Читать книгу The Consultant's Accidental Bride - Carol Marinelli, Carol Marinelli - Страница 6

‘I HAVE to get this flight!’ Struggling to keep the note of desperation out of her voice, Leah took a deep breath, knowing that losing her temper wasn’t going to get her anywhere. ‘I know how stupid I must look—I mean I’ve seen those airline shows, where people argue at the desk, when everyone knows that they haven’t got a leg to stand on—but it really is imperative that I get that flight.’

‘Then you should have confirmed your seat, Miss Jacobs,’ came the unimpressed response.

‘It’s Leah,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘I thought we’d at least be on first-name terms by now, Glynn.’

Glynn flashed her a very false smile. ‘Then you should have confirmed, Leah.’

It was like a broken record. They’d been arguing the point for half an hour now. Leah could see on the overhead screen that the final calls were being made and though she knew that her tears were wasted here, that feminine wiles weren’t going to win over this guy in particular, the sparkle of tears in her eyes as she again pleaded her case were far from staged.

‘As I’ve said, economy’s full…’

‘Then upgrade me?’ she pleaded hopefully.

‘I’m sorry I just don’t have that kind of authority. Anyway, Business Class is practically full with a load of doctors returning to Melbourne from a medical conference we’ve had here in Cairns.’

‘So there are some seats?’ The hope that flared in her voice died even before she’d completed her sentence as Glynn’s eyes dragged over her, and Leah could feel him snootily taking in the scraggy blonde curls tied back in a scrunchy, the faded denim shorts and scanty T-shirt that had definitely seen better days, all topped off with a rather sad-looking backpack. No doubt, Leah thought, cringing with mortification under his scrutiny, he was probably realising why he’d chosen to pursue his own type in the first place.

‘My best friend gets married tomorrow,’ Leah begged. ‘I’m the bridesmaid.’

‘So you said,’ Glynn replied tightly. ‘And, as I’ve pointed out, with your type of ticket, seventy-two hours’ confirmation prior to flying is obligatory.’ His botoxed forehead almost creased in exasperation as Leah attempted to break in, but Glynn got there first. ‘I know you’re flying to the UK on Sunday,’ he said through gritted teeth, holding up a very manicured hand to silence her as he did so. ‘And I know that there isn’t anywhere you can possibly stay tonight, given that all your friends are either back in England or have moved on to Brisbane. I know that because you’ve already told me—several times,’ he added. ‘But, as I’ve explained, the best I can offer is a flight to Melbourne at ten a.m. tomorrow. Now, if you’ll take a seat I’ll see if I can arrange some meal vouchers for you.’

‘I don’t want—’

‘Sorry I didn’t confirm.’ A voice that didn’t sound remotely sorry came rather loudly from the next checkin desk and both Leah and Glynn turned, a temporary standoff ensuing as for a moment or two their attention was diverted as they gaped in admiration at the gentleman at the next desk.

Drop-dead gorgeous just about summed him up. Very black hair, coiled over a white shirt, and heavily lidded navy eyes flashed a winning smile as he rummaged through his suit pocket for his ticket. ‘I thought the hotel had taken care of all that.’

‘No problem, Dr Richardson,’ the pretty ground staff assistant gushed. ‘They’re boarding now at Gate Four. I’ll just ring through and let them know that you’re on your way.’

At least Glynn had the grace to blush.

‘Look.’ Glynn’s smile even bordered on sympathetic as he turned his attention back to Leah. ‘Given that it was a genuine misunderstanding, I’ll see if the airline can arrange some accommodation. I can’t make any promises, I’ll have to talk to my supervisor first. I’m sorry, Leah, it’s the best I can do.’

His hand was outstretched, as it had been for the best part of the entire conversation, holding out her tickets in the hope she would just give in and take them, and this time she did.

It was pointless getting angry with Glynn, Leah reasoned, he was just doing his job.

Sitting on one of the endless empty seats, Leah cast her eyes around the deserted airport. She’d always assumed that airports were constantly buzzing, a perpetual flow of people forever milling through. After all, it had been packed when she’d first arrived, just like a mini-Heathrow really with monitors reeling off arrivals and departures and frazzled parents attempting to control even more frazzled toddlers. But, unlike the twenty-four seven circus of Heathrow, the day was obviously over here. The car hire place had pulled down its shutters, the café was in darkness. Only the piped music broke the silence, and Leah stared blankly at a massive array of greenery lining the windows, which was so lush it was hard to tell where the indoor plants ended and the outside began. A couple of cleaners were half-heartedly running their dust mops along the highly polished floors and for a tiny moment it reminded Leah of her own emergency room back in England at four a.m. But there was no nostalgia as her mind wandered back to her workplace, no fond memories trickling or eagerness to get back to where she belonged. Instead, a bubble of panic welled inside…

Oh, it was all very well to blame Glynn, all very well to point the finger and insist she truly hadn’t known it was necessary to confirm her flight, but what would be the point?

Burying her head in her hands, Leah let out a low moan. Never in a million years would she deliberately have hurt Kathy. Never in a million years would she have wanted to miss her best friend’s wedding, but when they had arranged it, when Kathy had first told her of her plans, a year had seemed such a long way off.

The wedding of the century, Kathy marrying her delicious Australian and heading back to London for a prolonged honeymoon, with Leah just a day behind.

The perfect end to the perfect year.

And what a year, Leah thought with a fond smile. She’d climbed Ayer’s Rock, snorkelled her way along the Barrier Reef, swum with dolphins and packed so many memories into twelve months it was almost impossible to fathom. But all good things must come to an end, Leah thought sadly. This time next week she’d be back in Emergency, this time next week she’d be pulling on her uniform and picking up where she’d left off, and the thought truly terrified her.

She didn’t want to go back.

Maybe missing the flight had been some sort of unintentional Freudian slip, maybe it hadn’t been entirely an accident.

‘Miss Jacobs?’

Looking up, Leah hastily wiped a stray tear, determined to apologise for giving Glynn such a hard time. A hotel and free meal sounded just about the order of the day.

‘I’ve spoken to my supervisor and, given the fact you’ve only got hand luggage…’ Holding out his hand, he gave her what looked suspiciously like a boarding card, imparting his first genuine smile as Leah stared at him blankly ‘If you run you should just make it. The plane’s departing from Gate Four.’

‘I was just getting used to the idea that I’d missed it,’ Leah admitted. ‘Would it be terribly bad if I told you I’d changed my mind?’

Glynn laughed, actually laughed. ‘I knew there was a reason I swore off women.’ This time his smile really was sympathetic. ‘Having second thoughts about going home, huh?’

Leah nodded. ‘And third and fourth.’

‘Would it help if I told you you’re flying business class?’

Blinking at the boarding card, a smile inched over her face.

‘And that that gorgeous specimen of a man that checked in a few minutes ago will be sitting in the next seat?’

‘Possibly.’ Leah grinned, picking up her backpack and slinging it over her shoulders, and even though it was probably way down on Glynn’s list of must haves he got it anyway.

Leaning over, she kissed his smooth tanned cheek.

‘Thanks, Glynn.’

‘Send me a postcard!’

Running along the empty corridor, dodging the occasional buggy loaded with domestics, she just made it. Pushing her boarding card through the machine, Leah ran down the carpeted aisle, ignoring the pursed lips of the cabin crew as she handed over her card.

‘To the left, third row from the front.’

Finally!

Finally she’d see what went on behind those smart navy curtains that were pulled as the plane taxied along the runway, finally she’d find out if the chairs really did go all the way back and if the drinks really were free!

Biting on her lip as an air steward relieved her of her backpack, Leah took a deep breath and slipped into her seat.

OK, it was only the first leg of the journey, but finally she was on her way home.