Chapter 15
CARI
“I'm so sleepy, Daddy,” Brooke mumbles, rubbing her eyes, her voice heavy with exhaustion.
I had to wake her to get her off the plane. She must have been in a deep sleep because rousing her was a challenge. It was only a short flight, but we had to wake up early this morning, and Jett said she went to bed late because she was so excited. Now, she’s clinging to Jett, her little body limp with fatigue.
“Come here, princess,” Jett murmurs, scooping her up effortlessly.
A few people swarm around us as soon as we step off the plane. One of them grabs Jett's laptop case and briefcase. Another offers to take my backpack, but I wave them off. It feels strange to have someone offer to carry my things. “Where are we going?” I whisper, glancing around. “Don’t we need to get our luggage?”
The thick, salty air of Bermuda hits me like a wall. It’s hot and humid, and I instantly feel sticky. Brooke’s face is flushed, her hair messy and damp from the flight. I must look just as bad—maybe worse—but I don’t care.
Jett, on the other hand, looks completely unbothered, like he didn’t just step off a flight. His sleeves are still rolled up in that casual, effortless way that drives me crazy. I glance around, half expecting to see the woman from the plane, but she’s nowhere in sight. Good.
“Pleasant flight?” Jett asks, leading me down the steps, a tall man in uniform ushering us forward.
I force a smile. “Great,” I lie. I lost my appetite and didn’t eat much, nor did I have any breakfast before we left. Now I’m exhausted, hungry, and completely out of my element. I’m just overtired and crabby, but I made a decision while watching Brooke sleep like an angel. I’m going to make the most of this trip. I’ve never been to Bermuda, and I’ll probably never go again. I looked it up online, and it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. I’m going to soak it all up and enjoy myself, just like my mom would have wanted me to do.
“Where’s your friend?” I blurt out before I can stop myself, the words slipping past my filter.
Jett glances at me, confused. “What friend?” he asks as we get into a sleek black SUV with tinted windows.
I feel stupid now. I’ve never asked him about his women before, but already I feel a change in my mood. Like Aunt Scarlett says, I’ve resigned and I’m leaving. While I most definitely won’t be taking her advice to go for it , I’m not going to be careful with my words around Jett. “The woman who sat next to you on the plane,” I say, trying to sound casual.
Jett raises an eyebrow but says nothing as the doors close behind us. I try not to squirm under his gaze. Brooke is still nestled against him, half asleep with her head resting on his shoulder.
“Shouldn’t we go to baggage claim?” I glance around, realizing we didn’t follow the rest of the passengers. “For our luggage?”
“Someone will handle it.” His tone is calm and assured, as if this is just how things are done in his world. “Trust me, it's taken care of.”
I blink. Is this what it’s like in first class? People just handle things for you?
“But ...” I am worried. I'm on an island with a man I barely know outside of the office—and I don't know anyone here. I feel safe with him, but ...
As if reading my thoughts, he reassures me. “The luggage will be brought to us within the hour.”
A driver opens the door for us, smiling at Jett like they’re old friends. “Good to see you again, Mr. Knight.” The driver and Jett exchange brief pleasantries.
I step into the car, still feeling out of place. This world of drivers and people whisking bags away is far removed from anything I know. I hesitate for a moment, feeling a knot form in my stomach.
“You okay?” Jett’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.
“Yeah,” I mumble, sliding into the seat next to Brooke. “I just ... I’m not used to this.”
His gaze softens for a moment. “Relax, Cari. Everything’s taken care of. You’ll get used to it with time.”
Brooke stirs, her little face scrunching up in frustration. “I wanna sleep,” she whines, clearly unhappy about being disturbed.
“Then sleep, princess,” Jett whispers, smoothing her hair back, and just like that, she’s out again. When her head lolls to the side he gently pushes it to the center so that she doesn't cramp her neck.
My heart clenches at the sight. This side of Jett—the gentle, caring father—is the one that gets to me every time. It’s the side I like. It’s the side that makes me feel something more than just attraction.
He catches me staring, and I quickly look away, embarrassed. He tilts his head, studying me. “What friend?” he asks again, and I wish I hadn't brought it up. I feel silly now that we're in the cool air conditioned car.
“The one who sat next to you.”
He scoffs, shaking his head, but doesn’t offer an explanation. That tells me everything I need to know. He got her number. He’ll probably hook up with her while we’re here. The thought makes my stomach twist. I remind myself that when I come back from this trip, I’ll have a week left at Knight Enterprises, and I won't have to see this man again. I won't have to be tortured. I won't be hurt. I won't have to sit there crying, dying inside, as my heart shatters into a million pieces watching him with his latest lover.
He looks at me. “Did you get any sleep on the flight?”
I can’t tell if he’s being nice or mocking me. “No. I didn’t realize it was such a short flight. I was reading.”
“Anything interesting?”
I hesitate. Do I tell him about the domestic thriller that I’m racing through? No. This is already too weird. The two of us, sitting here with Brooke asleep between us, driving to a mansion in Bermuda. It feels too intimate. Too much like something I’ve imagined in one of my daydreams.
“Nothing you’d like,” I finally say.
Amusement flickers in his eyes. “Try me.”
His voice sends a shiver down my spine. Oh, dear God. We never used to have these kinds of conversations back in the office, not even when he’d ask after my mom while she was really sick. Unless I count the day she passed. That day was different.
But before I can answer, the SUV comes to a stop. Brooke stirs again, still groggy. Jett picks her up effortlessly, and we step out into the warm Bermuda air.
A group of staff greets us, smiling warmly at Jett and marveling at how big Brooke has gotten. They talk to him like they’ve known him for years, and I stand off to the side, feeling like an outsider.
I glance at the mansion in front of us. It’s massive, like something out of a celebrity magazine. But it’s not the size that has me in awe. It’s where its situated. The home is nestled near the coast, overlooking the turquoise waters of the ocean where pristine white sands turn the scene before me into something that could be a postcard. This is a multi-story mansion, and its coral-hued limestone walls glow softly under the bright midday sunlight. The roof, painted white, gleams against the vivid blue sky.
A circular driveway leads up to a grand entrance, where towering mahogany doors are flanked by bright pink flowers spilling down the walls.
As we walk closer, I see a white limestone plaque mounted on one wall with the name Aurora elegantly carved and painted in a soft gold.
I take a deep breath, feeling more out of place than ever. Jett introduces me as Brooke's nanny, and doesn't say anything about me being his PA. I guess it's not relevant, especially since I’ll be leaving the firm soon after we return.
We step inside and my breath steals from my lungs. The inside is as spectacular as its exterior.
I look around at the polished marble floors and the sparkling crystal chandelier that casts shimmering light across the room. My gaze takes in the sweeping staircase with wrought iron railings leading to the upper levels. The walls are adorned with elegant, understated art. Pictures of flowers, the sea, houses.
“I’ll show you to your room,” Jett says, cutting through my thoughts.
“I can do that, Mr. Knight,” one of the housekeepers offers, but Jett shakes his head.
“I’ll do it.”
I follow him, feeling like I’ve stepped into a dream. The house is beautiful, grand, and so different from my apartment back home.
Brooke’s room is huge, with an adjoining door that leads to what I presume is my room.
Jett lays Brooke gently on the bed, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “She’s exhausted,” I whisper, not wanting to disturb the moment.
“Completely,” he agrees, but his phone rings before he can say more. He holds up a finger, excusing himself as he steps out to take the call.
I’m left standing in the massive room, looking out at the view.
I groan inwardly. I'm going to be sleeping here and waking up here. I'm going to be surrounded by Jett twenty-four seven for what now seems like such a long time. Once, this would have been the stuff of my dreams, feeling like I’ve been dropped into some billionaire’s fairytale.
But it’s not a fairytale. It’s real, and Jett Knight? He’s going to be everywhere.