He didn't look forward to this gathering asthey always ended in some kind of drama. There were just too many family members with too many kids to make it a simple family reunion. It had been years since he attended the last one.He'd gone off to follow his career and escaped the small town trap that seemed to envelop the remainder of his relatives.
As a matter of fact, it had been close to two years since he even visited his parents and a lot longer since he'd seen his extended family. He happened to have business in the area this time, so it worked out.
He'd suck it up and attend to get his mom off his back. Not only could kill two birds with one stone, he could even make it a business expense!
His flight had been delayed due to bad weather. Storms had been ripping through the Midwest. By the time he made it to Atlanta his connecting flight had been cancelled. The earliest flight wasn't until the following morning. There was no choice but to find a place for the night.
The screaming is what drew his attention. The cute little blonde was giving the ticketing agent hell. Unfortunately for her, the agent had been through this 1,000 times today. She was just one more, angry customer.
"Sorry ma'am." the agent said one last time. "There is nothing we can do but put you on the 1st flight in the morning".
"Then why can't you put me up in a room then?" the tiny blonde asked angrily.
"Ma'am, our policy covers hotels in the event of a mechanical problem, but acts of nature are not covered." The agent repeated.
"Damn it, I can't afford this!" the girl mumbled to herself as she stomped past him, pacing along the bay of windows.
He studied her while he waited in line. She paced back and forth for a while. She attempted to make some phone calls which did not seem to help her situation. Then she sat and cried, folding her head between her legs to hide her embarrassment.
The agent told him the same news, first flight tomorrow morning. He took his ticket stubs and headed to the terminal. The girl was still there.
Normally he was not inclined to help strangers, but this girl piqued his curiosity.
She looked to be about twenty five. She was blonde haired, blue eyed, petite, but shapely. What really got him though was the fact that she was so feisty! He's always loved a feisty woman.
She obviously didn't have a lot of experience flying, nor any expendable income.
Maybe it was compassion, as he remembered the first time he was stranded. He was just a little younger than her and was flying out on spring break to see his aunt. It was the same situation and he ended trying to sleep in the terminal. It was a long night of wondering if the vagrants would kill him or if he'd catch something from the coughing old lady next to him.
Maybe it was his attraction to her. Most likely it was his attraction to her.
He decided to do the good deed and offer to pay for her room. He had plenty of rewards points and cashing in another night for a stranger's room was really nothing,he rarely used them anyway.
"I Might as well offer", he thought and approached her.
Her anger had turned to tears as she came to the realization that she had to spend the night in the airport. She'd already had a bad week and this was just the icing on the cake.......
Classes were over and she headed home for the summer. Weeks prior she had caught her boyfriend with her roommate. As a result, she hastily ran out and drove to another friend's house across campus, getting in a crash along the way. Her car was totaled. Her studies had dropped off. She thinks she failed her final exams. And now this!
Since she couldn't drive home, she used her last bit of money to put her furnishings in storage. She had just enough to buy lunch. Fortunately her parents had paid for a flight back home....... She missed Rick even though he had cheated on her. Not so much Rick, but Rick's dick. It had been over a month since they last had sex and her body was craving it. She didn't know why she was thinking about sex when she was going to have to sleep in a nasty airport.......
She sobbed to herself silently as someone tapped her on her shoulder.
She looked up at them through her puffy red eyes.
"Sorry to bother you." he said. "I couldn't help but notice your predicament." He smiled down to her. "I think I can help..." he trailed off as he was interrupted.
"You perverts are all alike! " She glared at him, standing with her fists in balls.
"I suppose you're offering to let me stay in your room, aren't you? Or maybe you want to give me some money for a blow job? Sleep with you perhaps?" she fumed. Looking up to his smiling face, sneering.
Passers by's gave them a wide berth. Several looked on in curiosity.
Laughing but trying to look serious at the same time he said "Well..." before he was interrupted again.
"What the hell is so God Damn funny?!" She fumed further.
"Well," he said calmly."I was going to offer you a room, but not with me or for any type of barter system. I happen to have a few extra rewards points and thought I'd offer some for you to get a room. I've been in your position before, it is not fun."
She studied him, considering his offer. "How do I know you're not a serial killer or something?" she asked, tempted by the offer. A hot bath would be nice.
"Well, if you don't trust that we are in a public place discussing this with a dozen people watching like we were on stage..." gesturing to their audience who suddenly started looking busy with something else "then I guess nothing aside from the fact that we will be taking a public shuttle to a public hotel and checking into two separate public rooms." he said smugly. "I can even offer up a business card as future evidence if you like." offering one up for examination.
"I'm...I'm sorry." she apologized as she studied the card he offered as proof. "I'm just...well...my boyfriend.My car...this..." She trailed off, her eyes welling up.
"No worries, I understand" he offered. "I have three sisters...and countless female cousins." he said smiling. "I know exactly what you are going through."
She wiped away her tears, smiling for the first time today. "OK, but if they find me dead tomorrow, I'm going to kill you! And only because you look harmless, not because I trust you." She warned.
"Deal!" he said as he shook her hand. What a good grip! he thought to himself as he helped her with her baggage. They walked to the tram.
Neither spoke much as they walked. She was texting while he made arrangements with the hotel desk clerk on his Blackberry.
They arrived to the tram just as it arrived. They slipped in with the rushing crowd.
She was finishing a text as the tram shot off to the next gate. She was not prepared and the sudden shift caused her to lose her balance. She took a step back, reaching backwards to break her fall, losing her footing in the process.
It wouldn't have bee be a big deal except she broke her fall right into the crotch of the friendly stranger. He quickly deflected her contact but failed to catch her as she tumbled to his feet. She was sprawled around his feet, completely embarrassed.
He smiled down to her, offering a hand. "I said no need for bartering." He said jokingly to diffuse her embarrassment.
"Sorry." She stammered before she trailed off, too embarrassed to speak as she put her phone away and grabbed the hand bar. She could feel the heat on her cheeks as she blushed.
Idiotshe told herself.How embarrassing.She hoped she didn't hurt him, pondering the reality of the contact. Not a bad package. She thought, immediately thinking of her ex which caused her tears to start welling up again. She was torn between anger and pain whenever anything reminded her of him.
They arrived to the T gate and she followed him as he expertly navigated the airport crowd. She was starting to warm up to him as he was a full gentleman, getting every door for her. Who does this for a stranger this day and age? she pondered as they boarded the hotel shuttle.
He was on the phone with colleges most of the way. She busied herself by reading his business card over and over. The company was nothing she had ever heard of, the card was pretty plain with some official looking graphics, address and phone numbers.
Jerry Smith, junior associate. Hmmm. she wondered. What the heck position is that?She chuckled at the name. Jerry was such an ambiguous name. She had some Smiths in her family. Her aunt married into some Smiths. She had a nerdy cousin they used to call "pimples".She didn't even know his real name. There were so many Smiths she didn't even think to ask if he was related, she knew the answer.
The shuttle driver swung a sharp turn, jostling him into her this time. His weight suddenly on top of her brought her back to reality. His warm hand was on her inner thigh. She squeaked a yelp in surprise.
They were suddenly face to face and struggling to get back upright as the driver acted like he did nothing wrong. His cologne was still lingered in her nostrils when she spoke up.
"Hey, remember our agreement?" she asked teasingly. She smiled over to him as they both laughed awkwardly.
They skidded to a halt at the hotel jut as darkness was starting to fall. They exited the coolness of the shuttle to be enveloped by the putrid southern humidity.Instantly sweating in the heat, she circled around the shuttle as he was tipping the driver.
He handed her bag to her and she followed him to the desk.
He greeted the desk clerk warmly.
"Are you checking in?" the desk clerk asked methodically with a fake smile.
"Yes, two rooms. I made reservations just a few moments ago." he stated proudly. He fumbled for his wallet, providing his ID.
"Welcome back Mr. Smith, we are so happy to have a platinum member staying with us." she beamed to him with invigorated niceness.
"Two rooms?" she asked inquisitively.
"Yes, this is my colleague; she will be staying in the suite." he said, introducing her to the desk clerk like an old friend.
She smiled nervously to the clerk thinking Colleague?