Just To Be With You

“Didn’t I tell you? Bryan and I decided to completely redo one of them.” She was clearly distraught to have to tell them, “I’m so sorry, but I’ve only got one room open.”

“David and Linda will stay here with you,” Ian said. When they immediately protested, he shook his head. “You’ve both already been too flexible where I’m concerned, and after what you pulled off getting us down safely through that storm, I insist. Tatiana and I will figure out something else.”

“I’ve got that space above my barn,” Tim offered, obviously thinking they were a couple. “My youngest uses it when he comes home from school.”

“Oh no,” his sister protested, “you couldn’t put guests up there.”

“A room above your barn sounds perfect,” Tatiana said. She turned to look at Ian, and even with her wet hair plastered to her head, she was so beautiful she took his breath away. “Doesn’t it?”

They all smelled like dog. His wool suit was destroyed. His entire schedule had just been thrown entirely out of whack. And they were going to be stranded on an island in a college kid’s room above a barn for who knew how long?

But as Ian looked down at Tatiana’s smiling face, he couldn’t bring himself to worry about any of it. Not when he’d just been given the most unexpected and precious gift of his life—a few more hours with her.

“Yes,” he agreed, unable to tear his eyes from hers. “It sounds absolutely perfect.”

* * *

“It really is perfect!” Tatiana declared when Tim let them into the private space he had created for his college-age son.

Straight out of Tatiana’s “one day I’ll live in the country” dreams, the floors were pickled pine, and the pine bed frame on the far wall looked to be homemade, as did the kitchen cabinets in the small eating area. There was an old TV set and baskets of games and movies, along with a comfy-looking couch that evidently pulled out into another bed.

They’d stopped by Tim’s home so that his super nice and pretty wife could load them up with some food to get them through to the next day. At Ian’s urging—in the event that someone in town heard Tatiana was here after being on a plane that had made an emergency landing and posted the news on Twitter or Facebook—she’d used Tim’s phone to leave a quick voice mail for her sister and agent, to let them both know she was fine. He’d also placed a couple of calls. One to Bethany so that she could make the necessary adjustments to his schedule and to let his executive staff know they should deal with anything urgent that came up—apart from Flynn, because he’d given the man his word that they would deal with each other directly. His second call was to the head of the company in Alaska he should have been meeting with right then to let him know what had happened.

Tatiana knew how important Ian’s Tuesday afternoon meeting with Flynn was, and she hated the thought of anything going wrong with the acquisition when he had put so much time and energy into it. But when she’d told Ian she hoped the weather would clear up in time for him to get back for it, instead of agreeing with her, he’d given her a look she hadn’t quite been able to read.

“If you need to use the phone in the house again,” Tim said, “just drop by and go ahead. We always meant to put one in here, but never got around to it. The doors are always unlocked, so no need to wait for one of us to let you in.”

“I can’t think of the last time I haven’t been near a phone or the Internet. What a gift that is,” Tatiana said, smiling at the man who had been their knight in shining armor all afternoon. “Thank you so much for everything, including this chance to unplug for a little while.”

“We really can’t thank you enough for putting us up like this,” Ian agreed. “If there’s anything I can do for you in the future, just let me know.”

“When I heard over the radio that your plane was having trouble, I was just praying you’d make it down in one piece. Had to have been pretty scary. We’re all just happy to help.”

But Ian was already handing him a damp business card. “This has all my contact information. I hope you’ll let me do something really nice for you and your family one day soon.”

“Well, thanks. And don’t hesitate to come on in if you need anything. Two more for dinner would be no problem if you change your mind.”

When he closed the door behind Tim, Tatiana told Ian, “It feels like we’ve landed in another world, another reality, doesn’t it?” She looked out one of the barn windows. “Even outside we can’t see more than a few feet in front of us. It’s as if the storm has blocked out every—” The chatter of her teeth suddenly made it hard to finish the word. “Everything.”

Ian lifted a hand to her cheek. “You’re frozen solid.”

Suddenly, she realized just how true that was, especially when he’d miraculously managed to stay so warm. “I’m sure I just need to get out of these clothes.” But it was darn near impossible to get them off when she couldn’t get her numb fingers to work right.

The next thing she knew, Ian had her in his strong arms and he was carrying her over to the bathroom. He turned the shower on, and when steam rose, he took them both under the spray, then put her back on her feet.

“I nearly got you killed in my plane. I won’t let you get sick, too.”

“You’re the one who got me through the flight in one piece,” she protested. “I would have lost it if you weren’t there, telling me about all the fun you used to have with your brothers and Mia.” The warmth of the shower was heaven sent, but Ian’s warmth affected her even more. And though he was focused on taking care of her, the sensuality and attraction that had always sizzled between them was quickly rising up as he began to strip her icy clothes off. “It feels so good, being here with you.”