Decker snapped his tablet closed, then hopped up and over to the open bag. “Can I take her?” He zipped thebag.
“She’s all yours,” Maverick replied. “I hate to lose abird—”
“I’ll make you whole,” Crockettsaid.
“Thanks, brother.” Maverick shot him an appreciative smile. “When can I expect my newflyer?”
“I’ll want to be there when you test her,” Crockettsaid.
“Rogerthat.”
“I’ll take you to Saul’s office to schedule delivery or pick up from our manufacturing facility.” Crockett extended his hand. “Thanks for coming here to tell meyourself.”
“Try not to sweat it.” Maverick hugged him. “I know you. You’ll figure it out. That’s what you do. You’ve had my back for fifteen years. Nothing’schanged.”
Crockett managed a dry smile. “One hell of a start to the newyear.”
Decker tried lifting the bag off the table, but it didn’t budge. His neck muscles strained and his face grew red. “Hey, babe, let me get that for you.” Maverick shot Crockett a playful glance as he shouldered the hundred-pounddevice.
After Maverick dropped the bag in the lab, Crockett escorted him to Saul’s office. The three men concurred that the fastest way for Maverick to secure another bird was to pick it up from Wilde’s manufacturing facility in Jessup,Maryland.
“I’ll call you when we schedule a test flight,” Maverick said. “Thanks for letting me bargein.”
Crockett escorted Maverick to reception. “Not sure I had a choice, but in all seriousness, you had alegitimatereason.”
“You’re never going to let me forget that, areyou?”
“Interrupting my eight A.M. midterm to tell me you lost your virginity could have waited. I had to defend myself to thatprof.”
The two men laughed before Maverick heaved open the door to Wilde Innovations. “Those were the days. Study and get laid. God, I missthat.”
“Did you hear about Colton?” Crockett walked to the elevator bank and jabbed the downbutton.
“He invited me to his engagement party, but I was out of the country. I thought he was joking. I mean, hell, I thought he’d be thelastof our motley crew to gethitched.”
The elevator doors slid open to reveal a single occupant. An attractive blonde. Maverick slapped Crockett on the back. “Gotta fly.” And with that, he strode into the elevator and winked at Crockett as the doorsclosed.
First, a crippled Fly. Now, a Bird goes rogue. What the hell is goingon?
As soon as Crockett opened the glass door, Ellen accosted him. “You have avisitor.”
He glanced around the empty reception area. “I’ve been gone ten minutes. Nowwhat?”
“A reporter from Cable NewsFifteen.”
Other than his receptionist, the room was empty. “I don’t have time,” he said toEllen.
“She said to tell you she’s aMitus.”
Alex. His heart kicked up speed. “What does shewant?”
“Well,you.” His assistant smirked. “You won a geek contest—her words, not mine—and she wants to talk withyou.”
“No damnedpublicity.”
“She’s waiting in your office,” Ellen called over her shoulder as she walkedaway.
Alexandra had gone out of her way to avoid him during Colton’s party. That much was obvious. He’d assumed that after eleven years she would have been cordial. Not friendly. Friendly would have been asking too much. Cordial would have worked. But she’d been meat locker cold.So what, now she needs something and expects me to jump?Thinkagain.
