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I was enjoying flying so much, I was disappointed when I realized how close we were to the airfield outside Montecito. However, given Merrigan intended for us to have continued to use of the Vision, I didn’t suggest going farther and circling back.
“I’d forgottenhow inviting Kade’s place is,” said Tryst when he pulled up to the gate in the SUV that had been parked in the Vision’s hangar and that Merrigan had indicated was for our use.
“Have you visited before?”
“Kade and I have been friends since we were kids.”
I raised a brow.
“I am three years his senior.”
I hadn’t thought about their proximity in age, but it made sense now that I did.
We drove through when the gate opened, and pulled up to the front door, where Doc and Merrigan waited.
“How was the flight?” she asked as we cheek-kissed.
I smiled. “A dream.”
“I knew you’d enjoy it.”
I looked over at the house. “This is lovely.”
“I’d say thank you, but this is all Kade.”
The Spanish-style building’s exterior was white stucco with dark-brown shutters and a red-tile roof. Massive palm trees stretched high above the roofline, and bright-pink bougainvillea grew everywhere I looked. Big urns overflowing with flowers flanked the front door.
“Would you like to come in or follow the boys to the garage?” she asked. “Kade acquired a new vehicle yesterday, and he’s anxious to show off. I’m afraid I wasn’t effusive enough when he presented it to me.”
I laughed. “I’d be the same way. Now, if it was a plane…”
She laughed like I had.
“Oh, how nice,” I said, motioning to the massive fireplace in the room just off the foyer.
“We keep it lit at this time of year. It gets quite chilly this close to the ocean.”
Everything in the room matched the size of the stone enclosure where logs burned. Behemoth wood beams adorned the vaulted ceilings, and the furniture in the room was all oversized. While mostly covered by woven New Mexican rugs, the pavers underneath were the biggest I’d ever seen.
“Can I get you anything to eat?”
“Perhaps just a beverage,” I said, following her into the kitchen. “Where are Laird and Rielle?” I asked.
“With their grandparents. They begged us to stay with them after the holiday.”
“How old are they now?”
“Laird is three, and Rielle is two. It seems just yesterday they were both babies.”
She pulled a bottle of wine from the refrigerator and held it up.
“Yes, please.”
After pouring two glasses, she motioned to the dining table where her laptop sat. It was just off the open-plan kitchen. “We’ll get started as soon as Kade and Tryst come inside. By the way, before I forget, his security clearance was upgraded this morning, not that I doubted it would be.”
I nodded, wondering why I hadn’t thought to initiate it. Perhaps Merrigan should reconsider offering me the position of commander.
“How are you, Jaicon?” she asked when we took a seat.
