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I turned to Kimberly. "Good, then you and I will fly out."
She nodded, licking her lips. Did I imagine it, or was she fidgeting in her seat? Did she fantasize about the same things I did?
"My assistant will make hotel reservations. Maybe something close to the property we want to see. Although, we’ll be lucky to find anything at all. This close to Valentine's Day, everything's bound to be booked,” Kimberly said.
“See, that's a good thing, I believe," I replied.
"Everything is booked out for Valentine's Day," Travis said.
"Yes, and Aspen takes the cake, usually. I have some numbers to show you. I've already instructed an assistant to put them into a presentation."
“We like to give you shit, man, but you're very efficient," he countered.
"Thanks.”
“Reminds me of my time in the software industry—all the charts and numbers, that is. I prefer hotels." Travis clapped his hands together. "Okay, shop talk is over. It’s settled. Let's get to our pizza with pineapple," he said in a sarcastic voice. "And chitchat."
"Yeah, just please, not about the pineapple," Reese replied, voicing my thoughts. "I don't think I can handle that anymore."
Travis chuckled. "Yeah, the three of us still have to decide what we'll buy Dad for his birthday."
"Oh, right. I have a list," Kimberly added.
She'd made a list? Fuck, the woman was cute.
"I can double-check with Lena. But I think the boat is the best idea," Kimberly went on.
"He's always wanted a boat," Travis said. "You're a genius."
"I know. He always sends us pictures when he gets on a boat," Reese added, looking at Kimberly’s list. "Why don't we ask the opinion of a third party? Drake, so far, we have a boat and a watch—kind of boring, if you ask me."
"Hey, you're not supposed to giveyouropinion. How else are we going to get an objective one from him?" Kimberly asked her.
"My bad," Reese replied. "Let’s move on. There are also several options for trips. They're big on traveling. One is a cruise, and one is a flexible, open-ended ticket to fly around the world. What do you think?"
"I don't know anything about your father," I said.
“He's Travis’s dad. Our uncle," Kimberly corrected me.
I’d gotten my wires mixed up. Had they told me they were cousins and I forgot? It was possible. She'd gone to all this trouble of researching everything for her uncle? This woman intrigued me more with every piece of information I found out about her. I wanted to peel back every layer and learn everything I could.
"You all commented on the boat, which sounds like a winner. Besides, planning trips is personal, even for people who like to travel. They know what they like and what they don't. Even with an open-ended ticket, there are usually limitations.”
"You make a convincing case. I think the boat wins." Kimberly glanced at me and then folded the piece of paper, putting it back in her bag. "I think we should call Drake more often when we can't decide on something, and have him play referee." She gave me a mischievous smile, assuming correctly that it sounded like hell to me.
"Kimberly, you’re intent on running this guy off, aren't you?" Travis asked.
I shook my head. "Don't worry, Travis. I'm not going anywhere."
After I finished my pizza, I closed the box and said, "It was good catching up with all of you. I'm going back to my office."
"I'll ask my assistant to email us with our travel details," Kimberly said.
“Thanks. Looking forward to the trip.” I looked straight at her when I said it. She shifted in her chair There was no mistaking it—she felt the tension between us too.
***
Ihad to give it toKimberly. She moved fast. Her assistant emailed us only twenty minutes later with reservations. They were in different hotels, which worked perfectly for me. She prefaced the email with a note of apology.
