Chapter 51

Richie sat forward in his seat. Ever since the pilot had called for them to get ready for landing, he'd been unable to sit still. He glanced at Jon who only rolled his eyes and settled back into his seat, hands threaded over his stomach, completely relaxed. His foot started bouncing as he popped his knuckles.

"You can't make the landing gear come down any faster with the pounding, Rich." Dave said from beneath a black sleeping mask. Teek snorted as David flipped up a corner of his mask. "Impatient are we?"

"Shaddup," Richie said and gripped his thighs until they stilled. He'd talked to Elena an hour before the plane’s departure, but he couldn't stop thinking about the slim bits of nothing she promised to wear.

Jon snickered. "She's just a girl, dude." He stretched his legs out. No need to let on about his plans to hop a plane to Atlanta just to please a certain sexy doctor. Let them razz Richie, his turn would come all too soon.

Dave tugged off his mask. "I can't wait to meet this chick that makes Richie all girlie and edgy."

Jon laughed. "Yeah, he is acting a bit girlie isn’t he?"

Richie slanted a look at Jon. "Watch it, bro. I know a certain doctor who’s still got an itchy scalpel finger."

Jon grinned. "I think she’s coming around."

"Oh really? I know a certain redhead that would beg to differ." Richie braced as the landing gear creaked and groaned underneath the small plane. He gripped the armrests and shut his eyes. He didn't mind flying, just didn't really like the whole landing in a tin can thing. All he could picture was bent wheels and a nose in the dirt with sparks. Damn cartoons.

Teek chuckled. "This little lady must be something if she inspires the two of you to actually spar this way."

"Yeah well, Kate's just as inspiring.” Richie unbuckled his belt, with a grin. “Jonny just hasn’t’ gotten anywhere with her yet, that's all.” He waggled his eyebrows, “Elena will slay all of you, so just watch out. You can't help but fall for her."

Teek's brow arched. "No woman is that powerful my man."

"You'll see," Richie said, grabbing his bag from the overhead.

Jon stood and pulled his bag as well. "Yeah well, just don’t piss Teensy off guys.” He glanced back at all of them. “Take it from me, she’s dangerous."

Richie hustled through customs, leaving David and Teek in the dust. Jon stayed with him, even if he was a little distracted. He watched him look at his watch for the fifth time. "What's up, Jonny?"

Jon glanced up. "Hmm? Oh just checking the time. I have a flight back out in a few."

Richie slowed up a bit. "Where are you going?"

Jon grinned and refused to be baited. "You’re going on vacation, what’s to say I don't have the same type of plans?"

Richie just grunted, losing interest when he saw a flash of purple in the distance. "Well, you have fun,” he said absently.

Jon just shook his head and headed for the next available customs counter.

Elena dodged through the crowd. “God, just moooove,” she mumbled. She’d never driven so fast to get anywhere in her life. She just wanted to see him. That’s all, just see him. She glanced at her watch. It wasn’t like she could check the arrivals board. She had no idea if he was on time. It wasn’t like they could put Jovi Jet on the arrival board. She jumped to see over the sea of heads. She just wanted to see him. She needed to see him.

He saw a head pop up then down. God, was that her? He stomped down the impatience. When it came to this line, he was no better than anyone else. All the overseas flights had to make their way through, no matter what name was on the passport. When he finally made it to the front of the line he forced himself to smile at the little customs person.

"Anything to declare?" she said in clipped British accent.

"No, wasn't there long enough," he grinned.

Less than amused she stamped his papers and folded his passport closed. "Next!" she shouted.

Too excited to let a grouchy airline worker ruin his reunion, he threaded his way through the roped off area catching a glimpse of her. God, she looked amazing. A barely there skirt hovered at the top of her thighs with a wide purple belt to match. The shimmering silver of her top reminded him of their first night together and his fingers itched to skim over the ties that would go down her back.

Her hair was loose around her shoulders in a feathered fluff of curls that he wanted to touch and be touched by, but it was the boots that caused the heart attack. Killer heels lengthened her slim legs, highlighting the copper glow of muscles in her.

Without a word, he dropped his bag and hauled her into his arms.

She squealed and wrapped her legs around him. "Well hello there handsome."

The press of her soft body and sweet, clean smell of her pushed the first sigh of relief through his system. "I missed you."

Her arms wound around his neck as her lips connected to his. "I missed you too,” she breathed him in, “more than you know." She forgot they were standing in the middle of an airport as her tongue teased along his lower lip. "I'm sooo glad your back."

His fingers slid up her back and into her hair, fitting her mouth onto his more securely. He kissed her the way he'd been dreaming of every night. Long, slow and thorough, with enough of her flavor burning on his tongue to ease the loneliness and the ache he'd been carrying around since he'd left her. She was home to him now, and he hadn't felt anything close to home in a long time.

She whimpered into his kiss, her hands tangling into his beautiful dark hair. His hat was in the way so she flipped it onto her own head with a giggle. "I’m glad that interview got cancelled. It gets so cold at night without you, you know."

"Well you certainly don't need to worry about that anymore. I plan on keeping you sweaty and naked for the next two weeks with a beach at our backdoor.” His fingers gripped her ass with a smile against her mouth, “You know, in case you need a little extra added warmth." He grinned down at her with his hat falling low on her ears. "You look good in my hat. Guess you'll have to wear that later." He put her down just as a fist met his lower back.

"So is this the chick?" David asked.

"No, ass-face, I kiss women like this all the time."

Elena turned to the blonde jabbing at Richie. His voice was vaguely familiar. Her head tilted as she sized up the man with the large and colorful hair. “Who’s the village idiot, Richie?"