Authors: D. T. Jones
“How long will it take for the tests to come back?”
“A couple of weeks, until then it’s just speculation. There are so many missing females in England alone, that it would take weeks to research each picture and detail, at least fifteen years’ worth. Even with the technology of the data banks, it will take time and that’s only if the girls were reported missing. If they were street walkers or tourists, it makes the job even more difficult. The forensic specialists are preparing artist composites of the victims and they will be put in the papers soon. Maybe someone will identify them and give the police a clue.”
“Until then?” she asked, looking up into the dark eyes that stared down at her.
“Until then, we continue as we planned. We enjoy our trip to Kansas, get the work there finished and return to Yorks to set up house. Michelle will have our IT specialists set up my network as soon as Clark gives her the go ahead and I’ll start work as soon as we return.”
“So you’ll be underfoot every day?” she teased.
“Of course,” he said proudly. “How else am I to learn all those wonderful lessons you plan on teaching me?”
“Shall I give you an itinerary? Just so you don’t worry about falling off schedule.
”
“
I think I would much rather wing it, as it were. I like your spontaneity and your emotional outbursts.”
“From what I’ve been reading, those are going to come more frequently and without warning.”
“I’ll handle them when they do. I remember when Kristen was pregnant with Spencer; she would burst into tears without the slightest provocation and then start laughing a minute later. Everyone thought she had a brain injury. Fortunately by the time she became pregnant with baby four, she had controlled her emotions pretty well, at least around the family. Derek still insists that she has melt downs, but she’s able to recognize them and keep them under control.”
“So there is hope for me yet?”
she asked as Creighton kissed her forehead.
“Loads of hope and in
finite support; we’ll get through it together. Don’t forget I’m a part of this whole thing. I want to explore all these new feelings with you.”
“So you’ll scream with me and cry when I cry?”
“Something like that.” Sandra shook her head, amused by his attitude and flattered by his attention.
“How long before we get to Kansas?” she as
ked with a yawn.
“We still have a
few hours. Why don’t you lie down and relax for a while. I’ll wake you when we get ready to land.”
“What are you going to do?” she asked with a slight frown.
“I have a bit of work to do before we meet with your grandfather. I won’t bother you.” Sandra smiled; she liked it when he bothered her but she had to admit, all this sitting around was making her very tired. She seemed to be having one episode of jet lag after another.
“I thought you weren’t supposed to use the internet while we were in the air?”
“I’m not online; I’m making details to the contract I had drawn up for your grandparents’ and reviewing the plans for the plant. I’ll email them once we land.”
Creighton kissed her lips gently then positioned the small pillow at the arm of the sofa and covered her up
when she lay down.
“Go to sleep now. Remember, you’re trying to rest fo
r two.”
“That’s silly,” she scolded with a smile. “This little peanut is barely a half inch big; there’s no way it wants to rest yet.”
“Peanut?” he asked with a smile. “I think I like that. Alright, then let peanut’s mum sleep while he plays. I’ll keep an eye on both of you.”
Sandra returned his smile as he leaned down and kissed her lips gently before making certain the blanket was tucked securely around her. He smiled down at her one last time as he walked back to his desk and opened his laptop.
The sounds of the engines continued to hum and she felt relaxed and comfortable as she drifted slowly to sleep. The clicking of the keyboard echoed through her conscious until she fell into a calm slumber.
She woke to see the man she loved and married still sitting at his computer. She had no idea how long she had been out, but she felt well rested and refreshed and in desperate need of a toilet. Sandra smiled at Creighton who glanced up from his computer as she walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her. She found the relief almost exhilarating as she sat on the cool seat, stretching her legs out in front of her. Her muscles were sore and her neck ached from the position in which she slept, but she was anxious to go home and excited to see her old friends again.
A few minutes later, she washed her hands and ran
a comb through her tangled hair, smoothing the long strands around her face and down her back. The woman who stared back at her through the reflection was almost unrecognizable from the one who had arrived in France such a short time before. She was happier than she had ever been, her eyes sparkled; her face, neck and shoulders above her lacy pink top were a deep tan from the time spent on the Tornado, as well as the beach in Cote d’Azur and her smile was now a permanent feature. It was because of her husband, the outrageously handsome, somewhat dark, very perverted man that made her feel whole and complete.
She stepped back out into the main body of the plane; Creighton’s attention was still on his computer, his ear buds securely positioned in his ears
as he stared at the screen. She stepped up behind him and wrapped her arms around his neck, causing him to startle at her touch. Sandra smiled looking at the computer in front of him. He was playing an action game of wizards and dragons, magical spells and mysterious creatures.
“I thought you were working?” she teased him as he paused
the game and removed his earphones.
“I was, but I got finished and you were still sleeping. I didn’t want to wake you so I thought I’d play
for a bit.”
“Is this what you do when you tell me you’re working?”
“Sometimes,” he smiled shyly. “But not until my job is finished. I never mix business and pleasure.”
“Any idea when we’ll be landing?” She walked to the bar and poured a glass of club soda as she spoke
. His attention turned back to his game, his ears vacant of the small speakers he had been wearing.
“Less than an hour
; we’ll be there in time for Nana’s pot roast and apple pie.” He glanced up at her and smiled at the curious expression on her face. “Your grandmother called to see when we would be there. She said she was making supper and wanted us to join them.” Sandra smiled; that sounded like her Nana. “She also invited us to stay with her and your grandfather,” he continued shutting his game off and closing the computer lid. “She said you have a double bed that would fit us both.”
“What did you tell her?”
“I thanked her and told her we didn’t want to be an imposition and had already made arranged to stay at a motel. I don’t know if it would be a good idea for your grandparents to hear you screaming my name when you come. Of course, I do know how to keep your mouth occupied.”
“Pervert,” she grumbled but couldn’t hide her smile.
“You know it,” he scolded her, walking up behind her and gently pulling her into his embrace. “How are you feeling?”
“Not as tired as I did a little while ago, but I wouldn’t object to a long night’s sleep.”
“Any more stomach problems?” Sandra shook her head as she sipped her drink.
“I don’t kno
w if that’s a good thing or not.”
“Based on all the information I
’ve read, it’s not uncommon but it may return so just stay prepared and keep those pills with you. The bag we packed should have enough drinks and snacks for a few days and we’ll replenish it if we need to.”
“There is enough in that bag to keep me filled for a month of Sundays,” she argued, waving her hand toward the brown satchel style bag sitting on the sofa opposite of where her blanket and pillow laid. “I cannot imagine needing that many snacks during this entire pregnancy.”
“I want you to be healthy so you can provide a stable environment for our child to grow in.”
“You sound like a dime store novel,” she laughed.
“Give me a break; I’ve never done this before. I’m just doing what the books say.”
“Seriously Creighton, I’m sure I’m not the only woman on this planet to get pregnant. I’m also quite certain we’ll both survive it.”
“Be patient with me,” he asked in a hushed tone as he kissed her neck and hugged her a bit closer. “I’m a novice to this world you’ve introduced me to. It will take time for me to adjust.”
“I suppose I can do that,” she teased, laying her head back against his shoulder to allow him a clear path of her neck. “You gave me time to adjust to
you; I think it’s only fair.”
“Have you adjusted to me?” he
asked, his large hands splaying across her firm breasts.
“I’m trying, but I may need a bit more time and a lot more practice to fully
appreciate your unique qualities.”
“I can live with that,” he smiled, his one large hand traveling down to the zipper of her pants.
“Creighton, we can’t do this,” she said suddenly as the plane took a slight dip. “We’ll be landing soon, what if Davies or Cooper comes in and catches us?”
“First off, we’re not doing anything wrong; we’re married and have every right to enjoy each other’s affections and second they are busy flying the plane. We have at least a half an hour. In that much time I can make you come twice.”
“Oh, no you don’t,” she argued, squirming out of his embrace. “I am not going to run the risk of getting caught with my pants down, literally. You can just keep your burner on simmer until we get to the motel.” Creighton laughed at her expression of stern objection and raised his hands in defeat.
“Just remember, you gave me the green light when we get there. No backing out.”
“Why does that sound ominous?” Creighton chuckled as he shrugged his shoulders, winking a dark blue eye at her.
“I think I like playing with you outside the bedroom as much as I do inside it,” he said
as they walked together to the sofa. He sat down on the edge of the blanket and pulled her onto his lap.
“Consider that husband lesson number two,” she smiled, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Playing
, without rewards.”
“That’s mean and dangerous. You play with fire long
enough; you’re going to get burned.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
Creighton growled at her playfully, his hand slapping her outer hip and smiling when she gasped. It was fun to play with her; he had never had a woman in his life that could bring out so many layers of his psyche before. It was arousing and erotic and yet he felt relaxed, light hearted and…normal.
The plane touched down at
a private hanger on the outskirts of the Great Bend Municipal Airport. They unloaded their luggage into a small rental car and bid Davies and Cooper goodbye, assuring them they would call when they were ready to return home. The plane was scheduled to undergo routine maintenance back in New York the following day and Creighton arranged to have his pilot and co-pilot stay at his flat in Manhattan while the repairs and updates were being completed.
Sandra was nervous and excited as she directed Creighton through the town and onto the road that took them home. Great Bend was only about seventeen miles from Hoisington, which allowed just enough time for her anxieties to begin to grow. She honestly didn’t think she would be coming back so soon and definitely not as the wife of
a millionaire.
“Are you alright?” he asked, glancing across the seat to where she sat, perched upright, watching everything that passed by.
“I’m just nervous,” she said honestly. “I can’t believe we’re back.”
“This is your home as much as England will be. I would never keep you from it, especially while your grandparents are still here. We’ll be back often, so it’s not like you’re going to be gone forever.”
“I know, but coming back is a whole lot different than it was when I left.”
“Just because you’re married to the most
handsome, most chivalrous man in England and have suddenly become one of the most wealthiest women on the planet, shouldn’t affect your status in town,” he teased, receiving the narrowed eye glance he was hoping for. Just a simple rephrasing of words and she relaxed against the back of the seat. She really was acting silly; this was her home, it was where she was born and raised and just because she wasn’t living here didn’t mean she had given it up for Lent.
“We’ll
stop by the motel first so your grandparents can’t argue about our sleeping arrangements and then we’ll go see them,” he told her. “Tomorrow I have to go see Mayor Nelson and make certain the planning committee received our requests. Once the papers are filed and the plans approved, we can start building.”
“
It sounds like our time in Kansas is going to be very hectic.”
“Not at all, we’ll get the things done we need to and spend a few days just relaxing. You can show me your
home and introduce me to you friends and together we can start acting like an old married couple.” Sandra couldn’t resist the excited giggle that escaped her throat. She never imagined coming home to have a vacation.