This mundane small talk was getting on his nerves.
They walked in with their things and there was a woman at the desk.
“Hi, Arik?”
“That’s me and this is Natalie Bond. We’ve got a flight at two.”
“Lincoln is fueling the helicopter now if you both can sign these forms.”
When they were done, they moved to the side. “Why did you wrinkle your nose when you found out who the pilot was? I’m assuming you knew who was flying us.”
“I do. Though Egan has three pilots, I assumed from the island it was him or Lincoln. It’s just, I only told Avery about this weekend. I didn’t want anyone else to know.”
He wouldn’t be hurt over that. He didn’t know her full relationship with her family and since his was so dysfunctional, he couldn’t judge.
“It’s going to be hard to keep it a secret. Not sure why one pilot over another makes a difference.”
“Well,” she said. “Egan wouldn’t or doesn’t talk to my family often. But Lincoln Harrington is married to Grace Stone-Harrington.”
“Oh. The chef from that reality show.”
“You watched that?”
“I did.” He had to be careful how much more he said. “But I didn’t put it together other than they talked about her boyfriend.”
“He proposed to her the night the finale aired and they were married not that long ago. So you know, we both work at the same place. Hunter is her first cousin, so she’s liable to say something to him if she sees him.”
“Is it against company policy for you to date a guest?”
If it was, he was positive she wouldn’t be with him right now. Natalie Bond didn’t break the rules.
“No.”
“Then I don’t know the big deal. We’ve had a few dates. We are going away for the weekend. People do that all the time.”
“People do, but I don’t.”
“That’s right. I’m going to show you fun. Remember, our contract stated it. Starting now.”
She took a deep breath and let it out. “I’m good. I promise. Though I’m not so sure you are.”
“Why is that?”
“You looked off when you opened the door. Almost relieved. Did you think I’d bail?”
“I didn’t think you’d bail, but I was relieved. You got me off a tiring call with my mother.”
“I’m sorry. Everything okay?”
“It’s the same as it always is. She thought I could fit a visit in before the wedding tomorrow and I told her no. Then she hung up on me.”
She scrunched her nose but reached for his hand to hold his fingers quickly. Apeckin her mind.
“That had to be hard.”
“Nope. She aggravates me, and I didn’t want to start our trip off that way. I’m glad it was a brief call.”
“Natalie Bond. I was surprised to see your name on my flight plan.”
