Total pages in book: 93
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 462(@200wpm)___ 370(@250wpm)___ 308(@300wpm)
“Really don’t think you do.”
“You’re a hairdresser. There, totally nailed it.”
“Not a hairdresser.”
“Hmm. Beard model?”
He huffed out a laugh, and her insides danced with happiness as he pulled into what looked to be a private airport. Were they flying somewhere?
He parked next to a large hangar.
“Are we going flying?” she asked, turning to stare at him in shock.
“We’re going out in a chopper,” he replied.
“A chopper? A helicopter? Really?”
“Yes. That all right?”
“I . . . I’ve never even flown in a plane. Is it safe?”
Undoing their belts, he reached over and gently took hold of her chin. “Do you think I would ever put you at risk?”
She took in a deep breath. “No. I know you wouldn’t. I’ve just never done anything like this.”
“Trust me?”
“Yes.” It was something she felt deep inside her. This innate feeling of trust in him. Knowing he wouldn’t allow harm to come to her.
“Wait there.” Climbing out, he moved over to the helicopter where a man who she assumed was their pilot, waited. To her surprise, though, the other man just nodded and walked off.
Who was going to pilot the helicopter? Victor climbed into the chopper and disappeared from sight for a moment. Her nerves started to build, and she grabbed out her phone, tapping a message to Sammy.
Gracen: If I die today, I love you and I’ll haunt you forever. Try to look out for Anita.
Sammy: Die? You can’t die. What’s wrong? Do you need me?
Gracen: No. Just being dramatic. I’m good.
Sammy. Thank fuck. Because there is no way I want to be saddled with your niece.
Gracen: Wouldn’t do that to you.
Sammy: How is your eye?
Gracen studied her reflection in the small mirror attached to the back of the sun visor. The makeup helped, but it wasn’t enough to completely conceal the bruise.
She sent Sammy a selfie.
Sammy: Ouch. Still love me?
Gracen: Always.
The passenger door opened, and Victor stood there. Right. Time to do this.
Yikes.
10
Victor could tell she was nervous.
And he liked the way she clung to him as he led her to the chopper. He’d always take care of her.
While he’d been checking over the helicopter, he’d sent a message to one of his guys. Isaac would grab her car today and take it to his workshop to check it over and fix what he could.
Sure, he probably should tell Gracen what he was doing. Isaac was essentially stealing her car.
But he knew she’d argue with him. And he didn’t want their day to start off with tension. Today was about having fun. Something she didn’t seem to have much of.
They had that in common.
He helped her up into the chopper, then pulled her seatbelt over her, settling her handbag between her feet. Then he shut her door and walked around to the other side.
“Victor? Who’s going to drive this thing?” she asked, staring around.
“Fly, baby.”
“What?”
“You fly a chopper.” He winked at her.
“Argh, yeah. That was a dumb thing to say. I’m such an idiot.”
No. That wasn’t happening.
“Hey, look at me,” he said in a deep voice, waiting for her to glance over at him. “No putting yourself down, remember? You don’t want your first helicopter flight to be with you sitting on a warm ass, do you?”
“Ah, nope. Definitely not.” She stared over at him with wide eyes.
He really didn’t like what she thought about herself. It wasn’t okay. And she seemed to have trouble realizing that.
“To answer your question, I’m flying it.”
“You?”
“Yep. That a problem?”
She shook her head, letting out a big breath. “No, the opposite, actually. I feel better knowing you’re in charge. I know it’s silly, you’re not infallible or anything. But I just know that if something goes wrong, you’ll take care of it.”
“I will. Just like I’ll take care of you. Always.”
She couldn’t help her nerves as they took off into the air. She let out a small squeal, hoping he didn’t hear that through the mic and headphones they both wore. The worried look he shot her told her that was a fruitless hope.
But as they flew along, her nerves started to fade, and excitement took its place.
Holy. Hell.
The view from up here was magnificent. She started to recognize landmarks, pointing them out to him even though he’d likely seen them all before.
He grinned over at her. There seemed something lighter about him. As though some tension had lifted from his shoulders.
“Enjoying yourself?” he asked through the mic.
“This is amazing!”
“Good, baby. We’re going to land soon. I have something else set up for you.”
“Nothing is going to top this.”
“We’ll see.”
Soon, they were landing in a flat area of the countryside. She couldn’t see anything else around but shrugged. Whatever he’d set up, she’d enjoy it.
When he lifted her down, she wrapped her arms around him, kissing him enthusiastically. “That was amazing! Thank you so much! I’ll never forget that as long as I live.”