Surprise Baby For The CEO

1. Todd

TODD

The blonde across the lounge looked entirely too relaxed for a woman stranded in an airport during a snowstorm.

That was the first thing I noticed.

Not her long blonde hair spilling over one shoulder.

Not the glimpse of blue eyes when she briefly looked up from the paperback in her lap.

Not even the fact that she was gorgeous.

It was her calm demeanor.

The private terminal buzzed with irritation. Phones rang. Voices rose. One man was already demanding answers from the customer service agent as though she had any say in the weather over Aspen.

The blonde simply turned a page.

A can of Dr Pepper sat on the table beside her.

She looked perfectly content.

I glanced out the windows.

Snow blasted across the tarmac, reducing visibility by the minute. Aircraft sat motionless in the growing storm.

I had a plane but no pilot, and with weather like this, it wouldn't have mattered even if I did. At this rate, I knew I wasn't going anywhere.

A familiar strain spread across the back of my neck. My regular pilot, Justin, had been injured while skiing on this trip.

My calendar was packed.

My inbox was a disaster.

And every minute I spent sitting in Aspen was another minute that things piled up back home.

The blonde took another sip of her Dr Pepper. She reached for her phone, read the message then typed a reply. She returned to her reading and seemed completely unbothered by her surroundings.

I found myself watching her.

A few freckles dusted her nose.

The sight caught me off guard. My sister had freckles too and used to complain about them every summer. I'd spent years insisting they were the best thing about her face. The memory surfaced unexpectedly.

Maybe that was why the woman caught my attention. Or maybe it was because everyone else looked miserable. She looked... free.

My phone buzzed. I glanced down. It was another message. Another problem. Another person needing something from me. I shoved the phone back into my pocket.

The blonde turned another page.

That did it. I pushed out of my chair and crossed the lounge. She didn't look up until I stopped beside her.

Her blue eyes lifted with curiosity. She didn’t seem surprised, though. It was almost like she'd known I was coming over.

"You know," I said, "you're supposed to be angry."

One brow arched.

"Am I?"

I gestured around the room.

"Everyone else seems committed to it."

Her gaze drifted toward the crowd.

The man at the counter was now using both hands while arguing. A woman was pacing in front of the fireplace, wearing a fur vest while her designer hand bag swung side to side with each movement.

The blonde looked back at me.

"I must've missed the memo."

A laugh escaped before I could stop it.

Her lips twitched. Victory flashed briefly in her eyes.

Interesting.

"You don't seem bothered."

"About the delay?"

"About any of it."

She glanced toward the windows.

"Getting upset won't make the storm stop."

"No."

"It won't make the planes leave."

"No."

"Then it seems like a waste of energy."

That was annoyingly reasonable.

"Mind if I sit?"

She looked at the empty chair beside her.

Then back at me.

"Depends."

"On?"

"Are you planning to complain about the weather?"

I smiled.

"No."

"Then go ahead."

I sat.

For a few seconds she returned to her book. I should've returned to my own problems. Instead I watched her. The freckles were even more noticeable up close.

So was the fact she hadn't actually turned a page. Not once. A small smile tugged at my mouth. She wasn't reading anymore.

"You're really okay being stuck here?" I asked.

She closed the book around a finger.

"Honestly?"

"Honestly."

A smile appeared. A real one this time.

"I was secretly hoping for this."

I laughed.

"You were hoping your flight got delayed?"

"Not delayed specifically."

She lifted one shoulder.

"But a reason to disappear for a couple of days?"

The smile widened.

"I'll take it."

"That bad?"

"I would love a few days where nobody can ask me for anything."

Something about the way she said it made me pause.

"No emails."

She tapped the side of her Dr Pepper.

"No emergencies."

Another tap.

"No one expecting me to solve their problems."

Her shoulders relaxed.

"It sounds amazing."

I stared at her.

"You're serious."

"Completely."

"I don't think I've ever heard someone celebrate being stranded in an airport."

"Then you clearly haven't met enough people."

I shook my head.

"No. I think you're the exception."

That earned me another smile.

A dangerous one.

The kind that made me want to keep talking.

"What are you reading?"

She lifted the book. A thriller. Murder. Secrets. One creepy cabin and at least three dead people by chapter four.

"Relaxing."

"I find fictional disasters comforting."

"Should I be concerned?"

"Probably."

I laughed despite myself.

She had a way of making even the most ordinary conversation feel unexpectedly entertaining.

"What about you?" she asked.

The question surprised me.

"What about me?"

"Are you always this cheerful?"

A grin tugged at my mouth.

"Cheerful?"

That has never been a word that people used to describe me.

"You approached a stranger in an airport."

"That's your evidence?"

"It was bold."

"I was curious."

Her eyes met mine.

"About me?"

The directness caught me off guard.

"Maybe."

The corner of her mouth lifted.

Outside, the snow intensified. The runway was almost completely obscured now. The lounge had grown noticeably louder. People sensed what was coming.

My phone buzzed again. A message from my assistant.

Found another pilot.

Relief hit first.

Followed immediately by the second message.

May not matter. Airport could shut down for a few days. Waiting for confirmation.

Perfect.

"Bad news?" the blonde asked.

"Maybe."

"Did somebody die?"

"No."

"Then you're probably fine."

I laughed.

"That's your philosophy?"

"For today."

I slipped the phone away.

"You really wanted this, didn't you?"

Her smile softened.

"Absolutely."

The honesty of it surprised me. Most people would've pretended otherwise. Not her.

The speaker above us crackled. Every conversation in the lounge stopped. A woman came over the intercom. Calm and professional. About to ruin everyone's day.

"Attention passengers, due to deteriorating weather conditions and low visibility, all departing flights have been canceled until further notice. Please check with your airline for rebooking and accommodation information."

A collective groan rolled through the terminal.

The announcement continued.

"Arriving flights are being diverted. Airport officials will provide updates as conditions change."

The room erupted. Phones appeared. People stood. Several began marching toward the reception desk.

The blonde calmly tucked her bookmark into place.

"Well." She slid the book into her bag. "Looks like I got my wish."

I couldn't help smiling.

"You did."

She stood.

So did I.

For a second neither of us spoke. The moment felt oddly final. Which was ridiculous. We'd known each other for fifteen minutes. Maybe less.

"What’s your name?" I asked.

There was a slight hesitation before she answered.

"Cici."

No last name.

No explanation.

"Todd."

She nodded once, and that was it. There was no recognition and no sudden interest. I couldn't remember the last time that had happened.

"Are you from Aspen?"

"No."

"Visiting?"

"Passing through."

"That's vague."

"It's intentional."

I laughed.

She adjusted the strap of her bag.

"Good luck getting out of Aspen."

"Same to you."

Her eyes held mine for a beat. Then she turned and headed for the exit.

I watched her go. I didn't know her last name or where she lived. I didn't even know what she did for a living. All I knew was that she liked Dr Pepper, thrillers, and the idea of disappearing for two days where nobody could ask her for anything.

It was enough to make me wish the conversation hadn't ended.