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Epilogue
Six Years Later
It's beenfifteen months since I last saw my brother face to face, and my body is buzzing with nervous energy. We're approaching the small airport in Northern California, and I'm trying to get some notes to my assistant before shutting off the computer for the next week.
After finishing my degree, I took over the Altman security department. Thanks to Nate beginning my intensive training before he went away, and my education, I turned the Altman Hotels into one of a kind. People all over the world choose our hotels for their security measures and privacy.
"Babe, how long is that damn email going to be?" Denielle barks at me from her seat across the aisle.
I flick my gaze to her before returning it to my screen.
"Leave her alone, D. You know if my wife doesn't get her work done, we won't see her for the remainder of the trip."
I glare at Rhys over the top of my laptop, but he just smirks and winks. He'll never let me live it down for disappearing during our rehearsal dinner to fix a bug that one of my developers built into the custom system at an offshore location. I was still in college but had already started taking over parts of the business.
Instead of snapping a retort at him, I concentrate back on my screen. The sooner I get this done, the faster I can focus on what's important for the next seven days.
Typing, I listen to the conversations around me. Heather and Tristen are in the front, murmuring to each other. Natty is sitting in the other seat in the front row, reading a book. She’s attending an online high school, which allows her to move between Westbridge and L.A. every few weeks, or in this case, fly to the vineyard with us.
"How was the beach?" Hudson asks Wes behind me. Hudson and Elle were able to make it; the others would fly in tomorrow.
Wes snorts. "Oh, you know. The girls played in the ocean until they passed out from exhaustion, and then I had to take care of myself—even cook my own dinner." Smack. "Ouch! Woman!" I glance over my shoulder and see Wes rubbing his arm, glowering to his right.
Grinning, I turn back around.
"You guys never learn," Elle laughs. "Don't antagonize the women who feed you."
Her voice gets closer, and she squats down next to my seat. "Hey, girl."
I smile at my friend. "Hi."
Who would’ve expected that the day she drove to LA to pick up Hudson and ran into me while I was escaping my gazillion-square-foot hideout would result in a friendship that will last a lifetime? We’ve visited each other a lot over the years, especially after Elle moved to Colorado for college and offered to give me free ski lessons. I dragged Rhys to the jet that same week, and after that, it became a tradition that brought our two groups of friends and family closer together with every visit.
"I just wanted to say that we're excited to be here for the big occasion. Too bad not everyone could make it today. Hazel was livid she couldn't be on the jet with us today and has to fly commercial. You know how she is." She laughs then chews on her lower lip, and I cock an eyebrow, waiting.
"Has he met her yet?" she asks carefully.
I avert my eyes as butterflies take hold in my stomach. "Not yet."
Rhys watches me closely.
"I'm not going to have a panic attack," I snap at him but immediately regret my unwarranted reaction. "Shit, babe, I didn't—" I cover my face with my hands. There is a high chance I will have a meltdown, and we both know it. I haven't had one in years, but I've been a mess since we found out about Nate's early release date and that it would fall close to this week. Nate was officially discharged three weeks ago, but besides a handful of phone calls, I’ve spoken to him less than the years he was in the facility.
Fingers clasp around my wrists and pull until I let my hands drop away from my face.
I lock eyes with Rhys, and he interlaces our fingers on top of the table that's separating our seats.
"Everything will be fine," he reassures me calmly.
Not letting go of him, I stand, and Elle moves out of the way to let me out. I step to Rhys's side, and he tilts his head. Without a word, I straddle his lap and wrap my arms around his neck.
"Ahem..." Elle clears her throat. "I’ll take that as my cue." There is laughter in her voice, and I know she's not offended.
I brush my lips over Rhys’s and whisper, "I love you."
He pulls me closer, his mouth less than an inch from my ear. I feel his breath on my skin as he replies in a murmur, "I love you more," and a shiver of need runs down my spine.
Closing my eyes, I move my hips, but Rhys stills me, chuckling. "Do you really want to do this on a jet full of people? In front of my parents—your in-laws?"
