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“Like what?”
“Like … like you didn’tdoanything with him?”
“Oh my God, Jacob! You think I might have had sex with him? In the airport? How? Where? Actually, don’t bother to answer that.” She chuckled. “I know you think that I’m the creative one in the family, but I’m not that creative.”
“I’m glad to hear it. And my point was that you only chatted with the guy for a short while. Nothing more than flirting happened between you. And when he realized that you might be a little close for comfort, he backed off.”
“I suppose worse things could have happened.”
“They could. Especially if you insist on flying commercial.”
They both stood back when the carousel started up. Hannah was relieved to see her bag come out first. She pointed and Jacob grabbed it.
“It wouldn’t have taken long for me to come down to LA to get you, you know. And when you go back, you’re taking the jet.”
“Okay. Are you trying to get rid of me already?”
He stopped walking and scowled at her. “Don’t even joke about it. You know I’d prefer it if you didn’t go back at all. You should stay home now, Hannah. Have the cottage if you don’t want to share the house with me, but stay?”
She blew out a sigh. “I might.”
“What’s the latest on Nathan?”
“I just said that I might stay – doesn’t that tell you all you need to know?”
“It does. For now. But come on. There’s a car waiting to take us back to Signature.”
Hannah followed him. Jacob only endured commercial airports for her sake. She knew he’d be in a hurry to get back to the quieter, more refined fixed base operator where the jet waited to take them home.
When they reached the doors, she looked back over her shoulder. But this time there was no sign of Grady – and that was a good thing, even if a part of her had been hoping for one more glimpse of her surfer guy. She scowled and hurried out after Jacob – nothersurfer guy! The married surfer guy, who she should hope she never saw again.
~ ~ ~
Grady finally relaxed when he pulled into Molly’s driveway. He got out of the car and stretched his arms and legs. Flying wasn’t easy for a guy his size. The two-hour drive back from the airport hadn’t helped either. He’d downsized to this little Honda when he found out that Ava was going to be coming to live with him. He’d loved his truck, but he couldn’t justify spending the money on the payment anymore. Not when there was always something Ava needed.
There were still lights on in the house. He felt a stab of guilt. Molly had said that Ava could spend the night with them again and he could pick her up in the morning to get her to school. But he hadn’t wanted to spend a second night away from her. He’d felt guilty at first about even going down to LA to see Monty, but everyone including Ava, had insisted that he should go. He’d enjoyed it. He could even say that he was glad that he’d gone. But he was even more glad that he was back now and that in half an hour or so he and Ava would both be asleep in their own little home. Home wasn’t much; it was a townhouse in a subdivision just outside of town, but it was theirs.
He startled when the front door opened, and Marcos appeared. “I thought it must be you, but then you didn’t come to the door. Everything okay?”
“Yeah. Sorry. I was just breathing a minute. Has she been okay?”
“She’s been great. She’s a great kid. You could have waited until tomorrow, you know.”
“I know. And I know it probably would have been easier for you guys if I did. But …” He shrugged.
Marcos grasped his shoulder. “No need to apologize. I understand. It’s all good. You want to take her home and get back into your life. Come on in. Molly left all Ava’s things by the front door so that you can load them up first, then all you need to do is get her and bring her straight out to the car. I’m not sure that she’s even asleep though.”
“Thanks.” Grady followed him into the hallway, and between them they brought all Ava’s things out to the car. When they went back into the house, Molly greeted him with a smile.
“Did you have a good time?”
“I did, thanks. Was everything okay here?” He didn’t ask if Ava had been good – he knew he didn’t need to.
“Everything was great. When I picked her up from school yesterday, we went to the park with Luca. She got off to school no problem this morning and tonight, we did some baking. I don’t know if you noticed, but there was a Tupperware tub full of cupcakes for you in with her stuff.”
Grady grinned. “Thanks!” He looked down the hallway. “Should I just go get her?”
“Yep. I think she’s asleep. I checked on her a little while ago and she was trying to wait up for you, but she didn’t look like she was going to make it.”
