Soon To Be Brides. Joan Elliott Pickart

as there was no point in both of them leaving their vehicles in long-term parking. To Caitlin’s self-disgust she could not think of a reasonably reasonable reason why that wasn’t a good idea and agreed to Matt’s offer, reminding him that they’d have to put Miss M.’ s car seat in his SUV.

      When the group gathered at the designated gate at the airport, with everyone being much earlier than they needed to be, they were a very excited, emotional and exhausted bunch of people.

      Elizabeth Kane, the director of the adoption agency, laughed when she saw them and said not to fear, because they were facing a fifteen-hour nonstop flight, which would give them plenty of time to catch up on their sleep. “And you’d better do just that,” she said, beaming at them all, “because leisurely naps and undisturbed nights are soon to be a thing of the past.”

      “Oh, I know,” one of the women said. “Isn’t that wonderful?”

      After what seemed like an endless wait, they boarded the plane, Matt having been assigned the seat next to Caitlin. Since Matt was to be Caitlin’s extra pair of hands, Elizabeth explained, she thought by seating them together it would give them a chance to get to know each other better.

      When the engines rumbled and lifted the huge aircraft off the ground, Caitlin closed her eyes.

      “Are you afraid of flying?” Matt said, glancing over at her.

      Caitlin opened her eyes and smiled at him.

      “No, not at all. I’m just savoring the fact that we’re on our way, actually on our way at long last.” She paused. “Did you accomplish everything you needed to do at the hospital?”

      Matt nodded. “It was down to the wire, but I did it. I haven’t gotten more than a few hours’ sleep in the last three nights, though. But as Elizabeth said, I can catch up during this flight. Fifteen hours. Man, that is grim. I plan to sleep, sleep, sleep during this trip. If I snore, just poke me.”

      “I certainly will,” Caitlin said, laughing.

      Do not, Caitlin told herself, dwell on the image “poke me if I snore” evoked in her mind. Too late. She could feel the warm flush staining her cheeks.

      During the flight the international dateline was crossed, and by the time the plane landed in Hong Kong in the early evening, no one was certain what day it was or how far off their physical clocks were.

      They were transported to a nice hotel by a waiting van, checked in as a group by Elizabeth and arranged to meet again in the lobby in an hour to go out to dinner.

      “We’ll be going to a restaurant a few blocks from here,” Elizabeth said, “so we can walk, and I’ve made a reservation, so they’re expecting us. My groups always eat there during this stopover in Hong Kong.

      “I took the liberty of ordering for all of us, and there will be a multitude of dishes on a lazy Susan in the center of the table. You’ll have the opportunity to sample all kinds of delicious offerings.”

      On the third floor, where the entire group had been booked, Caitlin used a plastic key card to open the door to her room, settled her suitcase on the luggage rack, then snapped on a lamp. She frowned as the bulb remained dark. Moving carefully in the darkness she tried another lamp with the same result.

      She inched her way back to the door and opened it to allow the lighted hallway to cast a dim glow over her room, then frowned.

      She would, she supposed, have to find the telephone, wherever it was hiding in there, and call down to the desk to tell them the electricity wasn’t working.

      The door directly across from her opened suddenly and Matt appeared, his room brightly lit behind him.

      “Problem?” he asked.

      “I apparently don’t have any electricity. None of the lamps work.”

      “Do you have your key card?”

      “My…yes.” Caitlin held up the card that was still in her hand.

      Matt took it and slipped it into a slot on the wall by the door beneath the light switches. The lamps Caitlin had fiddled with immediately lit up.

      “Let there be light.”

      “For goodness’ sake. How did you know that was what to do?”

      “I read the material the airline provided while you were playing what must have been over a thousand games of gin rummy with the others.”

      “Oh.”

      “May I see what kind of view you have from your window?” Matt asked. “I’m staring at the rear of the building behind us.”

      “Oh, well, sure, of course, go right ahead.”

      As Matt crossed the room, the door closed and Caitlin stared at it for a long moment.

      Dandy, she thought. Now she and Matt were together in her room with the door closed. What if the others saw them come out when it was time to meet in the lobby? She’d spent as much time as possible, when she wasn’t sleeping on the airplane, playing cards and visiting with the others instead of sitting by Matt as though they were a couple. The last thing she wanted was for rumors to start about a possible romance between her and Matt MacAllister.

      So far she hadn’t been aware of any speculative glances or sly smiles directed their way, but exiting her room with Matt would not be a terrific idea. She was hoping that the group would continue to remember that Matt was simply stepping in to help her out.

      She had no intention, Caitlin thought, of using up any mental or emotional energy that should be directed toward her daughter denying queries about what was taking place between her and Matt. Especially since nothing was taking place between her and Matt. Nothing at all.

      So what if she’d been aware of how peaceful he appeared when he slept, yet still had that aura of blatant masculinity emanating from him?

      So what if she thought it was so endearing the way he rubbed his eyes with his fists like a little boy when he first woke up?

      So what if there was a rugged earthiness about him that sent shivers down her spine when he needed a shave?

      None of that was important. It didn’t mean a thing.

      “Las Vegas,” Matt said from over by the window. “That’s what Hong Kong reminds me of. Lots of neon lights, people crowding the sidewalks, noise, cars, the whole nine yards. Come look at this, Caitlin. See if this view doesn’t remind you of Las Vegas.”

      “I’ve never been to Las Vegas,” she said, staying by the door.

      “Oh, well, come take a look anyway.”

      With a silent sigh, Caitlin crossed the room and joined Matt at the window. He slipped one arm across her shoulders, then pointed toward the street below.

      “See? You’d never know you were in an Asian country. That is due, madam, to the fact that Hong Kong was under British rule for many, many years before once again being claimed by mainland China, and is very westernized, if there is such a word. However, when we arrive in Nanjing tomorrow, then later go on to Guangzhou, you will experience the real China of today.”

      “Do tell.” Caitlin managed to produce a small smile.

      Matt had nestled her close to his body, she thought frantically. His big, strong, oh-so-warm body. Such heat. It was weaving its way from him into her, swirling within her, then pulsing low and hot. He was being so nonchalant about having his arm around her, acting as though it didn’t matter, just happened to be where it had landed. Well, she could match him sophistication for sophistication, by golly. Unless she fainted dead out on her face first.

      “I am telling you,” Matt said, chuckling, “so pay attention, because people pay tour guides beaucoup bucks for information like this.”

      “I’m etching it all on my weary brain. I even got a bonus because now I know what Las Vegas looks like back in the States.”