After a rushed goodbye to Marco and a quick ride in the luxurious car, I found myself standing in front of a sleek, private jet.Emmett was already there, looking handsome as ever.He greeted me with a warm smile and offered his hand as we climbed the stairs into the aircraft.The interior was plush and comfortable, nothing like what I had imagined for my first flight.As I settled into the seat next to him, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves.
I gripped the armrests as we taxied down the runway.The engines roared to life and my heart rate increased.Emmett seemed at ease as he casually tapped out a rhythm on the armrest.
“You okay?”He pried one of my hands loose and intertwined our fingers.
I nodded, trying to focus on his soothing touch as the plane took off.
“It’s just takeoff and landing that’s rough.We’ll be flying smoothly in no time.”
The plane tilted back, and I felt myself pressed against my seat.I closed my eyes and gripped his hand tighter, waiting for the moment when we would reach cruising altitude.Finally, the front wheels left the ground, and we were soaring through the clouds.I let out a shaky breath.
“See?That wasn’t so bad,” Emmett said.
“No, I guess not.”I returned his smile timidly.The experience was far less terrifying with his grounding support.I just wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
EMMETT
“This ismy first time on a plane.”Callie wrinkled her nose in that adorable way I loved so much.
“Really?I figured someone as ambitious and adventurous as you would be a seasoned traveler.”
She shook her head.“I grew up in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere.My parents never wanted to leave.They thought seeing the world was a pointless waste of money.”
“But not you?”
She sighed.“I always dreamed of getting out, seeing new places, meeting new people.My parents expected me to marry my high school sweetheart and settle down.Become a stay-at-home mom.Cart the kids to baseball practice and have dinner waiting on the table at five o’clock on the nose.Just like my mom.But that life looked so...suffocating.”Her eyes took on a faraway look.“I watched my mom growing up.She seemed happy enough, but it never seemed like she was fulfilled, ya know?I wanted more for myself.A chance to build my own career, choose my own path.Don’t get me wrong—I love my mother.I just don’t want tobeher, and she doesn’t get that.”
I gave her hand a gentle squeeze because Ididget it.I’d spent years trying to step out of my father’s shadow, trying to determine what my legacy at Price Industries would be.
“Anyway.”She unthreaded our fingers, and I instantly missed the weight of her hand.“Enough about me.What do I need to know for this meeting tomorrow?”
“Uh-uh.No work talk.It’s Sunday.”
“But it’s aworktrip.”
“You know, your idea of professionalism is very rigid.”
“And some might say yours is a little too lax.”
“Oh?And who might say that?”
“I don’t know.Probably Gene.”
“Definitely Gene.”I grinned, and Callie granted me the most mesmerizing smile in return.I unbuckled my seatbelt and stood.
“What are you doing?”
I peered down at Callie.Her face had gone the color of fresh paper.
“I don’t know?Stretching.Getting comfortable.”
“Can you please sit down and buckle your safety belt?”
I couldn’t help laughing.This woman could go from playful and witty to serious and rigid in the blink of an eye.
“It’s not funny, Emmett!What if there’s turbulence?”
