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it had seemed so clear that they were mutually attracted to each other.  Their bodies had fit so well together when they danced, and that kiss…oh, that kiss.
    Herculea tingled deliciously at the memory, but the grin on her face quickly turned to a sulk as she reminded herself that five days had passed without a word from him.  In man language, that meant that he most likely would not call at all.  Still, Herculea clung to a thread of hope that there could be a message from him when she turned her phone on again at JFK Airport.  This thought carried her across the country as she closed her eyes.
     
    *****
    Herculea felt like a zombie as she sleepily made her way through the frenetic JFK Airport .  She calculated that she had just enough time to stop at one of the concessions and buy a much needed chocolate bar and bottle of spring water.  Moving swiftly, Herculea reached for her phone and took a deep breath as she switched it on.  The welcome screen lit up, and she rushed to check both voicemail and text messages.  There were no messages at all.  Herculea resisted the compulsion to buy two candy bars to ease her disappointment.  Instead, she made a healthier choice, foregoing the chocolate altogether in favor of a packet of dried pineapples and apricots.  She munched her way through the airport, pausing as she heard a breathless voice calling behind her.
    “Hercule a, wait up!” Kent exclaimed.
    S he whirled around to face him.  He was wheeling his suitcase towards her and giving her a sheepish smile.
    “Damn, I must have been the last person to get off that flight!  The school should pay me extra for having to sit in the worst seat on that bloody aircraft.” He sounded mildly angry, mainly humorous.
    “I know!  I felt so bad that you were stuck back there.  Welcome to the land of the living.” She joked.
    “What a horrid flight it was.” He commented, shaking his head.  “I need to talk to you before we catch our layover.  I want you to know that my offer as a chaperone still stands.  I won’t get in the way of your research, just stand by you.”
    Herculea’s heart swelled , and she felt a strange tightness in her throat.  It had occurred so infrequently in her life that a man offered to take care of her .
    “Kent, you are so sweet.  And such a gentleman.  I’m so sorry for turning our research plans upside down at the last minute.  But I do feel that I can handle this on my own.  But thank you so much, and I mean that.” She looked directly into his sparkling turquoise eyes as she spoke to him.
    “Again, you don’t surprise me, Herculea.  But the offer still stands.  We both have our cell phones, and if you need me at all during this trip, just call me, and I’ll be there.”
    Kent reached over and gave her hand a firm squeeze.  His hands felt warm, and for a moment she caught herself staring at his arms.  His shirt sleeves were pulled up to his elbows, and the forearms revealed looked strong and comforting, covered in dark golden hair.  Herculea squeezed his hand back and thought how it had been far too long since she had been with a man.  A kiss from Pedro and a brief touch from Kent?  Was that all it took to make her heart flutter these days?
    “I will definitely take you up on that offer if the need arises.” Herculea assured him.
    A nd it was true.  Admittedly stubborn, Herculea was not foolish. She would not let her pride prevent her from reaching out to a trustworthy friend if the situation were truly dire.  In a comfortable silence, the friends walked towards the gate of their next departure.
    The delay in San Francisco made for a close call, and by the time they reached the gate, final boarding had just begun.  Herculea found her aisle seat near the wing of the plane.  Over the din, she asked Kent where he was seated.
    “Would you believe it?  They’ve put me in the horse’s ass of the plane again.” Kent rolled his eyes.
    “You must be kidding.”