Page 74 of Better Watch Out

Enough to be annoyed by another missed moment.Thanks, Pilot Phil. But how could she complain when Andrew’s reason for waiting was so … chivalrous?

Andrew wheeled her carry-on to a pair of leather armchairs inside the private lounge on the third floor of Reagan National. Floor-to-ceiling windows gave the privileged passengers a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from Crystal City all the way to the dome of the Capitol in the distance. There were a trio of decorated Christmas trees near the window, and soft Christmas jazz playing from the speakers overhead gave the space a festive but soothing atmosphere the rest of the harried travelers in the airport were missing out on.

“I’m sorry to have to make you wait.” Vivian had texted Frannie while they were flying to let her know she was stuck in traffic after picking Jisoo up from her dance class. “I told Vivian I could take an Uber but she insisted I wait for her to come get me.”

“I agree with her.”

Frannie stopped Andrew with a hand to his bicep. His very strong bicep that she was increasingly enjoying feeling wrapped around her. She used to laugh at the unrealistic moments in movies where the hero and heroine were fighting the bad guy but still falling in love in the middle of bullets flying at them, but maybe there was something to danger amping up attraction. She’d definitely use that in her story.

“Frannie?”

She put a pin in her future story ideas and refocused on why she’d stopped Andrew in the first place. “I know what happened today was serious. I recognize things could’ve gone really badly for me.” Distress filled his eyes and it was endearing but also made her worry Andrew would go the way of her brother and treat her like she couldn’t take care of herself. That’s the last thing she wanted from him, especially when his confidence in her these last few days made her feel like she was strong and capable. “I don’t plan on engaging in nefarious activity in the future but the next man in my life, the one I want to give my heart to, needs to be someone who will have my back and support my decisions without worrying I’m naïve to the world. Despite everything that happened, my trip to New York was one of the best experiences of my life, and I wouldn’t change any of it.”

Andrew’s brow spiked. “Everything?”

She tilted her head. “Okay, so maybe the whole nearly being kidnapped was a bit much but think about how I can use that in my travel suspense story.”

“It’ll definitely be accurate.” His tone held the subtlest hint of humor.

The air between them began to spark. “Readers appreciate accuracy.” Her eyes drifted to his lips for a second. “Especially when it comes to the romance.”

Andrew dipped his chin, gaze serious. “And this man you want to give your heart to … would he be required not to worry at all about the womanhisheart belongs to?”

His low voice was rumbly, causing her breath to turn shallow. “I think a little worry is good for the relationship.” Those baby blues of his darkened with intensity. “Shows her how much he cares.”

Andrew sidled closer to her, his hand resting on her hip. “So, he needs to encourage her to pursue her dreams to travel and write but needs to remember she’s fully and completely capable of taking out the bad guy with pepper spray if necessary.”

Frannie’s cheeks pinched, her face splitting into a smile. Inching closer, she pressed her hands against his chest and felt the heavy beat of his heart beneath her fingers. “She’s very capable but behind every strong woman is a man who believes in her.”

Lifting her left hand from his chest, he drew her toward a Christmas tree just as a familiar Ella Fitzgerald song filled the air around them. Andrew spun her around in a slow circle before pulling her close to his chest.

They swayed to the music, his hands slipping around her waist and finding their spot along her back like they were always supposed to be there. There were other passengers in the lounge but their presence seemed to drift away, leaving only her and Andrew in this moment.

This perfect moment.

Andrew studied her, the look in his eyes tantalizing as he tipped his chin, moving closer, his mouth hovering near hers. “I’d like to be that man.”

His breath was minty and warm against her skin and her body lit up. “I’d like that too.”

Andrew cradled the back of her neck gently, his lips finding hers with tenderness, almost as if he still wasn’t certain she was okay with this. She slid her hands up his arms and over his shoulders and deepened the kiss, hoping it communicated that she was more than okay with this.

He got the message as he pressed her closer, his kiss exploring and hungry. Her lips tingled with the pressure and nothing had felt more perfect. A second later, and much to her disappointment, Andrew’s lips slipped away, not far, but just enough she could see his smoldering smile.

“Number ten.” His lips brushed against hers again.

“What?”

Andrew glanced up at the beautiful Christmas tree. “The last item on your bucket list.” He kissed a tender trail down her cheek to her lips. “Kiss in front of a Christmas tree.”

Frannie’s heart puddled. This man had given her so much more than a completed bucket list and it truly felt like a Christmas miracle but she knew it was more than that.Herlife plan had been upended, forcing her to confront the insecurities she’d wrestled with for so long and accept that the unexpected moments in life might lead to something better than she could’ve ever planned.

Staring up at Andrew, she didn’t know what their future held but hope flickered brightly, and she couldn’t wait for the adventure.

“So, Miss Francis, what are you doing for New Year’s Eve?”

Ella Fitzgerald’s smooth voice sang out the same lyrics and Frannie’s heart danced to the slow melody of the song. “I don’t have any plans. What about you?”

“I kind of have Georgia on my mind.” His lips teased a kiss over her lips. “And a bucket list of my own.”

The End