“No way,” he scoffed. “They’re really great people.”
“Who set a very high bar.”
“And speaking of high …” He looked across her and out the airplane window. “We’re in the air and picking up altitude. The flight attendants are moving about the cabin and preparing for in-flight service. I draw your attention to this because we’ve successfully taken off and you have yet to freak out.”
“You’re right.” She laughed. “Now you can add ‘distracting fearful flyers’ to your impressive resume and list of accomplishments.”
“When are you going to admit I’m a nice man who happens to be a doctor?”
The look on her face told him she remembered her words that day in Ryleigh’s office.
If I ever meet a nice doctor, I’d have sex with him at that moment.
A red-hot memory of the scarlet soles of her sky-high shoes made him even more acutely aware of how much he hoped that she’d sincerely meant those words.
Chapter Four
Avery was amazed that she forgot to be afraid at a cruising altitude of twenty-nine thousand feet.
The flight to Texas took just under three hours and she chatted the whole way with Spencer. Who’d have thought such a thing was possible?
Spencer was so charming and funny and interesting that when she remembered her feet were not on the ground, it had very little to do with the fact that she was in an airplane and a whole lot to do with her traveling companion.
As if that weren’t bad enough, he was also a gentleman. He’d put her carry-on bag up and he took it down. Then he carried it off the plane. She wasn’t used to this kind of treatment from a man, which kind of made sense since she pretty much avoided men. But for the next few days she couldn’t avoid this one, not completely. At least she’d have her own space at the hotel. After checking in she’d spend the afternoon preparing for her meeting with the regional VP of the Mercy Medical Corporation.
Spencer walked up the Jetway beside her. “Have you ever been to Texas before?”
“No.”
“I’ll have to show you the sights.”
“That’s okay. There probably won’t be time.” Not if she was lucky.
For the first time, keeping her distance from Spencer Stone didn’t come easily. Apparently he’d weakened her emotional defense system as easily as he’d managed her fear of flying.
They exited the Jetway and walked through the waiting area at the gate, then followed the signs to baggage claim. There was a revolving door and after negotiating it, the next step was to find the carousel that corresponded to their flight number. That didn’t take long, but the little elves who unloaded the luggage from the plane took their sweet time. Finally, the warning buzzer and light signaled that the conveyor belt was starting up and spit out suitcases, backpacks and boxes.
Spencer grabbed her bag and before she could process the fact that he’d recognized it, he snagged his own.
“We have to catch the shuttle for the rental car lot,” he said.
“Is it that far?”
He laughed ruefully. “Like everything else in the Lone Star state, DFW airport is big. There’s a centrally located rental car facility about ten minutes away, not counting stops at the other four terminals to pick up passengers.”
“Okay, then.” She connected her carry-on bag to the bigger suitcase, leaving just one handle to pull. “I’ll follow you.”
They went down the escalator to the first floor where ground transportation was located. Their shuttle was waiting, which was lucky. As it turned out, that was all the luck she got for the rest of the day. She turned on her cell phone and listened to a message from Chloe. Her Friday meeting had been canceled.
When they were settled the van moved forward, out into the sunlight, as it negotiated the curving and intricate roads onto the main highway. That’s when Avery could see the airport and signs directing cars to terminals A, B, C, D and E.
She could only see out one side of the vehicle, but it was enough to get an impression. “Texas is really flat.”
“Around here,” he agreed. “There are hilly parts that we natives call—wait for it—Hill Country.”
“No way,” she teased. “How original. Must be named by a man.”
“Are you saying that men have no imagination?”
“Yes. And a distinct lack of poetry. They just name it what it is.”
“And that’s bad—why?” he asked. “There’s nothing wrong with straightforward.”
She couldn’t argue with that. The problem was that in her experience men weren’t always up front and honest, her first lesson being when she was a pregnant seventeen-year-old. It was a good thing she didn’t have to meet Spencer’s folks. Apparently they had no tolerance for flaws and she had too many to count. One look at her and she’d be outted as unworthy.
“What’s wrong?” Spencer’s deep voice snapped her to attention.
“Nothing.” She had to figure out what she was doing tomorrow. “I’m just trying to take it all in.”
“Don’t bother. There’s not much to see until we get out of the airport.”
She nodded and just watched buildings go by. There were planes parked here and there, which indicated maintenance facilities. Then the shuttle exited the highway, turned left and followed the road for a few miles where it pulled into a lot. After grabbing their luggage, they walked into the air-conditioned building and found a spot in the line that formed.
“Since the reservation’s in my name,” Spencer said, “I can handle the paperwork.”
“Okay. I’ll keep an eye on your bag.”
She stood out of the way and watched him work his way closer to the counter. More than one woman did a double-take after noticing tall, handsome, hunky Spencer Stone. So, the women in Texas weren’t immune to his charisma any more than the females in Las Vegas. It wasn’t a comforting thought. He had the trifecta of temptation—above average good looks, charm and sense of humor.
After a brief exchange with a rental car representative, he was lacking the last of the three. The expression on his face as he walked toward her was distinctly annoyed, if not downright angry.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“The reservation’s screwed up. They’re not expecting us until Sunday.”
“But today is Thursday.”
“That’s what I said,” he told her grimly. “It’s not like Laura to make a mistake like this.”
“Is that your office manager?” Stupid question, but she wasn’t at her best when thrown a curve.
He nodded. “She’s been a little distracted lately. A rebellious teenager and she’s a single mom. Personal problems.”
And now they had problems. “Can we take a taxi to the hotel?”
“Not necessary. There was a car available. I just wanted to fill you in.”
She nodded. What was there to say? Then something occurred to her. “Laura made all the arrangements, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe I should check on the hotel. If one date was wrong that might be, too.”
“Good idea.”
After