Page 70 of A Cozy Christmas Blizzard
“You could share the car,” the agent suggested, causing both Shelly and Slade to turn their eyes his way, shocked by his impromptu peacemaking.
Shelly hesitated.
Slade’s brows arched and he met her eyes. “I’ll pay the full fee for the car,” he offered.
“You mention money one more time and the deal’s off,” she shot back hotly.
“Don’t be unreasonable.”
“I’m not being unreasonable. You are.”
He rubbed a hand along the back of his neck and forcefully expelled his breath. “Do we or do we not have a deal?”
“I’m not going to Seattle.”
He gave her a sharp look of reproach. “I just heard you say Seattle.”
“I’m headed for Maple Valley. That’s in south King County.”
“Fine. I’ll drop you off and return the car to the rental office myself.”
That would save her one hassle. Still, she hesitated. Two minutes together and they were already arguing. How would they possibly manage three hours cooped up in the close confines of a car?
“Listen,” he argued, his voice tinged with exasperation. “If I make it to Seattle this afternoon, I might be able to get this meeting over with early. That way I can be back home in San Francisco for Christmas.”
Without knowing it, he’d found the weakest links in her chain of defense. Christmas and home were important to her.
“All right,” she mumbled. “But I’ll pay my share of the cost.”
“Whatever you want.”
For the first time since she’d seen him, Slade Garner smiled.
Two
“What about your luggage?” Slade asked as they strolled down the concourse toward the plane.
“I only have one bag. It’s above my seat.” Her honey-brown hair curled around her neck, and she absently lifted a strand and looped it over her ear. A farm girl’s wardrobe didn’t fit in with the formal business attire she needed in San Francisco so she had left most of her clothes with her father. And it hadn’t been hard to fit four days’ worth of clothes into her carry-on. The brevity of her vacation was turning out to be a blessing in disguise.
Her spirits rose as they neared the plane. She was heading home for Christmas, and she wasn’t flying!
“Good. I only have a garment bag with me.”
She hesitated. “I do have a tote bag filled with presents.”
His gaze collided briefly with hers. “That shouldn’t be any problem.”
When he saw the monstrosity, he might change his mind,she mused with an inner smile. In addition to a variety of odd-sized gifts, she was bringing her father several long loaves of sourdough bread. The huge package was awkward, and she had required a flight attendant’s assistance to fit it in the compartment above her seat. Normally she would have put everything in a second suitcase and checked it, but loaves of bread were so long—sticking out of her bag like doughy antennas—that none of her suitcases had been big enough.
The plane was nearly empty when they boarded, confirming her suspicion that the delay was going to be far longer than originally anticipated. Checking her watch, she discovered that it was nearly noon. The other passengers had probably gone to get something to eat.
Standing on tiptoes, she opened the luggage compartment.
“Do you need help?” Slade asked. A dark gray garment bag was folded neatly over his forearm.
“Here.” She handed him her one small bag. She heard him mumble something about appreciating a woman who packed light and smiled to herself.
Straining to stretch as far as she could to get a good grip on her bag of gifts, she heard Slade grumble.
