Love is in the Air: 5 Contemporary Christian Romances
Kindle Edition
Chapter One
She’s
finally getting married!
Candi Walker could
have danced into the Chicago O’Hare airport—if she had the nerve. She didn’t,
although her feet seemed to have a mind of their own. They tripped and even
managed a twirl when she spun away from the car.
She didn’t know
anyone around her, so no one would remember her foolishness. Still, she tried
to restrain herself.
Her best friend,
Pam, had been dating Don since forever. Eight years, at least. And now they had
finally set the date. And reached it. The wedding was this weekend. If only it
wasn’t going to be in Dallas. Finances being what they were, she’d stay home if
Pam weren’t her best friend.
She waved goodbye
to Dad, who’d driven her to Chicago since he wanted to visit his sister, and
juggled her large case and the carry-on. The first step would be to check in,
get her boarding pass and go through security.
The next—hmm, some
hot coffee sounded wonderful. The icy March wind blew against her bare neck,
and she shivered. She should’ve brought her coat, even if it’d be a pain to lug
around down south.
She couldn’t wait
to reach sunny, warm Texas. She loved winter, but she was so ready for spring.
And Pam had assured her that, in the South, flowers were blooming. Yellow
crocuses, red tulips, and pink roses. Though it was probably too early for
roses, even in Texas.
She swerved to
avoid a slow-moving woman with a baby, and stumbled. The toe of her ballet
flats hit the edge of the sidewalk and twisted in a way God didn’t design. A
second later, she landed hard on her backside. While the coldness from the
concrete seeped into her thrift store designer jeans, Candi reached for her
throbbing ankle, and glanced toward her scattered luggage.
People milled
around her, going both directions, and no one stopped to ask if she was all
right. All she received were annoyed stares and grunts from those having to
walk and swerve.
Candi struggled to
her feet, grabbed her bags, and hobbled on her way. Tears burned her eyes. At
least she could still walk. If she wrapped her ankle, she might be able to handle
the wedding—although maybe not in the beautiful fuchsia-colored heels Pam had
picked out for the bridesmaids, now packed at the bottom of her suitcase.
She wobbled into
the queue at the airline counter. Within moments, her big heavy bag was
checked, leaving her only the small carry-on. The airport coffee shop waited
for her. She could almost hear it calling her name. She deserved a special
blend of coffee for warmth after being so stubborn about not needing her coat.
Maybe she’d
splurge on a venti. Because while she was super excited for Pam, it meant
everyone at the wedding—like Pam’s matchmaking great aunt who took credit for
half the marriages in their circle of college friends—would be asking when she
would be getting married. Asking if she would be next.
And she wouldn’t
be.
The Big-Three-Oh
loomed on the horizon and she still tripped through life trying to find her
groove.
Yes, she was
jealous.
And she’d admit
it.
But only to
herself.
***
“Alex!” A familiar
high-pitched voice rose above the din of the crowded airport.
Alex Kuklewski
sipped his espresso, turned and managed a polite grin at the petite blond
flight attendant hurrying toward him. Shellie DeBoer. His history. Not his
future.
He’d avoided her
since their breakup on New Year’s Eve, but she wouldn’t let their long-standing
friendship die, no matter how hard he tried to rid himself of it. He didn’t
want her company today either. Especially since he’d been denied the flight
transfer he’d requested. A sympathetic woman would be a blessing, but that
didn’t describe Shellie. Never had.
Male passengers
turned to stare at her with open appreciation. He wished he could point her in
the direction of the nearest eager bachelor. But Shellie didn’t even reward the
gawkers with a glance.
Please,
Lord, let Shellie be diverted——but
before he could whisper “Amen,” Shellie’s hand brushed against his arm.
He’d been denied
that request too. He squared his shoulders. “Hey, Shellie. Where are you headed?”
He took another sip of the hot brew. If only his caffeine addiction didn’t make
it so easy for Shellie to find him before flights.
“Miami. Isn’t it
the pits?” Her smile belied her words.
“The pits,” he
echoed. “Me, too.” The flight would be brimming with college kids headed for
the beach over Spring Break. Alex envisioned inflatable beach balls and
untethered hormones flying around the cabin. He hadn’t wanted this particular
flight schedule or the nonsense that came with it. Although if anyone could
handle the disturbances, Shellie could.
“You’re going?
Well, that makes it better.” Shellie’s smile brightened and she winked at him.
Alex had a feeling
she’d already known that was his flight. “Come on, then.” His stomach clenched
when she wrapped her long fingers around his arm. She’d be with him for this
trip. And it seemed it would be no-holds-barred in trying to win him back. He
aimed a glance toward the ceiling and his thoughts toward heaven. It’d be nice
if God would drop his future wife in his path right now and dislodge Shellie in
the process.
Yeah, like that
would happen.
The airport crowd
milled around, threatening to separate them. Shellie’s fingers tightened around
his arm, her nails pressed into his skin. He glanced toward her, then at the
coffee shop across the concourse. It teemed with customers, but it also seemed
the safest bet to disengage Shellie. He gestured toward it with his cup since
his other hand was occupied with the handle of his rolling carry-on luggage.
“Would you care for a coffee?”
Something rammed
him in the stomach, and his coffee sloshed over his suit jacket, wrist, and
hand. He staggered back, extending his arm so the still-scalding liquid
wouldn’t cover his uniform. Clumsy passengers. And whoever it was probably
raced on their way, never even noticing they’d run into a pilot. He got run
into at some point on every other flight and was overdue for a collision.
“Watch where
you’re going,” Shellie scolded someone. At least she released his arm. He
glanced away from the dark brew and sudden redness on his hand. His gaze rested
on a dark-haired beauty in a fuzzy pink sweater, looking stunned, disheveled,
and splattered, standing in front of him. She tugged at the wet fabric covering
her curves. He stared at the pink-tipped nails and blinked. No wedding ring.
Then he shook his head. Had he been so distracted with dodging Shellie that he
hadn’t noticed a passenger heading straight toward him? His stomach flipped and
his eyes narrowed. “Are you okay?”
“I’m so sorry.
Please, forgive me.” The woman grimaced. “I wasn’t watching where I was going
and didn’t mean to run into you.”
He glanced at
Shellie, then turned his attention to the passenger. She was as beautiful as
Shellie, but in a different, more innocent way. Brown hair instead of blonde,
green eyes instead of brown. She had a lighter hand with makeup, and less guile
in her expression. His heart lurched. He’d like to get to know this woman.
Surprised at his
reaction to a stranger, he released his luggage handle, put his coffee in his
other hand, separating the napkin he’d grabbed on his way out. Their fingers
brushed as he handed it to her and sparks shot from his fingertips up his arms.
“I’m… I’m fine. Are you hurt? The coffee is hot.” He pulled away and swallowed
the last remaining sip of his coffee. Can’t let the caffeine go to waste.
He crumpled the empty cup and tossed it in a nearby trash bin.
Apparently
remembering her training, Shellie turned to the passenger. “Are you all
right? You have coffee all over your clothes. Let me get some more napkins.”
“No, thank you.
I’m fine.”The woman shook her head, causing her long braid to bounce. “I’ll go
clean up in the ladies’ room.”
Shellie waved a
hand in dismissal. “I’ve gotta go. I need to help someone on the plane.” She
took a couple steps, then turned toward Alex. “Aren’t you coming?”
“Not just yet. I
have something I need to do first. But you go ahead.” His gaze caught the
woman’s green eyes and held. His heart rate increased. She’d been dropped in
his path, just as he’d prayed a few moments ago. His future wife. He grinned.
Shellie backed
away. “Well, then. I’ll see you on board in a few minutes.”
“Yeah. I’ll be
right there.” He continued to stare into the stranger’s eyes. The noise around
him faded until it was just the two of them. Too soon, she blinked and bent to
pick up her carry-on.
“Where are you headed? I’ll point you in the
right direction.” Alex tilted his head and reached for her zip-up tote bag. He
could easily hold that and pull his carryon.
“Oh, no, I’ve got
it.” She tightened her grip.
He shook his head.
“I’ve got it.” He grinned at her. “Which airline are you flying?”
Her gaze rested on
his name pin. “Yours, Alex Kuklewski.” She stumbled over his last name.
“Now that’s not
fair. You know my name. I don’t have the same pleasure,” he teased, hoping
she’d take the bait. He took a couple steps toward a concourse.
“Candace Walker.
Maybe my legal name will make me feel more put together than I feel.” She
blushed as she fell into step beside him. “I didn’t mean to say that.”
“And where are you
headed, Candace?” He prayed she’d say Miami.
“Dallas.”
“Dallas.”
His heart fell.
“My college
roommate is getting married this weekend. I’m the maid of honor.”
He forced a smile.
“You’ll be a charming maid, I’m sure. I hope you enjoy yourself. I like Dallas.
In fact, my next flight takes me there. This one takes me to Miami.” He darted
a sideways glance in her direction. “Here you are. And the bathroom is right
there. Nice meeting you, Candace.” Now he needed to hurry to the next
concourse. Though the flight wouldn’t be going anywhere without him. With a
flourish, he handed her the carry-on. “Thank you for flying with us.” He winked
and with no other assistance to offer, lifted a hand in farewell.
The walk would do
him good. At least it would give him time to compose himself before boarding.
He was a stranger to instant attraction, but he liked the feel of it.
Especially when it came so soon after a prayer that God finally answered.
He glanced back at
Candace and watched as she disappeared into the ladies’ room. Too bad she
wasn’t going to Miami. He’d like to see her again. Not that he would have had
the opportunity, being strapped in the cockpit.
And Shellie would
be working the flight. Despite their breakup, she wouldn’t tolerate his desire
to spend time with another woman.
He forced himself
to look away from Candace and hurried to his gate.
***
Candi laid her
boarding pass on the bathroom counter and stripped off her sweater, leaving
only the tank top underneath, then rummaged in the carry-on for her emergency
replacement. Not that it really mattered. She’d probably spill something else
anyway, but she wanted to look as presentable as possible when she met Pam at
the Dallas airport. She imagined the other passengers stared openly at her as
she changed shirts, while they took the time to wash their hands or repair
their makeup. Oh, maybe she needed to do that, too.
Too bad she hadn’t
gotten any coffee. The wet sweater was as close as she’d gotten to her
destination. Maybe breathing the coffee scent in would be enough. She tucked
the soiled shirt inside the bag and reached for her makeup case. A voice
crackled over the loud speaker, but someone turned the hand dryer on so she
didn’t hear the message. After washing and drying her hands, tugging her collar
straight, running a comb through her hair, and reapplying lip gloss, she looked
for her boarding pass. It must have blown off the counter. She found it on the
floor, glanced at it long enough to verify it was a boarding pass, then headed
for the gate Alex had pointed out to her. The electronic sign behind the woman
at the ticket booth blinked “Boarding now.”
Candi handed the
attendant the pass and waited while the woman studied it. “Oh, you’re at the
wrong gate! You need to go to the next concourse. Gate sixteen. And you better
hurry!”
The wrong gate!
But Alex, the pilot, dropped her off here. Wouldn’t he know if this was the
right gate? Gorgeous didn’t necessarily equate to observant. At least about
flight changes. Maybe the announcement she’d missed thanks to the hair dryer
noise was the gate change. While she’d been primping in the bathroom, she had
missed her chance to walk instead of run.
With a sigh, she
hoisted her bag up on her shoulder and took off at a fast trot in the direction
the woman pointed. Her ankle held up, even though it still throbbed.
Out of breath, she
reached the plane’s door with mere moments to spare. She gulped air, then
choked as it went down wrong. She paused a moment to catch her breath as the
lady scanned her pass, then walked through the door as if she’d strolled the
entire way.
The vaguely
familiar blonde flight attendant—Shellie, according to her name tag—greeted her
at the door and pointed toward a seat in first class. “Looks like all coach
seats have been taken. So, enjoy. You’ve been upgraded.”
First class was
wonderful. And roomier than coach. She couldn’t believe that economy and heaven
were separated by mere inches. Instead of normal seats, there were armchairs.
Wide, cavernous armchairs. She could lounge in comfort, and cross her legs
without kicking the passenger in front of her.
Candi tucked the
carry-on in the overhead compartment and reached into her purse for a book. She
buckled up, and with a soft sigh, she settled down in her seat. She barely
glanced at the person sitting next to her while she started reading a Christian
romance novel. Or tried to read.
She couldn’t
concentrate on the book. Instead, the pilot’s handsome face appeared on the
page. She closed the book with a finger between thepages and shut her eyes,
remembering every wave of his black hair, and the twinkle in those gorgeous blueberry
colored eyes. The chivalrous, though misguided, help he’d given her.
And he was tall.
Much taller than her five foot six inches.
He’d make a
gorgeous groom.
Too bad she
wouldn’t be the bride.
Oh well, she loved
being a bridesmaid. There was excitement in helping another woman achieve the
dreams of marriage. She would attend at least three weddings this year all from
their circle of college friends.
She blinked back
the tears that suddenly burned her eyes.
She’d planned on
getting married, too.
But now she was
reduced to daydreaming about a pilot she’d never see again.
Too bad she wasn’t
going to Miami.
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