“Correct. Mac is the smart one,” I agree.
“Ahh, don’t make me get all bashful.” She literally rolls off my bed and then springs to her feet.
“You’re taking her with you?” Dad asks. Mac pretends to be offended.
“If I give her the slip, I’ll hear about it for months.”
“Years,” Mac corrects. God knows what she might do to my tech. It’s not worth the risk, and well, I kind of enjoy having her around. Her chatter can be oddly soothing.
“Try not to kill anyone. My reach only goes so far,” Dad warns. I know, and if shit goes left, then favors will have to be called in.
“Got it.” Mac hits him with a finger gun. He shakes his head before leaving.
“Come on.” I grab the light windbreaker to put on over my sports bra. I tossed on leggings and sneakers for the long plane ride.
My mom is on us the second I hit the bottom step. I let her fawn over me for a minute before we head out. I pull down the long driveway, pausing when we get past the gate. Both Mac andI step out, and she pulls out one of her handy devices to see if she can detect a signal close by that isn’t linked back to the estate.
I follow her across the street to the tree line. It’s all woods. It doesn’t take her long. “It’s up there.” She points to one of the trees. I slip off my jacket, handing it to her, and slide on gloves. I pull my knife out from where I have it strapped to my back and put it between my teeth before taking the device from Mac.
“Don’t fall. I suck at catching.” Isn’t that the truth. I brace my foot against a knot to push myself up and grab the lowest limb I can reach. “I failed that part of gym class.” I remember because I was there, and she couldn’t do half a pull-up, but I can’t respond. I keep climbing until there is a hit on the tracker and I see it.
A tiny lens. No way you’d find it without help. I clip it to the top of my pants and remove the knife from between my teeth. I stare into the lens, knowing Paxton is staring right back. This smooth motherfucker.
I should be pissed, but instead I’m impressed. I don’t know why I do it. I kiss it right before I jam my knife into it and then dig it out of the bark where it had been implanted.
“Did you just kiss that!”
“How the hell did you see that?” I quickly climb back down. Mac turns her phone around to show me the video.
“Once I found the signal.” She shrugs like it was as easy as tying your shoe.
“You’re terrifying,” I tell her, heading back toward my car.
“You must be rubbing off on me.”
“You climbed into my bed,” I remind her.
“I like to cuddle, what can I say?” Mac hops back into the car. It had been nice hanging out in bed last night. I woke up with dirt smudged on my cheek.
That was when we started pulling everything up on Paxton. Mac found so much information, but I couldn’t concentrate on anything besides the female in the pictures. All my focus was onthat beautiful blonde. The one Paxton seemed to be comfortable around. The things I experience when I think about my maybe husband and this woman cause me irrational anger along with a barrage of other feelings I don’t understand.
It freaks me the fuck out, but I strangely don’t want it to stop. There is something thrilling about it all. Or maybe I have simply lost my mind.
The drive to the private airport isn’t far; the plane is already waiting for us. “Listen.” Mac grabs my forearm before I can exit the car. “That kissing the lens thing was funny and kind of adorable. So I’m going up these stairs first, and you follow behind me. When you get to the top, turn around and blow a kiss and then enter the plane.” I stare at her. Why would I do such a thing? “I’m serious.”
“I don’t blow kisses.”
“Did you kiss the camera lens before?”
“No.” She has a point. “Why?”
“Because we’re fucking with him.” Mac wiggles her brows. Yes, he could still be watching. This could be payback for the wink. I do love payback. “Now watch me.” I do as instructed, and Mac shows me how to blow a kiss as if I’ve never seen it done before. I have to do it five times before she says we’re good to go. “Give your ass a little shake too.”
“I will do no such thing.”
“Fine, I had to try.” I follow her up the stairs and do as instructed. It feels strange, and one of the men on the tarmac pretends to catch it.
“Someone else stole my air kiss,” I tell Mac as I enter the plane and freeze.
