Page 88 of Kaine

“Perfect, just in time for my conference call. Sorry, babe, you’re going to have to be quiet for the next 40 minutes.”

“But, I...” I start, just as there’s a ding on his telephone.

“Yes, gentleman, sorry I’m late. I had to attend to some business. Nothing serious, just a special day for someone. Now, where are we on the contract with Petenham Industries?” He grins at me and I mouth “evil bastard” at him, making him cover his mouth as he bites back a laugh, his eyes dancing with mischief.

I sit back and look out the window, and I wonder if it’s fair that someone could be this happy.

***

“Sweetness, we’re here.” An elbow nudges me in the arm and I swat at it.

“Shhh, Jade sleeping. Bye bye.”

“So, I’ll board the plane by myself, shall I?”

The words penetrate my slumber and I jerk awake. “Plane?”

“Yeah, that one.” Kaine points out the window to a charter plane sitting on the tarmac, the stairs lowered and a flight attendant standing on a short red carpet.

“Oh my God, if you don’t tell me what’s going on, I’m going to push you into that plane’s propeller.”

“Er, planes don’t have propellers anymore, sweetness.”

“Some do!”

“Not ones of that size. Now, how about we just take this one surprise at a time? First, let’s board the plane, those peanuts aren’t going to wait for just anyone!”

I stare at him, my mouth wide open for a minute, trying to process. It’s been years since I last flew on a plane, anywhere. It’s simply been a luxury I just couldn’t afford. Not to mention not wanting to leave New Yorkin case Gabriel would need me.

“Where are we going?” I ask, trying to process it all.

“Somewhere special,” is all he gives me.

“Kaine.”

“Happy birthday, Jade.”

I kiss him, hard and fast.

“LET’S GO!” I yell and jump out of the car and run to the plane.

“Good morning and Happy Birthday, Miss Sinclair,” the flight attendant greets me. “Please, right up these stairs,” she says and points to the open plane door.

Kaine wanders up behind me, carrying the purse I’d left in the car in my excitement. “Go on, then,” he encourages me.

I teeter on my heels up the small stairs, turning around just before I climb in, the wind whooshing through my hair, blowing it all over my face. A feeling of euphoria floods me, and I laugh, the sound disappearing into the sky. It’s the freest I’ve ever felt in my life.

“Come on, Ashley! Or we’re going to take off without you!” I yell at him as he remains watching me from the ground.

He grins and hands the flight attendant my bag then runs up the stairs after me. I squeal and duck into the plane, stopping as soon as the extravagance of the interior greets me.

“Wowwww,” I let out a slow breath, taking it all in.

It’s a large luxurious plane, with about 12 seats in all. Oh, but what seats they are! They’re laid out in single rows, with a wide aisle in between. Each is a single leather recliner, and there’s a table in between each row. There’s luxurious wood panelling along the skirts of the plane walls, and large tv screens on each side.

“Hey, is there room for me?” Kaine whispers into my ear as he comes up behind me.

I spin around and wrap my arms around his neck, kissing his cheek wildly, over and over.