Page 38 of Over Verdant Irish Hills

At his gate, he eyed everyone in the cramped waiting area. Every seat was taken. Hell, some people were sitting on the floor or on their carry-ons. How were there not enough chairs? A normal commercial airline had a set numbers of seats. Could they not count?

Disgusted, he surveyed the inhabitants. He didn’t see Bets. His stomach took another nosedive. He had to be right about her being part of this trip. But where was she?

Then he wondered if his girls had tricked her into coming to Dublin too. Maybe even her son had agreed to help, like in that movie,The Parent Trap, with the beautiful Maureen O’Hara. He supposed Ellie and Liam would be kin of sorts if he and Bets got back together. Would Liam do something like that to his mother? Yes, he imagined he would if he thought he was acting in her best interest.

He got a little choked up, thinking about those kids caring enough to help them get back together. But when she didn’t appear after another ten minutes, pond frogs started to jump in his stomach. The plane was about to board.

How would Bets feel when she discovered what the kids had done? Would she want to go to Paris with him? Maybe she’d seen the itinerary and hired a cab to take her home. Or insisted Liam drive her back to Caisleán. He checked his phone. Surely the girls would tell him if the plan had been blown to bits, but there was no message.

He was sweating bullets now.

When his set of rows was called for boarding, he joined the cattle line. The woman behind him hit him in the back of the knees twice with her carry-on, ensuring he’d have a bruise. In front of him, a cute little redheaded kid smiled at him and then promptly sneezed without covering his nose and mouth. Linc flinched, wishing he had a good old-fashioned handkerchief.

Traveling this way was a nightmare.

He shuffled onto the plane like he was on a chain gang, and when he finally found his seat—36 C—he hit rock bottom. His row smelled like sewer. He looked over his shoulder. Great. The bathroom was right behind him, and it clearly had a leak.

He tried to get comfortable in the seat, but it had been made for a man half his size. He might as well be riding in a tin can. Forget the stains on the floor and the worn seat back in front of him. He closed his eyes and reached for patience. Maybe this was a bad joke. Maybe this was Bets’ attempt at revenge. No, she couldn’t be like that. Except he still hadn’t caught sight of her.

He thought about getting off the plane.

Checking his Swiss timepiece, he noted they were about fifteen minutes from taking off. Fish or cut bait time. The window seat next to him was empty. He wondered if it would remain that way. As the harried flight attendant came over the intercom to announce their impending departure, he caught a flash of red at the front of the plane. He immediately perked up.

The petite figure had a curly reddish-orange bob and the most beautiful pale blue eyes he’d ever seen. She met his gaze as she hurried down the aisle, pulling the same black carry-on she’d taken to Paris last time.

He found he was smiling.

Her mouth tipped up in response.

All of a sudden he knew everything was going to be all right.

When she reached his row, she gestured to the numbers above the bulkhead. “That’s my seat, cowboy.”

He pushed himself out of his prison and enjoyed the way she brushed her body against his as she passed him before falling into the cramped space. He kicked his feet out, shifting in the seat to give her more room. He felt like he was all pressed up against her. Under other circumstances, he would be quite pleased by that. But he wanted some answers first.

“You headed to Paris, huh?” he asked as the flight attendant announced they were closing the doors for takeoff. “Your idea or someone else’s?”

“Mine,” she answered, yanking on the hem of her aquamarine blue shirt after she’d locked her seat belt. “I heard the weather was nice right now. It’s always a great place for a romantic holiday. Don’t you think?”

Soshehad planned this and not the kids…Well, I’ll be. He kicked back a little more and eased next to her. “I’ve always thought so. Last month, I had myself a right wonderful time with the woman I’m in love with.”

“Are you still involved?” she asked softly, her gaze steady on his.

He thought about their harsh words for a moment. His heart was tight in his chest. Then he let it go. “I’ve been involved since the first moment I set eyes on her. We recently had a right dustup though with some harsh words. Then I got to thinking some fool-headed things. I imagine she had some unpleasant thoughts herself. Truth is, we both hurt each other.”

“I’m sure she’s very sorry.” She placed her hand on his arm.

That first move did it for him. “So is he.”

“I bet she wants to make it up to you,” she said softly, her heart in her eyes.

He took her hand and fitted their fingers together in a tight clasp. “Does she now?”

“She might have even arranged for this flight and sprung for a three-star hotel room in Paris. It was the best she could do.”

That stuck in his throat but good. “She should know I don’t care where I lay my head. So long as she’s next to me, it could be a nylon tent in the woods for all I care.”

She smiled brightly then, righting his entire world. “Maybe next time for the tent.”

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