Snowbound Sweetheart

She set her bags out into the hall and pulled the door behind her, locking it. Then she crossed the hall to the opposite door, knocked and waited for Kathy to answer.

Instead of her friend, though, a tall, handsome man opened the door. The biggest surprise of all, however, was his attire. Instead of Chicago chic, or city casual, as most of the men Lindsay met in the city wore, he was dressed in worn jeans, a flannel shirt and boots. Just like her brothers back home.

“Uh, is Kathy here?”

“Yeah. Just a sec.” He turned and called her neighbor’s name over his shoulder. Then he opened the door wider. “Come on in.”

Lindsay stepped inside the door just as Kathy came into the living area.

“Lindsay! You haven’t left yet?”

“No, I thought I’d bring over my key. You said you wouldn’t mind watering my plants. I just—”

“So your flight’s still on?” Kathy interrupted.

Lindsay stared at her. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, Gil’s flight was canceled,” Kathy replied. “Oh, I haven’t introduced you. This is my brother, Gil Daniels. Gil, my neighbor Lindsay Crawford.”

Lindsay nodded at the handsome man. “I suppose I should’ve checked on my flight, but the bad weather’s not supposed to hit until tonight, so I didn’t think there’d be a problem.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” the man said, his voice deep and rich. “But the plane I’m on originated in Minneapolis. It’s stuck there.”

Lindsay could sympathize, but she figured he’d just catch the next one out. “Well, I hope you get out before the storm.” She turned to Kathy. “Here’s the key. And I just watered the plants, so probably watering them on Saturday will be enough.”

“Aren’t you going to call and check on your plane?” Kathy asked. “Maybe you and Gil were on the same flight.”

Both she and Gil spoke at once. “I’m sure we’re not.”

Then they stared at each other.

“But aren’t you from Oklahoma?” Kathy asked.

“Yes, but—” Lindsay stopped and stared at the man. “You were flying to Oklahoma?”

“Yeah, the three-thirty flight.”

“Oh, no! No, that can’t—well, I’ll find another flight.” She turned around to head for her apartment and the nearest phone.

“Won’t do you any good,” his laconic voice informed her.

She spun around to stare at him.

Kathy answered her unspoken question. “Gil’s called every airline he could think of. They offered a flight tomorrow morning…if the storm hasn’t closed the airport.”

The weather forecasters were expecting a huge snowstorm this evening, but Lindsay hadn’t really been concerned. After all, they were usually alarmists. And it was early for a snowstorm, even in Chicago.

The panic filling her had no basis. Missing Thanksgiving with her family wasn’t the end of the world.

Except that she was homesick.

Extremely homesick.

She instantly formed a new plan. Nothing was going to stop her from getting home. She smiled at the other two. “Then I’ll drive.”

“I already checked. There aren’t any rental cars available. I guess because of the holiday,” Gil said, watching her.

Aha. She had him there. “I have my own car. I can load up and be out of here in half an hour, long before the storm hits Chicago.” With a smile of triumph, she spun on her heel and was out in the hall when he called to her.

“Could I buy a seat in your car?”

Lindsay turned to stare at him. Her imagination immediately pictured the two of them enclosed in her tiny car, practically on top of each other. Heat pooled in her stomach. Which was ridiculous. He was Kathy’s brother. The way her friend talked about him, he was a saint.

“Uh, my car is small.”

“I could spell you on the driving.”

That offer made her reconsider her decision. After all, she had at least fifteen hours of driving ahead of her. It was after one o’clock now. She’d need to drive straight through to get home by tomorrow morning.

Kathy spoke before Lindsay could, a disturbed look on her face. “Gil, I wish you’d stay. Brad and I would love to have you here for Thanksgiving.”

“Sorry, baby, but I promised Rafe I’d be back tonight.”

His calling his sister baby might have been thought endearing, but not to Lindsay. She’d grown up with five brothers and a father watching her every move, trying to direct every step. The phrase “baby” always grated on her nerves.

The man turned back to Lindsay. “I’ll certainly be willing to pay all the expenses.”

She gave him a long look. He was a stranger. But she’d known Kathy a year and really liked her. And Kathy adored her brother. That should be reference enough. Her family certainly wouldn’t object. They’d probably approve of her having a man to “protect” her. How irritating!

Even so, she made her decision. “All right, Mr. Daniels. But I’m leaving in half an hour.”

“I’m ready. Are you going dressed like that?”

She stiffened. Although she hadn’t really thought about it, she probably would’ve changed.

Now she wouldn’t do so for any amount of money.

Knee-jerk reaction, she knew. But she’d come all the way to Chicago to get away from men who thought they knew better than her.

“I don’t think that’s any of your business.” She didn’t wait for his response. She crossed the hall, unlocked her door, entered and slammed it behind her.

“Men!” she exclaimed under her breath. She could do without them.

“Oh, dear. I hope she doesn’t go without you, Gil. I think you upset her.”

“Good guess, baby,” he said with a rueful grin. “City girls can be touchy, can’t they?”

“But if she’s from Oklahoma, she can’t really be a city girl.”