Chapter 24 #2
I pull her toward me, rubbing my thumb over her cheek and pressing a short kiss to her lips. “I’m sorry. I love where your head’s at. I know you’ll figure out something amazing.”
Her smile brightens and I hate myself just a little bit less now. “You don’t have to apologize. This is all new. We’re both learning about each other as we go. It’s fine.”
“So we’re good?” I ask, searching her eyes.
She grins and snorts a cute little laugh. “Yes, we’re good. I love that you think you’re the first person that’s told me no.”
She stands up and rolls her neck. “Besides, this is workplace TJ and Grace, not romantic Tommy and Rainbow. They’re separate.”
“Good. So what’s next for the day?” It feels like the weight that was sitting on my chest is all but gone, seeing how she’s handling that better than I would have.
“Actually, I’m going to do some laundry to get ready for Seattle and take a shower before getting some brainstorming done.”
Chuckling, I stand and follow her toward the studio door. “It’s all yours. Meet for lunch though?”
She stands up on her toes, bringing her lips to mine. The kiss isn’t nearly long enough, but it erases that last little bit of unease in me.
“Sounds perfect.” She grabs her bag, tucking her laptop away, and practically bounces out of the room and down the hall.
I was right. She owns me and my heart.
She doesn’t even have to try. She owns me and that’s what terrifies me.
This is why I’m afraid of falling in love with anything, much less someone so vibrant like her, because what if I lose it again? What if I can’t keep her happy like she deserves?
“We’re late.” Grace’s voice has a hint of panic in it and I chuckle to myself, keeping my eyes focused on the snowy road. “We’re going to miss our flight.”
“I told you, it’s fine. They won’t leave without us,” I tell Grace, who’s rummaging through her bags in the passenger seat on our way to the private terminal at the Jackson airport. “Seriously, I could ask them to wait all day and they’ll still be ready for us to leave on ten minutes notice.”
She pulls out some kind of ID card and then a couple hair ties from her bag, tying off her long braids.
“You keep saying that, but I don’t believe you.
I’ve never flown on a private plane before.
Don’t they have other rich people to pick up in Seattle or someone that will be mad when they have to wait for their jet to get there?
I don’t want to get off the plane to have some pretty, perfectly styled blonde waiting on the tarmac with her Louis Vuitton bags, tapping her toes, and glaring at me because she had to wait on her jet. ”
My eyes flick over to her and I raise a brow. “You mean someone like Lizzy?”
She gives me a surprised look back, her eyebrows raised before she smirks. “I’m telling Lizzy you said that because she’d be flattered, but also yes.”
“Well, I guess that could happen, but this one only waits for me.”
She squints at me and I can see the wheels turning in her head. Her eyes widen when it finally clicks. “Wait. You’re not chartering this flight. This is your jet? Like a whole ass private jet?” She holds her flattened hand out in front of her and moves it around like an airplane.
“Yep. You got it,” I say, resting my hand on her thigh.
She grabs my hand and places it back on the steering wheel.
“Eyes on the road, please?” A shiver runs through me and I’m instantly focused back on the road again, remembering her history with car accidents and what she’s been through.
I see the sign ahead for the private terminal and make the turn, pulling into the small parking area next to the tarmac.
“We’re here.”
“What about security though? I don’t want your crew to be mad at me because we’re late.”
I laugh. “Not a problem. We can go right from the car to the jet.”
She sighs and I can hear the relief in her voice. “Oh, thank god. I’m a mess with metal detectors and body scanners.”
I lean across the console, running my hand up her side, cupping her breast, and kissing her waiting lips.
She presses my hand against her and I can feel her piercing press into my palm.
I’m glad she’s not a fan of bras because I’m obsessed with her tits.
That’s not a surprise though — I’m obsessed with everything about her.
She hums with amusement, pulling back from the kiss, tugging on my bottom lip. “The piercings aren’t really the issue. It's more so the plates and screws holding my leg and shoulder together. I’m always afraid I’ve forgotten my TSA Medical Device card.”
“Well you don’t have to worry about that today. Now, wait here.”
I hop out of the SUV and make my way around to the passenger door, opening it for her.
“Thanks, Boss,” she says, tossing me a wink before I grab her hand and help her out.
We head to open the hatch, only to find Stacy waiting for us with our bags already at her side.
“Good morning, Mr. Sorensen. The Captain and Co-Pilot are already on board and we’re all set to go on your word.” She tips her chin to me and then her eyes drift to Grace. “This must be your girlfriend. Miss Chapman, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
I choke on a breath and my grip on Grace’s hand tightens. Shit. I forgot that’s what I told Stacy the other day when I requested to have the plane ready.
I look over at Grace who wears that ever-present smile and I feel her thumb lightly rub the back of my hand.
She reaches out to shake Stacy’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you.
Tommy was just saying he has the friendliest crew.
” I barely even mentioned the crew to her, but leave it to Grace to make them feel special.
Stacy smiles before taking our bags to the plane. I didn’t miss the way she smirked at me though, probably because practically no one ever calls me Tommy in public.
Grace and I walk toward the plane and she whispers into my ear. “Who’s Mr. Sorensen? Are we stealing a plane?”
I grin at her smugly, somewhat impressed with myself it’s taken this long for her to figure this out.
“That’s my real name — Thomas Michael Sorensen.
Tommy Jacob was my stage name, it’s my name and Jake’s put together.
I still use it for business purposes because it felt fitting, but legally I still have my birth name. ”
“I like it,” she says, stopping when we reach the stairs.
I gesture for Grace to go up them first, but she just stands there, looking at the jet.
“What?” I ask, watching her eye the plane skeptically.
She points at the plane and looks at me. “So this just sits here and as soon as you call, boom the crew comes and gets it ready and has the door open and waiting for you?”
“Well, not literally here. Sometimes it’s in a hanger to keep it out of the snow. Otherwise, yep, that’s basically it.”
She hums to herself, scrunching her nose which brings my eyes to her freckled cheeks.
“I just pictured you having a cool key fob or something.” She raises her hand and makes a clicking motion.
“Meep, meep.” She smirks back at me. “Really, kind of takes away from the cool factor if you don’t even have a cool keychain for it. ”
“I’ll see if they make Gulfstream keychains. Maybe I can find us matching ones. Also, I’m sorry about the girlfriend thing. It kind of slipped out when Stacy called to confirm who would be in the cabin.”
She shrugs and beams back at me. “Don’t apologize. I like hearing that word come out of your mouth.”
I swallow at the overwhelming warmth crawling out of my heart and up my neck. “Girlfriend? I’ll call you whatever you want, Rainbow.”
She nods, smiling back at me. “I like both of those. Have you told anyone else though?”
“Nope.”
I can’t look away from her. From the way her braids come out from under her black beanie and hang over her shoulders to her rosy freckled cheeks.
Everything about her contrasts against the snow white background of the mountains in the distance.
Standing here, it dawns on me that she’s the first woman I’ve really let into this part of my private life.
Maybe I can do relationships if it means more moments like this with her. Maybe it’s worth the risk.
“Hey, kids,” a way too cheery voice calls from behind us, interrupting the moment.
We turn to see Sutton with his duffel bag slung over his shoulder, wearing his ever-present grin.
“Oh hey, Sutton! I didn’t realize you were coming with us,” Grace says.
He laughs, tilting his head toward me. “I’m not surprised your boss left that out.”
He steps toward her, leaning near her ear like he’s whispering, but clearly speaking loud enough for me to hear. “Here’s a little secret. He won’t admit it, but he loves me.”
She giggles and the sound goes right to my heart. Then she slaps him on the shoulder, smirking at him. “He’s pretty terrible about leaving things out. I just found out he had a jet this morning.”
He raises his eyebrows, presses his lips together, and nods in approval. “Yeah, that’s a pretty sizable omission.”
I glare at him. “Are you done yet? Because if you’re not, I’m more than happy to make you go to the main terminal and fly coach.”
He shrugs and grins back. “Where would the fun in that be?”
I press my thumb and forefinger to my temples, slowly rubbing them. “Why did I agree to this again?”
Sutton laughs to himself and steps past Grace, walking up the stairs and into the plane. She grabs my hand, presses a kiss to my cheek, and whispers in my ear. “You agreed because you care about your friends’ success and seeing them happy.”
I don’t even know how to respond to that because she’s so right. She gets me like no one else.