Chapter 7
ELENA PIERSON
“I’m sure we’ll be fine ladies. Not to worry,” Lachlan says, while Bernadette and Aubrey stand on the tarmac going on about what he’s to do if we get separated or in case of emergency.
We landed in Bucharest a few minutes ago, and now that both mine and Lachlan’s bags have been retrieved from the plane, everyone is saying their farewells. I adjust my hold on my luggage and straighten my white blouse.
“If you do have any troubles, just text me,” Bernadette says, a cheery glow on her cheeks. But Frank standing behind her gives me a pointed look that says there better be no trouble before his attention goes back to the phone in his hand.
I smile sheepishly, unsure of how to respond in any case, since I’m only here to help Lachlan make it home.
The tarmac and landing strip here is empty except for Frank’s jet plane parked and waiting for its passengers. Sun gleams off the metal and glass building in the distance where various planes are parked allowing passengers to embark.
Vlad hovers over Aubrey like her personal bodyguard, complete with the whole suit outfit and sunglasses, while Frank types furiously away on his mobile like he’s far above the goodbyes and can’t grant any of us real attention.
To be honest, I almost feel bad for the guy if his life is being organized by this chaos squad. I glance at the ladies at his side who are currently taking turns hugging Lachlan goodbye and bite my lip.
Bernadette and Aubrey have grand plans of house shopping in the states so the two will have somewhere close when Frank has to be there for work. At least that’s all they could speak about for the last stretch of the journey here.
I look out at the busy terminal in the distance and notice various people walking to and fro inside the glass walls of the place.
The airport looks very small in comparison to the ones back home, but more than one commercial plane is stationed along with gates and ramps bridging to the airport.
With luck, we’ll have a short flight to London.
“The private lounge is that way and it connects to the rest of the airport,” Bernadette offers, pointing one painted blue fingernail toward the large building.
“I hope you guys have the best time,” Aubrey says, waving us off with both hands before jogging back up the stairs, Vlad hot on her heels.
Tightening my grip on the handle of my luggage, I turn and glance at the lounge that hopefully connects to the rest of the airport when Bernadette demands Lachlan take pictures of our adventures.
Nervousness has my stomach flip flopping with the knowledge that I don’t actually know what stops we’ll be making now, with her and Frank Stein’s vacation gift.
A warm arm wraps around my shoulders as a body sidles up close to me, forcing my head to snap to the right to see who’s touching me. Lachlan. I only pray the merman doesn’t notice how the movement makes me shiver and tense in the same breath.
“Are you ready, Elena?”
The way he says my name sounds foreign and warm, like he’s magically added syllables I didn’t know were in it until now, and I nod to keep from having to respond.
I can figure out what fun activities he wants to do once we board the plane and get settled, and then hopefully, have time to get my bearings before we reach the UK.
Once I’ve got a plan in my head, I’ll be fine.
Lachlan turns and waves a final goodbye at Frank’s jet, his arm stretching over his head as he does pulling at the fabric of his red plaid shirt, and all thought leaves my brain.
My face heats and a frown creases my brow when he moves close suddenly, huddling me to him. “Come along and let’s get inside,” he murmurs, taking my baggage and putting it on his shoulder. He takes my hand in his other and starts tugging me toward the private lounge entrance.
“Finally, just the two of us,” Lachlan says, offering a wink the moment the glass double doors open.
I’m too practical to melt into a puddle at his feet, or so I tell myself. Except the blast of cool air that seems to billow around him, opening the collar of his shirt to show the V-cut gray t-shirt underneath. It pushes his intoxicating scent my way, and my mouth waters instantly.
He smells like cucumber melon.
“Bernadette said our gate should be a short walk to an … escalator,” he says, sounding excited and oblivious to his overall assault on my person.
My knees go weak with the strong smell in my nose and his accent in my ears. Oh my god, this trip is going to kill me if this is how my body is going to react to just his smell.
Damn him.
He’s allowed to live, Elena. Or so I tell myself as I walk at his side. I fan my cheeks, trying not to bring attention to how flustered I am. This is just an overreaction and a clear response to being near his maleness because I’ve never been truly attracted to another man before.
Except he’s not really a man, he’s the Loch Ness monster.
I give my head a slight shake to remove the stars Aubrey must’ve put there by mentioning the possibility that this beautiful leviathan creature could be interested in me and scoff to myself as he moves further down the hallway.
He’s just being nice, and now, I’m having a subconscious response which is normal.
“Oh my gods, look at that metal monstrosity. It looks like giant teeth,” he gasps like a giddy child, and lumbers toward the escalator.
He swiftly backs away as soon as he reaches it, his gaze wide and alarmed, as if visibly perplexed while it continues to move in the background. “No way is that safe,” he mutters in that thick Scottish brogue he has.
“We can take the elevator if you want?” I offer, and push the button to bring the elevator down. “You know, escalators were originally built as an amusement ride?” I find myself saying, trudging up all of the knowledge I have on the safety of escalators and elevators alike.
“Really?”
“They’re actually quite safe.”
His deep red brow furrows after a moment, and it’s my turn to be alarmed next when he starts toward me with a big grin on his face. “Let’s ride the monster, then.”
I let out a yelp when in one swift move, he bends and collects me in his free arm and starts for the escalator.
“Wait, you don’t have to carry me up,” I blurt.
“Aye, I do,” he says.
My gaze widens with each ascent, I hold on for dear life when we start to rise onto the next floor and notice he’s literally holding me while carrying two sets of luggage at the same time up the escalator like a weird superman.
“Put me down,” I say between clenched teeth the moment we reach the landing. But after a quick glance around the spacious room, I realize everyone’s head is in their own business and not paying attention to Lachlan or myself at all.
Yet.
Who am I kidding?
He looks like the lumbersnack of any woman’s dream, and it’s only a matter of time before attention starts to pull his way.
Lachlan’s hold tightens a bit on my waist as if reluctant to let me go, and warmth spreads through my middle at the soft sigh he lets out, as if he doesn’t want to stop touching me after he sets me on my feet.
I straighten my blouse and try to wave the heat off my face as he becomes occupied with looking at the assortment of shops and restaurants within the airport. “Our gate is over there,” I gesture at the gate number that matches the tickets sent to my phone.
“This place is amazing,” he utters.
“Here, let me take that,” I say, gesturing at my luggage currently hanging off his massive shoulder.
“Do you need it?”
“Well no, but I’m going to freshen up and don’t want you to have to hold it the whole time.”
“Lead the way my lady,” he says, nodding like a good bellboy trying to do his job.
Blushing for real now, I avoid meeting anyone’s gaze and head to the lady’s room. “I’ll be just a moment,” I mutter over my shoulder before entering the restroom.
I come out and find Lachlan bent over with his hands on his hips, his face full of concern as a well-dressed woman smiles and whispers in his ear.
Our luggage is safe by his side, but his attention is clearly on the dark-haired woman before him.
I clear my throat when she seems to laugh at something else he says and touches him lightly on the arm.
He’s not mine to touch at all, but he’s definitely not hers.
“Lachlan? Who’s your new friend?”
Immediately, his ears pick up and a grin spreads across his handsome face. “Och Elena, Vanessa was just telling me how she has some tickets to go see a sports game and invited us along,” he says.
He gestures at Vanessa, who looks horrified to find out that I exist, and then back at me, like the woman hadn’t just propositioned him for a date, too wholesome to understand her true meaning.
Bless him.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize he was with someone.” The lady’s face turns a deep tomato red before she turns away in the other direction and without another word, her heels start clicking loud and fast, while Lachlan watches her leave.
“I guess she must have rethought the offer,” he finally says when he realizes Vanessa skedaddled.
“She wanted a date with just the two of you, Lachlan,” I deadpan, waiting for him to catch up.
His jaw drops and his brows come together as he realizes her intentions, and his eyes grow wide. “You have to know I’d never mean to agree to anything like that. I’ll ever only date you. I swear it Elena, you must believe me.”
Scales begin to surface across his arms, and I rush into action to stop their advancement on the rest of his body. If anyone sees, or god forbid catches him scaling out on camera, we’re done for. Thankfully, the moment I make contact, the scales dissipate entirely.
“Shhh, it’s okay.” My heartbeat thunders in my ears at his confession. I stand there in front of the restrooms, unsure of what to do as he panics and latches onto my arm.
“Please, don’t leave,” he says.
Suddenly, my feet leave the ground and I’m engulfed in thick brawny arms with the smell of cucumber melon in my nose as he hugs me to him.
“You can’t leave now that I’ve just gotten you. I swear I won’t ever speak to anyone again, just don’t leave me,” he breathes into my ear.
Heart breaking when he begins to shake lightly in my arms, I feel strong hands cup at the back of my head like I’m inexplicably cherished by him as he rubs lightly, as if soothing me will soothe him too. He takes a deep breath, and I can see him struggle to stay centered.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say. Unsure of what else there is to say as onlookers began to turn their attention our way.
He squeezes me to him and presses a chaste kiss to my forehead in response, relaxing visibly.
“Excuse me?” calls out an unfamiliar voice.
“Pardon us,” Lachlan says.
I tense in his hold as he twirls us around, and my gaze clashes with an obviously disgruntled woman’s and realize we’re blocking her and her curious children from the bathroom. Each one gives him strange looks as they pass, but Lachlan’s arms only seem to tighten when I try to move away.
He lets out a whimper that says he doesn’t want to let me go when I wiggle, and I can’t help it.
I fall a tiny little bit in love.