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We were laughing and sharing hot apple cider. The whole house smelled like baking cookies and Mom’s fancy perfume. We opened presents together at home, instead of my gifts coming by mail from two separate addresses with two separate apology notes.
It’s the family life I never had but always wanted.
For a hot minute, the dream is so deep and rich and wonderful that I almost believe it was real.
Gran opens her mouth to say something. I expect to hear Merry Christmas, my little Elle in her happy, slightly warbling voice.
Instead, the sound of a blaring car horn comes shrieking out of her mouth, louder and louder, until it jolts me awake.
This is not helping my head—though at least it’s a normal headache now and not the sledgehammer migraine I remember having before I fell asleep.
Wait.
... when did I fall asleep?
My last memory is getting off the plane at SeaTac, staggering through the terminal, and—
I think I passed out as the migraine got the better of me?
I don’t know what happened after that.
But why do I hear traffic noise and feel motion like I’m in a car?
What’s this dark, musky sandalwood smell?
Whose lap am I resting my head in? And whose very male bulge am I staring at?
“Sorry, sir. Seems to be a traffic issue up ahead. You know Seattle drivers and slick roads.”
“Yeah,” a chocolate-silk masculine grunt acknowledges.
I freeze.
Those slacks. That warmth. The raw power of a hard-muscled thigh under my head ...
Jet Daddy?
Oh my God, say it isn’t so.
Carefully, I peek up without turning my head.
Sure enough, I’m treated to a view of his sharp beard and strong throat from below.
He’s leaning against the door in the back seat of whatever car we’re in, his elbow against the bottom of the window and his strong, stark knuckles curled under his chin.
His blue eyes reflect back the icy drizzle misting the city streets.
He’s taken off his suit coat, revealing a crisp white shirt and dark vest underneath, both fitted to his powerful body with trim precision.
His coat is draped over me as a blanket, I realize.
My heart thumps with confusion before it stalls like it’s too baffled to really know what to do.
How did I end up in this situation?
Where is he taking me?
He answers that question for me a minute later.
