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“Why don’t you leave that to me? I’ll find us somewhere nice. Just the two of us. For a week.” I get all hot and bothered at the thought. “So, thirty percent eh?”
“Mm. Thirty percent.”
“There’s a good chance you could have a small bump by Christmas.”
Her eyes widen, and then she gives me the most beautiful smile. “I suppose.”
“I’ll do my best,” I tell her.
“I’m sure you will.”
Our gazes lock again, and heat rushes through me at the thought that it’s only going to be a couple of days until I have her in my bed. Until I can do all the things I’ve been dreaming of doing to her and with her since we met.
I gloss over the fact that it’s supposed to be temporary. One step at a time. It might take her longer than a few months to get pregnant. We’d just have to keep on trying, wouldn’t we?
“Leave it all with me,” I tell her. “I’ll talk to Noah and make sure he’s okay with you taking time off, and then I’ll get everything booked.”
“Okay,” she says softly, “I’d better get back to work.”
“Have a great day.”
“You too.” She drops her gaze and walks away, twisting her hair into a spiral over her shoulder as the wind tries to fly it like a kite.
I watch her for a minute or two, then turn and go into my office. I sit in my chair for a long while, looking out of the window. Then I decide it’s pointless to mull over it, and it makes more sense to get everything done.
First things first. I pick up the phone and dial Noah’s mobile.
He answers within a couple of rings. “Noah King.”
“Noah, it’s Fitz.”
“Hey, Fitz. How’re you doing?”
“Yeah, good thanks. I have something to run by you. Would you mind if Poppy took next week off?”
“Poppy?”
“She’s not had a vacation all year, and I thought she could do with a break.”
“She doesn’t have to ask me, Fitz. She’s her own boss.”
“Yeah, but we like to run things past you, make sure you don’t have any brilliant schemes planned or anything.”
He laughs. “No, I don’t.”
“In that case… I was thinking of taking her with me to Hawke’s Bay.”
“Oh…” He chuckles. “I see.”
“Don’t start.”
“I have to admit, Abby told me a little about what she and Poppy were discussing.”
“Jesus.” I roll my eyes. “Nothing’s private in this place.”
“Damn straight. Can’t help if I don’t know about it.”
“I don’t need any help, thanks.”
“Yeah, that’s what I said, and look what happened to me.”
That makes me laugh. Last month, his friends and family engineered a night together for him and Abby. He complained, but it was clear to all of us they both needed a gentle push.
“So… she wants a baby, hmm?” Noah says.
“Uh, yeah. I’m flattered she asked me. She won’t go out with me, so I told her I’d help her out if we got to… you know, spend some time together.”
“Very astute.” I can tell he’s smiling. “I hope it works out for you.”
“Anyway… just wanted to check it was okay for Poppy to take time off and go with me. I’ll pay for her flight, obviously.” Shit—I’d forgotten about that, but I can’t ask the Ark to fund our fling.
“Pay? Aren’t you taking the Yonder Star?” He’s referring to the plane that belongs to the King family, a reference to Brock, Charlie, and Matt King’s business, the Three Wise Men.
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I’m not a King, Noah. The rest of us minions fly economy class.”
“Jesus,” he says, “I’m not a real King, if you’re going to be pedantic about it. I’m not blood-related to Matt, remember?”
“I had forgotten, but that’s hardly the point.”
“It’s completely the point. You’re as much a part of the family as I am. Take the plane—let the girl travel in style.”
