times she got up to check the arrivals board, happily noting
that Neal’s flight was scheduled to arrive on time a little after five. Her excitement over his arrival had
pushed the events of the weekend and her talk with Dorrie’s parents to the back
of her mind—at least for the present.
Finally, the
board indicated that the flight had landed. Even though she realized it would be
several minutes before the passengers disembarked and made their way to the
main terminal area, Lin moved closer to the concourse exit area to wait. It was almost twenty minutes before she
saw Neal heading her way. He broke
into a huge grin when he spotted her his blue eyes sparkling as he made his way
through the crowd.
“Boy am I glad
to see you,” he exclaimed as he dropped his carry on bag and grabbed her in a
huge bear hug. “It’s been a long day but well worth it.” He noticed that she had wrapped both
arms around him, “Hey, looks like the shoulder is back to normal.”
“It is,” Lin
responded, “just an occasional twinge here and there.” She planted a kiss on his cheek, “I’m so
glad you’re finally here.”
“Me too,” Neal
replied. He picked up his carry on
and took Lin by the elbow guiding her away from the ever-growing numbers of
people flowing from the concourse toward a quieter spot to one side of the
entrance. “Now, how about a real welcome kiss.” He put the bag down and drew her into a
close embrace kissing her deeply and with a hunger that expressed how truly
happy he was to be with her. Lin
responded eagerly returning his embrace fully. All of the anxieties of the past
weekend vanished completely.
Finally, Neal
stepped back, “I guess, I’d better go claim my luggage. Coming for such a long visit I had to
pack a lot more than usual.”
“Tell you
what,” Lin said, “I’m in the parking garage across the way. Why don’t I go get the car and I’ll pick
you up at the arrivals lane in front of the baggage claim area. Should save a few minutes anyway.”
Lin took Neal’s
carry on bag with her and headed out to the garage. By the time she got the car and drove
back around to the terminal Neal was just exiting the baggage area with two
fairly large bags. She popped the
trunk and waited while he lifted the heavy bags and placed them inside.
“You must have
big plans,” she teased, “that involve getting dressed up a lot. I should’ve told you that things are
usually very casual at the beach.”
Neal grinned
and winked at her, “Actually, my most immediate plans focus more on getting
undressed than on dressing in any fashion.”
“Oh, really!” I
fell right into that one Lin thought; she felt herself blushing as she tried to
focus on the signs for exiting the airport.
“Indeed, they
do,” Neal continued with a grin on his face, “and, for your information, one of
those bags is filled with Christmas gifts and notes for some writing I’m
currently working on. My laptop is
in the carry on. I plan on getting
some work done while I am here.”
“ Kate has a
nice office area upstairs so that should be easy for you,” Lin was glad to
change the subject, at least for the moment.
“ That’s
great,” Neal responded, “but first things first.” He gave her directions from his
reservation form and soon they were pulling up at the hotel he had booked for
the night. The elegant entrance
took Lin’s breath away. She’d been
expecting more basic lodgings. The
valet took her car and the bellhop loaded the luggage they needed for
overnight.
“I wasn’t
expecting anything so luxurious,” Lin remarked as they exited the elevator on
the eighth floor.
“Nothing but
the best,” Neal grinned. “It’s only one night, but I want it to be special.”
The room was
large, centered with a king sized bed. There were comfortable chairs near the windows and an arrangement of
fresh flowers on the table in between. Next
that Neal’s flight was scheduled to arrive on time a little after five. Her excitement over his arrival had
pushed the events of the weekend and her talk with Dorrie’s parents to the back
of her mind—at least for the present.
Finally, the
board indicated that the flight had landed. Even though she realized it would be
several minutes before the passengers disembarked and made their way to the
main terminal area, Lin moved closer to the concourse exit area to wait. It was almost twenty minutes before she
saw Neal heading her way. He broke
into a huge grin when he spotted her his blue eyes sparkling as he made his way
through the crowd.
“Boy am I glad
to see you,” he exclaimed as he dropped his carry on bag and grabbed her in a
huge bear hug. “It’s been a long day but well worth it.” He noticed that she had wrapped both
arms around him, “Hey, looks like the shoulder is back to normal.”
“It is,” Lin
responded, “just an occasional twinge here and there.” She planted a kiss on his cheek, “I’m so
glad you’re finally here.”
“Me too,” Neal
replied. He picked up his carry on
and took Lin by the elbow guiding her away from the ever-growing numbers of
people flowing from the concourse toward a quieter spot to one side of the
entrance. “Now, how about a real welcome kiss.” He put the bag down and drew her into a
close embrace kissing her deeply and with a hunger that expressed how truly
happy he was to be with her. Lin
responded eagerly returning his embrace fully. All of the anxieties of the past
weekend vanished completely.
Finally, Neal
stepped back, “I guess, I’d better go claim my luggage. Coming for such a long visit I had to
pack a lot more than usual.”
“Tell you
what,” Lin said, “I’m in the parking garage across the way. Why don’t I go get the car and I’ll pick
you up at the arrivals lane in front of the baggage claim area. Should save a few minutes anyway.”
Lin took Neal’s
carry on bag with her and headed out to the garage. By the time she got the car and drove
back around to the terminal Neal was just exiting the baggage area with two
fairly large bags. She popped the
trunk and waited while he lifted the heavy bags and placed them inside.
“You must have
big plans,” she teased, “that involve getting dressed up a lot. I should’ve told you that things are
usually very casual at the beach.”
Neal grinned
and winked at her, “Actually, my most immediate plans focus more on getting
undressed than on dressing in any fashion.”
“Oh, really!” I
fell right into that one Lin thought; she felt herself blushing as she tried to
focus on the signs for exiting the airport.
“Indeed, they
do,” Neal continued with a grin on his face, “and, for your information, one of
those bags is filled with Christmas gifts and notes for some writing I’m
currently working on. My laptop is
in the carry on. I plan on getting
some work done while I am here.”
“ Kate has a
nice office area upstairs so that should be easy for you,” Lin was glad to
change the subject, at least for the moment.
“ That’s
great,” Neal responded, “but first things first.” He gave her directions from his
reservation form and soon they were pulling up at the hotel he had booked for
the night. The elegant entrance
took Lin’s breath away. She’d been
expecting more basic lodgings. The
valet took her car and the bellhop loaded the luggage they needed for
overnight.
“I wasn’t
expecting anything so luxurious,” Lin remarked as they exited the elevator on
the eighth floor.
“Nothing but
the best,” Neal grinned. “It’s only one night, but I want it to be special.”
The room was
large, centered with a king sized bed. There were comfortable chairs near the windows and an arrangement of
fresh flowers on the table in between. Next
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