Page 64 of Seeing Harper

“I have make-up, shoes, curling irons, all kinds of things I need to bring with me.”

“Did you manage to get it all packed?”

“I did!” she said haughtily.

The alarm for the baggage carousel sounded and the red lights started flashing to let passengers know to start looking for their bags as the first of those from her plane started making their way around the large room on the conveyor.

“Then I’ll manage to get it all loaded in the car. Can I have your phone?” he asked, setting her carry-on down beside her and handing her back her jacket while holding his hand out for her phone.

“For what?” she asked, holding her phone to her side and little away from him suspiciously.

“To scan the information for your bags.”

“Oh, yeah! Of course.” She handed it to him, and he flashed her a lazy, seductive smile. Harper picked up her carry-on and returned it to her shoulder as she watched him ease through the crowd. The smile… it almost made her defensive. He’d obviously meant for it to be seductive. And it was obviously easy for him. He’d just smiled and the lazy seduction behind it just oozed out of him. Her alarms went off. “Just do the job you’re here to do and get home. Stay obviously professional and you won’t have to get ugly,” she whispered.

It wasn’t long before he was making his way back to her, the handle of her largest bag extended, and the smallest sitting on top of it with the handle of the larger laced through the loop made for just that reason on the smaller. The medium bag had its handle extended as well and all were rolling smoothly toward her. “Give me your carry on and I’ll loop it over the medium bag and we’ll be set,” he said.

Harper took it off her shoulder and held it out to him.

It took Joel only seconds to do exactly what he’d said, and then they were moving toward the exits, each of them pushing a rolling mini tower of luggage before them.

“Thank you for getting my bags. I appreciate it.”

“No problem,” he said as they walked across lanes of shuttles and limousines to a line of vehicles parked nose to end in the pickup zone. He led her to a Mercedes, popped the trunk and put her bags in, then led her around to the passenger side and opened the door for her. “In you go,” he said.

“Thanks,” Harper said, as she sat down and pulled her legs in gracefully.

“Buckle up, Harper. Can’t have you bouncing around in my car,” he said with a wink.

She glanced up at him as he closed the door hoping she was reading more into his comment than he intended, then neatly folded her jacket on her lap before placing her purse on the floorboard near her feet. By the time he got in, she was ready to go.

Joel slid into the driver’s seat, and held her phone out to her.

“Ah! Yes, I probably need that,” Harper said.

“You ready?”

“I am.”

“The hotel is about ten minutes from here. It’s a very nice one.”

“I don’t know much about it, but as long as it’s clean and safe, I’m good.”

“Nothing on the first floor, right?”

“I’m not sure really. My father took care of everything because he was planning to come. I usually request third or higher when I travel, and I learned it from him so, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did the same.”

“Your father made the plans?” he asked.

“That’s what he said. Other than business meetings.”

“This hotel is very good about honoring special requests so I'm sure you’ll be happy with whatever they’ve assigned. I use them whenever possible.”

“But you’re from here, aren’t you?”

“I am. But I do travel a lot and we entertain a lot of customers.”

“Do you ever get tired of it?” she asked.