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I follow them up the boarding steps and into facing seats. Wendy and Daria are talking so fast I don’t even notice where the guys are until I crane my neck to ensure Rake did, indeed, board the plane.
He waves at me from a few seats away, throwing me a thumbs up and raising his brows like a question mark.
I return the thumbs up, and a funny little tickle runs through me.
I’m flattered. Actually flattered that he’s checking in on me. That’s a sign of a nice guy. Even if he is a jock I’ll never have any interest in hanging out with.
Daria reaches into a small fridge next to us and pulls out a bottle of bubbles and Wendy grabs three plastic champagne flutes. They are clearly pros.
We sit still while the plane takes off and when it levels out, Daria pops the cork.
“How often do you guys do this?” I ask, impressed by their routine.
She giggles. “Oh, we’ve done this a couple times before. Zink springs for the private jet and we take a short trip somewhere. A couple months ago we went to Palm Springs. Before that, we went to La Jolla. It’s so much fun.”
“Damn right,” Wendy says, sipping her champagne even as it bubbles over and spills down her hand. “Girl, I have five kids, so when these trips come up, I am the first one to sign up.”
“Who’s with your kids?” I ask.
She leans toward me. “My mother, who lives with us. The woman is a saint.”
“Cheers to that,” Daria says, and we raise our glasses.
Damn. These ladies are cool. All too often, women don’t start off being this nice. It’s like they have to feel you out or something.
Wendy looks over at the guys. “It’s nice to have you here, Petal. I can’t tell you the last time I saw Rake bring a girl somewhere.”
Daria nods, her face serious.
As if he has supersonic hearing, Rake appears with a beer in his hand and rests on my seat back. “Jesus, can you all give me a break?” he whines.
I pat his hand. “Rake, your friends are just looking out for you,” I tease.
He tilts his head at me. “You know, Petal, when I met you at the fundraiser, I didn’t peg you as a smart ass. But you fit in with these people just fine.”
Damn right.
He wanders back to the guys, and as he does, I lean into the aisle to watch his ass, nice and firm in his dark wash blue jeans.
When I turn back to Wendy and Daria, they are nudging each other and looking at me, pointing and laughing, and while I’m still not sure whether I made a mistake or not coming on this trip, I do know I’m in trouble.
11
PETAL
We deplaneonto the tarmac in Vegas, where it’s blistering hot, as expected, and even more so thanks to the black asphalt. But in seconds, we’re escorted to a gigantic black Suburban that is thankfully air conditioned to near-freezing.
Rake and I squeeze into the far back, joined by Tyler.
“Who booked this thing?” Rake grumbles, moving his legs to find a little more room.
He looks like a giant in the tight space.
Zink pipes up from the passenger seat, where he hollers over his shoulder. “I did and if you don’t like it, next time get your own car. We’re only going a couple miles. Don’t show Petal what a princess you are right off the bat, buddy.”
I snicker. Can’t help it. Rake looks down at me and I stare right back.
God, he’s got nice eyes.
