AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She has a daredevil hidden in her and I want to bring it out.
We arrive at the airfield and our plane is ready.
“A private plane?” Rachel asks.
I nod. “It’s better than waiting for airport queues and baggage carousels.”
“I guess it is,” she says and I take her hand when we walk to the plane. She stiffens for a moment, but then she relaxes and doesn’t retrieve her hand.
I’m planning on doing exactly what Emma suggested—have fun and don’t think about the bigger picture. With Rachel here, it’s so much easier. When I’m with her, I can relax for a change.
I try not to think about what that means.
When we step onto the plane, I see everything I own through fresh eyes—through Rachel’s eyes.
The plane is luxurious, with cream leather seats and dark brown glossy finishes. Two air hostesses serve us while the pilot takes care of the flight plan and we drink champagne before the aircraft takes off.
When we’re in the air, we’re served platters of finger food I had made by my chef especially.
“Is this what you do all the time?” Rachel asks.
“What?”
“Splurge like this?”
I grin at her. “No. If I spent all my money, I wouldn’t have any money anymore. This is a special occasion.” When she glances at me, I add, “the retreat only happens once a year.”
She nods, satisfied that I was talking about the retreat and not about having her here with me. But the truth is, this is all for her because I want to satisfy her. I want to impress her. I want to give her all the riches; I want to spoil her because a woman as rare and beautiful as Rachel deserves nothing less.
When the plane lands, we’re in the Caribbean on a private island, and the only people who will bother us besides the guests at the retreat are the staff.
When we exit the plane, Gregory Dillon is on the runway.
“It’s good to see you, Blake!” he cries out, waving a white hat in the air. His floral shirt is tacky but Dillon has so much money he never cares what he actually looks like. “And who’s this?”
“This is Rachel,” I say. “Rachel, this is Greg.”
“You’re a stunner, my dear,” he says. “When I told Blake to bring someone, I didn’t think he had someone as beautiful as you hidden away. No wonder you didn’t share that you have a special someone in your life!” Dillon takes Rachel’s hand and kisses it. She blushes.
“Thank you,” she says. “But we’re not—”
“Nonsense, nonsense, we’re all friends here, my dear. The paparazzi will have to swim to get access to this land and the last I heard, their cameras aren’t waterproof.” He laughs at his own joke and puts his hand on Rachel’s arm, sliding it down to her hand. She pulls away politely.
A pang of jealousy shoots into my chest, and I try to control my protective urges. When Dillon looks at me, I glare at him.
“Easy, big guy,” he says, holding up his hands. “If she’s on your arm, she won’t leave you for any of us. We only make half the cash. Eh?” He winks at Rachel, and she glances at me, unsure.
“Let’s get to the resort,” I offer.
Dillon goes on about something while he walks to his car.
“He doesn’t have the best people skills, but he’s good at his job,” I mutter. “And he’s married, although that doesn’t mean a lot when it comes to other women… if he makes you uncomfortable, you let me know.”
Rachel smiles at me. “I’ll be okay.”
I’m sure she will be. If anyone can take care of herself, its Rachel. But that doesn’t change the fact that I want to knock Greg’s block off for talking to her like that. And that pulls me up short.
Why am I this protective?
