Lindsay's Post-1/4/2011

During the two plus hour flight Alison forced herself to put the events of the day out of her mind. Especially Richard Bosch, Sergeant, US Army. Reading didn't help. Though it usually did. Of course having, what's his first name, try to pick her up hadn't hurt. Except she, and she even admitted to herself, wasn't really in the mood for probably what he had to offer. A one night stand. But her gut said he was the kind you got for only one reason-the long haul.

No secret, her sex life, hell, even her personal life left, not a little, but a lot to be desired. So, with that depressing thought Alison snuggled her head deeper into pillow.

Maybe her dad was right. Maybe she did need to get away for a few days. Not romance, but to clear her head. Refocus on the big picture. And the small note she and her parents had received. She closed her eyes.

It hadn't been that many months, but seemed like years, since she'd been down to see Aunt Maddie, one of the few people, outside her parents and Maggie, in the world who really understood her. Slowly, she reflected back. Mom and Dad understood her, but on one level. Daughter first. Employee and third major stockholder, second. But then neither she nor Bob (thinking about him suddenly brought a tears to her eyes) ever gave them pause to worry. Much. She gently rubbed her fingers over her eyes, trying to drive the tears away. I lose, she thought, as another tear slipped down her tanned cheek. She sniffled loudly, unconcerned if anyone heard.

A soft cloth caressed her hand. She looked down, her petit nose wrinkled in curiosity. Desert camo. Without looking up she suspected who'd handed it to her.

"Sorry to bother you miss, but I saw you crying. Thought you might need that." His voice, satiny butter soft, drifted over her like a warm summer breeze. Barely delicate enough to gently rustle aspen leaves.

She tilted her head up, peering through teary eyes toward the voice, a saddened smile on her face. "Thanks." Scrunching the cloth in her hand she dabbed her eyes before returning the damp, cloth to him.

"No. You keep it. Think you might have more use for it than I will. Anyway, I've got lots of them."

With her guard down, Alison blinked her long softly curled lashes while casting a glance up at him. That's when she caught a look, again, at his profile. There was something vaguely familiar about him. When he'd tried to pick her up earlier, she'd basically ignored everything about him. Which, for her, had been hard. The clean angular jaw, straight nose. Piercing hawk brown eyes beautifully set under dark, but not as dark as his hair, eyebrows. Straight forehead. High, well placed cheekbones.

He was definitely her kind of eye candy. He knew the right things to say to make her feel, not worse, but little better. The thing that really chewed on her mind was he looked familiar.

Right now she didn't know if that was good or bad with the vague threat she and her parents had gotten. Was he involved somehow? That plus his offhanded comment about being in security.

Her gut said to stay away from him. He's dangerous.

Her heart, on the other hand had a different take. It said trust him. He's good for you.

"Are you sure?"

His lips curled into a smile, dimpling his cheeks. "Yes. And I'd hate to rescue and run but we're about to land so I'd better get back to my seat. See you, soon," he whispered.

He disappeared down the aisle.

Filed under: Lindsay Downs, Mystery, romance