Chapter Nine

 

 

Harper arrived at the airport, wheeling her carry-on luggage behind her. She almost checked it anyway, so that she could have her hands free as she roamed the Fort Lauderdale terminal.

Everywhere she looked were couples in love. Holding hands, kissing. An older gentleman carefully helped his wife up from a plastic chair, taking the time to look into her eyes and make sure she was okay before sliding his hand around her back.

Newlyweds in t-shirts proclaiming Bride and Groom, arms entwined as if they couldn’t get close enough, even as they walked hip to hip toward whatever adventure awaited them.

A middle-aged couple with children holding hands to link their family. Hold on to that, she wanted to say. Hold on before it is gone. The words stuck in her throat.

Love Actually came to mind. Love at the airport, love, all around. Her and Jacob, sitting on his couch and him, singing to her in an awful British accent.

People fell in love in all different ways and there were so many kinds of caring. Were those feelings wrong because they hadn’t followed some set of rules she had in her head?

Her heart seemed to throb with a mix of emotions—pain, yes, but hope too. Had she left too soon?

She’d lashed out at Jacob, feeling cornered.

Was this regret?

She drew up short, not wanting to live a life of regret.

Someone bumped into her from behind and she apologized, realizing she’d stopped in the middle of the walkway.

Jacob had thought her so brave and had lived his life, full-out, from words she’d shouted to the stars. Now, she was running scared from those words. Live fully.

She was a fraud.

A fake.

Harper had stayed in her safe little bubble in London and now the very idea of stepping outside her safety zone had her scrambling for cover.

She dragged her suitcase to the side and dug her phone from her purse. It was still turned off. She powered it on.

A text from Jacob blinked on the screen, asking which airline she was flying.

He wanted to see London.

Her heart expanded and a squeal of happiness escaped her mouth. “He’s here!” she told the Asian woman to her right.

The woman looked at her like she was crazy, but that was okay.

Jacob’s next text came with a sad face. I can’t believe I’ve missed you. You must already be on our flight.

Don’t go! She wanted to yell. She was so excited she dropped her phone. Scrambling forward she picked it off the floor, laughing, her face red.

Wait! She texted. Meet me at baggage pick up. I’ll be outside. 

She scanned the airport signs for the arrows toward baggage claim and quickly walked through the people between her and the exit.

Maybe she was being impulsive or a fool...

What if something happened to him?

What if I get hurt again?

What if this was actually love?

Her phone rang but she didn’t stop to answer when she saw that it was Felicity. Her friend would have to wait.

 

 

Jacob circled the airport as Siri read aloud Harper’s text via Bluetooth.

“She hasn’t left yet,” he said, his breath tight in his chest. “Baggage—where the hell is baggage?” He scanned the terminals—which one was she? International…didn’t they a valet service?

Tension ratcheted.

He had a chance, a shot—what should he say? Or maybe he shouldn’t say anything. That had screwed him up last time.

“There!” He spied the terminal and cut across two lanes of airport traffic. Cars honked and beeped. He ignored them as he practically put the first tire on the curb.

Harper spilled out of the glass exit doors, dragging her suitcase behind her.

Blonde hair had escaped her bun and fell in waves around Harper’s shoulders. Black jeans and stiletto heels, black trench coat. Jacob vowed to get his angel out of mourning if it was the last thing he did.

“She’s gorgeous,” he said to nobody. But her looks weren’t what called to him—it was her essence, her loyalty, her bravery, the way she frowned, the way she laughed, the way she said banana.

Jacob exploded from the car and leaped up the curb to swing Harper around.

He inhaled her shampoo, her fragrant floral perfume, and held her close—twirling one last time before settling her onto her feet.

She balanced on her heels, her blue-gray eyes welling with tears—a single drop clung to her lower lashes. “I’m sorry,” she said.

A security cop shouted at him to move his car, flashing his lights. Jacob didn’t move from holding Harper. They could keep the damn car for all he cared.

“I’m so sorry I rushed you. I want you to feel the same way that I do—so head over heels in love that the idea of being without you is pure torture.”

Harper lifted her round chin. “I do love you. I want to be with you, too.”

Jacob stepped back in surprise. “I wasn’t expecting that.” He lifted the dry cleaning bag, the plastic crinkling. “I can go to London with you. I don’t need to be here to prove anything. I know that I can have my coffee shop anywhere—but I want to make sure it’s where you are.”

“You’re the most romantic man I’ve ever met,” Harper said in a throaty voice.

“How about we start with a week-long relationship?” They stood facing each other, toe to toe, forehead to forehead.

“How about two?” Harper countered. “I want to live fully, too.”

Jacob held her tight and kissed her until they both gasped for air.

Jacob hooked his arm around Harper’s waist. “Let’s talk it out over lattes at our place. God, I love you so much, Harper Angel.”

Harper held his cheeks and lifted up on tiptoes to kiss him, her eyes wide open. “I know. I love you too. It doesn’t matter how it happened, but I am so glad that it did.”

“Fate,” he said.

She turned them both to look inside the airport and the Christmas tree by baggage claim where reunited families hugged each other in droves. “You know, I think you’re right.”