Free Claimed by Elizabeth Hendricks Page A

Although, I don’t know when we’ll be leaving. Thanks for letting me borrow your suitcase.”
    “I’m sorry Leo dumped flour in yours.”
    “Well, if Amber ever watched him it wouldn’t happen. Please keep him out of my room until I get back. My apartment should be ready by the time I get back.” My dad hugged me tight like it was the last time I was going to see him. “Dad, I’m going to be fine.”
    “I know. I’m just worried about me. You’re the only one with sense in the house. What am I going to do with those two and the little troublemaker without my backup?”
    “You’ll manage, and I’ll be back in three weeks.”
    “Promise?”
    “Of course. That’s when your Xanax runs out,” I teased.
    “Get going before I slip Leo into your luggage.” I gave him one more hug and took the almost empty, jumbo suitcase by the handle and dragged it into the TSA baggage check.
    We waited on the tarmac for over an hour before our flight was cleared to leave. It wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be. The plane was crowded and I was beat, so I closed my eyes and waited for my nine-hour flight to land in Madrid. Once we finally took off, I couldn’t fall asleep so I popped open my tablet and started reading. Four hours later into my third book I finally fell asleep. By the time I woke up, it was time to buckle up for landing. I turned on my pretty Kindle Paperwhite and it was still at full battery. If I played it right, I might not have to charge it over my trip.
    I waited until everyone was almost off when I got up from my seat. That was when I saw the devil in a suit. He looked up from fixing his tie as I approached. His bright icy blue eyes locked onto mine. His jaw tightened and I could see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed hard. I dropped my head halfway because I couldn’t stare at the chiseled man dressed like sin. His dark brown hair had that tousled, fingers ran-through look.
    “Excuse me,” I said, just above a whisper. Looking at him through my lashes, I waited for him to move, but he didn’t budge. “Excuse me,” I said a little louder with my head still bowed.
    He reached for my chin with his fingers and I stepped back. “How about you look me in the eyes and say it, beautiful?” Instantly I was pissed. How dare he intentionally stop me and flirt? They talked about European men, but, damn, I couldn’t even get off the plane without someone hitting on me.
    I lifted my eyes to his sharp blues and snarled in the snottiest tone I could manage. “How about you just get out of my way? I’m not in the mood.” I really wasn’t. He was the last type of man I should fall for. That was my sister’s problem; now she’s a single mother and living with my parents.
    “Have dinner with me, beautiful,” he demanded with a panty melting smile, which made me even more pissed. I hated that I had a tinge of jealousy run up my spine when I pictured him trying this out on any available woman.
    “No. Please move out of the way,” I ordered, trying to move around him, but the man took up the whole aisle with his large, well-built frame.
    I heard a woman’s heels approach from behind him, but with his massive frame blocking the way I couldn’t see her until he turned. “Señor Alexander, your driver is waiting for you,” the smiling stewardess informed him. Wow. Preferential treatment.
    “Yes, I’m on my way. He will have to be patient.” He turned back to me dismissing the woman fawning over him. “Why won’t you have dinner with me?”
    “Because I don’t know you and I can tell right off the bat that you want one thing. Something I wouldn’t give you no matter how hard you tried.” Part of me felt like I was lying my ass off, but a girl had to have some will power when faced with a man like him.
    “Ha. Wow. You give yourself too much credit.” I gasped at his insult. Did he think insulting me would work like reverse psychology? “If you think you can resist me, you will need more than