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This was going to be torture.
My phone buzzed with an incoming call from my brother as I drove to PDX’s private jet terminal.
“Hey, Carter. I don’t have much time to talk. I’m on the way to the airport.”
“Hey, little brother. Lucky for you, I don’t need much of your time. Just wanted to let you know I submitted our proposal to the NHL.”
I smiled at the news. “That’s great. Any idea when we’ll hear from them?”
He chuckled. “No. But I feel like they’ll get back to me quickly with a cash offer like that. And if you come back to Chicago, that will make the offer even stronger. Two brothers running a hockey team will be fantastic.”
I took the exit for PDX.
“Well, keep me posted. I’m heading out of the country on assignment. I’ll be back next week.” There was no way I was going to tell him where I was going. I hoped Greer hadn’t shared that bit of information with him.
“Yes, yes. I know. You love your security firm.”
I chuckled, checking the traffic to get in the lane I needed to be in. My brother didn’t understand why I worked like I did when we both were sitting on billion-dollar trust funds from Jasper and Mary Ann. I didn’t want Jasper Wentworth’s money. I preferred to make my own. While I loved Portland, moving back to Chicago had crossed my mind.
“Yes, I do. They’re my teammates. I’d never leave them behind.” But I was going to have to move on from my past with Greer somehow. And I wasn’t sure I could do that living in the same city with him again. I had a lot to consider.
“I know, little brother. And I’m ridiculously proud of you.”
I smiled. I was thirty-six, and he still called me little brother.
“Listen, Carter. I’ve got to go. Gotta catch a flight.”
He laughed. “Oh, yeah. Go ahead. Call me when you get back. Have a good time and work on your tan in Costa Rica. Tell Greer I said hello.”
My mouth hung open as he disconnected the call.
I guess that answers that question. My brother knew I was off to the tropics with his best friend. I just hoped to God he didn’t know the rest of the story.
CHAPTER 7
GREER
Anxiously pacing the aisle of my plane was not how I wanted the week to begin. As I waited impatiently for Austin to arrive, I wondered if he was punishing me by making me wait, or if he would show at all. I’d offered to pick him up, but he’d declined, just like I knew he would.
The longer I waited, the more I realized I was nervous. And that alone was rare for me. I was a people person and always had been. Carter used to say I’d never met a stranger. But for some unknown reason, waiting for him to arrive made me anxious.
I was also full of shit.
I knew exactly why I was nervous. As a card-carrying people pleaser, I hated it when people I cared about were angry at me. Business was one thing, but my personal life and the people in my circle were something else.
Stopping in the middle of the aisle, I glanced out the window to the parking area next to the small private terminal. No black Tahoe in sight.
“Fucking hell.”
I propped my hands on my hips and tipped my head back to exhale a frustrated breath. The muscles in my neck were tense and threatening to give me a tension headache. Our international flight plan had a departure time thirty minutes from now, and he still wasn’t here. How would I explain it to my meddling sister if I arrived without the very man I’d been going on about?
I supposed there was a possibility he wouldn’t show. It wasn’t like Austin needed the money. The job and his honor were more important to him than anything, and I loved that about him. He didn’t give a single fuck about his family’s money, or mine.
“Mr. Rowan? I believe your guest just pulled up,” my pilot informed me as he entered the plane.
Turning quickly, I glanced out the window and smiled. “Thank you, Jason.” I’m sure the relief in my voice gave me away.
“Bill and Sandra just arrived. It won’t take us long to be ready to go. As soon as you’re settled, we’ll be ready for departure.”
