AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m sorry.”
She shakes her head. “Don’t be, I’m used to it. One of us always brings work with us.”
“Maybe we can lock them in your villa until they sort it out and you can stay with me. I’ve got writing to do. Between us, we’ll be in calm, man-free heaven.”
Jet scrubs a hand around his jaw and the traitorous part of me swallows at how he can make something so simple seem sexy.
Ophelia chuckles. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s all have dinner this evening. If we can’t get this business sorted by the end of dessert, then I’ll take you up on that.”
“Deal.” I grin as she walks over to the men. Jet shakes her hand, exchanging some words with her. She motions over her shoulder to me, and his eyes meet mine.
The intensity in his stare roots me to the spot. I lift a hand in a small wave. He says something that makes Ophelia laugh, then walks over to me.
“What did you say?” he murmurs in my ear as he places his hand on my lower back and leads me out of the lobby.
“Just chatting about goats.”
“Goats?” His dark brows furrow, and the hint of a growl in his throat sends a shiver up my spine.
“Yeah.” I shrug as he walks us along a wooden walkway toward our villa.
“Well, whatever it was, a few minutes with his wife and you’ve got us a meeting that I’ve been trying to get for days.”
“Is that a thank you?” I tilt my head to look up at him, but the sun makes me squint. “Is it?” I press. “Because you’ll have to warn me if you’re about to start being civil. I might faint in shock.”
“It’s a thank you,” he replies gruffly.
“Pardon? I didn’t hear you.”
His fingers flex on my lower back. “Yes, you did.” His tone softens. “I said, thank you, Ava.”
“Do you think it’s working?” Ophelia asks as we walk down to the water’s edge.
I glance back at the candlelit table we’ve dined at on the beach. This place would be ridiculously romantic with the right person.
Jet and Callaghan are deep in conversation. Jet looks calm, like always, but the way he cracked his neck before Ophelia and I excused ourselves to take a little walk tells me otherwise. She thinks giving them some time alone to talk business will help. But I don’t shareher optimism. Dining with James Callaghan taught me one thing: he’s as much of a control freak as Jet. And he’s incredibly proud of Skyline. He kept talking about its history, and how they started off after the second world war with just a few planes. He sounds like he was a total plane enthusiast from a young age, unlike Jet who had to learn to like flying. Callaghan talked about all sorts of vintage aircraft designs I’ve never heard of before.
“I hope it’s working. I could really do with some peace to write.”
“And I to read,” she agrees.
“What are you reading?”
“Oh, some work things. Scripts—”
“Darling? Are you ready?”
James and Jet approach us. James smiles, reaching for Ophelia, and slides his arm around her waist.
“Done already? That was quick.” She places her hand on his chest as I flick my eyes to Jet. His jaw is set, his lips in a grim line.
“Maybe we can do this again? It’s been lovely,” I offer.
I step forward and kiss Ophelia and then James on the cheek. Jet nods a curt good evening to them, and they walk away up the beach. I wait until they’re out of earshot before I turn to him.
“It didn’t go well, did it?”
He’s already walking off over the sand, and I have to run to catch up with him.
