Read Online Love at First Flight by Marie Force - Free Book Online Page B

“It is what it is.”
    He lifted his beer can in to toast her. “Here's
to a disastrous weekend and new friends.”
    “To new friends.”

    ***

    The plane landed at Baltimore/Washington
International Airport just after nine. They walked through the terminal to
catch a shuttle bus to the parking lot.
    “Which lot are you in?” he asked.
    “Long-term A.”
    He chuckled. “Me, too.”
    “Of course you are,” she said with a
smile.
    On the shuttle, Michael reached for his
wallet and dug out a business card, which he handed to Juliana. “Call me if you
need a friendly ear. My cell number is on there, too.”
    “Thank you. Stop by the salon if you
decide to cut that mop of yours.”
    He ran a hand through his hair. “You
think it needs it?”
    “Uh, yeah. Now that you're back on the
market, the ladies will think you're hot without all that hair.”
    Flustered, he said, “You think so?”
    “Uh huh,” she said, making a scissor
gesture with her fingers.
    “I just might take you up on that.”
    “I hope you do. I really am sorry about
your fiancee.”
    “Thanks. Things work out the way they're
supposed to, you know?”
    “I guess I'll find out in three months.
Oh, this is where I get off.”
    He looked up with a grin. “Me, too.”
    As they were getting off the shuttle,
his cell phone rang. He was relieved to see it wasn't Paige calling again. He
had been ignoring her calls all day. “I've got to take this,” he said
reluctantly. “It's work.”
    “Good luck with the trial. I'll be
pulling for you.”
    He gave her a quick one-armed hug and
answered the phone. “Hey,” he said into the phone. “Hang on a sec.” Holding the
phone aside, he turned back to Juliana. “Take care of yourself.”
    “You, too. Thanks. For listening and
everything.”
    “My pleasure.”
    Waving, she unlocked her battered Toyota
Tercel and tossed her bag into the backseat.

CHAPTER 9
     
    ON THE WAY TO HIS CAR, MICHAEL TOOK THE
CALL. “What's up?”
    “We've got a problem in the District.”
His co-worker and second chair George Samuels sounded aggravated.
    Michael stopped walking. “What kind of
problem?”
    “She's having ahissy fit. Wants to see
you and only you.”
    “Oh, come on! Can't you guys settle her
down? What about her mother? Has she been there today?”
    “From what I hear, the mother's being an
even bigger pain in the ass. You'd better get down there, Michael.”
    “For Christ's sake, I just got back from
Florida.”
    “She's been acting up since Friday, but
the boss told us to leave you alone this weekend.”
    “Fine. I'll be there in an hour.” He
flipped his phone closed. “Damn it!” All he wanted was to go home, put his feet
up, and catch his breath after everything that had happened. Just then he heard
a clicking noise and turned to see where it was coming from.
    Juliana's forehead rested against the
steering wheel of a car that wouldn't start.
    Michael walked over to her open window. “This
day just gets better and better, huh?”
    “You said it.”
    “Can I give you a jump?”
    “I don't think it'll help. I was supposed
to buy a new battery but never got around to it.”
    “Then let me give you a lift.”
    “Are you sure you don't mind?”
    “Not at all, but I have to go into D.C.
before I go home. Will it screw you up to get home pretty late?”
    She shook her head. “I don't have to
work tomorrow, so I'm in no rush. I came home tonight because Jeremy has to
work tomorrow. I guess I can deal with this in the morning,” she said with a
frustrated gesture at the old car. “Just another insult in an insulting day.”
    Grinning, he said, “Grab your bag.”
    After she locked her car, he led her to
his silver Audi TT coupe.
    “ Oh ,
is that yours?” she asked with wide-eyed admiration.
    “My one major splurge,” he confessed. “It's
gorgeous.”
    “Thanks.” He tossed their bags into the
trunk and walked around to open the passenger door for her.
    “Why do you have to go to