Her hands were on her hips, she clenched her lips, and her finger pointed.
“Rowan Michael. I thought you were joking. Do you seriously have a woman there that you picked up at the airport?”
The smile left his face. The last thing he wanted was his family to think of Saylor that way.
“I told you I helped someone at the airport. You didn’t believe me. She was stranded on her way to Arizona.”
“Bring her over and let me meet her,” his mother demanded. “Otherwise I’m going to think you’re yanking my chain.”
He lifted his hand and waved Saylor over. She shook her head.
“She’s shy,” he said.
“Then get off your ass and go to her,” his mother said in the same tone she used when one of them was in trouble.
Saylor’s eyes grew large, but he stood up and walked into the kitchen.
She wore casual comfy clothes, hair brushed and falling around her shoulders.
“Mom, this is Saylor Beach. She’s a nurse like I said. A traveling nurse. Tell my mother hi, Saylor.”
He pulled her under his arm, close to him, and she waved to the monitor. “Hi. Merry Christmas. Thank you for raising such a considerate man. I’d be lost right now if he didn’t help me out.”
There was some laughter in the background and lots of his family members moving closer to get a view of the woman who had captivated his heart already.
“Damn,” Nelson said. “Leave it to you to land on your feet in the middle of a blizzard.”
“Dick,” he said.
Saylor nudged his arm. “Hey. Be nice to your family on the holiday.”
“I like you already,” his mother said. “Tell me about yourself.”
Oh boy. He started something he should have put more thought into.
“Not much to say,” she said. “I was heading home to Arizona, but they diverted my plane because of mechanical issues. I had to get off before I could get my carry on. I’m a diabetic and my supplies were in that bag. Rowan knew someone working and got staff back on to grab it for me.”
“Damn,” Foster said. “Never thought I’d see you stepping up like the rest of us.”
“Asshole,” he said. Foster was laughing. He knew what that comment meant and he’d have to explain it. When he got off the call.
“Don’t be mean,” she said, jamming her finger into his stomach. He flinched. Not from pain, but from her touching him. And wanting more of it.
“You tell him,” his mother said, her fist up in a cheer.
“I tried to get a flight out, but they were all canceled. No cars to be rented or hotels to be found. I thought for sure I’d be spending the night in the airport. A couple of nights by the looks of it. It was that, or accept Rowan’s offer.” She put her hand to the side of her mouth. “Please don’t think I do this with strangers, but your son has been a gentleman. I didn’t know who he was until I got here, but he’s been a wonderful host.”
“That’s Rowan for you,” Braylon said. “Always finding a way.”
He rolled his eyes. “If you’re all done busting my ass, you have a great Christmas. I’m not letting Saylor clean up breakfast alone.”
“That’s right,” his mother said, nodding. “Those duties get shared.”
He sighed. “Yes, Mother.”
He disconnected the call with Saylor trying to move away, but he held her close to him. “That was unexpected. Why did you do it?”
How did he explain he wanted to use any leverage he could to not have her vanish from his life?
