Tia had become pregnant in their senior year, and Darrell, the star player on the football team, chose to accept a college scholarship rather than do the right thing. Haven could understand them not wanting to marry, but Darrell refused to take any responsibility at all. He hadn’t even wanted to acknowledge the baby, although everyone in Tifton knew thechild was his. In the end, Darrell left for college and went on to play in the NFL, while Tia raised their son alone, still living in Tifton.
Her friend’s situation had served as a cautionary tale for Haven.
Skylar stood with her in his arms and placed her feet on the floor. “Are you ready for a night of dancing, my golden girl?”
His nickname for her was starting to grow on her. “I can’t wait.”
He scanned her outfit. “I love your dress. You look beautiful.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling. Since he had indicated a night of dancing, she had gone shopping at one of the property’s boutiques and hoped the dress she’d chosen - wine-colored, with short sleeves and a ruffled hem - would be appropriate.
He took her hand. “I plan to make this a night you will remember.”
Skylar led Haven through the hotel’s revolving door and to the car where Ricco was standing, waiting. He was glad she didn’t understand Italian, or else she would have heard his admission of love. If there had been any doubt in his mind before, it was erased the moment she had opened the door to him.
He had been truthful with her. He had missed her, and more than once, he had been tempted to call. However, closing the Napa Valley deal had required his full concentration. But now he was back, and tonight, she wouldhave all of him.
“Hello, Ricco,” Haven said, giving his chauffeur a huge smile.
“Hello, Miss McGuire. You look nice.”
“Thank you.”
“What about me, Ricco? Don’t I look nice, too?” Skylar asked, grinning.
Ricco rolled his eyes. “You always dress the part, Sky. I expect no less.”
During the car ride, Skylar kept the conversation going, listening to her talk about the conference and the workshops she had taken. She was fascinated by how the use of advanced technology could make the various stages of research more efficient, from the creation of new drugs to clinical studies and trials. This week, they focused on developing methods to more effectively diagnose various diseases and enhance patient care.
She also mentioned that people were leaving her alone now. In fact, they seemed to be avoiding her. He didn’t think it was necessary to let her know that he had asked Dante to handle the situation. Through the use of the hotel’s video cameras, it had been fairly easy to identify the people who had approached her.
Dante had personally informed them that Skylar Kingston would not tolerate any harassment of Ms. McGuire. He’d also placed a call to Marimar Pharmaceuticals and spoke directly to Haven’s boss, relaying that same message.
Skylar didn’t know what he’d ever do without his best friend and godbrother.
“We’ve reached our destination, Sky,” Ricco said.
Haven glanced out the car’s window and then back at him. “We’re at the Sedona Airport?”
He smiled. “Yes.”
“Our date is here?” she asked, a confused look on her face.
“Part of it, yes. My jet will fly us to our final destination.”
She turned to him with excitement in her eyes. “Honest?”
He chuckled before placing a kiss on her lips. “Yes, honest. But don’t ask where we’re going because the final destination is still a surprise.”
As Skylar watched Haven, he thought her excitement had to be contagious. She had told him that she had never been in a private jet and couldn’t believe she would be flying in one now. He gave her a tour of his jet, and she seemed impressed with everything she saw. More than once, she had tried tricking him into telling her where they were going, and he reminded her that the surprise had been her idea.
Once the plane took off, she regaled him with stories of her family. Her love for her Gramma Dora was obvious, and he thanked God the woman had been there for her. She also told him about her plans to join her grandmother’s first cousin and his family for Thanksgiving. They were the only family she had left, but there were a lot of them. When she asked about his Thanksgiving plans, he told her that since his father’s death, he hadn’t celebrated any of the holidays. Once in a while, he would join Dante and/or Ricco’s family, but more often than not, he just hung around home.
“I knew you, Dante, and Ricco had more than an employer–employee relationship,” she said.
“They were my father’s trusted friends as well as hisemployees.”
They had been in the air for at least an hour and a half when his pilot’s voice came over the intercom. “Please put on your seatbelt. We will be landing in twenty minutes.”
