he was fairly certain. He’d treat the trip as a bonus for Jodie in appreciation for her years of service.
He smiled at the thought, pleased that he’d found the correct category for the trip.
* * *
Jodie had almost reached the door into the airport before Dean recognized her. She looked different, but why? Then he realized that she was wearing her hair down. He’d never seen her wear it any way but pulled back into a knot on the nape of her neck. It danced around her neck and shoulders in the wind. She certainly looked different this morning.
He glanced at his watch and frowned.
As soon as Jodie stepped out of the cab, she spotted Dean waiting for her just inside the door to the airline check-in counters. She hurriedly crossed the sidewalk toward him.
The wind-chill factor must be in the teens. Hawaii sounded better and better to her. At least she’d be getting away from the wonderful winter weather of dear old Chicago for a few days. She looked forward to soaking up some sun.
Just as she reached the door, he opened it and took her bag. “You’re late,” he snapped. “Security is tight and I don’t want to miss the flight.”
Actually she was forty-five minutes earlier than the airline recommended, but she wasn’t going to start their trip together disputing his words. Instead she smiled at him and said, “I’m here now and good morning to you. Have you checked your luggage?”
“Yes.” He glanced down at her suitcase. “Is this all you’re taking?”
She looked down at her bag and then back up at him. “We’re only going to be gone a week,” she replied.
“I thought women packed three or four suitcases wherever they went,” he mumbled.
“Not me.”
“Well,” he said awkwardly. “That’s good.”
She walked over to join the line to the counter and he followed her. “I might as well stay with you. No sense losing you in this crowd.”
Jodie realized that he was nervous! She found that hard to believe, considering how much traveling he did. Was it because she was along?
She hadn’t spotted it at first, probably because she’d been shaken by his accusation that she may have caused them to miss their plane. There was no way she would lose him in the crowd. As tall as he was, she’d spot him in any group.
She circumspectly checked out what he’d chosen to wear for the trip and was pleasantly surprised to see him in black pants, a black turtleneck sweater and a black leather jacket that fit snugly at his waist.
The wind had ruffled his dark hair and the leather jacket made him appear dangerous and very masculine.
He looked downright swashbuckling.
Now if he’d only smile once in a while, he could be attractive.
They reached their plane with time to spare, which Jodie wisely did not point out. Dean stopped and bought himself a paper and a couple of magazines. Jodie found the newest book out by one of her favorite authors, as well as a crossword puzzle book in case she got tired of reading.
She watched Dean as he paced the concourse. Was the man ever still? She placed her parka on her lap and started reading.
When it was time to board, first-class passengers were seated first. Not too bad. Dean waved her to the window seat before settling down beside her. A flight attendant checked to see what they would like to drink and handed them menus for breakfast.
Once they gave their orders, Jodie settled comfortably into the luxurious depths of her seat and looked around her.
The only time she’d seen first class on her flights was when she’d walked through to the tourist section. What a way to travel.
“Are you nervous about flying?” he asked after several minutes of silence.
She’d been peering out the window when he asked, and she straightened. “A little perhaps. Why?”
“I noticed your fingers gripping the armrests, and the plane hasn’t moved.”
She jerked her hands away and folded them into her lap. After a moment she dug into her purse and pulled out the book she’d been reading but gave up a few minutes later because she couldn’t seem to concentrate. Maybe she’d work one of the crossword puzzles.
After another prolonged silence—were they ever going to leave the terminal?—Jodie asked, “How long is the flight, do you recall? I’ve forgotten what the reservations said.”
“About thirteen hours, depending on a headwind. We change planes in Los Angeles.”
“Oh.”
“We should reach Maui by midafternoon local time.”
“But we’ll still be on Midwest time.”
“True.”
Well, she’d exhausted all her skills at social chitchat with him. Jodie picked up the airline magazine and began to thumb through it.
After what felt like hours, the plane finally taxied out to the runway for takeoff. Then it stopped. The captain apologized for the delay. There were nine jets ahead of this one. Great. That gave her plenty of time to rethink this whole idea.
Dean cleared his throat. “Jodie?”
She’d just peered out the window again. “Yes?”
“I’m a little embarrassed to mention this after you’ve worked for me so many years, but I really don’t know much about you besides your work ethic, which is outstanding, and your determination to get your degree, which is admirable. I’d like to learn more about you. Why don’t we use this time to get acquainted?”
“I’m sorry, but I really don’t want to talk right now. I need all my concentration once we’re ready for takeoff to make absolutely certain the plane’s wings are firmly attached.” After all, there was a lot of thrust by the jet engines, and everyone knew that takeoffs and landings were the most dangerous times during a flight. Unless they happened to fly into the side of a mountain. They had to cross the Rockies, didn’t they?
Or if they went down over water…say, maybe the Pacific Ocean?
“Jodie?” She jerked her head away from the window and looked at him inquiringly.
“We’re perfectly safe, you know.”
“Of course we are,” she promptly agreed. “As long as we sit here on the runway.” She glanced back out the window to continue to check the wings.
Dean made some kind of noise that sounded as if he was either choking or coughing. She looked back at him in concern. His lips were compressed and he wore a frown. His shoulders shook and suddenly, like Mount St. Helens, he erupted into laughter.
Laughter? She had rarely seen him smile, much less heard him laugh, and she stared at him in amazement. What a difference it made
