Chapter - 1

"Exactly what part of the phrase no deal are you having difficulties with, Doug?" I said impatiently into my cell as I maneuvered through the bustling airport dragging my roll-along behind me. "The no or the deal? Because I made it perfectly clear that Warner won't
budge on the settlement and neither can we. So please stop wasting my time." I ended the call and hurried through the crowds to the Delta airline counter, but the line to the two beleaguered attendants snaked out
about a mile long telling me there was no chance in hell I was
getting a flight out of here tonight.
According to this morning's weather report, the snow wasn't
supposed to start in earnest for another four hours. It was only 3 pm but my flight to New York was grounded along with seventy percent of all others. I was trapped here in Chicago when I needed to be back tomorrow morning for a major client meeting. If I missed this, then
so much for my dreams of becoming a partner at the law firm of Beckham, Caldwell, and Meyers before age thirty! Damn, this stupid blizzard! I pulled my cell phone back out and dialed my assistant. "Tessa, please give me some good news because I'm dying here."
"Oh gosh, I'm so sorry, Emory," Tessa said, "But the soonest
flight I could find is for tomorrow morning at 7:15 am. You'll arrive at JFK by 10:00. I've arranged for a driver to pick you up and get you to the office in time for your 11 am meeting with Jamison Inc." I groaned "That's cutting it awfully close. But Tessa..." "Yes?"

"You're a lifesaver, thanks so much!" "Anytime, Jennifer," she laughed. "Don't you start with me, woman." Of course, she was teasing me about how many times I'd been stopped in the airport by someone asking me for my autograph, mistaking me for the actress Jennifer Lawrence from The Hunger Games. Normally, I'd be very flattered by the comparison, but today it just added to my aggravation.
"Alright, so now I just need to figure out where I'm staying
tonight." "Yeah..about that," Tessa said. "There's some convention in town and then with all the downed flights there are no rooms available for a seventy-five-mile radius... in the blizzard." "Oh, no," I grumbled. "Please don't say it."
"So, unfortunately, your best bet is to find a comfortable spot at the airport to bunk down and wait there for your 7:15 am flight." "Are you kidding me?" I declared as I came to a dead stop, forcing the crowds to maneuver around me. "I'm not going to sleep in an airport, Tessa. You've got to find me something." "I'm trying my best, I swear," Tessa pleaded. "I'll forfeit this year's bonus if you're able to find something closer tonight. I'm that certain." "I know, I know," I said as I navigated my way off to the side, out of the flow of traffic. "Alright, well please keep checking for as long
as you can. Some of the travelers aren't going to be able to make it into town, which means some of those booked rooms are going to be left empty." "I'm on it, chief. I'll get back to you the second I have something."

"You're the best, talk to you later," I said and slipped my cell back into my pocket. My stomach decided to remind me that I'd barely had a thing to eat today. Airport cuisine was hardly my idea of a suitable meal, but desperate times called for desperate measures. I'd passed a few restaurants on my way to the Delta counter, they were all packed to the gills. I keep moving in search of a spot that doesn't have a line clean out the door. Why of all days did I decide to wear my spiky-heeled, Manolo Blahnik pumps? They matched
perfectly with the chic Donna Karan skirt suit I'm wearing, but my feet are killing me and I didn't bring a change of shoes. I'm about this close to pulling them off and running through the airport barefoot. Just when I thought I couldn't take a step further, I spied an eatery without a line winding out the door. What that said about the food quality, I care not at this point. I was that desperate for a place to sit down and to put some food in my stomach. The place was chaotic, with staff bustling around trying to tend to the clients. Families were gathered around tables trying to feed their exhausted, crying children. Couples sat hunched over or squeezed in
side by side with others. Not one single empty table in the joint. I was about to give up all hope when I spotted a couple in the far corner rising from their table. I hoped I hadn't knocked any small children over in the process as I made a mad dash for it. Shifting my
laptop bag off my shoulder, I swung it forward to claim the table before anyone else could. Possibly a split second before my bag landed on the table, another
one did. I looked up to find a man staring back at me looking equally

exhausted and irritated as I was. After a tense two-second standoff, his expression softened. "Share?" he offered.
I pressed my hands together and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, thank you." "Sure, no problem."
It was only when I moved to the side of the table with the bench seat that I fully took in his appearance. He was tall, of slender, fit build, chestnut brown hair looking a little tousled, understandable considering the circumstances. But mostly what struck me were those stunning blue eyes that drank you in, and the slight smirk curling those sensuous lips as if he found me amusing. As I sat my bottom down on the soft cushion, a moan of relief
escaped me. "My sentiments exactly," he said as he took up the menus and handed me one. "It's been a hell of a day."
"And it's just getting started," I said as I quickly scanned the
menu. Where are the freaking drinks? "My flight isn't until 7:15 am tomorrow." "Yeah, mine's at 9:30 am, so," he trailed off, eyes fixed upon the menu. The suit he was wearing was neither super expensive nor cheap,
probably bought it off the rack at a high-end department store. Out of habit, my eyes darted to his left hand. There perched upon his ring
finger was a big old wedding band. Good to know. It actually helped me to relax.

He shook his hair out of his eyes as he scanned the menu. He
suddenly looked up to find me studying him. "See anything you like?" "Excuse me?" I said taken aback.
He pointed to the menu. "Not much of a selection, but desperate times and all." My laugh was forced as I tried to overcome my embarrassment. "At this point, I'll settle for a burger and a Long Island Iced Tea." His brow hitched in surprise. "A burger, huh? Definitely no
shortage of those on the menu." He glanced around for a waiter. We're near the back and around a corner, so not a ton of traffic this way. "I may have to go flag them down."
"I'll hold off the marauding bands and keep the table safe," I said, gripping the sides of the table in a mild attempt at humor. He smiled politely as he rose from the table. "You do that." Note to self, stop saying stupid things to the nice man. Humor has never been my strong suit, fortunately, humor isn't something they prize very highly at the prestigious law firm of Beckham, Caldwell, and Meyers or I'd be toast.
I fished in my bag for my cell, hopefully, there was some word
from Tessa regarding accommodations. Before my phone came on, I caught my reflection in the phone and began arranging my ponytail and pushing back loose strands of my blond hair behind my ears.
Considering the day's challenges, I don't look too bad. Certainly, good enough to pass the time with a fellow stranded passenger. Especially one who was happily married. Why I assume happily, I'm not sure. On the surface, he appeared to be a fairly well-adjusted guy without the stresses of a miserable marriage to weigh him down. As