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Owen makes the call to tell the pilot we’re on our way, and I go into the room to wake Bellamy. But she’s already up and I hear her brushing her teeth in the bathroom.
When she steps out, she’s dressed in red yoga pants and a black t-shirt. I’ve seen her dressed casually more in the last two days than the entire time she’s been in London. Since joining me here to plan the wedding, she’s been dressed to the nines in the latest fashions. It’s what’s expected of the Hunt women. But I like this casual side of her more than I thought I would.
“You’re staring,” she says, her voice still husky from sleep.
“Just admiring the view.”
Her face turns nearly the same shade as her pants, and she goes for her bag, but I get to it before she can.
“I’m sorry if that was inappropriate, but you’re a beautiful woman, and I’m very much looking forward to getting acquainted with you as my wife.”
She doesn’t say anything, so I keep going. “That said, I’ll never force myself on you. At some point, we will be expected to produce an heir, but that can be many years down the road.”
“It’s entirely too early in the morning for this conversation,” she finally snaps, having recovered from her initial embarrassment at my compliment.
I tilt my head toward the door. “Owen has called our pilot and we’re ready to go.”
She heads for the door before I can say anything else, and I hang back to hear how she greets Owen.
Their voices are too quiet though and I can’t hear them, so I step into the hall and pull the door shut. We’ve already loaded our bags into the SUV that we will take to the airfield that’s a half hour from here.
Soon, we’re on our way in the darkness, and I’m quietly grateful for the distraction that being on the move again provides my brain.
As we drive, I let my mind wander to what was supposed to be my wedding day. Bellamy looked stunning in her dress, and I realized then what a lucky man I am. It’s also been oddly nice having Owen around again. Perhaps we can pursue a friendship when this is all over. That he’s Bellamy’s ex might make things awkward at first, but if he’s willing, I might be able to overlook that.
When we arrive at the airfield, the jet is ready for us, with a pilot and one flight attendant waiting at the bottom of the stairs. They take our bags and wait for us to climb aboard.
As we’re settling into our seats, Owen’s cell phone rings. He puts it to his ear, and I pay attention to his end of the conversation.
“Tell him to find his own way home. You shouldn’t have bloody sent him to babysit me anyway.”
I frown and lean forward. “What is it?”
He holds up one finger, signaling for me to be patient.
“Either way, he didn’t need to be here,” Owen snaps at whoever is on the other end of the call.
Movement at the front of the plane catches my eye, and when I look, a man I don’t recognize is climbing onto the plane with a duffel bag over his shoulder.
“Thanks for the lift, Owen,” he says, dropping into the seat on the other side of the small aisle.
“Who the hell are you?” I demand.
But Bellamy leans around me and smiles. “Hi, Bryce, I didn’t know you were in town.”
Owen huffs and shoves the phone into his pocket. “I ought to throw you out when we reach cruising altitude.”
Interesting. Bellamy seems friendly with the stranger named Bryce, but Owen clearly isn’t a fan.
“I’ll ask again. Who the hell are you, and why are you here?”
Bryce grins. “I was in town on business, and Matteo said I could hitch a ride home with you. Name’s Bryce Cameron. You must be the other man in Bellamy’s life.”
He winks at her, and I want to punch him.
He’s lucky the door is already closing, or he would find his ass on the pavement.
“Matteo says you offered to check on me. That’s different from him sending you.”
