Chapter Three

When the plane landed on the runway several minutes later, neither of them spoke. They taxied and approached the gate, the attendants did their customary welcome to the destination city and thanked everyone on board for flying with them…and finally they were allowed to get up and get their bags.

Jon smoothed back his blonde hair and slipped the baseball cap back on. He didn’t don the shades – he’d look even more ridiculous with them at 4am in New Jersey – but he still regained that private, mysterious look he had when Erin first saw him jump on the plane in San Diego. He stood and reached up into the overhead compartment to retrieve their bags, and Erin caught herself admiring the strip of flesh that peeked out from beneath his shirt when he raised his arms. She closed her eyes and chided herself, hoping the heat that rose to her face wasn’t visible in her cheeks.

“Enjoying the view?” Jon asked quietly, and Erin opened her eyes in surprise to see him holding out her bag. She smirked and took it from him, deciding to play along while she still could.

“Cocky, are we?” she slung her bag over her shoulder and rose to her feet gingerly.

“No, just observant. Like you, apparently.”

And a mind-reader, she marveled inwardly. How many times had he gotten into her head that night?

They waited for a moment before the attendants opened the hatch and people began to move, slowly and sleepily exiting the plane through the long walkway. Jon let Erin out first and followed behind her silently, thinking back on the night himself.

Damn it if he wasn’t taken with this woman. She was incredible. It seemed ridiculous, but he couldn’t deny that she stirred something within him that hadn’t been touched in a long time.

She’s just another encounter, he thought to himself. Pull yourself together. In a few minutes you’re going to go one way and she’s going to go another, and you’re never going to see her again. Deal with it.

They emerged into the silent airport, which save for a couple of people scattered throughout the seats at the gate, was entirely empty. Jon and Erin followed the rest of the passengers up the escalator to baggage claim and waited silently for their bags.

A couple of people looked over at Jon as he stood next to Erin and waited, but nobody said anything. Erin was surprised - but then again, this was Jersey. He was a local, and most people were probably used to his presence in public places. Although, she realized, she’d never seen him anywhere.

Jon moved to pick up a long black duffel bag off the conveyor belt, and Erin’s heart beat faster as she realized he was about to leave. As he turned back to her, she smiled and started to say goodbye, but he merely returned to her side and proceeded to wait with her silently. She smiled inwardly. The fact that he wasn’t in a hurry to get going either meant more to her than she wanted to admit.

The conveyor belt continued to rotate around the carousel, and gradually the bags began to thin out as people claimed them and left. Soon, only a couple of people, including Jon and Erin, were left, and when the conveyor belt stopped rotating, Erin raised her eyebrows.

“Why’d it stop?” she asked, traces of anger on the edge of her voice. “That better not be it…”

She looked around at the others to see their reactions, and they looked as perplexed as she did. Erin waited to see if the belt started up again, and when it didn’t, she clenched her jaw.

“Fantastic. So where’s the customer service desk?” she looked around, trying not to let her temper get the best of her. But it was late at night, she was exhausted, and she couldn’t believe that her luggage might be lost.

Jon pointed to her left. “Over there. Come on, I’ll go with you.”

They headed over to the desk, followed closely behind by the other people who had been waiting. “Let me handle this,” Jon said quietly in her ear.

“Excuse me, sir,” he spoke up as they approached the clerk behind the desk. “Can you tell me if there’s another carousel by chance for flight 6502 with Continental?”

The clerk checked his paperwork. “I’m sorry, sir, number three is the only one. Is there a problem?”

“Well, it seems not all the luggage was dropped off from the flight,” Jon explained. Erin admired the calm way he presented himself and spoke with the clerk; she’d have been yelling by now.

“This lady can’t find her bag, and there are a few others who seem to be in the same situation,” he turned around to acknowledge the people standing behind them, who nodded at him. “Is there a way to find out if they’re on another flight?”

The clerk nodded. “Yes, of course, can I have the names of the passengers missing luggage?” Erin gave him her name and the people behind them followed suit.

“Okay,” the clerk picked up the phone. “Let me see what I can find out for you folks.”

“Thank you,” Jon stepped back and looked at Erin. “Believe me, my bags have been lost more than once. I’m sure it’s just on another plane right now. They’ll get it back to you soon.”

“Yeah, I’ve been in this situation before,” Erin sighed. “I just hate being in it.”

“No kidding. It’s no fun. Do you have your wallet and cell phone with you?”

In spite of herself, Erin smiled. “Yes, I do, they’re in here,” she patted her shoulder bag. “I travel enough to know to keep them on me at all times.”

Jon returned the smile. “Good girl. Just making sure.”

The clerk hung up the phone and looked up at them. “I apologize, but it seems the bags were located on a different flight to Seattle. They’re going to forward them as soon as possible, and we will have them delivered to you immediately. Are you folks visiting, or do you live here?”

The others appeared to be visiting. “I live here,” Erin said. “Do we need to fill out a claim?”

“No, since the bags have been located, we just need your address and contact information,” the clerk replied, passing a form and a pen across the desk to her. “You folks, too,” he nodded at the people behind them. Erin filled out the information quickly, thanking her lucky stars that she was home and wouldn’t be without clothes or toiletries for a few days.

A few minutes later, the clerk collected the forms and assured them that they’d get their belongings shortly. “Again, I apologize for the inconvenience.”

As they left, Erin grumbled in the back of her throat. “What a nuisance,” she muttered. Jon laughed softly. “I’m sorry, darlin’, but at least they found them.”

“That’s true,” Erin agreed. “Thank you for helping me out back there.”

Jon waved his hand. “Not a problem.” I wanted an excuse to stay with you.

They walked together again to the curb outside, where once again, Erin turned to say goodbye, figuring that they’d part ways here. And once again, Jon surprised her.

The black stretch limo pulled up as they came into sight, and he turned to her. “Since I figured you’d be taking a cab home anyway, why don’t I just give you a ride?”

In her late-night bout of exhaustion, Erin didn’t need much persuasion, despite the nagging voice in the back of her mind. You’re treading dangerous waters, here.

“Are you sure?”

Jon nodded, already opening the door for her. “Don’t worry about it. There’s no sense in you paying a cabbie an arm and a leg. Besides, this thing’s more comfortable.” He grinned at her as he held out his hand for her to get in.

“Well, thank you,” she said, sliding onto the soft leather seat. Jon slid in after her and the driver closed the door, then hopped into the front and pulled away from the curb.

It was quiet and cool in the back of the limo – much more comfortable than the back of a cab, Erin had to admit.

“Whereabouts do you live?” Jon asked, tossing his baseball cap onto the seat between them. She told him, and he passed the message on to the driver. They rode in silence for a moment before Erin spoke again.

“Well this certainly was a hell of a night,” she voiced, smiling. Jon looked at her. “Yeah? I didn’t think it was anything special.”

The gleam in his baby blue eyes made her insides tingle. “Ouch,” she laughed. “Way to crush a girl’s ego.”

Jon merely winked.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up outside her townhouse, and Erin grabbed her bag. Jon hopped out first and held out his hand to her, acting every bit the perfect gentleman. Erin tried to ignore the fact that his skin was soft and his hand strong, his fingers grazing hers gently as he helped her out. She couldn’t let herself think like that. They were about to say goodbye.

They stood awkwardly on the sidewalk outside her house, neither knowing quite what to say.

“Well,” Erin finally said, breaking the silence. “Thank you again, for everything. I appreciate the help and the ride. And it was great meeting you and getting to talk to you.”

Jon smiled and fixed his eyes on hers, wanting to imprint their depth and color exactly in his mind. Erin looked back at him, transfixed by an electric current that seemed to pass between both of them as they stood there. “You’re welcome, it was my pleasure. It was good to have someone to pass the time with.”

“Same here, even if it turns out I had no effect on you,” she smirked.

Jon raised an eyebrow and a wide grin broke out on his face. “Oh, I never said you didn’t have an effect on me.” Shut up, you moron. Whet the fuck are you doing?

Erin was pleasantly surprised. “Well, too bad it had to end then. Good night.” She smiled and turned to leave.

Jon watched her head up the cobbled walk to her front door, a slight smile playing on his lips as he admired her from behind.

“Good night...”

She unlocked the door and waved, then smiled at him one last time before disappearing into her house.

Jon climbed back into the limo and sighed as the driver pulled away again. He ran his hands through his thick blonde hair and tried to ignore the feeling she’d left him with.

He knew he’d use their meeting as inspiration for a song in the future. She had been great food for thought. But that’s all she was. It was just a one-time thing. That’s all he could let her be.

Wasn’t it?

Monday, October 6, 2008