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“That’s perfect, thank you.” I watched Jason head to the cockpit. The engines fired up outside as I waited for him to board. I really needed a drink to settle my nerves, but I’d wait.
My breath hitched when I caught sight of him making his way to me. Carrying a dark brown duffle with a hanging bag draped over his shoulder, all I could do was stare at the hint of his exquisite form. He wore dark denim that sat low on his hips and molded to his thighs, accompanied by a blue and white plaid shirt stretched across his broad chest. It was the same color blue he wore that night in Chicago and caused the tint of his eyes to sparkle.
“Good morning, Mr. Rowan.” His tone was not completely belligerent. Maybe just condescending, but an improvement, nonetheless.
I smiled at him and mustered my most relaxed tone. “Good morning, Austin. Glad you could make it,” I glanced at my watch, “with twenty minutes to spare.”
“Did you think I wasn’t coming?”
I watched as he placed his bag in the luggage closet, then hung the other one on the small rod next to mine. Simply having our clothing together felt very intimate. My mind immediately went to my walk-in at home, imagining our things in there together. Him, striding into our closet after a shower, the towel wrapped around his waist as beads of water clung to his warm, tanned skin for dear life. Lost in the fantasy, I almost missed him calling my name.
“Earth to Greer.”
My eyes snapped to his face even though his Aviator sunglasses concealed his eyes. But I could see the skin between his brows was furrowed.
“Sorry. What were you saying?”
“I asked if you thought I wasn’t coming?”
I turned and took my seat, motioning for him to sit across from me. “The thought crossed my mind, but I knew you wouldn’t do that to me.”
Austin took off his sunglasses as he sat in the oversized leather bucket seat and fastened his seatbelt. It suddenly occurred to me how ironic that statement was.
“What makes you think that?”
My gaze fell to my lap before looking up at him. “You’re too honorable. That’s who you are.”
His eyes bored into mine before narrowing as he studied me. “You know nothing about me, Greer. For all you know, I might be petty as fuck. I might be an asshole, bent on revenge. My time in the service has changed me from that naïve twenty-two-year-old who placed his trust in the wrong fucking person.”
I remained calm, even though I was a complete mess inside. Nodding, I looked back down at my hands. I wasn’t sure what to say, but I knew I had to say something. “I deserve your ire. And I’m sorry, but maybe if you’d let me explain...”
Austin held his hand up. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
I released a heavy, aggravated breath and rubbed my eyes. Allowing things to settle for a moment, I finally replied to him. “I’ll be your verbal punching bag for a while, because I know I deserve it. But at some point, you’re going to let me explain what happened in Chicago.”
“Don’t hold your breath.”
We sat in companionable silence until departure time. I checked my email while he scrolled on his phone, neither of us looking at the other. My nerves were already shot, but I wasn’t foolish enough to waste the rare opportunity to explain.
When the engines revved up higher, Jason announced we were ready to depart Portland. I’d been so engrossed with my thoughts of Austin that I’d missed both Sandra, the flight attendant, and Bill, the co-pilot, boarding the plane. Looking over Austin’s shoulder, I raised my hand to wave as I smiled at her. They’d been with me ever since I bought the Pirates and were like family.
He stared out the window with his familiar scowl as we departed PDX. The eight-hour flight to Costa Rica was going to be a bumpy one, and not from turbulence.
When we reached our cruising altitude, Sandra came by to offer us a beverage.
“Sandra, this is Austin Wentworth. Austin, this is Sandra Malone, the best private flight attendant a person could employ. How are the kids?”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Wentworth,” she said to him before turning her attention back to me. “They’re fine. My parents have them while we’re working and on the beach in Costa Rica.”
“Well, I’m happy you’ll get to enjoy a little vacation time.”
She looked at Austin. “He really is the best boss in the world. Not many employers would treat us to vacations the way Mr. Rowan does.”
Austin looked over at me, his ire temporarily absent. “I’m sure he is.”
She clapped her hands together, breaking our stare. “What can I get you to drink with your breakfast? We have a fruit and yogurt bowl, as well as more traditional breakfast fare.”
With a smile, she handed us both a menu of items I’d ordered from the caterer. I stared down at it, pretending not to know what was there.
