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Switching focus, I mentally went through a checklist of things I still needed to do. Our travel arrangements were done. The plane had arrived at the private airport and was in the process of refueling for our overseas flight.
Thankfully, my assistant was back and had adjusted face-to-face meetings to video conferences. The only two people left to manage were my brother and my father.
Bailey squirmed next to me, making it hard for me to ignore her presence. Her eyes were closed and I had a sudden urge to touch her. I wanted to scoop her into my arms and hold her close, promising her she’d be safe.
That wasn’t happening.
It wasn’t the only desire that ran hot in me. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t in a skirt. She still taunted me in hip-hugging jeans that fit her like a second skin.
I briefly thought about our rule of play. Only none of that mattered anymore.
We said nothing to each other. She’d barely glanced my way since she got into the car. I obligingly gave her the space we both needed.
When the car came to a stop, the driver helped her out and I got out the other side. I was grateful for the air and space between us. In less than an hour we would be on a flight for a significant time with little distance to put between us.
As it was a private airport, the driver had parked very close to the plane. The stairs we needed to climb to enter the plane were feet away. I strode toward them, not waiting for the lass. The flight attendant was the first to greet me.
“Mr. King, it’s good to see you.” Her red painted lips said a lot more. I knew the type. Once upon a time, I might have considered, especially since there was a bedroom in the back of the plane…
“Bailey,” squealed the blonde from the top of the stairs. Then she was barreling down them.
The attendant stepped forward and to the side to give Lizzy room as she tackled Bailey behind me.
I’d automatically reached out to stop the woman from falling, and as I glanced behind me, I caught Bailey’s blank face as I felt the other woman in my arms.
“Sorry,” the woman said.
I turned back to see the we can resume this later expression on her face. I steadied her back on her feet and didn’t wait. I walked up the stairs, knowing the driver would bring our bags and the attendant would handle Bailey.
Griffin met me at the door.
“That woman,” he said with an expression of awe and frustration.
I didn’t respond as I’d seen the person I’d missed desperately.
“Da,” Gabe said, running forward.
I caught him mid-leap and crushed him to my chest.
“Yer a sight for sore eyes.”
“I missed you.”
“Me too,” I said, grinning at my son.
Instead of flying to New York to pick him up, I had Griffin bring him and the plane to us while we’d driven back to Pennsylvania.
Everything felt right with my son so close.
“Matt has my car,” I said to Griffin.
His brows rose and I shrugged. He’d been working with law enforcement and the security team. Turner had gone home to pack things up, which left Bailey and me. I could have driven and left Matt with a driver, but it was easier if he could get around by himself.
Plus, he was doing me a favor by driving Lizzy back to New York and taking a plane to Chicago from there.
“You trust him,” Griffin asked.
“He can afford to buy me another if need be.”
Honestly, though, I did trust Matt. Griffin couldn’t find anything in his background. He was a solid guy the FBI trusted.
We moved farther into the plane as Griffin gave me a status update. I handed off Gabe to my cousin, his nanny.
“I’ll just be a minute.”
Gabe nodded as Ainsley offered him a snack. I walked Griffin back toward the front of the plane.
“Did Lizzy settle in?”
I was curious about how she liked the Soho place I’d lent her. Since she hadn’t bothered to speak to me, I couldn’t ask her.
“No complaints about that. She’s been pestering me about Bailey and what happened and how we’ll ensure it won’t happen again.”
“I wouldn’t have expected less.”
Just then, Bailey stepped in with wide eyes as Lizzy spoke to her non-stop.
She moved forward with purpose and stopped before me.
“Kalen,” she said. Her voice was soft and pained. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “If you don’t want me here, I can fly commercial somewhere else alone.”
Guilt was like a sledgehammer. I was being an arse. “I asked you to come, remember.”
“You haven’t said one word to me. I feel like I’m a burden.”
“What do you want me to say?” I asked humorlessly.
She fidgeted on her feet while her friend was glaring daggers at me.
