Fall Fast

By Zoe York

Navy SEAL Nathan Meyers and recent divorcee (as of an hour ago) Emme Ryan both want a night of escape from their real lives, for very different reasons. A chance meeting and a single drink at an airport bar turns into a night of unexpected fun and pleasure when a freak snow storm keeps them on the ground. But when morning comes, will they stick to the rules they set out at the start of the night?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bryant Street Publishing
• Release date: Feb 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781094414836

Zoe York

Zoe York lives in London, Ontario with her young family. She has an English degree and works at a university, so it was probably a foregone conclusion that she’d write a romance novel one day. What Once Was Perfect is her debut novel.  

Book preview

Chapter One

January

Nathan Meyers stood in the Terminal 2 departures hall at O’Hare Airport and groaned. He shouldn’t be surprised that his flight from Chicago to San Diego was now delayed by more than two hours—a vicious winter storm was working its way toward the city. His sister had bugged him to check the flight status before he left her house, but as much as he loved Kelly and her brood—six kids, plus her husband and Polish mother-in-law—he’d been ready for some peace and quiet after three days of non-stop Uncle Nathan Fun Times.

He found a map of the terminal. It looked liked all the beer was on the other side of security, so he had two options. Head back out into the snow, or go through security early and find a burger or something.

Easy choice.

Dodging around travellers with oversized suitcases and grumpy faces, he scanned his e-ticket from his phone at the nearest available self-serve kiosk, printed his boarding pass, and headed for security.

Most of the time he flew around the world in military transport planes. But when he took detours like he had this weekend, hopping over to Chicago for some post-Christmas family time to make up for being in a South American jungle over the actual holidays, he had a simple travel routine down pat. One carry-on bag, boots unlaced in line, Navy ID visible at the top of his wallet.

The pretty redhead in front of him had the same idea, but where he carried a canvas rucksack and wore Doc Martens, she had a small wheeled suitcase and zippered boots. She wore dressy clothes for a stormy night, a slim black suit over a green t-shirt, but her iPhone case had a big No Doubt sticker on the back and when she turned around to be wanded, her shirt rode up a bit and he caught a glimpse of a navel piercing with a dangly skull resting against the slight swell of her belly. His gaze stuck on the curved waist of her dress pants, and he imagined an entire dirty-girl fantasy in the two seconds it took her to be cleared.

Damn.

When she motored ahead, her scarf slipping off her jacket and landing on the floor between them, he knew exactly how he wanted to spend the next couple of hours.

Hey! He snagged the cream silk from the floor and jogged after her. Excuse me…

Even in her heeled boots, she was small compared to him. Small and speedy. He gently tapped her elbow when he caught up, getting her attention. When he snagged her gaze, it was wary. With a smile, he stepped back and held out the scarf. I think you dropped this.

Her eyes flared wide and her lips pulled together in a surprised O. Thank you.

Holding out her hand, she grasped one end of the silk, but he wasn’t ready to let it go, not when he’d just gotten her bright blue eyes pinned on his face. He liked them there, so he blurted out the first thing that came to mind. My flight is delayed.

Pardon?

I think they’re all delayed right now.

Yes. She tugged on the scarf and he let it go. Thanks again.

So I was going to get a beer and a burger, and if your flight is delayed as well, I’d be happy to buy you dinner.

Ah. No thank you.

No strings attached, promise. I’m flying home to San Diego tonight, and we’re under the watchful eye of the TSA. Sure I can’t keep you company? I know some good knock-knock jokes.

Emme knew when she was being hit on in the casual, just-for-fun kind of way. In her early days as a flight attendant, she’d indulged in this game more than once. But today wasn’t the day for fun. She couldn’t help but smile back at the tallest, broadest, sexiest man she’d ever seen and wish she’d dropped her scarf in front of him any other day but today. And maybe that he lived a hair closer than San Diego, a city she rarely flew into.

Well, I do like a good kids’ joke, but I’m on standby for a flight that leaves in forty-five minutes, so I’ll have to pass.

With a twinkle in his eye, he pointed to the display above their heads. Not likely.

In the few minutes it had taken her to get through security, all flights had been grounded. Damn it.

She knew what this meant. Not only would she not be getting a standby flight tonight, anywhere, but she’d probably get called in to work early tomorrow. And since she hadn’t fled the city fast enough, and she could use the money, she’d take the shift.

Fudgesicles. With a sigh, she turned back toward security. That’s my cue to head home to bed, then.

Alone?

Even though he’d obviously meant the question as a light flirtation, the question slid under her skin painfully. She glanced back at him over her shoulder, wanting to yell at someone for her forced period of solitary over the last year. Yes. Alone. Not that it’s any of your business.

That’s a shame. This time he said it straight up, his dark brown eyes warm with apology, but also with something she hadn’t experienced in far too long—attraction aimed her way. An invitation. Like, if he wasn’t heading to San Diego, maybe he might actually like to spend a night in her bed.

And since she knew he probably wouldn’t be flying tonight, wouldn’t that be worth exploring?

But she couldn’t break her almost-two-year sex drought with someone as hot as he was. She’d need a few practice rounds before taking on a guy like… What’s your name?

He grinned, slow and sweet, like she’d just given him the moon. That was a nice touch, but a little too practiced. She held her hand up between them before he could answer.

No, don’t tell me. Never mind. Spinning around again, not entirely sure how he’d knocked her off her course to home, she refocused on the sensible path.

Apparently he wasn’t a fan of abrupt goodbyes. This time he didn’t use his words to turn her around, he just reached out and slid one of his big, strong hands around her forearm. Heat radiated through her light blazer, and as soon as he had her facing him again, he let go. Persistent, but not pushy. He walked that line with care.

He narrowed his eyes in thought, then nodded. Okay, no names. I like that, gives a bit of mystery to the next few hours. I’ll call you Red, and you can—

Emme laughed despite herself. No. Never Red.

Shorty.

Another giggle, and an unfamiliar warmth spread across her chest. This was weirdly fun. Ew, no.

Mystery Girl?

Yeah, that would work. You can call me M for Mystery.

M. God, she liked the way he said her name, thinking it was just a letter. The trick jostled something inside her, spilling a drop of liquid desire in places she’d thought of as scorched earth. And what should you call me?

Sir. She could feel her cheeks flush at the thought, and from the way his eyes danced at her, he maybe could guess where her mind had gone. That was okay. They were flirting.

Holy crap, she wanted to do a little jig. She was flirting with a cute boy. The weight of the last week—the last year—fell away, and she cocked her head to the side. How about we grab that dinner you mentioned and figure that out together?

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The redhead seemed to know her way around the terminal. She quickly settled them in a booth at a bar and grill, then busied herself with the menu.

Nathan let her hide for a minute before giving in to his base desire to see her eyes again. So what else is off-limits? Can I ask where you were flying tonight?

She blinked up at him, weighing the question for a minute before setting the menu aside. Texas.

He laughed. Wow, top-secret information, eh?

San Antonio.

For absolutely no reason?

Pretty much. She leaned back against her side of the booth. Your turn to be totally forthcoming about something.

I’m going to San Diego.

That’s not new information.

Because I live there.

Neither is that. She stuck her tongue out at him, an unexpectedly playful response, and he decided to give her something.

I’m in the navy. Originally from Chicago, hence the visit here.

Cool. She picked up her menu again, coyly this time, and slowly slid it in front of her face. He let her get it up to her eyes before tugging at the top and shifting it to the side. "Hey, I was

Reviews for Fall Fast

[Bitherdine Badeau · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Reading this book really cheered me up!!! Loved it. Awesome!!