as Natalie shook her head.
Snow was still falling. It looked like large flecks of soft cotton as it dropped down against everything outside. A line of trees bowed heavily from the weight of the ice and snow that had accumulated against its branches and there was no distinguishing grass from pavement, everything blanketed in layers of white. You could feel the aura of calm and quiet that echoed gently in the distance.
Tinjin suddenly had a host of questions for the beautiful woman beside him but he held his tongue. Something about the moment made him feel that they would have all the time in the world to learn more about each other. As if it were the most natural thing to do, he eased his arm around her back and shoulders and hugged her to him.
Despite thinking that she should know better, Natalie liked the feel of his arms around her. Where she should have been hesitant, having known him for only a brief period, she wasn’t. And although that surprised her, it also felt very right to her. She leaned into his side, falling into the warmth of his body heat. She dropped her head down against the curve of his shoulder and lifted her legs to the cushioned seat, folding them back against her buttocks. Minutes passed before either spoke, both enjoying the quiet moment.
“Don’t get comfortable,” Natalie suddenly said. “This doesn’t mean anything. We don’t know each other that well.”
Tinjin chuckled softly. “Oh, it means something,” he said, as he tightened the grip he had on her shoulder and pulled her closer.
She cut an eye at the man. “Don’t push your luck with me, TJ.”
He shook his head. “I would never do that, Gnat.”
Natalie marveled at the level of comfort between them. She slipped her arms around his waist and hugged him back, looking out the window at the snow.
“Do you think it’ll ever stop?” she asked.
Tinjin nodded. “I’m sure it’ll start to blow over soon.”
“It’s so pretty!” Natalie gushed. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything more beautiful.”
Tinjin shifted his gaze to her face, watching her as she stared outside. He resisted the urge to lean and press a damp kiss to her mouth. “Me, neither,” he whispered. “Me, neither.”
* * *
Flight number 490 was boarding in thirty minutes, nonstop to Salt Lake City. Both Tinjin and Natalie sighed in relief. It had been a long sixteen hours, despite the ease and comfort they’d found in each other’s company.
“Finally!” Natalie exclaimed as the two maneuvered their way to the other terminal and the boarding gate.
Tinjin nodded. “I will be glad to get to the hotel for a shower and a bed. I’ll probably sleep for the next two days. What about you?”
A look of distress washed over her expression. “I don’t know that I’ll be getting much sleep,” she said as she turned away from him. “I’m already wishing I could just go back to London.”
Tinjin wasn’t sure he believed her. Something about her demeanor told him that she was anxious to get to whatever was waiting for her in Utah. And he was still in the dark about her reasons for going there. Despite hours of conversation that had solidified their friendship, she was still a mystery to him. He suddenly found himself wondering if it would always be that way.
They had promised to stay in touch, a tentative coffee date planned for when they both found themselves back in London. But Tinjin couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever see her again once they landed and headed in their separate directions. He was about to ask when Natalie beat him to the question.
“You’re not going to forget about me once you get back to your life, are you? It’s not every day that I like a guy who feels me up in an airport, so you better call me. You are going to call me, right?”
Tinjin laughed. “I don’t remember feeling you up.”
“You did,” she said matter-of-factly. “I would have slapped you if I’d known it was going to slip your mind that quick.”
He shook his head. “And you’re violent, too. You’re just a banquet of surprises.”
Natalie laughed with him. “I’ll take that to mean that you are definitely going to call.”
He wrapped her in a warm hug. “I wouldn’t miss the opportunity.”
* * *
The flight from New York to Salt Lake City took in excess of seven hours. Two of those hours were spent at the Jetway while a maintenance crew fought to deice the plane and make it flight ready. By the time they made it to the runway for takeoff, everyone on board was irritated and tense.
Natalie had been able to retain her first-class seat, but Tinjin had agreed to be downgraded to coach rather than wait another half day for another flight. As he pretended to sleep, wishing away the senior citizen who’d been whining her complaints since boarding, he couldn’t get the exquisite Natalie off his mind. He’d enjoyed every moment of their time together. There was something special about Natalie and her presence excited him. Her desire to hear from him again was promising, going above and beyond any expectations he might have had.
Natalie shifted against the leather seat, twisting her body to stare out the window. She wrapped her arms around her torso as she watched the ground crew flit back and forth below. She found herself wishing that Tinjin was still by her side, still making her smile and laugh. There was something about the man and she found herself actually missing him.
* * *
Natalie was waiting for him when he finally made his way off the airplane. The elderly lady who’d been seated next to him clutched his arm tightly, bemoaning her travel woes as he escorted her down the jet bridge. Natalie stood by the guardrail, shifting from side to side anxiously. Her smile widened when she saw him and there was a glimmer of amusement in her eyes when she spied his companion.
“Just don’t make no sense,” the older woman was muttering. “Took me three days to get here. Three days! Don’t make no sense at all.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Tinjin said softly.
An airline attendant stood behind a wheelchair, welcoming them both to Salt Lake City International Airport. When the woman was safely ensconced in her seat, Tinjin wished her well on the rest of her journey.
“I’m home now. My son should be here to get me and then I’m going home. Don’t have to worry about me traveling no more,” she said. “Don’t make no sense to be stranded like that for three days. Don’t make no sense at all!”
Natalie giggled as the stewardess pushed the old woman down the length of hallway, her annoyance vibrating through the air. Natalie moved to his side.
“Don’t laugh,” Tinjin said, his eyes rolling skyward. “That was painful.”
“And here I thought you were having a good time with your new girlfriend.”
“I guess it’s a good thing we both don’t get paid to think, then,” Tinjin countered with a smug smile.
Natalie met his bright look with one of her own. “So where are you off to now?” Natalie questioned.
“The Grand American Hotel. My sister reserved a room for me there.”
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно