“Thankfully, there was something about them that made me question the experience they’d put on their booking form, so I started them at the Sugar Bowls since it’s the most beginner friendly. It was so bad, dude,”Kyle groaned as he brought Aspen up to speed on the day’s misadventures.“Total noobs. Like, shouldn’t even be allowed near a blue levels of skill. So, anyway, I tracked them from a distance like we always do for safety, and once they managed to make it to the bottom, I picked them up and took their asses back to the airport.”
“Good.” Aspen ruffled a hand through her drying hair and stared out the window of her office at the fine, champagne bubble textured snow drifting through the air. The clients were lucky Kyle had been the one piloting the charter because, if it’d been her, she’d have totally lost her cool and ripped them a new one. She understood the appeal of bagging peaks and knew that there were people who banked that shit like currency, but it should never come at the risk of someone’s safety.
“They’re pissed and demanding a refund since they didn’t get their full charter.”
Aspen shrugged. “They can demand all they want. They lied on their contract and put the safety of my equipment and the pilot in jeopardy. I’ll fill my lawyer in on Monday in case they actually decide to purse it and weren’t just blowing off steam,but they won’t be getting a dime. Thanks for the head’s up. I’ll deal with the fuckery on Monday. And I’ll cover the tip you got stiffed for today.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I do. And I will,” Aspen cut him off. “Seriously, man. Thanks for covering for me this weekend.”
“Dude, any time. This beats the fuck out of Excel spreadsheets and tax law.”
Aspen snorted. “Hey, it’s not my fault you decided to lean on that accounting degree when you retired.”
“Yeah, well, not all of us have trusts we can raid to buy a sweet EcoStar and fly for fun,”her old co-pilot retorted.
“Well, lucky for you, I do, and I did, so you can jump in the cockpit anytime you want.”
“I will totally be taking you up on that.”
“Good.” Aspen turned toward the hall at the sound of Eve calling her name from the bedroom, and checked the time on her watch. “Shit.” She still needed to finish getting dressed, and they had to leave in twenty minutes to get to the gala. “I gotta go.”
“Yep, sounds good,”Kyle replied easily. “Catch ya later.”
Aspen dropped her phone into the front pocket of her slacks as she hurried across the landing to the bedroom. She stumbled over nothing when she saw Eve wandering out of the closet with her hair twisted up into an elegant chignon wearing nothing but a towel. Her hands were up by her shoulders to keep the dresses draped from the wooden hangers that were hooked on her fingers from dragging on the ground, and she had the most adorably perplexed expression on her face.
Aspen cleared her throat softly as their eyes locked. “Did you call me?”
Eve nodded and held up the dresses. “Which one do you think would be better? When I packed, I was thinking this one”—she held up a stunning little emerald green number witha plunging neckline that looked borderline indecent—“but this one”—she twitched the hanger holding a sleek black gown that was lovely but would blend into the background—“is more in line with what one expects for a black-tie event.”
Aspen hummed and crossed to where Eve was standing to inspect the dresses. Her instinct was to tell Eve to go for the green one—the color would pair beautifully with her pale skin and strawberry blonde hair, and she very much wanted to see the way it’d emphasize her gorgeous breasts—but she could understand where Eve was coming from in considering the more conservative option. Even though they hadn’t heard from the Morrisons, it was a given that they were not happy about Eve blowing off dinner the night before, and if bending the knee just a little to tradition helped smooth things over, maybe it wasn’t a bad idea?
“They’re both lovely,” she said as she rubbed the skirt of the emerald green dress between her fingers. It was even softer and silkier than it looked, and her stomach fluttered as she imagined the way it’d flow like water around Eve’s thighs as she walked. “But they are very different vibes. Which one do you like better?”
Eve huffed a little laugh and rested her hands against her shoulders. “Which dress, or which vibe?”
“Either.” Aspen let her hand fall from the dress to Eve’s hip. “Both.” She caressed Eve’s hip through the soft, fluffy towel. When Eve didn’t respond, she explained, “I’m trying to understand what you’re thinking before I weigh in.”
Eve sighed and lifted the dresses back out in front of herself to look at them. “I’m thinking that I want to wear this one”—she gazed longingly at the green dress for a handful of heartbeats before hefting the black one a tad higher—“but that this one is safer.”
Aspen bit her lip as she watched Eve stare resignedly at the black dress. It was safer. And she had no doubt that Eve wouldwear the shit out of it, but her heart broke at the idea of watching Eve twist herself into a shape that her parents might approve of. She stepped between the dresses to brush a tender kiss across Eve’s forehead. “I want you to wear whatever makes you feel the most beautiful.”
“They won’t like the green one.”
“Oh, beautiful girl…” Aspen pulled Eve into her arms and held her tightly. “I mean this in the most respectful way possible, but fuck them and their opinions with a gigantic cactus.”
Eve snorted and buried her face in the crook of Aspen’s neck. “That doesn’t sound very respectful.”
“Yeah, well…” Aspen let her voice trail off as she leaned her cheek against the crown of Eve’s head and dragged her right hand along Eve’s back to trace the line where Eve’s towel cut across her shoulder blades. “I think you would look incredible in both dresses,” she said as she drew a string of spiraling circles up Eve’s spine to the nape of her neck, “but if my vote means anything, I would really like to see you in the green one.”
Her heart soared at the feeling of Eve’s lips bowing into a smile against her throat. “Your vote counts more than anyone’s.”
“Except yours,” Aspen said, needing Eve to understand that she would never ask her to change herself in any way just to try to make her happy. “What do you want to wear?”
She was heartened by the way Eve hesitated for only the briefest of moments before answering, “I want to wear the green one.”
She smiled and kissed Eve’s forehead. “All right.” She took the hanger with the black dress from Eve’s hand and tossed it onto the bed. “Green, it is.” She slipped the jewel-toned gown from its hanger and draped it much more carefully across the edge of the duvet so it wouldn’t wrinkle, and waggled her eyebrows at Eve as she turned back to her. “Now for the most important part…”
