“I’ve had fun today,” Juliet admits with a sad little smile. “I can walk back to the library and take the bus home with Gran.” Her voice dips with disappointment.
She sees the woman with the apple cider and waves at her. The woman waves back and makes a scooping motion with her hands.
“Here,” a man next to her says with a flirty grin. “She wants you to pass them down.”
“Oh,” Juliet says. She hands him our mugs and he nods at her as the lady smiles. And again I’m hit with that lovely warmth that a caring community offers. A gated residence that keepsitself locked away from the world certainly doesn’t have this kind of charm.
“I’ll call my driver to take you home when the time comes, but I thought you might join me for dinner?” I am really sinking my whole heart into this terrible idea, but it hits me hard. I want to stay with her and show her a little of my world.
“Sure, I just need to let Gran know. Where are you thinking?” She looks relieved that our evening will continue.
“Can you tell Gran that I’ve got you for the night?” I am literally shaking at this point, asking Juliet to spend another night with me.
“Where?” She comes back suspicious, as she should be, of my intentions.
“It’s going to be a surprise.” I bite my lip and fight back nausea because I’ve never done this with a woman before.
With Clara, everything had been planned. She didn’t like surprises so I never popped anything on her. I never bothered to do anything but pick up the tab for dinner or drinks. This is a big step for a womanizing Grinch like me.
“Well, here’s the risky part. I’m not going to tell you where.” I smiled and fought my own nerves.
“Are you kidnapping me?” She giggles and that puts me more at ease.
“Sort of, yes.” Oh boy, am I ready for this? I ask myself because this is a big step.
“Sure.” She looks at me suspiciously as she takes out her phone and calls her Gran.
I ring my driver and the airport where I charter a last minute flight.
Luckily we’re only going to New York, and the Chester Street Society has several planes on standby at all times. By the time we reach the airport our plane will be waiting for us. It’s an hour flight to Rhode Island, so we had about an hour and a half to get to the airport and check in. Within the hour we are on our way after Gran insisted I tell her what was happening. So, with Gran in my confidence and Juliet packing a small overnight bag, we head to the airport.
“No,” Juliet laughs. “Not the airport. Now, I’m never going to be able to fly on a plane and not think of you. Very Grinchy, Mr. Grinch,” she huffs.
“You don’t own all the memories of an airport, you know. I’ll likely never fly without thinking of your soft, sweet—”
“Don’t.” With a vicious glare to put me in my place.
“Smile,” I finish with a smarmy grin.
We check in, and we’re directed to the private part of the airport.
“What kind of plane are you taking me on?” she asks, breathless.
“I know you’re not a fan of money, but it can buy a few nice things, like a private jet.” I wave my arm to the tarmac where the CSS charter awaits.
The bill will go to my estate. I can order a jet anytime I want, either one we own or one we can rent through ourbusiness partnerships. It's like having my own plane, without having to hire staff and maintain it.
“A private jet?” Juliet nearly squeaks.
“I made sure they have vegan hot chocolate onboard,” I tease her as we make our way up the stairs to the small, but comfortable cabin.
“It’s just an hour flight,” I say as a means to tell her we really don’t have the time to renew our membership in the mile high club. “All we’ll have time to do I’m afraid is have a few appetizers; the staff won’t be letting us out of our seats.”
She gives me a sexy grin. “Oh, that’s too bad.”
God, this woman is doing my head in. She’s pretty much in awe for the entire journey. The attendant brings us caviar, creme fraiche, and crackers, but since Juliet is a vegan there is a similar dish made with capers and cashew cream.
“This is amazing,” she says, taking a bite.
