Page 2 of Delayed
Lifting her head, her breath caught when hergaze fell on an angular jaw, full lips, and beautiful green eyes.He gripped her arms firmly above the elbows to keep her fromfalling backward. His warmth seeped through the arms of herpeacoat.
“Shit! Are you all right?” His deep, richvoice washed over her.
Heat rushed her cheeks and her body churnedwith a warmth she’d been missing ever since stepping off the planein Michigan.
“Uh. Yeah! I… I’m fine.” Yikes. Her handswere plastered against his ripped abdomen. She let them slide down.It wasn’t just the impact of running into him that knocked her offbalance. He was the most beautiful creature she’d laid eyes on.
“Are you sure?” The intensity of his starealmost melted her into a puddle at his feet. His eyes, irisesflecked with gold, narrowed. “You hit me pretty hard.”
“Yes. I’m so sorry. Sorry for running intoyou.” She gained control over her wavering voice and unsteadylegs.
He released her arms and stepped back.
“I should have been watching where I wasgoing.”
His powerful gaze trailed down her withoutshame and a warmth followed as if he caressed her bare skin. Hercheeks had never been so on fire.
“No need to apologize.” He grinned. “I’d sayit’s my lucky day.” His eyes twinkled.
This stranger was flirting with her.
She cleared her throat. It’s not that mendidn’t flirt with her. They did. It was a hazard in her line ofbusiness. Insurance was a man’s world, for the most part. Sheshrugged off the flirtatious advances from the men she worked with.Mixing business with pleasure was a no-no. But this guy … she’d mixjust about anything with him. If she were that kind of girl.
“If by lucky, you mean this flight is goingto leave on time, then you’re fresh out of luck.” She frowned. “Theplane is late coming in, and we’re already on a delay, which I fearwill be infinite.” She pointed toward the windows that revealedgrey clouds ready to burst with a trillion differentsnowflakes.
“Blasted!” The deep baritone of his voicesent her hormones into overdrive, but his choice of words made herthink of Mike Meyers in anAustin Powersmovie, and shecouldn’t help but giggle. “What’s so funny?” Though he tried tolook offended by her laughter, the smirk on his lips told her hewas not.
“Nothing.” Bubbles of laughter still escapedher.
“Well, it seems like something is funnysince you keep bursting out in fits of giggles, apparently at myexpense.” He ran a hand through his dirty blonde, spiky hair,causing it to stand on end even more.
“Fit of giggles. I’m sorry.” She drew herlips into a thin line to prevent her laughter, but she wasn’tsuccessful and a round of snickers erupted.
“Quit apologizing.” A breathtaking smileappeared, showing off beautiful, straight teeth with a slight gapbetween his two front teeth. “You must be Catholic orsomething.”
“Recovering Catholic, actually.” She laughedand gave up on tamping down her mirth. This guy made her smile. Hisvoice. His quick wit. His looks. Good God—his looks. If she weregoing to be stuck in the airport for any length of time, she mighthave hit the jackpot.
“Ah, I see. Makes perfect sense now.” Heextended his hand. “Name’s Rex.”
“Anna.” She slipped her small hand into hisbig warm one. Calloused fingers closed around hers and squeezedgently. Heat engulfed her, traveling through her arm and down herspine, curling low in her belly. She inhaled sharply. Her reactionto him caught her off guard. She’d shaken hands with severalindividuals that day, yet none of them had ignited her like this.Perhaps the pheromone thing was more than a scientific theory.
“So, I guess we’re stuck here for a bit.” Hestill held her hand, caressing the back of it with his thumb.Despite the strength and hardness of his hold, his touch was easyand comfortable. She wondered what his hands would feel likeelsewhere on her body.
Her low belly tightened. Ack! It’s been waytoo long since she’d had sex! So long she was fantasizing abouthaving it with a complete stranger.
“Seems so.”
“Would you like to grab a drink? I saw arestaurant before the security area. What better way to spend adelay at the airport than with a beer, good conversation, and abeautiful woman.”
Heat blossomed on her cheeks from hiscompliment. He was a charmer.
He tipped his chin in the direction heintended them to go, his emerald gaze glued to hers waiting for heranswer. It appeared he was unwilling to let go of her hand untilshe responded.
“Sure.” Butterflies fluttered in her belly.Something about this guy—Rex—had her fidgeting. At thirty-one yearsold, she was still single, much to the dismay of her mother, whowanted to be young enough to enjoy her grandchildren. As if sheplanned to get married and have children just to suit her mother.Both of those things still sat firmly on her “maybe” list.
Working her way up the corporate ladder leftlittle time for dating and none of the men she worked withinterested her at all. It would be frowned upon anyway. But Rex! Assoon as she looked in his eyes, her head swarmed with deliciousthoughts. Why not indulge! She deserved it. And it was just abeer.
Chapter Two
