20
HARRISON
“Hey, you need any help up here?” I asked Kevin as he settled into the cockpit.
He turned to look at me over his shoulder. “Do Ilooklike I need help?”
I chuckled. “Point taken, sorry.”
“That her?” Kevin jutted his chin toward the window, where a Town Car was speeding into view across the tarmac.
“Yeah, that’s Gwen. I can’t wait for you to meet her.”
“That’s a first,” he said with a teasing laugh. “I don’t think I’ve met any of your arm candy since Miranda.”
“Well, she’s a lot more than arm candy,” I insisted, a little offended on Gwen’s behalf. Kevin had heard all my rants about the Revenge of the Rushies. He knew just how amazing Gwen had been when it came to snatching victory from the jaws of total public repudiation.
“She’s also your employee,” he pointed out.
“Ashford doesn’t have an anti-fraternization policy,” I countered.
Kevin paused his cockpit prep to give me his full attention. “Is there something you want to tell me? Is this a real-deal situation?”
I could hear Dominic welcoming Gwen at the base of the stairs. Just the sound of her voice was enough to make me giddy. Not that I was comfortable putting that on display. The bigger the feeling, the more I needed to lock it down.
“I don’t know yet,” I hedged. “It’s undefined. I’m not worrying about labels at this point.”
I drifted toward the door to greet Gwen, working to look relaxed rather than revealing that I was as excited as a puppy as she climbed up the stairs.
“Hi,” she grinned at me. “Are you ready to party or what?”
Right. The party. My family. In this moment, it felt like Gwen and I were headed out for an adventure together, but the reality was that I was subjecting both of us to a huge dose of Ashford drama. Why had I been excited about this again?
“Something like that. You look stunning, as usual.”
Gwen was in a flowy pale-yellow dress that swirled around her when the wind blew, making her look like Marilyn Monroe above the subway grate.
“Thanks to my sister,” she laughed. “You look pretty incredible yourself. I like the casual resort version of you.”
Gwen would be my excuse for opting out of the inevitable nine holes my brothers would suggest we play, but I’d still dressed for athleisure.
“Hi, you,” she repeated once she was standing in front of me.
“Hi,” I echoed softly. “Good to see you.”
I folded her into my arms and gave her a brief kiss on the lips.
Far too brief, but Dominic was right behind her.
“I want you to meet someone very important to me,” I said, drawing her toward the cockpit.
She put on the brakes, shaking her head. “Nope, I’m not sitting up there again. Let me be a passenger this time, I’m begging you.”
I laughed. “No, the flight crew is covered, so you’re off the hook. My friend Kevin is taking care of us today. He’s the best.”
I nudged her into the cockpit. “Kev, meet Gwen Ackland. Gwen, this is Kevin Briggs, the best flight instructor in the world.”
Kevin’s eyes widened when he turned around and spotted Gwen. “Wow. I mean, hi there.”
