Page 7 of Delayed
A loud beep sounded, and then a woman’svoice blasted over the airport loudspeaker. All flights leavingGrand Rapids were delayed. She requested everyone check with anattendant for their airline and seek accommodations for thenight.
Several people in the restaurant groaned andtapped out texts on their phones. Others paid their tab and hustledout of the bar.
Her happy-go-lucky mood evaporated. “I’mnever getting out of here, am I?” Anna grumbled.
She chugged the last quarter of her stout,barely noting the creamy rich chocolate flavor as it flowed downher throat. She’d need more than one pint to take the edge offanother night in the cold.
“Is it really that awful?”
She tilted her head back.
He scanned her face, his green eyessmoldering with a look that hinted at all the ways he could makethe night less awful.
She exhaled and dropped her shoulders. “Iwas looking forward to seventy-five degrees and sunshine.”
He rubbed his hand up and down her back.Warmth spread over her. If she couldn’t be sitting in the warm sun,being stranded here with Rex wasn’t the worst thing.
Her pulse thrummed. Rex stood so close toher. His stare both mesmerized her and caused her belly to flipflop. The attraction between them tugged at her. She wanted to giveinto it. She’d been the good girl. The save-it-for-a-relationshipgirl. Maybe it was time for a change.
Would it really make her a bad person if shehooked up with a man she just met? Men had one-night stands orhook-ups all the time. They were rarely condemned. Why should shecare? No one was here to judge her. No one but herself. And shewanted him.
Rex leaned closer, his breath brushing herneck. She trembled. Was he going to kiss her?
“I think we should go check the status ofour flight. If we’re stuck here for the night, we may want to grabrooms before they sell out.”
She pulled back. His words were not what sheexpected. She’d been lost in a fog of desire. Oh God! Had shemisread everything? Her cheeks heated.
A smile stretched his lips. “Were youexpecting me to tell you that I’m struggling to keep from kissingyou?” He spoke softly but firmly.
Anna stared at him. Her lips parted inanticipation.
He brushed his fingers against her nape.“Because it’s true.”
“Rex,” she whispered. She wanted him to kissher. She wanted to give into her longing for this man, who made herfeel like the most desirable woman in the airport. Life had been sobusy, she’d almost forgotten what it felt like to be pulled intosomeone else’s atmosphere.
“Ahhh. I love the way you say my name.” Heleaned closer, their lips millimeters apart.
An ache low in her belly stirred. Goosebumpsrose on her skin.
She hadn’t been with a man in months. Shoot!It could be closer to a year. Sure, she’d been on a few dates, butnone resulted in anything more than a goodnight kiss. No one hadsparked much of an interest.
“I want to kiss you so bad right now.” Hiswords came out with a growl.
Anna nodded, unsure if she was agreeing thatshe wanted it, too, or giving him permission to make his move.Perhaps both.
“I can’t kiss you properly here. Let’s finda more private place.” Grabbing her hand, he assisted her off thestool.
She tucked her coat over her forearm andbent to grasp her purse and carry-on. Rex shook his head andclutched the handle to her suitcase. He entwined his fingers withher own and led her away from the bar.
“Where are we going?” Her voice hit anunfamiliar high pitch. Her belly twisted in knots with nerves andexcitement.
“Ticket desk first to confirm the status ofour flight. Call ride share or taxi to get us to the closestavailable hotel. Private nook until the ride share arrives so I cankiss you the way you are meant to be kissed.”
Her knees wobbled. He was a man on amission. For the first time in her life, she threw caution to thewind. No pros and cons list. No outline of all the possiblescenarios. True, she didn’t know him well. Hell, she didn’t reallyknow him at all. But she knew where he worked—that he owned awell-known brewery. He wouldn’t have shared that information ifhe’d had bad intentions.
Just in case, she extracted her phone fromher purse and texted her best friend, Janice, with Rex’s contactinformation and the news that she was stranded in Michigan withhim.
Anna:Check out the Dog Tired Brewerywebsite. He’s the one in the middle.
