The Rookiewas painted across the side of the plane in bubble gum pink letters and painted on the tail of the plane was a goddamn unicorn.
I couldn’t help but grin, and even from behind his sunglasses, I could practically smell Vaughn’s eye roll as he opened my door. I ignored him altogether until I realized he was heading towards the plane with me.
And Vaughn was definitely not part of my dirty little fantasy of how this weekend would go—Carmen’s maybe, but not mine.
“Not to be rude, but you weren’t exactly invited on this trip.” I walked in front of him, blocking his path, trying to feel out if he was going to board the plane with me.
“You don’t want me here?” Vaughn asked with a surprising amount of emotion as he hefted up my heavy bags. I opened my mouth and tried to find a polite way of sayinghell-to-the-fucking no waybut he shirked back before I could form an answer, looking very offended, “You know, I can see when I’m not wanted.”
My mouth parted in surprise as he headed back to the car…withmy bags? I hadn’t expected that to be so easy. In fact, now I almost felt?—
He smirked as he looped around the car, faking me out, before heading for the plane again.
“Ha ha, very funny.” My shoulders slumped, wondering what Carter was going to think of our plus one.
“Thank you.” Vaughn said dry as ever, “I do comedy on the weekends.”
“Careful, some might consider that an invitation.” I threatened. “Watch out, I might crashyourparty next time.”
“Oh, I’d love to see you try, Devereux.” He muttered, adding my luggage to the cargo area while I climbed the steps onto the plane.
When I ducked inside, I bit my lip with a grin—the aisle, the plush seats, everything was littered with rose petals. It was outrageous and romantic as hell.
My heart fluttered as I spotted a note in Carter’s handwriting, and I sank into the plush, oversized seat to read it, discovering that the Rookie was a gift. For me. So I could come see Carter whenever I wanted to.A lump formed in my throat as I let it sink in that Carter had bought me a freaking plane. That had to mean something serious… right? Even for someone as filthy rich as him. Plus, heneverspent money, but he’d bought me a freaking plane! I was giddy.
I was even more giddy when Vaughn stuck his head through the plane door and told me to have a safe trip before the door slammed shut.He wasn’t coming after all.
Score.
As the plane took off, I settled into my seat and pulled out a fresh magazine, immediately skipping the article about Liam—reading about my friends and family in print usually made me nauseous. Best to avoid it altogether, because most of it was usually staged, completely made up, or photoshopped. My stomach rolled,hoping they were saying good things about Liam and his restaurant, but I didn’t have the stomach to look for sure.
I was busy reading an enthralling article about the best waterproof mascara when a deep, smooth voice crackled through the intercom, wrapping around me like a caress. “Good afternoon, this is your captain speaking.” My head whipped around so fast, I practically morphed into an owl. “We’re currently cruising at an altitude of thirty-thousand-feet, and an airspeed of four-hundred-knots.” I rolled my lips over my teeth, realizingCarterwas my pilot, and hearing Carter talk shop was hot as hell. “With clear skies as far as the eye can see, the only turbulence you can expect this afternoon will be right hereinside the plane.” I grinned, shaking my head. “I’d now like to invite Miss Devereux up to mycock, excuse me—up tothecockpit. I repeat, the captain requires your immediate attention in the cockpit, Miss Devereux. Please proceed to the front of the plane at your earliest convenience. Thank you for your cooperation, and thank you for choosing Mile High Airlines.”
I hurried up the aisle and found the door to the cockpit already cracked. “Hi, sweetheart.” Carter whispered, eyes so filled with longing it stole my breath.
“You’re here.” I breathed, eating up the cute little hat, the headset, how sexy he generally looked, flying the plane.
“Couldn’t wait.” He admitted, patting his lap, which I immediately slid on to.
“You bought me a plane.” I murmured with a devious smirk as he reached around me, flipping switches. “That’s a tough move, you know.”
His chest shook with amusement, but his words were soft as he finally gripped my waist and met my gaze again. “Oh? And why’s that?”
“Because it’s going to be hard to top a gift like that.” I said tartly, sliding my arms around his neck, becoming enveloped in his smell—fresh, clean, and intoxicating as fuck. I smiled to myself, realizing if the sky had a scent, that’s what it would be.
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that.” His grip on me tightened as he pulled me to his lips. “I have all kinds of plans for you, Miss Devereux.”
I smiled against his mouth.Planswere an excellent step in the right direction.
CHAPTER 43
Mile High Club
CARTER
“You know the hat is pretty damn cute.” Sara teased as I put it onto her head, “But you know what would be even more fun?”
“What’s that?” I asked, kneading her hips as she settled into my lap.
