Indigo Nights (Nights #3)(64)

The driver shrugged. “I get paid whatever I do.”

I was pretty sure Beth would want to be back in London as soon as possible. I just couldn’t imagine her missing her flight. I closed the door and went back to my tablet, checking the departure board at O’Hare.

The flight to London was on time and there hadn’t been a plane that she could have made if she’d tried to fly earlier. If she wasn’t planning to pick up her luggage, perhaps I could find her at the airport and explain.

I raced upstairs, grabbed my passport and burst out of the door. “Don,” I called as I flew down the stoop. “Airport. As quick as you can.” He had the engine started before I grabbed the door handle.

If she wouldn’t come to me, I knew her favorite table in the first class lounge. She had to be there.

Less than thirty minutes later, I stood at the ticket desk, repeating myself. “I need to be on the nine-ten flight to London Heathrow.”

“I understand that, sir, but unfortunately that flight is fully booked.”

“I’ll pay whatever it takes. Please just let me on that flight.”

“I’m afraid it’s not a question of money. We just don’t have any seats left. Not even in economy.”

I wasn’t ready to give up. “Can you just tell me if Beth Harrison checked in?”

The check-in woman scowled at me. “You know I can’t tell you that, sir.”

I did, but I was used to being an exception. I grinned at her. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure,” she replied, unmoved by my pathetic attempt at flirting.

“Okay, then I need a seat on your next plane to London.” Hopefully I wouldn’t need to use it. I could find Beth on the other side of security and explain, convince her to stay.

“You’re in luck,” the check-in woman said. “I have five seats left in economy on the nine-fifty flight.”

I really hoped I wouldn’t need that ticket. It had been some time since I’d flown economy. At least I’d get through security with a boarding pass. I rummaged in my wallet and pulled out my gold traveler’s card. “I presume I can get into the lounge with this?”

“Of course, sir. I’ll get you an invitation.”

My feet wouldn’t stay still. I prided myself on my ability to keep my composure at all times, but it wasn’t working for me today.

The check-in woman pretended she didn’t notice my fingers tapping against the desk. “How many bags are you checking in today?”

“None.”

“Carry-ons?”

“I don’t have any,” I replied. Perhaps I should have brought Beth’s luggage with me. No, I wanted her to come home with me. I didn’t want her getting on that plane.

Finally, the clerk handed me my boarding pass and invitation to the lounge, and I streaked off through security, clinging to the hope that when I saw Beth she’d understand.

I needed things between us to be back where they had been.

In a short space of time she’d become my whole world. Her openness and vulnerability had drawn me to her—my heart ached that I’d abused that and not been as forthcoming with my own emotions.

I didn’t bother checking the faces in the lounge. I knew where she’d be hiding. I rounded the corner to find three empty tables.

Shit.

I was certain I’d find her there.

How had I been so wrong? Perhaps she wasn’t planning on making her flight. Nausea floated in my stomach. I shook my head. I couldn’t think like that. Not yet.

I spun around and headed out of the lounge and toward her gate. The flight wouldn’t be boarding yet, but if she was going to fly she’d have to come to the gate at some point. I’d wait until the last passenger boarded, at least that way I’d be sure that she was okay.

I dialed her number again.

Voice mail.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket, trying to find the correct gate.

There were three people seated nearby the desk. None of them were Beth. I sat in the seat nearest the door to the gangway, determined not to miss her, and waited.

People filled up the seats around me. Not one of them was Beth. Eventually they started to call people to the aircraft. First class was up first. No Beth. Then business class and then economy. Still no Beth. I checked my watch. Twenty minutes until they were due to take off and the queue had disappeared completely.

The thought of never seeing her again crawled up my throat and made me choke. I couldn’t lose her. It just wasn’t possible. She’d changed me forever and I knew that my love for her would last the rest of my life, whether we were together or apart.

Fuck. She wasn’t flying.

I felt her before I saw her. My heart surged in my chest, and I stood as her beautiful red pout came toward me.

“Beth,” I said, a mixture of relief, love and sadness in my tone. She looked so broken. She glanced at me and then looked away as she handed her boarding pass to the flight attendant.

I couldn’t have lost her, could I?

I just had to explain, make her see, remind her how much I loved her.



Beth

I half expected him to show up at the airport, but I’d thought I was safe when I got through security. Of course he had managed to get through somehow. He probably owned the airport as well. No doubt he’d heard about the Sun-Times article and had some spurious excuse about how come I’d been the last to know he owned the company I’d been working for.