman started to smile. “I’m a sucker for a happy ending,” she whispered to me. “Get out of here.”
She stepped back, the doorway open for me to step out and run back up the jetway. I did, tossing over my shoulder, “Thank you! We’ll name our firstborn after you!”
She laughed, and I hoped the universe wouldn’t hold me to it. I hadn’t even gotten her name. All I cared about was getting to Remington and getting down on both knees to beg him to give me another chance. And if that didn’t work, I’d break out the PowerPoint I made on the car ride over to the airport.
25
Remington
Esme:So…I almost got arrested getting off the damn plane, but I’m currently ride sharing back to Hell. Can we meet up?
I had to read her text twice to understand what was going on. She’d been on a plane?
Me:Did I interrupt a trip somewhere?
Esme:lol Yep! I was headed to Wyoming!
I stood so quickly an older couple walking by in the lobby nearly bobbled their canes. I put up a hand in apology. My heart was beating so fast I would believe I’d been chopping wood instead of sitting around the Peacock B & B all afternoon. I’d come straight here to talk to Amelia, thinking she’d have advice for me on how to win back Esme. The frazzled woman at the desk had informed me Amelia and Titus were unavailable due to the birth of their daughter. Something about missing that momentous occasion didn’t sit right with me. Esme and I should have been there together to witness that. I’d spent the last two hours sitting here in the lobby, twiddling my thumbs and working out exactly what to say this time to make things right.
But if Esme had been on the way to Wyoming, that had to mean she wanted to see me. Wanted to set things right. An idea hit me hard and fast. I went back to the check-in desk to ask for Mayor Rip’s phone number. The woman gave it to me with a raised eyebrow, like I was calling him to complain.
“Mayor Bennett’s office,” came a voice on the other end of the line.
“Hey there, this is Remington Roth. I’m looking to get ahold of Rip Bennett, please.” I wandered back over to the chair I’d kept warm all afternoon.
“He’s in a meeting. Would you like his voicemail?”
Damn. I really needed to talk to him. “This is about that land purchase he and I discussed. I really do need to talk to him as soon as possible.”
Yep. I lied. Rubbing a hand across my forehead, I sat forward, hoping she wouldn’t see through my lie.
“Um, well, let me see what I can do. Please hold.”
And then orchestra music filled my ear. I’d never met Rip. Nor really anyone other than the good ladies of Hell that had come to the retreat at Esme’s. I’d been in hiding most of the time I’d been in Hell, but I’d heard that Rip used to run tourist excursions on his boat before he became mayor.
Not more than a minute later, a man’s voice came on the line. “This is Rip Bennett. Who is this again?”
“Hi, Rip, this is Remington Roth, I’m, um, married to Esme Waldo.”
He chuckled. “That’s right. My wife, Hazel, was talking about you the other day. She and her Hell Raisers had some choice words about you.”
“Hell Raisers?” I didn’t think I wanted to know what those words were.
“They’re like a girl gang of wives and moms you really should watch out for. Lucy is the ring leader, but Amelia packs a punch with that attitude of hers. She told us all about you and Esme when things hit the internet.”
I cringed, too desperate to hold anything back. “See, here’s the thing. I love Esme. With all my damn heart, but I asked her to give up her business for me. I’m usually a smart man, but she’s got me turned inside out.”
Rip chuckled again. “Been there myself, my friend.”
