Turn Back Time (The Full Circle Series Book 1) Annette Anders (shoe dog free ebook TXT) 📖

her suitcase and fought her way closer to the luggage belt. A small amount of tension left her. It was a relief to know her luggage made it and wasn’t on its way to another foreign destination.

Just as she reached for her light gray suitcase, easy to recognize thanks to the burgundy luggage strap, an elbow rammed into her side and almost shoved her into the older woman. A burly man reached around her and pulled his two oversized sports bags off the belt with one hand. Show-off… She caught a whiff of something unpleasant. Stella didn’t like to smell cigarette smoke in general, but this was an extra nasty-smelling brand.

“Hey, watch it. I’m trying to get my suitcase, too,” she said.

“Don’t worry, it’ll come around again,” he said and sauntered away.

Was there an equivalent to road rage when flying? Some people acted like assholes once they saw the finish line—or in this case, the Exit sign behind the customs area. No patience or manners left at all.

Stella watched her suitcase moving farther away—practice what you preach, be patient—when she noticed the elderly lady shifting her cane from one hand to the other and reaching for a brown suitcase.

“Let me get it for you,” she picked it up and placed it next to the woman. “Do you have more luggage? Do you need help getting through customs?”

“Only this, thank you, dear. I can roll it, and my son is waiting for me on the other side of the doors.”

After Stella’s own suitcase emerged from its unnecessary extra trip, she made her way toward the bright green Nothing to Declare sign.

She felt giddy. The last few weeks had gone by fast, but not fast enough. Only a few more minutes and she’d see David again.

“What do you mean, open my bags? I have nothing to declare,” an angry voice shouted. She looked around to see the bully had been tagged for a bag check. She knew it wasn’t nice, but she didn’t feel sorry for him at all, especially when he seemed to take the same attitude with the female customs officer as he had with her.

“Come with you? I don’t think so. I have a train to catch,” he bellowed, as Stella saw two border force officers approaching him with their dogs.

She kept moving. Too bad she’d have to miss the end of the little drama.

The doors in front of Stella slid aside and she stepped out into a sea of expectant faces. And was swept up by strong arms.

“There you are! Oh, baby, I missed you.”

“David,” she laughed. “Let me at least put down my suitcase.”

“Drop it. I’m not letting go of you,” he replied and kissed her with an urgency that made her tingle all over. “Let’s get out of here. And you’re lucky—the rain just stopped, and the sun came out. Heaven smiles when angels travel…”

He set her down and reached for her suitcase but kept a tight hold on her hand. She didn’t want to let go, either.

During the taxi ride, she stayed snuggled under David’s arm with her head resting against his shoulder. She listened to him pointing out a few sights, but for the most part she was content simply knowing they had a whole week together.

His rented apartment was modern and comfortable, and she could understand why he preferred it to a hotel room. It had a homey feeling. After he finished showing her around, he offered to make coffee or tea. Stella longed for a cup of real coffee, not the junk served on airplanes.

“Who’s doing the cleaning and laundry?” she asked as she got comfortable in one of the wide chairs in the living room, eyeing the low glass-top coffee table in front of them.

“Housekeeping comes in once a week, which is enough. Washers and dryers are in the basement, and I drop off my dress shirts at the cleaners. For cooking, I keep the basic staples, but most of the time I pick up takeout,” he said from the open kitchen, where she could see him taking cups out of the cabinet.

“Do you sometimes sit on your little balcony?” She had spotted it outside the French doors as soon as they walked in, attracted to the bright sunshine streaming into the room.

“No, it’s too narrow for sitting. Did you know they’re called Juliet balconies?” David walked in with a tray laden with coffee mugs, sugar, milk, and scones.

“What an interesting shade of orange...or is it salmon?” She touched the short rose in a slim vase on the tray.

“I’ll let you figure out the correct color name,” he said with a wink.

There were more roses of the same shade on the mantel over the fireplace and on the small dining table, and she’d even seen a vase in the bedroom when she put her luggage away. She’d definitely google the meaning of the color later.

“I can’t wait to start exploring London. You have to be my tour guide this time,” Stella said.

“Let’s have coffee, and then off we go. But don’t expect too much from me. I haven’t seen much myself.”

They spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Piccadilly Circus, St. James Park, and Buckingham Palace, all within walking distance of David’s apartment, and enjoyed an early dinner at a neighborhood pub before he left for the theater.

She promised to stay awake until he came home, but when her head dropped for the third time after a relaxing bath and over thirty hours on her feet, she gave in and crawled into the large bed.

“Goodnight, my love.” David’s arm came around her. His familiar scent comforted her, and she snuggled closer.

“What time is it?” her voice was heavy with sleep. “I tried to stay awake, but I couldn’t…”

“Almost midnight. I got home a few minutes ago.” His nose touched her neck. “Mm, lavender.”

“I used one of the little bath salt packages. I hope you don’t mind,” she mumbled.

“Of course not. They’re there for you.” His nose continued exploring her neck,