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“My mom has no influence over my personal life. Put that out of your mind. Let me take care of you, baby. What do you say?”
All I wanted was to be with him.
“Okay.” I grinned. “Let’s go.”
We were flying in Paul’s plane over the Atlantic, away from New York City. I still couldn’t get over the smoothness with which Paul navigated his world. He left a tuxedo dinner at Gracie Mansion with New York City’s most powerful and was now kissing my toes playfully as he tied the straps on my sandals. He made me laugh, which was his goal, and for the first time in two weeks, I wasn’t trying to soldier through the animosity and pressure of my finals. He let me lean on him.
Our eyes connected, and the air crackled between us. To my surprise, Paul didn’t look away from me as I had expected. My head and heart leaned closer and rested on his chest. He kissed the top of my head. “How are you feeling?”
“Better already.”
“Good. We’re changing to the helicopter when we land. You’ll not want to miss the view.”
I flattened the lapels of his white Mélange Jersey suit. I’d gone nuts over the tiered ruffle dress Tricia picked for me. I had clothes for every occasion and every weather scenario.And I don’t have to pack bags.His lifestyle was well beyond my comprehension. He’d given me a life out of a fairytale, and while I appreciated and enjoyed every minute, it was overwhelming. I had to find some ways to hold back from its seduction and remember that it’s all his, not mine. The truth remained that I only wanted the man, not his luxuries.
There was nothing but ocean for miles, and the sun sat above the horizon and warmed the breeze as we landed and headed to the helicopter. The sun shone like a mirror, painting the sea-blue water orange and red. Staring at it filled me with magic and wonder. Something else had changed. Paul left his bodyguards at home. It was just the two of us traveling in the helicopter to Lily and Jonas’s place.
Paul helped me into the seat and was about to put the noise cancellation headphones over my ears when I stopped him. “Are you sure it’s okay?”
His smile was mischievous. “We’re already here. Too late now.”
“Stop joking, Paul. I’m serious.”
“Dad is on permanent vacation, so this is the only way to see him. Mom 2, my nickname for Lily, loves everyone.” He smiled and lowered his head. “She’s very special.”Special to him.
It was sweet to see how he loved his stepmom. However, the last time we saw each other, he was upset Lily had brought Aubrey’s sister Faith to the Juilliard memorial.But I’m fighting with my mom, and I love her like crazy. It’s normal family stuff.
I squeezed his hand, and he gave me a quick kiss, then put the headphones on.
The scenic white sands and turquoise-blue water enchanted us as we flew toward a flat strip of land above a rock bed. Or so I thought, until the house carved out of the rock cliff appeared.Spectacular.
We landed on a small helipad that was made of plants and large rocks. A curved stone stairwell at the corner led down to a row of plants and a large stone door. Inside was the living room that had a panoramic view of the ocean. There, Jonas lay stretched out on a lounge chair with a book on his lap. He looked up as we walked in. The door closed and the sound of the wind and water disappeared. That was when I realized the room was soundproof. Jonas climbed to his feet.
“Did we interrupt your nap, old man?” Paul joked, but honestly, Jonas looked younger than the last time I saw him. He looked just like Paul, but with a bit of gray at his temples. Paul touched the hair brushing his collar. “Long hair?”
Jonas shrugged. “Lily likes it.”
A pretty woman in a sundress came rushing into the room. Dark curly hair flew around her as she outstretched her arms. “Paul,” she greeted pleasantly.
“Did you forget how to fly, Tiger Lily?” He gave Lily a bear hug, picking her up and spinning her around while she laughed. Then he set her down and kissed both her cheeks.
“I didn’t forget because I have my happiest thoughts.” She looked at Jonas, and his eyes glowed.
I looked at Paul, and he grinned at me. He told me once that the story of Peter Pan had a big influence on the life Lily shared with her late parents.
“Nadia.” Lily came to me with a warm smile and hug. “So nice to see you again. Are you tired? Hungry?”
“Both,” Paul said. “But we want to see J.D.”
“She’s back to Darling now,” Jonas said, and he and Lily rolled their eyes, laughing.
“Her new crush likes to call herDarling.” Lily waggled her brows.
Jonas’s brows knitted. “What crush?”
Lily waved her hands dismissively. “She’s fifteen.”
“Dad, she’s probablykissingthat crush,” Paul told Jonas, adding a log to the over-protective-dad fire.
