Chapter 16
CHAPTER 16
HAYES
T he sound of the deadbolt turning reached me before I had a chance to knock. Dixie flung open her apartment door, her face lit with excitement. She hauled a massive suitcase into the hall, huffing as she wrestled with its weight. I stepped forward, my hands immediately reaching for it.
“Here, let me,” I said, taking the handle from her.
The weight shocked the hell out of me. I couldn’t believe she managed to move the thing at all. It had to weigh eighty pounds. A hundred.
“What did you pack in here?” I asked, cocking an eyebrow. “A friend?”
She laughed. “I’ve never been on a tropical vacation like this before. I wanted to make sure I’m prepared.”
She locked her door and began listing off items she’d packed: swimsuits, dresses, flip-flops, sunscreen, bug spray, extra sunglasses, backup sunscreen, and even a portable fan.
I listened, trying to keep a straight face. “Dixie, you do realize who you’re traveling with, right?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked.
“I’m a Bancroft,” I said, gesturing to myself. “If you forget something, I can get it for you. No need to pack for every possible scenario. Besides, I want to buy you some bikinis. Tiny ones. Maybe a few strings here and there.”
She laughed. “You’ve already done enough. This trip alone is more than I ever could’ve imagined.”
I didn’t argue. Instead, I carried her suitcase down to the curb where my driver, Will, was waiting with the car.
“Will, pop the trunk, please.”
“Good morning,” Will said with a polite smile.
“Good morning,” Dixie replied. “The best morning.”
She climbed into the car while I nearly twisted my balls trying to lift the suitcase into the trunk. I slid in beside her and glanced over at her. She looked both nervous and excited. And gorgeous. She was wearing a pretty sundress with bare shoulders, though she held a white sweater in her lap. Her hair was left loose and hanging around those sexy shoulders that had me thinking about taking her somewhere alone and private for a few minutes before we had to meet my family.
She fidgeted with the hem of her dress, her eyes darting around as if trying to absorb everything at once.
“You good?” I asked.
“I think so. Feeling like I swallowed a hundred bees is normal, right?”
I chuckled and reached over to squeeze her hand gently. “Absolutely normal. But I promise, my family is going to love you.”
She gave a shaky smile and glanced out the window as we merged into traffic. “I hope you’re right,” she murmured. “This could end up being a really awkward trip if they don’t like me. And I’ll be on an island. A small island. Not exactly a lot of places to run.”
“If you run, we’ll run together,” I said confidently, though a part of me was anxious too. Introducing Dixie to my family was no small matter. The Bancrofts had their quirks and traditions, and they weren’t always the most welcoming to newcomers who didn’t fit in. But Dixie wasn’t just any newcomer. She was special.
When Will passed the exit for the airport, she looked at me. “Where are we going?”
“I told you we’re in the family jet. We’re going to the Bancroft hangar.”
“Bancroft hangar?” she asked, her head tilting. “You have your own hangar?”
“We have a few jets and a helicopter. It makes sense to have a hangar.”
“Oh, of course,” she said sarcastically. “I’m surprised you don’t have an airport.”
“Not yet,” I said with a wink.
“Is the entire family going to be here?” she asked.
“I don’t have an exact head count, but there will be a large majority,” I said. “My dad and Kathy will be flying with us. My brother Isaac will also be on board. He’s… an acquired taste, but you’ll like him. Unfortunately, that means we won’t have the plane to ourselves.”
“I don’t mind,” she said, smiling.
“I do,” I grumbled, sliding my hand to her thigh.
She giggled, leaning closer. “As long as we don’t have to share a bedroom with anyone, I’m sure we’ll get some alone time.”
Her teasing tone sent a jolt of heat through me. I slid my hand higher, reveling in the way she shuddered under my touch.
“Believe me, I intend to,” I murmured.
“Tell me more about the family,” she said. “I know I’ll never remember every name and face, but a few might help me feel grounded.”
“Why don’t I start in birth order,” I said. “It’s pretty much the only way I can keep my cousins straight.”
“Kathy’s sons.” She nodded.
“Yes. So, there is Grayson. Now he looks like a total asshole, and for the longest time, he was. He’s not so bad now. His dad, my uncle, was a real piece of work. Grayson assumed he was going to inherit the family company, but my uncle set it up that he could only inherit if he got married and had a kid. To add a twist of the knife, Jack, his younger brother and second son, would get the company.”
“Wow.”
“Yeah, there were some hard feelings. Luckily, Hannah, Grayson’s wife, forgave his asshole behavior and they’re happily married with a few kids.”
“That worked out well for Grayson then.”
“Yes. And Jack went and hooked up with the daughter of his father’s sworn enemy. Natasha. She’s awesome. I think you’ll like her.”
She nodded. “I’m already overwhelmed.”
I laughed. “And we’re only two in. Then there’s Mason. Trust me when I say you won’t miss him. He’s the biker dude. Not so much biker these days since marrying Addy, or Adelaide. He was always the black sheep, and I never really got to know him when we were younger. He doesn’t come around a lot.”
She nodded and I continued, knowing there was likely no chance she was going to remember any of it. “Colt runs the charity foundation. He’s married to Maisie. Then there is Channing who is married to Madelaine. They live in Bali half the year. They have a couple kids as well. I’m not sure he’ll be making the trip. I mean, he already lives in a tropical paradise.”
“Must be nice,” she said with a smile.
“Last but not least, I can guarantee the baby, James, will be there with Rory. Rory took care of Kathy for a while. James also looked out for his mom until my dad came along. Kathy had some health issues but she’s back on her feet now.”
“So, those are Kathy’s sons,” she said.
“Yes and I imagine they will be there. Thomas, Oliver, and Jenson I’m thinking won’t be there. They are three of my uncle’s sons with a woman he had a long affair with. While they are welcomed in the family, it’s still a little awkward.”
“I can only imagine,” she said with a shake of her head. “She sounds like a very forgiving woman,” Dixie said.
I couldn’t help but smile. “She is. She was way too good for my uncle. She’s the matriarch of both our families now. She’s like the grandma of all grandmas. I’m glad she’s around. She makes my dad happy.”
“I look forward to meeting her,” she said.
“You’ll like her. And I know she’ll like you. She loves to take people under her wing, even her late husband’s illegitimate children.”
Before I could stop myself, I reached for the control panel and rolled up the partition between us and Will. The moment the barrier was in place, I pulled her closer, capturing her lips in a kiss that was anything but polite.
She melted into me, her hands clawing at my shirt. Her mouth opened to give me total access, and her breath hitched as the intensity between us grew. The only sounds in the back of the car were our mingled breaths and quiet moans.
“Wait,” she murmured against my lips, pulling back just enough to catch her breath but not quite letting go. “We’re on our way to meet your family,” she whispered, a playful yet cautionary note in her tone. “I can’t show up looking ravished.”
I pressed my forehead against hers, smiling wryly. “I should just buy my own plane,” I joked, trying to lighten the mood.
She chuckled and adjusted herself back into her seat, a slight flush still evident on her cheeks. Her lips were swollen, and her hair was a bit of a mess.
I brushed my thumb across her lower lip, fixing her gloss before stepping out of the car and helping her out.
The Bancroft hangar was its usual bustling self, with staff moving purposefully and our private jet gleaming under the fluorescent lights. Dixie’s jaw dropped as she took it all in.
“This is insane,” she whispered.
I grinned. “Welcome to my world.”
Before I could revel in her awe, my father and Kathy appeared, walking toward us hand in hand.
“Dad, Kathy,” I greeted, keeping my tone neutral.
“Hayes,” Dad said with a nod. “And this must be Dixie. We’ve heard so much about you.”
Kathy offered a warm smile. “It’s so nice to finally meet you.”
Dixie returned their smiles, her voice steady despite the obvious nerves. “It’s nice to meet you all too.”
We chatted briefly before Isaac came barreling in, looking like he’d been in a bar brawl. His hair was a mess, his tie askew, and he wore a grin that screamed trouble.
“Isaac,” Kathy said, her tone laced with concern. “What happened to you?”
Isaac waved her off. “A night to remember.”
I rolled my eyes. He smoothed his hair and adjusted his jacket. His gaze landed on Dixie, and his grin widened.
He extended a hand. “I’m Isaac Bancroft, the only brother in this family who isn’t a total ass. Nice to meet you.”
Dixie laughed, shaking his hand. “Good to meet you.”
Isaac’s charm worked its magic, and within minutes, he had her at ease, cracking harmless jokes as we boarded the jet.
“Wow,” she whispered. “This is incredible.”
“Have a seat,” I said. “Plenty of leg room and no one is going to steal your armrest.”
“This is like, I don’t know, Air Force One,” she said with a laugh.
“Not quite as big but close.” I laughed. “This is the one we use for long distances. We have a couple smaller ones as well.”
Once we were in the air, Isaac popped the first bottle of champagne and filled everyone’s glasses.
“To new beginnings,” he said, raising his glass.
I clinked mine against Dixie’s, watching her smile. I was about to suggest we slip away to one of the private state rooms when Kathy called Dixie over to join her. Dixie shot me an apologetic look before moving to Kathy’s side.
Isaac wasted no time sliding into her vacant seat, nudging me hard in the ribs.
“For all the times you’ve talked about her, you never mentioned she was so damn fine,” he said, grinning.
“Watch it,” I warned, though there was no real heat behind my words.
Isaac chuckled, leaning back in his seat. “Oh, brother, you’ve got it bad.”
I hid my smile behind my glass. My eyes followed Dixie as she laughed at something Kathy said.
“Tell me something I don’t know.”