Chapter One
Wren
My cramps were brutal as I dragged my suitcase along the polished floor.
Of course, I’d forgotten any painkillers.
I’d have to pay ten times more for a tiny bottle at the airport convenience store once I got through security. First, I’d have to check in for my flight.
I headed toward the counter as another hard cramp hit me. I was agirl’sgirl. I supported women in power, but why was Mother Nature playing the drums on my damn uterus?
“Hello, checking in.” I handed my ID across the desk. “Any chance I can get a window seat?”
The woman behind the counter clicked away on the keyboard and frowned. “This flight is oversold, but you’re in luck. There’s still one seat left, but it’s a middle.”
I huffed a breath but tried not to take out my crankiness on this unsuspecting woman. “That’s fine.” I had to get to myfriend Kara’s wedding in Colorado, one way or another.
While I was waiting for my boarding pass to print, I glanced to my left where voices were being raised at the next counter. “Oversold? How do you sell more tickets than seats?”
“It’s common practice to account for no-shows,” the clerk explained. “They sell more tickets than seats, then assign seats as people check in. Since the seats are all assigned I can put you on standby.” The man didn’t seem placated. He was tall and intimidating-looking, running a hand through his too-long dark hair.
Nice to see I wasn’t the only one having a shitty start to the day.
“Here we are,” the woman helping me said, drawing my attention back to her. “Have a safe flight.” She handed me my ticket and ID, and I started tucking them into my bag.
“That was the last seat,” a voice carried from the desk to my left, and I glanced up just as the angry man’s eyes landed on me.
I took the handle of my suitcase and started toward the security line, but his voice caught up with me. “Excuse me? Lady? Ma’am?”
Reluctantly, I stopped, my sneakers squeaking on the polished floor. I turned to face him.
“Don’t call me ma’am,” I huffed. I hated being called ma’am.Sirsounded respectful.Ma’amsounded like I was too old to carry my own groceries.
“Fine. What would you like to be called?” he asked sarcastically. Up close, his eyes were a beautiful shade of dark chocolate.
Ooh, chocolate would be really good right now.
“I’d rather you didn’t call me at all.” I turned my back to him, but he called out again.
“Look, you got the last seat on the flight I need.”
“Okay, well I can’t make the plane bigger now, can I?” Another cramp hit me, and I grimaced against the discomfort. I needed drugs and caffeine… or menopause.
“Well, I have to get to a wedding. Can you just let me have your ticket? You can catch a later flight.”
The audacity.
This international airport was not big enough to hold his audacity.
“I have a wedding to get to too, and I—” I shook my head. “Why am I even arguing with you?” I muttered the last sentence and headed toward the security line.
“Because you’re being unreasonable and you know it,” he shot back, quickening his pace until he was walking beside me as if we were somehow in this together.
I stopped short, turning on him. “Unreasonable? You’re the one asking a complete stranger to give up their seat like you’re entitled to it.”
“I’m not saying I’m entitled,” he said, jaw tightening. “I have somewhere to be, and my day just got fucked.”
“I have somewhere to be too,” I snapped. “You think I’m flying for fun? I’ve been up since four, I feel like shit, and I still managed to plan ahead and get here on time.”
