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“Th-thank you,” Chalisa managed. She hurried to sit by Jenn, collapsing into the seat and somehow fumbling to secure her seatbelt as the jet’s engines fired.
Jenn turned to her with wide, sparkling eyes. “Girl! That was the hottest man I have ever seen in my life. I think he’s hotter than General Kingston or Prince Darian. You were kissing him! Did you fall for him? What in the world happened? That was all so cloak and dagger. Are we really in danger? How on earth did the fabulous Aiden Porter find you, and when are you seeing him again?”
Chalisa looked at her friend, and then she glanced past Jenn and out the window. Aiden stood outside the jet. It was dark outside, but the lights from the airport highlighted him and the plane’s interior lights dimmed at that moment. Aiden was right there, and he was staring in. At her. He raised a hand, his gaze conflicted, his mouth not smiling.
Leaving her had hurt him, too.
But not as deeply as it would her.
He’d focus on his busy protecting-and-dating-beautiful-women-and-saving-the-world life. She’d go back to work, building her charity, and loneliness. Being alone would hurt even worse after that brief glimpse of how incredible being with Aiden could’ve been.
The plane started to taxi away.
Aiden turned and walked away. As if he couldn’t handle watching her go.
Chalisa looked back at Jenn and did something she hadn’t done since her dad’s funeral. She burst into tears.
Chapter
One
Three months later
Chalisa arrived in Valencia, Spain on a commercial flight early Monday morning. She was exhausted, hadn’t slept on any of the legs of her travel, and reminded herself she was only doing this for her charity and the chance to help more people through a nerve-wracking reality television show challenge.
Julie Pandoran, Mercedes Belle’s assistant, greeted her as she exited the plane. Julie was a beautiful blonde and very kind. She took her to a lounge area where Chalisa was fed, showered, dressed in a fitted pale blue T-shirt and gray running pants, hair and makeup done prettier than she’d ever attempted.
She did shower and dress by herself, but she felt like a model being gussied up for this television show. Julie had explained that with last week’s show, the female participant had to travel a long distance as well and Mercedes wished she’d had Julie help that lady feel put-together for the first filming and meeting of her ‘military hero’.
Chalisa appreciated the help. It was unnerving enough to think about everything she said and every move she made being recorded and that she would face unknown tasks. Let alone being paired with a former military special ops captain for the week. But it would be worth it to earn a million dollars for her charity.
If only Aiden …
No way could she let herself go there and cry off all her makeup. She’d cried plenty over him the past three months.
“You ready to go?” Julie asked.
“The shower helped me feel partially human again, but a nap wouldn’t be out of order.”
“Sorry. On a schedule.”
“I’m teasing. I’ll be fine.”
Julie gave her a side hug. “You’ll be amazing. Your show is going to be fabulous, and think of all the good you’ll do with the money.”
“Thank you.”
Julie directed her out of the lounge, down some hallways, and back onto the tarmac. She squeezed Chalisa’s hand. “Good luck.”
“Thank you. For everything.” She wouldn’t have this opportunity of earning a million dollars for Nursing Kindness without Julie researching and finding her.
“Of course. There’s your final travel leg.” Julie smiled and pointed to a private plane with none other than the Magna royal pilot, Treck Wilder, waiting with his wide grin. Would Chalisa be on Magna and with her family soon? Nowhere in the lead-up to this week had anyone mentioned that it would take place near Magna.
“Treck?” Chalisa clutched her purse and hurried to meet him. “Thanks, Julie.” She waved back at the lady and Julie returned the wave, obviously proud of what she’d coordinated.
Treck gave her a quick hug and then gestured to the open door of the small jet. “Load up. Layla is ready to cruise home.”
“Layla?” His wife’s name was Haven.
