Valentine Babies (Holiday Babies Series) (7 page)

 “I would have come. Just to make sure you’re safe.” He
exhaled loudly. “But I can’t fly.”

“I’ll hold your hand the whole flight.”

He snorted. “Sounds great. Still, I can’t do it. The last
time I flew I was ten. I cried and screamed and upset the passengers. My mother
was embarrassed and punished me. I’ll drive anywhere, any distance but no
planes for me.”

“Too bad. It would have been fun to be together.” Anyway,
taking him to Baghdad was not realistic.

“When do you plan to leave?”

“In three days. I’ll stop by my apartment in Atlanta to pack
a few professional clothes and buy the stuff I’m taking, and then I’ll fly two
days later.”

“I can drive you to Atlanta.”

“Really?”

“Sure. I’d love to see your apartment. Can you give me a
tour of KNR?”

“No problem. You’ll stay with me. I have a folding sofa in
my living room.” A wave of heat crossed her cheeks. No intimacy. She’d rushed
things once, and look where it got her. “I mean—”

“The sofa is perfect.” His voice held an undertone of
amusement and he wrapped an arm around her waist. “Ready to go back to pick up
our shoes?”

“Yes, I’m ready.”

It’d been a special night for her. She’d made up her mind on
what she wanted next. Hopefully, that last trip to the Middle East would allow
her to put the past behind her and recover her peace of mind.

Chapter Six

Rush time slowed the traffic to a crawl. Black clouds
darkened the end of the day into an early night. Greg glanced at the onboard
digital clock. “Don’t be nervous. We have plenty of time.”

“I’m not nervous at all. You’re an excellent driver.”
Roxanne’s smile illuminated the car and his heart.

He held her hand and squeezed it, loving her presence at his
side. Her soft sweet perfume enveloped him like a soothing mantle.

“Damn, it’s snowing now.” His early relief dissolved into
dread. Why did she have to travel? A heavy sigh escaped him.

“You don’t like driving in the snow?”

“Driving is not a problem. I love new snow, but I don’t like
the idea of you flying during a snow storm.” Greg’s fingers clutched on the
steering wheel.

Roxanne shrugged. “Only a few flakes. I wouldn’t call this a
snow storm.”

“Maybe they’ll cancel your flight.”

She burst out laughing. “Don’t you wish.”

The few flakes turned into heavy snow. Greg veered into a
right exit and stopped his old SUV at the curbside drop-off in front of the Hartsfield-Jackson
International Airport in Atlanta.

“Careful, it’s slippery.” He held out a hand to her. “Don’t
try to carry anything,” he warned as Roxanne exited the car. “I’ll take your
luggage inside.” He heaved the two suitcases and her carry-on out of the trunk.

“Greg, wait.” She spun toward him. Her low ponytail bounced
and golden brown curls fluttered on her shoulders. “No need to break your
back.”

Roxanne had already called an airport porter who loaded her
luggage on a cart. Dressed in a gray pantsuit, a black turtleneck, and black
short-heeled shoes, she presented the perfect image of an independent,
efficient career woman.

“Okay, I’ll go park the car.”

“I’ll check in my luggage and wait for you in front of the
security check.” She certainly knew her way around an airport while he hadn’t
stepped in one since he was a kid. It took him twenty minutes to navigate
through the heavy traffic, park his car, and jog back to the terminal.

Roxanne waited for him as promised, sitting on a bench with
her carry-on and huge handbag in front of her.

“You should go in now,” he suggested, although he hated to
see her leave.

“Not yet. Now that I don’t have to worry about the
suitcases, I’m not in a rush. We can spend half an hour together before I go
in. Greg, I’m so happy you came with me to Atlanta.”

“It was an incredible experience visiting KNR. I really
enjoyed the official narrated tour for visitors, and then the private one with
you. And it gave me a chance to meet your boss.”

“Lou Roland is a fun guy.”

“Hmm, I wanted to punch him when he said not to worry about
you. The man is sitting in his comfortable cozy office while he throws you into
the most dangerous places.” Fear for Roxanne’s safety and anger for the
insensitive bastard pummeled his insides.

“Relax. I’ve never seen you so nervous.” She held his hand
and rubbed it with her thumb. “Lou goes out of his way to make sure his people
are safe and prepared. We’ve been thoroughly trained on how to handle an
emergency, how to evacuate, and come home in a rush.”

Greg shoved his hand into his pocket to extract a business
card. He glared at it, striving for calm. “He had the guts to ask me to call
him if something weird happens at my hospital.
We love good stories
,” he
added, mimicking Lou Roland’s voice.

She burst out laughing. “I’ll take care of his good stories.
Now forget about Lou and give me a hug.”

“These past three days have gone too fast.” He pulled her
from her seat into his arms. “I’ll miss you, Roxy.”

“Hopefully, the next few days, too, will pass before we even
notice.”

He covered her cheeks and temples with kisses. “Promise
you’ll be careful. You’ll take care of yourself.”

She blinked several times. “I promise. Please don’t worry.
I’ll call you every day. If you don’t hear from me, it’ll probably be due to
the lousy international connections. I’ll call back the next day.”

He nodded. But he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep if he
couldn’t talk to her daily.

“Roxanne, how I wish you didn’t have to go.” He cradled her
face and kissed her with all his pent-up passion.

Her poise forgotten, she responded in the same way and
moaned against his lips. “Oh Greg,” she repeated between kisses.

“Darling, when you come back, we’ll have to talk and plan.”

“Sure. I have to go now.”

His arm around her, he walked her to the security check and
gave her one last kiss.

She dug out her passport and boarding pass and handed them
to the officer, and then she followed the line of passengers.

Rooted in place he watched her progress to the security
tables. She turned and waved. He waved back until she disappeared from his
view.

For a moment he kept staring, with the crazy hope she’d turn
and come back. Maybe they canceled the flight because of the snow. Maybe she’d
change her mind about the trip and stay.

Don’t be silly
. She was a self-confident, successful
journalist doing her job. A generous woman going beyond her duty to help
others. One in a million who’d become so dear to his heart.

In an hour Roxanne would fly on a jumbo jet and remain in
the air for ten solid hours. Greg’s heartbeat raced and his stomach
somersaulted. A cold sweat moistened his forehead and he balled his fingers
against his pants. The panic attack. It was coming at him full speed although he
hadn’t boarded a plane himself. Damn, he couldn’t stay in the airport another
minute.

Oh God, let her come back safe
.

****

As soon as she buckled her seat belt, Roxanne punched Greg’s
number on her phone. “Hi, it’s me. Are you already on the Interstate?”

“Yes, heading toward Florida. I left right away. The idea of
you up in the sky makes me sick.”

“You shouldn’t worry about me. I’m settled in a comfy bucket
seat, sipping an orange juice, compliments of Lou who upgraded my business
ticket to first class. Isn’t that nice?”

“Nice? It’s the least he could do. The man is a damn selfish
bastard for sending you on a long flight in your condition.”

Roxanne couldn’t help a chuckle. Things hadn’t clicked
between Greg and her boss. “Don’t get upset while driving. It’s not safe. Is it
still snowing?”

“It’s turned to icy rain where I am now. How about around
you? Have they cleared the tarmac, and the wings of the planes? Is it safe to
fly?”

“Yes, everything is fine. The wings are being deiced and the
tarmac salted.”

 Over the loudspeaker, the head stewardess requested
the passengers to turn off their electronic devices. “Greg, I have to shut off
my phone. I’ll call as soon as I arrive.”

“Bye, Roxy. Take care.”

She pushed the off button and shoved her phone in her bag.
The plane slowly moved on the tarmac as she finished her drink and handed the
glass to the stewardess. Her gaze fixed on the window, Roxanne pictured Greg
clenching his steering wheel and cursing her boss at the top of his lungs.
Exactly as he’d done when they’d left Lou’s office.

Her two days in Atlanta had passed in the blink of an eye
with Greg at her side.

Everything had gone too fast, their shopping together, the
few hours at the offices of KNR, and the endless packing. He’d helped every
step of the way, asking for break here and there to rest and kiss. Long
passionate kisses that heated her all over, promising more pleasure if she’d
only allow him. “Later,” she promised herself. “After I fix the mess I’ve
created.” After she set the past to rest and felt free to entertain a
relationship again.

Dear Greg, she already missed him. He hadn’t complained
about sleeping on the living room sofa although he’d muttered something about a
cold shower when she retired to her bedroom.

The engines groaned and the plane lifted off the runway,
rising in the night. Down there the city unfolded like a dark map crisscrossed
by lit ribbons of icy highways and roads. Soon Atlanta shrank to a flat black
carpet spotted with sparkling dots and the plane slowly slipped into a cocoon
of clouds.

Roxanne lowered the shade and rested her head against the
back of her seat. Images and conversations cluttered her mind. Greg had
mentioned that when she returned they’d have to talk and plan. She was ready to
listen. If only his plans could match her heart’s secret desire.

For the first time in her life, she longed for tranquility.
A peaceful existence, preferably in Fort Lauderdale, where she could continue
to work and enjoy the beach and the pool. Big bonus, Greg’s presence.

Except for the hours he’d spent at the hospital, he’d been
at her side every moment. And she’d relished their togetherness.

Could she dare dream of a future with him?

Greg was attracted to her but... To marry a woman expecting
another man’s child was a different story that not too many men could stomach.

She gently rubbed her belly. “Little one, I love you,” she
murmured. “Will Greg accept  you?” What about Nabil’s parents? How would
they react if they ever learn the truth?

“Here is a menu.” The stewardess interrupted her musing.
“Can I get you a drink?”

“Just a bottle of water.” Later she ordered the chicken
meal. She wasn’t particularly hungry but forced herself to eat a small portion.
Greg had recommended not skipping meals or snacks and she’d promised to obey
her doctor’s orders. He’d also given her a supply of
Zofran
for morning
sickness.

 After dinner, Roxanne raised the footrest and threw a
blanket over herself. Overhead lights automatically dimmed to allow passengers
to sleep.

Tomorrow might be a difficult day after a long flight to
Dubai with a stopover of several hours and a connection to Baghdad. She’d
always been exhilarated by a challenging assignment. Not this time. She’d had
it with adventure and excitement. Weary and anxious, she wriggled to find a
comfortable position.

Sleep eluded her. The present trip rattled her nerves and
the cool poise she’d enveloped herself with until now was slowly eroding. Was
it because of her condition and her instinctive fear for her baby, or because
she didn’t know what to expect from her visit to Baghdad?

Peace or turmoil?
Truth or lies? Hatred or love?
The words swirled in her mind like a monotonous mantra until she drifted off.

****

“Good to see you, Roxanne.” Steve Cooper, a photographer at
KNR, held her in a bear hug. “It’s been more than two months.”

“Only two months since the last time we worked together.”
Such a short period of time, yet her life had changed so drastically with two
new comers monopolizing her thoughts—a baby not even born and a dashing doctor
she already missed so much. She tiptoed and planted a kiss on the blond giant’s
cheek. “How are things here, Steve?”

“The usual. A quiet month, then a blast to remind us that
this is still a war zone. But don’t worry, I’ve arranged for you to have
transportation and an armed escort.” He turned his head and waved to two
uniformed hunks. “Meet your watchdogs. Brian Hughes and Joe Gilmore.”

“Welcome to Baghdad, Ma’am,” the men chorused.

“Nice meeting you, Brian, Joe. And please call me Roxanne.”

“Let me help,” Joe took her carry-on and heavy handbag.
“We’ll drive you wherever you want to go.”

“We’ll be at your disposal for the time you spend here,”
Brian added.

“Thank you, guys. I have two suitcases.” They walked to the
baggage claim. Roxanne knew her way around the international airport. But she
winced at the sight of bearded men in long
djellabahs
ogling her. The harassing and groping
she’d experienced in a back street of Baghdad came back to haunt her. Nabil
wasn’t here to make her feel safe with a reassuring smile and a hand on his
gun. Her companions must have noticed the lurid stares cast in her direction.

“Not safe to be so pretty, Roxy
girl,” Steve muttered between his teeth. “Especially when they don’t see many
foreign women around here.” His chin high, he stepped in front of her and
darted dark scowls around him. Brian and Joe sidled to her left and her right.
Protected by a human fortress of bulging muscles, s
he couldn’t help
chuckle at the picture she made, framed by the three hunks.

“Thank you, guys. I know they just stare and wouldn’t dare
approach me in the middle of the airport. Still, it’s good to have you.” At the
conveyer belt, she pointed to her two pieces of luggage and Brian lifted them
up as easily as if they were tiny evening purses. “I have to deliver medicines
to an Iraqi family. Could you drive me there?” She gave them the address. Her
bodyguards resumed their positions around her and marched to the door.