Page 119 of My Real Love Affair

He took my suitcase, loaded it into the trunk, then opened the door for me. “Ready for an adventure?”

“Ready as I’ll ever be.”

The drive to the airport caught me by surprise because we didn’t go to the main airport. We went to the Bancrofts’ private hangar. Because of course the Bancrofts had their own hangar.

We pulled up to a building that looked more like a luxury hotel than anything aviation related. Austin guided me inside, past security that waved us through without question, and out onto the tarmac where a sleek private jet waited.

I stopped walking. “Wait, what?”

“Yep.” Austin grinned at my expression. “Come on.”

A flight attendant greeted us at the base of the stairs. She was impossibly polished, all smiles and professional courtesy. “Mr. Bancroft, welcome aboard. We’re ready for departure whenever you are.”

I climbed the stairs on shaky legs. The interior of the plane was amazing. Cream leather seats that looked more comfortable than my couch. Wood paneling. Soft lighting. A full bar. What looked like an actual bedroom toward the back.

I turned in a circle, noting the flat screen TV built into a wall. A table with bench seating on either side. “Austin, this is wild.”

“This is Tuesday for me.” But he was watching me with obvious pleasure. “You like it?”

“Like it? I feel like I’m in a movie. Like none of this is real.”

“It’s real.” He pulled me close, kissing me softly. “And you deserve all of it. The plane, the yacht, the adventure. All of it.”

The flight attendant appeared with two glasses of champagne on a tray. “We’ll be taking off shortly.”

Austin took both glasses, handing me one. “To adventures.”

“To adventures,” I echoed, clinking my glass against his.

We settled into seats that were more like recliners. I tried to wrap my head around what was happening. I was on a private jet. Drinking champagne. About to fly to Tahiti with a man who made my heart race and my common sense evaporate.

“You okay?” Austin asked, his hand finding mine.

“Overwhelmed. In the best way.” I looked at him. “Thank you. For this. For everything.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I want to do this. I want to be with you. I want to show you what it’s like to live a day or two in my world.”

The plane started moving, taxiing toward the runway. My stomach did a nervous flip.

“Nervous?” Austin asked.

“A little. Flying makes me anxious.”

“You’re safe,” he said.

Obviously there was no way he could guarantee that, but for some silly reason, I actually did feel safe. Like itwasjust another Tuesday.

CHAPTER 37

AUSTIN

Watching Melody experience the private jet was better than any entertainment money could buy. She touched everything—the leather seats, the polished wood paneling, and the remote that controlled the TV. Her eyes were wide, taking in every detail like she was trying to memorize it all.

“This is real wood,” she said, running her hand along the wall paneling. “Like, actual real wood. On a plane.”

“Brazilian rosewood, I think.”

“You think?” She turned to look at me. “You’re not sure?”