I glanced away quickly, carefully hung up his coat, and gestured for Ozzie to go in. “Living room’s to your right. I’ll get you something warm to drink.”
“Thank you.”
Ozzie moved with a grace unexpected for a man his size, swaying his hips from side to side. My gaze landed on his generous backside, full and rounded, rolling with his rhythmic steps. My gut tightened, and my mouth went dry.
Damn beer was putting unwanted thoughts in my head.
1
OZZIE
Asinking feeling of déjà vu attacked me as I deplaned with the rest of the passengers of flight 1491. It was last Christmas all over again. Flying to Denver without my fiancé hadn’t been a part of the plan. We were supposed to arrive in the city together. We were supposed to rent a car, spend a night at Carter’s mother’s, and continue the two-hour journey to Bristlecone Springs the next day. We were supposed to make a good impression this time when we met his father.
Carter might not have been bothered by how disappointed his dad had been over the holidays, but I hadn’t been able to get him out of my mind. He’d looked devastated when he found out his son came so close but had no intention of seeing him. No amount of cajoling on my part had persuaded Carter to put off the trip to Aspen to spend some time with his father.
I shuffled forward in the slow-moving line to get through airport security. I’d flown economy while my fiancé had purchased first-class tickets for two of his buddies for their trip to the Bahamas.
“Sir, will you step aside for me, please?”
I stifled a groan as the airport security officer singled me out. What was it about me that screamed I had drugs hiding under my folds? They swabbed my hands, opened my carry-on, and went through the contents with quick efficiency. They checked my bottle of aspirin and even bent the spine of the paperback I’d been reading on the plane.
“Thank you for your cooperation, sir,” the security officer said, his attention already on another traveler. “Have a good day.”
I mumbled a reply, gathered my belongings, and headed to the baggage claim. When I powered my phone on, the screen showed a few missed calls from Carter. The tension in my shoulders eased, and I smiled. He’d called, so that meant he’d been thinking about me.
I redialed his number and waited off to the side while the other passengers from my flight crowded around the baggage carousel. From experience, I knew better than to get too close until most had already claimed their bags. People always gave me the stink eye, as if I was taking up more space than I should.
“Hey there, porky,” Carter answered. “I’ve been trying to get through to you.”
God, I wish he would stop calling me that.
“Sorry, Car. I’ve just gone through airport security.”
“Listen, babe, I can’t talk for long. Me and the guys are about to go snorkeling. Just wanted to make sure you got there okay. I know how much you hate flying.”
“Then why didn’t you make the trip with me?”Please let him hear the pouting in my voice.
“Babe, I already told you. It’s my last trip with the boys as a free man.”
“You’re not free, Carter. We’re not married yet, but we are in a committed relationship, so I hope you’re not doing anything you’re not supposed to.”
“You mean like sowing my wild oats with an island girl?” His laugh grated on my nerves. “If not now, then when?”
“Carter!”
“I’m just joking. Lighten up, porky.”
I gritted my teeth. “And stop calling me that. It’s degrading.”
“It’s not. It’s cute and fits you perfectly. Anyway, I wanted you to know we’re spending a few more days here, so I’ll get there later than planned.”
I sucked in a deep breath, clenching the phone when a man rushing toward the baggage carousel jostled me. “Carter, you promised. I only made the trip without you because you said you would arrive tomorrow.”
“If you saw it here, you would understand.”
“I could have, but you didn’t want me there.”
“Don’t say it like that. You don’t know the guys that well, and you know how you get awkward and self-conscious around others. I didn’t want to ruin the trip.”
