Forbidden (2 page)

The plane shook slightly as it made its final approach and Maggie glanced out of the window. A beautiful turquoise blue ocean, endless palm trees, boats bobbing up and down, and even a beach were in her view. She leaned her head back again as her ears popped. The plane flew through the only two clouds in the sky as they got closer to the runway.

Julie had told Maggie there had been a last minute change of plan and her son Jon would be meeting her at the airport. She hadn’t seen him in, well, it had to be over fifteen years. She wondered what he looked like now he was all grown up.

* * * *

Jon felt stupid holding the twelve-by-twelve card his mom had given him that read, in large black lettering, ‘Welcome Maggie!’ He tossed it into the nearest bin and walked to the flight arrivals monitor to check for her flight one last time.

Maggie’s plane had landed ten minutes ago. No longer armed with the card bearing her name, he’d need to keep his eyes peeled for a middle-aged woman travelling alone. His mother had said she was a brunette and about five six. Last time she’d seen Maggie she’d been in good shape, but that had been five years ago. Maybe she’d gained some weight since then.

The automatic doors leading from the immigration and passport area slid open and a few travellers headed out pushing carts loaded with suitcases. So far everyone had been in groups or part of a couple. Another crowd made their way out but no ladies travelling solo. He hoped she hadn’t missed her connecting flight in London.

The sliding door swished open again, revealing a brunette all by herself. However, she couldn’t be his mom’s friend, could she? This woman was attractive and sexy in fitted jeans and a T-shirt. No way was this lady middle-aged. And hell, wasn’t Maggie even a grandmother? This couldn’t be her, but she was looking around as if lost. Oh well, even if this wasn’t his mom’s friend, Jon was determined to get talking to her.

“Maggie?”

She looked over at the guy standing behind the silver handrail. He couldn’t be Julie’s son, could he? Maggie hoped he was the right person and walked towards him. As she got closer she realised he was, in fact, Jon Gunderson. He looked just like his late father. The strong jawline, great cheekbones, light brown, slightly wavy hair and those gorgeous blue eyes. He was a couple of inches taller than his dad’s six foot frame and his shoulders were broader, too.

Ouch! Maggie looked over her shoulder. Some guy had slammed his cart into the back of her legs. When a second cart hit her in the butt she realised she’d been so busy checking out Jon that she and her cart were both blocking the only exit route.

 
She moved closer to Jon and out of the way of more angry travellers.

“Yes, I’m Maggie, and you must be Jon.”

“I am. I’ll meet you at the exit over there and take your bags for you. I bet you’re dead on your feet.”

Maggie pushed her cart with extra effort and soon Jon was standing inches from her. She got a whiff of a spicy aftershave as he pulled the bag off her shoulder.

“I’m being rude.” He put out his hand but then opted to hug her instead. “Welcome to Mallorca. Mom’s been excited since the minute you told her you were finally taking a trip here.”

His gesture caught her off guard and it seemed he wasn’t going to let go of her any time soon. She’d been sitting on a plane for hours and hoped for his sake her twelve-hour deodorant lived up to its claim.

“I’m looking forward to seeing her too,” Maggie said.

Jon pulled away. “Let’s head out to the parking ramp so we can get on our way and miss the heavy traffic. I’m sure all you want to do is sleep.”

She was feeling sluggish and the airport felt hot and humid, which did nothing to help. Maggie tagged along beside Jon as he pulled her suitcase behind him and headed towards the elevators.

It was crowded so Maggie had to push against Jon’s body to fit inside. The smell of his cologne invaded her senses again. Whatever the scent, it was sexy and seductive. Its intensity increased as the doors closed and shut them in the confined space. Maggie took a couple of deep breaths.

Their arms brushed continually as they rode together. He glanced at her and smiled before talking to a man in what sounded to Maggie like perfect Spanish. Well, of course he would be fluent. This had been his home for close to twenty-five years. Maggie had bought a Spanish language book and while she was still no expert, she could just about figure out that the man was asking Jon about car rentals.

As the doors parted, Jon placed his hand in the small of Maggie’s back and encouraged her out. “The car’s in the fifth row over there,” he said.

Another set of double doors slid open to the outside ramp, allowing oppressive heat and humidity to surround her as she stepped outside on to the concrete. The parking lot looked just like the ones back home, rows of cars, people pulling their suitcases towards the exit. Right now the excessive heat was the only thing that reminded her she was no longer in Maine.

“Mom said she’s sorry she couldn’t pick you up, but she had to stay home and pack. She and my step-dad have to take a trip to the mainland for the first week of your stay. Miguel’s dad had a heart attack and he’s having bypass surgery on Wednesday.”

“She should have told me and I would have delayed my trip. I mean, if I’m putting all of you out by visiting right now.”

“She knew you’d say that and that’s why she didn’t mention it. And don’t worry, you won’t be on your own. I live in the nearby guest apartment and I’ve been given strict orders to take you wherever you want and show you all the sights.”

“There’s really no need for that. I mean, I’ll be happy just to sit around reading the books I’ve brought with me. “

“Mom’s given her orders and you know what that means.”

Maggie smiled. Julie had been one of Maggie’s instructors at design college and, yes, Julie could be a tough taskmaster when she wanted. Jon indicated they’d arrived at the car, which was a light blue mid-size sedan with a moon roof. He unlocked the trunk and hefted Maggie’s luggage inside. Next he opened the passenger door and she got in.

“I hope Spanish cars have air conditioning.” She fanned her face with a hand. She knew the weather would be hot in Mallorca but not this oppressive. She’d only been outside for a couple of minutes and already her clothes were sticking to her. Maybe the first thing she’d do when she arrived at Julie’s would be to take a dip in the pool.

“It’s not usually this hot in September, but we’ve had a couple of weeks like this. And unfortunately the humidity’s been high, too. We need a good storm. And yes, don’t worry, my car does have air conditioning.”

He started the ignition and a blast of music rocked the car.

“Sorry about that.” He ejected a CD from the player. “I was listening to it on the drive here.”

“Please don’t turn it off on my account. I love listening to music, especially while I’m driving.”

“Okay, but I’ll lower the level so we can chat.”

He pushed the CD back into the player and music travelled throughout the car. Maroon 5. She loved Maroon 5.

“You like this, too?” Maggie hoped he didn’t mind but she reached for the volume button and pumped it up a few times when
This Love
started to play.

He backed out of the parking stall and made his way out of the ramp. “Yeah, I heard some of these songs playing in one of the clubs one night and thought I’d buy the CD.”

“I have this one too.” Maggie picked up the case. “I secretly dance to it when no one’s looking. And I kept all my youngest daughter’s CDs. Can you believe I love dancing to
Oops, I Did It Again
?”

Jon laughed and Maggie noticed he had another one of his father’s traits, a sexy cleft in his chin and drop-dead dimples, too.

She fanned her face again. Was it just hot in the car or was Jon raising her temperature? If he wasn’t so young, and Julie’s son…

But he was and she shouldn’t even be thinking about him in that way.

She used the CD case as a fan. Jon must have noticed because he turned up the air conditioning and rotated the vents in her direction. A blast of cold air hit her face and chest but it wasn’t helping one bit.

Another tune she loved started to play and Maggie started to sing a few of the words. She caught herself and her face heated. “Sorry, I’m so used to doing that in my own car. I forgot where I am.”

“You said you like dancing?”

“I love it but I haven’t been for years. All the places that cater to people my age don’t play this sort of stuff.”

“There are a couple of clubs in Alcudia that have great music and dancing. Maybe while Mom’s away we can go there. I doubt she’d want to tag along.”

Maggie laughed, more out of unease than Jon’s humour. Going with Jon to a dance club! That would be interesting.

He looked at her and smiled, tapping a finger on the steering wheel in time with the beat. She realised she’d been rude by not responding.

“Sure, that sounds like fun.”

Despite the air conditioning blowing full blast, she was getting warmer by the minute.

She glanced over at Jon’s thighs, clad in tight jeans. Next thing she noticed was the nice bulge at the top of them. God, what was wrong with her? She’d known him since he was a little boy. She’d even bathed him and put him to bed the night of his father’s accident. He was almost like her offspring and here she was lusting after him. Borderline incestuous. She readjusted the vent, hoping the cool air would calm both her body and passion.

“How far is it to Alcudia?”

“About an hour and a half depending on traffic.”

Shit, she would be this close to him for ninety minutes?

“If you see any interesting sites or towns you’d like to visit just make a note of it and we can drive back out to them. Maybe spend the day there, too.”

“I hope I won’t be keeping you from your job. Your mom told me you have your doctor’s licence now.”

“I do, but once Mom mentioned she’d be away for the week, I told my supervisor at the clinic where I work that I might take some time off so I can show you around. They have five other doctors and one’s on call so it’ll be fine.”

Maggie nodded and rested her head on the seatback.

“Inca is pretty neat, very historical so you might like to see that. And the Caves of Drach. Mom loves going there, so maybe we should hold off doing that trip until she comes home.”

His voice was deep, sexy, very soothing to her as they headed away from the airport and got on to the open road. Mallorca was just how she’d imagined it would be—palm trees, fields, almond and olive groves. Just plain beautiful. Her friend had been lucky marrying a Spanish man and moving here all those years ago. Still, she’d deserved it after her tragic loss.

“Big change from Maine?” Jon’s voice jarred her. “Sorry, did I wake you? If you want to sleep I’ll just keep my mouth shut.”

“No, it’s fine. And yes, very different from Maine. You ever been there?”

He shook his head while changing CDs. “No, if I go to the US it’s usually to New York to visit Dad’s family and stop by his grave.”

Maggie nodded. Poor Jon had been just five years old when he’d lost his dad. Henry Gunderson, also a doctor, had been called into the ER because of the record number of accidents caused by the icy roads.

Maggie had been Julie’s student and had stopped by the house to pick up some design books she was borrowing just as he was leaving that evening. Two hours later the hospital had called to tell Julie that Henry had been admitted to the ER. She’d left Maggie to give Jon his bath and put him to bed. She’d been in the middle of reading him
Jack and the Beanstalk
when Julie had called to say that Henry had died from the injuries he’d sustained.