“It seems like she does.”
“No, she’s just pushy. She waits for Lillie to finish speaking, then she tells her what to do. There’s a difference. Even little kids know it.”
I can’t take it anymore. I reach forward and pull her into a hug. Her arms go around my waist, and I hold her against my chest. She takes a deep breath, and I hope she’s not still crying.
My lips are right at her ear when I speak. “I love that you’re so worried about my daughter.” She nods against my shoulder. “Now, no more crying. Lillie is going to be fine. We’re going to have a fun trip, and you’ll see my daughter again in two days.”
Releasing her, I catch her watery eyes. They melt into that sweet smile I love… followed quickly by her snarky sass. “You’re not going to miss her at all? Did your sentimental chip get lost?”
I huff a laugh, grabbing her suitcase and hanging bag, and carrying them out to the waiting limousine. “I will miss my daughter, even though she didn’t seem too upset about telling me goodbye. At the same time, I know she’ll be fine while I’m away.”
Her eyes slant over to me. “You’re hurt she didn’t cry over you leaving?”
“If the tables were turned, I suppose I’d be more upset over you being gone, too.”
“Are you flirting with me, Remington?”
“Always.”
That makes her laugh, and I’m glad to see we’ve moved past the water works.
The limo drops us at the terminal for the private jet service. A few cars are parked in the lot, but we’re the only ones flying out this morning.
“Wow.” Ruby’s eyes are round as she follows me up the short flight of stairs into the Lear 60. “Do you own this?” She’s speaking just above a whisper as we pass through the oval door and walk down the short aisle separating seats with tables in the center.
“No.” I sit in one of the seats toward the back and motion for her to join me. “I charter it for short flights. It’s not really worth the upkeep to own a jet, with as little as I travel.”
She sits beside me in the plush, cream leather chair. A small sofa is behind us, but this plane doesn’t have a bed. Our flight is barely over an hour.
“I’ve never been on a private jet before.” She’s still speaking low, tilting her face toward me as the flight attendant puts glasses of champagne in front of us.
“Welcome aboard, Mr. Key, Miss. Banks. We’ll be taking off momentarily. If you would, please fasten your seatbelts, and I’ll let you know when it’s safe to move about the cabin.”
“Thanks, Grace.” Taking the glass of champagne, I hold it to Ruby’s. “Here’s to a successful business trip.”
She clinks my glass and takes a sip. “Mm… that’s delicious.”
Our seatbelts are fastened, and we’re in the air in less than fifteen minutes. Grace comes through and tells us it’s safe to move around. We only take off our seatbelts, and I rotate in my chair to face my companion.
Ruby’s like a kid in a candy store, looking around, touching everything. It’s hits me like a renewed thrill. I remember a time when all this was new to me, too.
“Why do they always give you champagne on private jets?”
“I thought you’d never been on one.”
Her nose wrinkles as she takes another sip. “I’ve seen it in the movies. Is it to celebrate being so rich?”
Shrugging, I sip my own sparkling beverage. “More likely to celebrate not having to stand for hours in the TSA line then be forced to sit in a cramped seat next to a potentially annoying neighbor.”
She nods. “I can get onboard with that. What’s our schedule like in New York?”
“We arrive in Manhattan after noon then we’ll take a car to the hotel. The gala is tomorrow night at eight.”
“What do we do between now and then?”
“I’m meeting one of my investment advisers tonight for drinks. His name is Stephen Hastings. I’d really like it if you’d join me, but you don’t have to… if you have something else in mind you’d prefer.”
“I’ll join you.” She scoots closer, biting her lip. “I’ve never been to New York.”
