Daniel cleared his throat loudly from behind him. James pivoted to Daniel, who had his hands on his hips, glaring at him. “Remember, I’m your girlfriend and I’m to be treated like a queen.” Daniel stepped forward. “You always let a lady enter the room first, and you always watch out for her.” He went right ahead, and they took their places toward the front of the boarding queue, Daniel standing in front of James. “Maybe we should review some basic manners during our flight.” The mischief in Daniel’s eyes was delightful.
“As long as there isn’t a quiz. I always freeze during tests,” James said as the few people in front of them began to move. James motioned for Daniel to go ahead, and he patted James’s cheek and then handed the agent his boarding pass and stepped toward the Jetway. James following him with his gaze. There was no turning back now. One thing was certain—this trip was going to be anything but dull.
* * *
The plane taxied to the terminal in Missoula. “Daniel,” James said gently, wondering how Daniel could sleep through all that activity. Those blue eyes slid open, and he unlatched his seat belt, smiling and standing up.
“Let’s go.”
“You’re like the Energizer Bunny. You slept the whole way here and I bet you’ll be raring to go for hours now.” James, on the other hand, was exhausted. It was only four in the afternoon and he was already tired. James stood, got their bags from the overhead, and stepped out of the way once he was in the aisle so Daniel could exit ahead of him. He sure as hell didn’t want another Daniel glare-fest. One of those was more than enough.
James turned on his phone once they were in the terminal and heading toward baggage claim and the rental car counter. It buzzed, and James read the messages, groaning. “Shit,” he growled under his breath. “My family is here. I sent them our flight schedule, and they decided to meet us.” A cold sweat broke out on the back of his neck. “What the hell are we going to do?” It killed him that he could be calm under fire when on the job but his family made him completely nuts.
“It’s okay,” Daniel soothed, patting his arm. James tensed at the touch, but didn’t pull away. “Give me a few minutes.” Daniel strode across the concourse as though this was no big deal, going into the family restroom and closing the door.
James leaned against the wall, waiting, wondering what they were going to do. After ten minutes, he took a seat at the nearest gate, watching the door, wondering if he should knock to see if Daniel was all right, when the door opened and Daniel dressed as Daniella stepped out in slacks, a blouse, auburn wig, and even makeup. James stood and approached, extending his arm to him. “Thank you for being prepared.” He sure as hell hadn’t been.
“I wasn’t planning on changing in the airport, but this will have to do for now. My makeup is a little thin, but I put on some base to smooth out my skin.” Daniel tied a scarf around his throat, tucking it into the top of the blouse.
“You look beautiful,” James said without even a hint of hesitation. He extended his elbow, Daniel looped his hand through, and they sauntered arm in arm toward baggage claim. It seemed a little strange, and a touch wicked, to be walking like this through the airport knowing that he was with a man, but he was the only person there who would know.
“I can feel your tension,” Daniel told him softly. “Just relax and act like everyone else.” They went through the security barrier of no return. “Where’s your family?” Daniel asked warily, looking from side to side.
“Jimmy!” They both turned as James’s mother, father, sisters, and future brother-in-law all marched down the hallway, his mother picking up speed as she got closer. She came to an abrupt halt right in front of Daniel. “Look at you.” She pulled Daniel into a hug.
“Mama, this is Daniella Bonafonte,” James introduced, his mother still hugging Daniel.
“It’s so wonderful to meet you,” his mother told Daniel and finally stepped back. James had been worried he was going to have to call in the jaws of life. “I have been looking forward to this for sooooo long.” She took Daniel’s hands and stepped back. “Isn’t she lovely, Phillip?” She looked to James’s dad and then right back to Daniel. “She’s just beautiful.”
“Grace, she isn’t a race horse, for Pete’s sake. Let the young lady breathe and have a minute before you scare her away.”
She released Daniella, and James stepped closer. “You’ve met my mama.” Boy, had he ever. “This is my dad, Phillip, and my younger sister, Margot.” They both shook hands with Daniel. “And of course, this is my older sister, Holly, and her fiancé, Howard.” Holly hugged Daniel much more gently.