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The Hallmark Channel's 'Chesapeake Shores'

Mick and Megan O'Brien

By Annette Zoaps

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'Fear of Flying'

Chapter 2

About two-and-a-half hours later, Megan is at home, awaiting Mick's call. Right on schedule, her phone rings.

"Good, you're safe!" She chuckles. "Thank you for calling. Did you have a good flight?"

"You haven't seen the local news?"

"Oh, no, Mick! What happened?"

"We lost power in an engine on approach to the Boston airport. But no harm done. Our pilot landed it like a champ, and we're all fine."

"Did you have to tell me?"

"Yes, of course I did. You would have heard about it."

"Are you on your way to the hotel?"

"As soon as I get a cab."

The sound of honking horns, screeching brakes and incoming aircraft tells Megan that he's outside the airport's doors.

"Tell the cabbie to drive safely!" she orders.

"Sure. I'll tell him you said so," he laughs. "I take it you got home without incident."

"No problem. Listened to music stations the whole way."

"Am I going to have to reset all my radio channels?" he pretends to complain.

"Absolutely! I changed every one," she says. "You're welcome."

"Hey, I got a cab. Call you later?"

"I'll be here."

. . .

Megan sits at her kitchen counter, eating a kale salad and checking news updates on her phone, when it signals a Facetime call coming in.

"Hi, Mick. You caught me having dinner." She takes a sip of iced tea.

"I'm too tired to go to the dining room, so I'm ordering room service. What are you having?"

"Just a salad and breadstick. See?" She turns her phone around to show him her plate. "What about you?"

"A steak, baked potato and garlic bread. And cheesecake for dessert."

"I'd die for some cheesecake, but I have to watch what I eat."

"Why?"

"Um, because I've had five kids?"

"I have five kids, too," he teases. "You don't see me worrying."

Megan laughs so hard she nearly chokes on a mouthful of tea.

Recovering, she says, "Did you tell the family what happened on your flight?"

"I called Ma, because she hadn't heard I few out on a passenger jet. She took the emergency in stride, as always, and was more surprised about my change in flight plans. She asked why, but I wasn't sure how to explain."

"You could say you did it because your ex-wife strong-armed you into it."

He laughs softly. "We definitely need to talk about this when I get home." His eyes are sympathetic.

"Think you can help me conquer my fears? You said you'd try."

"You may have to help me settle a few of my own."

"Oh no. It's contagious."

Megan hears a knock on Mick's hotel room door.

"Dinner's here. Hold on."

Mick lays down his phone, and Megan can hear him let in the room service attendant.

He picks up the phone and reappears on its screen, sitting at the table. "Mind if I eat with you?"

"Only if you show me your cheesecake."

"All right, but are you sure you want to torture yourself?"

He turns the phone and slowly pans his menu selections, ending with the sweet dessert.

"That looks so good." Megan stares longingly at the screen and is unprepared when Mick suddenly reappears.

"Wow, you definitely like cheesecake. Too bad you never looked at me like that," he jokes, digging in to his meal with his phone propped at arm's length.

"Of course I did," she says coolly. "Sorry you missed it."

"Me, too."

He chews slowly and looks off in the distance, as if he is thinking back. Megan's lips curve into a smile as she takes advantage of the opportunity to watch him unobserved.

When his eyes return to hers, he seems surprised. "Are you staring at my dessert again?"

She sits up straight. "No, why?"

"You've got that cheesecake look." He leans forward, and his eyes are focused on her image on the small screen.

She quickly reaches off-camera for her cold glass of tea.

"Megan O'Brien, I think you're blushing."

"Must be a hot flash," she says, taking a long draw from her straw, and then another.

"If you say so," he says with a sly smile and picks up his fork. "I've already texted you my flight details, but I'll call you tomorrow, too."

"I'll have my cell with me. See you soon."

"You're not going to say, 'Fly safely?'"

"I'm afraid to, after what happened earlier."

"Hey, I made it in one piece, didn't I?"

"Thank God," she whispers. "Sleep well."

"You, too. Before you go, this bite's for you," he says, taking a forkful of his dessert. "Oh, so good!"

She pretends to be shocked. "That was rude! I'm hanging up now."

"When I get back, I'll buy you a whole one from Sally's, and you can stare at it to your heart's content. But only if you give it to me after you're done staring."

"I hate you." She makes a face.

"Backatcha, beautiful." He laughs and salutes her with his fork.

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See Chapter Three

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If you love Mick and Megan as much as I do, be sure to check out my other stories:

NEW! Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, The Whiskers of Machu Picchu, 2 chapters

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Come Let Me Love You

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Fear of Flying, 3 chapters

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, The One That I Want

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Where the Wind Blows

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Once a Promise

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Mother of the Bride, 2 chapters

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, Love Song

Hallmark's Chesapeake Shores Mick and Megan O'Brien, First Kiss

The Hallmark Channel's 'Chesapeake Shores' — Mick & Megan O'Brien, 9 chapters

Chesapeake Shores — Megan at the Met — Mick and Megan O'Brien, 6 chapters

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I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has been reading and making positive comments about my stories!

I appreciate it more than you know!

Annette Zoaps

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