Whenthe captain’s voice came over the intercom asking everyone to prepare the cabin for landing,Kellijerked awake with a scream.Stilllooking like she was in the fog of sleep, she realized that she’d been leaning against someone’s shoulder and seemed embarrassed and unwilling to make eye contact.Shewiped the edge of her mouth with her knuckles, which must have told her that she had been drooling because her eyes flew to his shoulder.Thenshe did make eye contact with him and jerked to more alertness.
“Parker!Whatare you doing here?WasIsleeping on you?”Shereached out and wiped at the small wet spot she had left on his shirt, and then whacked at it with the back of her hand. “Whydid you let me sleep on you?”
Hecouldn’t help the smile. “Hey, don’t blame me.Iwas just sitting here, minding my own business.You’rethe one who invaded my space.Itried to push you back.”
Hercheeks were flushed, and against her blonde hair, which was straight and down—something he rarely saw when she was at work—it was beautiful.
“Well, maybe you should’ve tried harder.”
“Ishould’ve.Yoursnoring was making it difficult for me to hear my movie.”
Hereyes narrowed at him. “Idid not snore.”Thenshe turned to the guy on the other side of her. “DidIsnore?”
Helooked every bit as amused asParkerwas, but shook his head no.
Shefaced forward in her seat, hands folded in her lap, a vindicated smile on her face, but he could see beneath the smile a residual embarrassment at having slept against his shoulder.Maybehe should’ve woken her up.Exceptif he had, she still would’ve realized that she’d fallen asleep on his shoulder and still would’ve been embarrassed—she just would’ve gotten an hour less sleep out of the deal.
Theplane landed and taxied to the gate.Whenit was their turn to deplane, he stood up in the aisle and took a step back, motioning forKellito go first.Anolive branch.Shemust’ve been feeling some embarrassment still, because she stood up, slung her bag over her shoulder, and then jerked her suitcase out of the overhead bin and started power walking up the aisle.
“Hey,” the guy who had been sitting at the window said.Thenhe turned toParker. “What’sher name?”
“Kelli.”
“Hey,Kelli!That’smy bag!”
Kellifroze, her back to them, then she turned around, cheeks flushed even more, and walked back to their row asParkerpulled out the bag he was fairly certain was hers and set it on the floor in front of her.Shestrode with purpose out of the plane, head held high, shoulders back.Parkersmiled at her the whole way.
Theywere heading in the same direction, so even thoughKellihad gotten the head start, she eventually must’ve brushed off the embarrassment, because she stopped moving like she was trying to win a speed-walking competition and started walking at a normal pace.Hethought it was safer to be near her then, and before he knew it, they were walking side-by-side.Hetold himself he was drawn to her simply because she was the only person he knew in the state.Itwas just human nature.
“So,” she eventually said, partially glancing in his direction but not enough for their eyes to meet, “is this a layover for you, or is this your final destination?”
“Finaldestination.”
Shegave a tight nod. “Doyou have family inSouthCarolina?”
Thetone of her voice was hopeful, but he had no problem dashing that hope. “Nope.I’mhere for theZentCuberetreat.”Itwasn’t hard to guess that she was, too.
Sheturned her head away from him, but he didn’t miss the grimace on her face before she did.
Asthey were riding down the escalators leading to baggage claim, she grabbed his arm with her free hand and said, “Look!Theysent drivers to get us!”Assoon as she realized she was holding onto his arm, though, she let go.
AllParkercould think about was the way it felt to haveKelli’shand on his arm, and how empty it felt to have it disappear so quickly.Buthe did look in the direction she had pointed to see two drivers in black suits with black driving caps, and they were both holding signs that saidZentCubeon them.
Aftergetting their luggage, it became obvious who the twelve of them going on the retreat were as they all gathered around the two drivers.Parkerrecognized several people from company functions, and one from working on a project with some people in buildingB—he was pretty sure the guy’s name wasDavis—but didn’t know anyone else well enough to know their names.Thetwelve of them split up, six to a car, which ended up being a limo.Thekind with two bench seats that faced each other.
Asthey made the drive from the airport to the resort,Kellikept looking from window to window, trying to take in all the sights.Hedidn’t think he was the only one in the car who probably would’ve missed them ifKellihadn’t been so enthusiastic about seeing everything.
Heliked it when people appreciated all the amazing things surrounding them.Healways had.Howhad he forgotten that so fully when he’d been making wedding plans with a woman who was impressed by nothing?Howhad he lost that part of himself while they’d been dating and engaged?Itwas a good thing thatStephaniehad called it off.
Huh.Thatwas a new thought.Hehad been crushed when his ex had ended things, and he hadn’t quite gotten over feeling bad about that.Hisrealization that it was a good thing felt like a piece of his shattered heart was just put back in place.
Butthat didn’t mean he should be thinking ofKelli.Shedeserved someone better than him.Shedeserved someone whose list of faults wasn’t a mile long.
Kelliturned around and knocked on the window between them and the driver.Itslid down. “Yes?”
“Um, that sign said that the check-in for theRoyalPalmResortwas right back there.”
Thewoman driving said, “That’snot where you’re checking in.”
