Paradise Wild (Wild At Heart Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

pecked Ellie’s cheek. “Don’t forget your fam will be freezing in the fog.”
    Ellie slung the carrier over her shoulder. “Wish me luck.”
    Celine waved at the approaching officer and strode toward the driver’s side. “Aloha, sister. Expect me at fall break.”
    Viv’s carrier swayed from Ellie’s shoulder as she struggled to pull the two suitcases behind her. Inside the terminal, a long line snaked to the edge of metal post boundaries. Ellie closed her eyes.
    “Awesome. It’ll take hours to get through that.”
    She panted, sweat dripping down from her temples despite the air conditioning, and joined the line behind a harried couple with three young boys attempting simultaneous escape in different directions. When the group moved forward, she nudged her suitcases with her feet and concentrated on keeping Viv level. She couldn’t see well through the mesh and wondered what the feline was thinking.
    She lowered her face to the bag. “With any luck, this will be your first and last plane ride, cutie. You’ll spend the rest of your life sniffing plumeria flowers and eating pineapple.”
    Fifteen minutes later, the line had moved only half a revolution.
    Ellie turned to the older woman behind her. “Wish we were over there.” She pointed to where two relaxed-looking couples stood waiting.
    The woman winked. “That’s first class, honey. We’re in steerage.”
    “First class?” Ellie blinked. “I’ve got a first class ticket.”
    The woman winked. “Then what are you doing over here with the peasants?”
    As Ellie searched for a way out, other passengers stared with open resentment. Ellie felt her face redden.
    The older woman tapped Ellie on the shoulder and pointed at her husband. “Ronald, be a gentleman and lift up that tape. This young lady’s in the wrong line.”
    Ellie kicked her suitcases under the black nylon barrier.
    “Sorry. I obviously don’t fly first class often.”
    “Don’t apologize.” He lifted the tape higher. “We can’t all be in that line, or it would be as long as this one.”
    Ellie ducked under the nylon and tried to stand on the other side. But something tugged her backward, threatening to dislodge Viv’s carrier from her shoulder.
    “Hold on there, missy…”
    Ellie yanked the bag and her legs kicked out from under her. Then, as in slow motion, metal clanked. The crowd sucked in a collective breath. TSA officials stepped forward. And Ellie rolled to the hard gray floor with only one thought in her mind: Don’t crush the cat .
    The clatter of two heavy metal posts hitting the shiny floor reverberated throughout the large lobby. A stunned silence followed as people tried to classify the sound. Terrorist? Accident?
    The kindly older woman bent down. “Are you okay?”
    Ellie sat up. “I’m fine. This stuff happens to me all the time.” She spun toward the carrier, fiddled with the zipper, and lifted Viv out. He arched against her cheek. His silky warm fur felt comforting in the cold lobby. She plopped him in her lap as TSA officials righted the security posts and reassured passersby.
    “Poor Viv.” Ellie petted him. “Welcome to air travel.”
     
    ***
     
    Just inside the plane, a male flight attendant in a blue aloha shirt pointed Ellie to the second row. Ellie double-checked her ticket. The young man in the aisle seat raised his eyebrows.
    “Are you the window?”
    “Yes.” Ellie stood up straighter. Oh my God. I’m sitting next to a surfer god.
    “My pleasure.” The tall blond in light blue O’Neill board shorts eased his bare legs and flip-flop clad feet into the corridor and stood. Ellie suppressed a grin as she slid past.
    “Dog?” He nodded at the carrier on her lap. Ellie bit her lip as his loose curls bobbed.
    “Cat. Egyptian Mau. Super cute and a little drugged up right now. He should be really quiet.”
    The man shrugged. “So much better than a baby.”
    Yikes. A baby hater. You’d better not start anything, Viv.
    Ellie slid the cat