He's Captured My Trust (Captured Series Book 2) (3 page)

“So, can I assume from the smile on your face that there will be someone special waiting for you at the airport?” James asks.

“Yes, there will be.” I know I must have a silly grin on my face, but I can’t help it. Surely it won’t be much longer until we land. I have butterflies in my stomach.

Nerves.

God knows why I’m so nervous.

Is it because it’s been four long weeks since I last saw him?

Maybe.

Do I think he won’t be at the airport waiting on me?

Not a chance.

Do I know how I feel about him?

Yes, of course I do.

It’s not because I’ll be meeting his parents, because I’ve already met them, and they’re lovely people. I’m looking forward to seeing them again and to meeting his brother, Connor, and sister, Sophie.

“Libby, I believe he’s a lucky man.”

“Who says it’s a man?” I chuckle.

“I don’t think you’re the type for it to be a woman, but then again I could be wrong. But I have to say, I’ve seen that look many a time before. So, am I wrong?”

“No, you’re not wrong.”

One of the airline attendants comes through and ensures everyone has their seat belts on. She also wakes up the older couple beside James, much to his annoyance, judging by the look on his face. I kind of feel sorry for him if that’s what he’s had to contend with the whole flight. The woman is awake only a few minutes before she starts in on her poor husband. I get the feeling the old man switches his hearing aid off a lot.

I think the two men beside me have been working the entire flight. They close their laptops and put them away, which reminds me that I was reading on my Kindle before I fell asleep. I look around for it.

“Looking for your Kindle?” the gentleman on my left asks.

“Yes.”

“It’s here—it fell on the floor. I shut it down when you fell asleep. I hope you don’t mind?”

“No. Thank you.” I take it from him and put it in my bag.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we will be landing at twelve fifteen p.m. local time, ten minutes ahead of schedule. Can I ask all passengers to ensure they remove all personal belongings?” The captain continues speaking, but I don’t hear a word he says.

MY MIND WANDERS AGAIN. I’VE
been doing that a lot lately, but it isn’t surprising considering everything going on in my life.

First Ethan, my dearest twin brother, is finally getting his life back together. After everything that’s happened these last few months, he’s finally being allowed to move on. No trial to go through anymore. The man that caused the car accident, that resulted in Lindsay’s death, pleaded guilty. But after an emotional speech from Ethan, about how two children being without a parent, wasn’t right. All parties reached a mutual decision. He was given a suspended sentence. Ethan went back to work at the advertising and marketing company he works for a few weeks ago on a part-time basis, only three days a week. He asked for my help in finding childcare for Lucy, which didn’t go down well with either set of grandparents, but they respected his wishes. It means that if he wants to go out at the weekend, he can ask one of them to take her. So it looks as if it might work out for all concerned.

Then there are my parents. They have fussed over me since the incident with Jeff, so the week I wasn’t talking to them was a bit of a godsend. It meant I got some peace. Dad’s PR business got a few more top-name clients, but then again, it nearly cost him a lot more than he would have liked. Me, his own daughter. I still get upset thinking that I was used for marketing, especially when he knows how much I hate the media, but I’ve put it into some sort of perspective now. A lot of it came from my own issues in dealing with the situation. Dad has also loosened his reins at the hotel. He owns it, but is more than happy to let me run it my own way. He’s still there when I need advice, to offer his guidance, but he’s spending more time on the PR business and a lot more time with my mum.

Then there’s Kirsty, who, by her own account, isn’t the settling-down type. She’s wrong there. Since Alex and Michael left, she has been seeing Jay, a guy she met about six weeks ago. I’ve met him a few times and he seems nice—different from all the other guys she’s been with in recent years. He treats her right; I just hope she treats him right.

She’s also desperate to move out and in with me, but I’m sure that if she did, it would cost us our friendship, so I’m reluctant. She’s also looking for a job, which shocked us all. She’s been helping around the hotel, which has worked out well, especially when I was still feeling poorly. Who knows? It could lead to something more permanent.

That brings me to the hotel. We are completely booked for the whole month of December, which isn’t unusual. I would love to have a white Christmas; it’s been a few years since we had snow on Christmas Day. Nothing would be nicer than looking out over the loch and seeing it surrounded in pure, brilliant-white snow. I think the extra media attention’ surrounding Alex and I, hasn’t done any harm. Karl has all the staff he needs in the kitchen after weeks of interviews, and now, finally, we have a female chef. With the restaurant so busy and events being booked as well, we have hired additional staff. The hotel is up for an award, and, all in all, things are looking great. I love my job and the hotel—don’t know what I would do without them.

Then there’s Jeff. He pleaded guilty to all charges, so I’m waiting for him to be sentenced. At least he’s sparing me a long trial. His parents came to see me at the hotel, to apologise for their son’s behaviour. His mum seemed upset about the whole situation. It was a horrible experience, witnessing how it was affecting them all as well. I hadn’t given that any thought.

He had given them a letter to give to me, but I refused to take it. His mum understood my reasons, although I think she would have liked me to read it. Too much has been said and done, and whatever he wants to say to me, I am not ready to hear. I probably never will be.

He’s left me with fears that I never had before. Vulnerable. Scared. Anxious. Nervous. Insecure. That’s how I felt at the time, and I still do. Even after Tony, I managed to pick up the pieces and move forward with my life, but this has taken a lot more out of me than I first realised.

I am brought back down to earth with a few bumps as we land. A voice echoes through the plane, telling us to remain in our seats until the plane comes to a complete stop. They say the same things on every journey, but there is always at least one person who thinks they’re above the law.

A gentleman two rows back is already out of his seat and trying to get his hand luggage from an overhead compartment, much to the annoyance of the cabin crew. There is no rush. It will still take the same time for all of us to go through security and baggage claim, although I don’t need to do the latter, since all I have with me is my hand luggage.

We finally come to a stop.

I take my phone out of my bag and switch it back on. I have a few messages, but before I read them, I send a quick text, “Landed. See you soon. X.”

I notice that Alex sent a message earlier, “Baby, I can’t wait to see you and have you home with me. X.”

At home with Alex . . . that sounds good, although in his bed at home sounds much more appealing. I know I won’t have him to myself the whole weekend. I’m sure I’ll be seeing his family, but I hope he doesn’t have too much sightseeing planned. I’m more than happy to stay at home with him.

I read my messages. The first one is from Kirsty. “Have a fab time and be good. X K.”

Then Ethan. “Hope you have a great time in the big apple.”

And Kieran. “Right, sweetie, be good and if you can’t be good at least be safe. Give Alex a big wet kiss from me LOL. XXX.”

Trust Kieran. I laugh out loud reading his text.

“Is everything okay?” James asks, looking puzzled.

“Just a message from a friend back home.” I stand to get my hand luggage from the compartment.

“Here, let me help you with that.” James tries to take it from me.

“You know, I can manage.”

“I am sure you are more than capable.” He lifts my case down with ease and proceeds to get his own. I lift my handbag, and James indicates with his hand that I should go in front of him.

Obviously a few planes have landed close to us at the same time. The airport is busy—
really
busy—as we head toward security. I refuse to let James take my small case—don’t want to give him the wrong impression. He might be happy to flirt with a complete stranger, but I am definitely not leading him on.

My phone buzzes, signalling the arrival of a text. “I am already here. See you in a few minutes. X.” I smile at the warm, fuzzy feeling that sweeps through my body. He’s here, waiting.

“So, Libby, do you plan on doing much sightseeing while you’re here?”

“I’m only here for the weekend, so maybe next time,” I answer with a smile, as I think about what I want to do the whole weekend.

It doesn’t take as long as I thought it would to get through security, and, before I know it, I sense his eyes burning through me, awakening all my senses. I scan the area, and it’s not long before I find those burning brown eyes. Alex is here. James is still by my side, talking, but I have switched off. My focus is on one person and one person only.

Our gazes connect. The slow smile spreads across his beautiful face, revealing the dimples on his face. My breathing changes, and my heart races—races straight toward the tall, handsome man I’ve not seen in four weeks. He still looks hot, if not hotter than I remember. His soft brown hair, slightly longer than I remember, more to run my hands through. A soft shadow graces his jawline; unshaven. He’s come straight from a meeting to pick me up, very much the important businessman. It reminds me of my first encounter with him. He’s wearing the same suit, if I’m not mistaken.

I try to concentrate on bringing my breathing back under control, which is a hard task. I take deep breaths to get some much-needed oxygen back into my lungs, but that’s not the only problem I’m having at the moment. No, there’s the blazing heat spreading through my body that has every nerve ending standing at attention, and there is only one cure for that. I don’t know why I’m so surprised at my reaction to Alex—burning desire. I want him and I need him
badly.

The smile on his face reaches those beautiful brown eyes as I walk toward him—those eyes, which have followed me intensely, moving the distance across the arrival gate. He starts closing the distance between us at a leisurely pace.

Then he is right in front of me. I take my hand off my case handle. My hand shakes slightly as I bring it up to his face, desperate to feel his warm skin. But it’s too late; he’s picked me up, right here in the middle of the airport. I am so glad I’m wearing jeans as he swings me around. I throw my arms around his neck.

“Baby, I’ve missed you so damn much, it hurts,” he says.

Everyone is looking at us. I don’t want this much attention. Of course I want it from Alex, but not from all the other prying eyes that are set on us. I’m also sure I’ve seen the flash of several cameras. I’ll need to get used to that, although I don’t have to like it. Alex is a man in the public eye, so I suppose it goes with the territory.

“I’ve missed you too,” I say before his lips descend on mine with a bit too much passion for such a public place. I have missed the feel of his soft lips colliding with my own.

“Ahem.” James’s coughing brings me back to reality.

Alex’s expression changes instantly as he watches James. He puts me down but wraps his arm possessively around my waist and pulls me tight against him. I am about to make introductions when Alex speaks first.

“Hello, James,” Alex says in a firm voice as he narrows his eyes.

“Alex. I’ve met the lovely Miss Stewart. I had the pleasure of her company for the entire flight,” James says with a smug look. I never told him my surname, so obviously he already knew who I was when he started talking to me.

There is a shift in the air. I get the feeling these two don’t get along, and James seems to be going out of his way to agitate Alex. My heart sinks as I watch the silent standoff between them. I put my arm around Alex’s back and slide my hand under his jacket to the waistband of his trousers. He glances at me, and I shake my head only slightly.

“So, Libby, it was nice—really nice—meeting you, and I’m sure we’ll see a lot more of each other.” James holds his hand out to me, but this time I don’t take it. I’m not sure what the story is with these two, but I will get to the bottom of it.

“Good-bye, James,” Alex says as he turns me so we can walk away.

“Alex . . . What was that all about?”

“I don’t know. You tell me? You spent an entire flight with him.”

“Alex.” I stop in my tracks. “Now hold on a minute. Let’s get a few things straight before leaving here. I slept from London until about thirty minutes ago when the crew announced we would be landing shortly. I spoke to him briefly. I’m not sure what the story is with you two, but I do expect you to tell me. I think it was obvious to everyone but you that he was going out of his way to wind you up.” I pause, trying to gauge his mood. “Now that I’ve cleared that up, I think you should kiss me again, because the last one wasn’t up to your usual standards.” I say the last part with a huge smile on my face that seems to be reflected in his.