“You’d be surprised. That’s why he’s fighting so hard to get this bill passed before the end of the year. He figures once we do, we’ll have tighter controls, more accountability.”
The lights of the city fade away, traffic thins, and I yawn. “I can’t image the Chinese running Jack and Joe off the road. I mean, this must be peanuts to them.
“We just don’t know.” Slate shakes his head as we pass city island on our right.
In the dark, I open my smart phone and research. If I’m going to be any help, I need the bigger picture but after an hour, I’m rather disappointed. Both Democrats and Republicans are solidly behind this vote. I don’t see how running a senator off the road would change anything. I’m still pondering this when we arrive at Teterboro Airport.
“Is Isabella coming, too?” I take Slate’s hand as he helps me out of the limo.
“No, Grayson’s wife is staying home with Skye. Pretty soon, you’ll be doing the same.”
I smile at the thought of the sweet two-year-old. “Other than pictures, I haven’t seen her since my and Jack’s un-divorce party.”
“She’s a real cute kid. Smart, too.” Slate runs around the front of the car and helps me out.
When he lets go of my hand, I get a little nosy. “You and Lilac ever going to tie the knot? Have some of your own?”
“Yeah. Soon, but we don’t need a piece of paper to prove we love each other. You ready?”
“Ready.”
It’s weird to walk into an airport terminal with no line. Instead, I show my id to a pleasant woman and pass through a metal detector with my shoes on. After, we exit the building onto the tarmac, go up a set of stairs, and into the jet with the letters PATTEN on the side.
I’ve never been on the billionaire’s jet but heard lots of stories from Isabella. She’s right. The interior looks more like a man cave than the inside of an airplane.
Intelligent eyes assess me as Grayson Patten III stands and shakes my hand. “You shouldn’t have come but I’m sure Jack will be glad to see you. Sit down and buckle up. We’re taking off in just a few.”
Usually my husband’s boss wears an expensive suit. Today, he seems much more down to earth in t-shirt and jeans, especially when he personally hands me a bottle of water, cheese, and crackers.
“Thank you.” Hopefully, I won’t puke on the luxurious brown leather of his lounge chair.
After we take off, he motions Slate to the front, out of my earshot. Try as I might, I can’t hear a damn thing they say for the rest of the flight. Frustrated, yet exhausted, I lean back in the super-comfortable chair and sleep.
It’s not even five AM when I step out of a limo in front of the hospital. As our reunion gets closer, my heart hammers, my mouth goes dry, and I pray he’s okay. If he is, he’s going to be furious I came to see him but I don’t mind. I’ll look into his beautiful brown eyes, say I’m sorry, and describe all the sexy ways I’ll make it up to him.
My anxiousness increases when we’re stopped in the lobby by some lethal-looking men in dark suits, wearing earpieces and sunglasses.
Grayson takes out his wallet and hands them a card. “I’m here to see Jack Taylor. This is his wife, Blakely and another of my employees, Alexander Slate.”
After the two men check our licenses, they point us in the direction of the elevator, Grayson answers my unasked question. “Secret Service.”
“Will they be taking over for Jack?”
“Don’t think so. They’re already maxed out. The president himself is asking for more of my guys to augment his team.”
Shit.
By the time we arrive on the sixth floor, my heart is hammering in my chest. I imagine breathing tubes, heart monitors, and his beautiful body bruised beyond recognition.
“Go ahead, Blake. We’ll let you two talk for a few minutes alone.” Grayson hangs back with Slate while I walk past the nurse’s station until I find room six-five-five.
Jack might be sleeping so I enter quietly. When I see a young blonde leaning over a bed’s siderail with her lips locked to a sleeping man, for a moment, I think I’m in the wrong room.
Quickly, I back out, check the door number, and the name card,Jack Taylor.
My stupid heart smashes onto the linoleum in a million pieces. How could he do this to me? I love him so damn much.
My mother warned me…
