She stiffened and glanced around. How many other people recognized her? Dad was right. It was dangerous to travel alone like this. What if someone decided to kidnap her? What if...
She slammed the book shut and leaned back against the seat. Stop thinking about it. She closed her eyes and tried to drive the worry from her mind. If only she had invited someone to go with her. But she was such a loner. Maybe she was too independent for her own good. She rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath.
"Sure, that's why your father is running your life."
"Hum?"
Megan opened her eyes as the lady beside her leaned closer. "Oh nothing," Megan responded with a smile. "I was only talking to myself."
The lady nodded and returned her attention to the window. Megan glanced up to find the young man watching her again. He smiled warmly when he met her gaze, a twinkle of amusement deepening the amber color to brown. Such an enchanting smile.
She blushed as she realized she was returning his smile. Friendly? Or was there a purpose to his attention? Best to stay away from him. For the rest of the trip she read her book or gazed out the window.
When the commuter plane touched down at NXA airport, Megan called for the shuttle van to her hotel in Fayetteville and decided to wait outside. The sun was bright and the day warm. She had barely relaxed when the amber-eyed man sauntered out the door.
He moved across the concrete with feline grace and propped one broad shoulder against a pillar. He threw one long leg across the other and glanced around, absently plucking a package of cigarettes from his shirt pocket. Placing a cigarette in the corner of his mouth, his long fingers searched the pockets of his brown tweed jacket and finally emerged with a match. He glanced at the stick and shrugged. Lifting his foot, he struck the match on the sole of his shoe. Cupping his hands around the flame, he sucked life into the cigarette. He shook the flame from the match before tossing it into an ashtray. Every move was calculated, and yet he gave the impression that he had nothing but time.
The acrid smell of sulfur surfed a breeze and burned her nose. She coughed softly and waved a hand to disperse the fumes. His gaze shifted to her as he exhaled the smoke through his nostrils. The smoke tickled her nose. She frantically threw her purse open, searching for a tissue, but a violent sneeze ripped through her lungs so quickly she barely had time to cover her mouth with her hand. She glared at him and he frowned, glancing down at the cigarette.