Page 84 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Forty
Fee should’ve guessed Tom would be one of “those” – the people for whom travel was akin to planning for World War III. For her it was second nature to go with the flow and expect the unexpected but Tom fretted from the moment they left Black Cherry, early enough to account for a multi-car pile-up, a major earthquake and unspecified medical emergencies along theway. By the time they made their connection in Charlotte she was surprised his hair hadn’t turned white. Any nerves she had about their upcoming meeting with her mother were buried under the desire to simply get Tom there in one piece.
‘I’m driving you crazy, aren’t I?’ He squeezed her hand as they took their seats on the London flight. ‘Sorry. I’m okay with short flights but I don’t dowell with the long distance stuff.’
‘No, you don’t.’ She didn’t sugar-coat it. He’d have to get over this if they were going to make a go of things together. The fact she wanted to explore other work options didn’t mean her desire to see and experience other cultures had lessened. She hoped she’d still be travelling when she was ninety with camera in hand.
‘I guess I should’vewarned you.’
‘That would’ve been nice,’ she admitted. ‘They do say couples learn more about each other on holiday than anywhere else.’ Fee broke into a wry smile. ‘I’m not sure it’s encouraging in our case.’
‘Once we get there I want you to take over.’ Tom’s grim determination made her smile. ‘I won’t say a word. You tell me what to do and I’ll do it.’ He sounded like a man tellingthe dentist to go ahead and pull all his teeth without any anaesthetic while promising not to scream.
She kissed his cheek, smelling his familiar pine soap. ‘I totally understand flying these days can be a hassle but a positive frame of mind works wonders. Ninety-nine point nine per cent of the other passengers are decent people not terrorists.’ She’d watched him sizing up everyone aroundthem with his suspicious cop’s mind. ‘Caution is one thing. Fear, something entirely different.’
‘In other words stop being a coward.’ His thick eyebrows drew together and Fee sucked in a few deep breaths.
‘Yes.’
Tom’s slow, sexy grin exploded and a curl of lust tightened her gut. ‘Fair enough.’
‘It’s that simple?’
‘Probably not, but I’ll work at it.’ Hestuck out his hand. ‘Deal?’ The second she placed her hand in his Tom drew her to him and leaned close to whisper in her ear. ‘In return you can learn how to make my favourite German chocolate cake.’
The feminist side of her strove to be outraged but Fee remembered the crucial word compromise and bit back the cutting reply she’d had all ready. Would it really kill her? No. Plus it’d makehim happy.
‘Deal.’ She held up a warning finger. ‘I’ve never baked a cake in my life.’
‘Mama will be happy to teach you.’
I’m sure she will. Fee sensed his grandmother hovering over them and laughing. If this carried on she’d be crocheting tea cosies and sewing her own wedding dress next.
Tom popped a kiss on her forehead. ‘Don’t worry. I’ve no desire to turn youinto a Stepford Wife.’
She shuddered. ‘My God, I hope not. You’ve got the wrong woman if that’s what you’re in the market for.’
‘I’ve got exactly the right one,’ he declared with a satisfied smile.
Tom called on his reserves of patience. She needed him to handle the journey a lot better than he’d managed so far. He wasn’t stupid enough to believe Fee wanted to hole up inPine Ridge for the rest of her life. If he wanted a future with her, and he did more than anything, he’d have to learn to enjoy this side of her, not simply tolerate it.
‘I recommend you snuggle right in here,’ he wrapped his arm around Fee’s slim shoulders and pulled her closer, ‘and we’ll try to take a nap.’ He didn’t complain about the lack of space or the cold blast of stale air blowingdown on the top of his head.
‘Good idea, my hero.’ She burrowed into his chest and in a matter of minutes amazed him by going straight to sleep. Tom took several long slow breaths and concentrated on her alluring scent and the warmth of her body seeping into him. He’d try to take a short nap if it killed him.
Bright lights bothered his eyes and Tom rubbed at them, struggling tofocus. The cabin lights were on full blast, flight attendants were bringing breakfast around the cabin and the pilot suddenly made an announcement about starting their descent into London soon.
‘Goodness, Tom, I’ve never seen anyone sleep so heavily on a plane without the benefit of alcohol or pills.’ Fee’s teasing voice trickled into his awareness and he turned to see her smiling at him.
‘You slept too,’ he protested. ‘You went out like a light.’
‘For a while but I’ve had dinner, watched a good film and made friends with the lady across the aisle while you were off in Neverland.’ She poked him gently in the ribs.
‘At least one of us will be well-rested for the day to come.’ When Fee was drooping with tiredness later she’d be glad he was alert and able tofunction. ‘Remind me what we’ve got to do after we land.’
She ran over every detail again all the way through to their arrival in Cornwall late in the afternoon. ‘It’s not hard. Trust me.’
‘I do.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘Heck. I need to move. I’m stiff as a board.’ Tom stretched his arms over his head and all his joints creaked. ‘God, I’m getting old.’
