Love on Landing by Heather Thurmeier Page B

sliding it into her handbag, Tali pulled out a few Euros and tossed them on the table. As she quickly gathered her things, her mind began to clear. She knew what she needed to do. She needed to talk to Gavin.
     
    Tali hurried along the sidewalk, nearing the hotel with every step. Hopefully Gavin was in his room and she could talk to him. Tell him he'd been right about her and she was going to talk to her father about the job he expected—but never asked—her to do. Then she would make things right with Gavin so maybe they could spend a little more time together since she couldn't seem to stop thinking about him.
    She picked up her pace, eager to get to him, even more eager for the chance to make up with him. She smiled at the thought of what making up could entail. Hopefully sexy time would be involved. Lots and lots of sexy time.
    Tali stumbled, falling forward, landing on the sidewalk on her hands and knees. Her ankle screamed at her as it was held in an awkward position. She carefully pulled her foot free from where her spindly heel had gotten caught in a deep crack in the sidewalk. Trying not to twist it, she stood, brushing the dirt off her pants.
    Balancing her weight on her other foot, she put one hand flat against the window of the building beside her and gently rolled her ankle with the other hand. Aside from a slight twinge of pain, it felt okay. By tomorrow it would be good as new again as long as she got back to the hotel and out of the heels soon.
    She tentatively put weight on her foot, taking a moment to make sure her ankle would bear weight like normal. She sighed with relief as she took a tiny step and didn't have any pain. Good. No harm done—other than looking like an idiot. Tali glance around her, thankful the sidewalk was empty which meant no one had witnessed her little mishap.
    Then Tali's gaze fell to the coffee shop window her hand was currently pressed against. It was the same shop she'd been to earlier with Gavin. Inside, a few patrons had big silly grins on their faces as they watched her. Maybe her little fall wasn't as invisible as she'd originally thought. But it wasn't those people who caught her attention. Nope. Her attention fell fully on one person—Gavin.
    Well, make that two people—Kerry, sky whore extraordinaire, was with him.
    Tali stood frozen to the sidewalk as she stared through the window at Gavin. He was cuddled up nice and cozy in a cushy booth with Kerry. Don't waste any time, do you? Kerry had her head nuzzled into his chest and his arms were wrapped tightly around her. As Tali watched, Gavin kissed the top of Kerry's head.
    Huh. Hadn't he done that to Tali too? Hadn't he held her the exact same way before?
    Tali's pulse quickened as she stood there, unable to look away. Her breathing came in short gasps as she choked back the tears threatening her eyes yet again. God, what the hell was with her and the crying? She never cried and now it seemed like every time she turned around, she was on the verge of crying like a little baby.
    Maybe because she kept getting hurt by people she thought cared about her. Well no more. No more tears for Roger… or for Gavin. She was done. She didn't need a man in her life to be happy. She'd figure out happiness all on her own.
    Tali took her hand off the glass and smiled weakly at the people still watching her. Then she turned away from them and crossed the street, narrowly missing a Vespa scooter as it zipped down the street. She didn't stop to think, she just moved, one foot in front of the other as quickly as she could. She needed nothing more in that moment than to get as far away from the coffee shop as she could—as far away from Gavin as possible.
    Tali didn't stop until she reached her hotel room. Letting the door close behind her, she rested back against it with her eyes closed. She desperately tried to block out the noise of the thoughts running through her head. She didn't want to question what she saw. She didn't want to