Chapter 46
Rosie
“Welcome to Mr. Coulter’s aeroplane, Miss Denham,” a man in stiff trousers and a fitted shirt says as we exit the car.
I turn and squeal at Niki, who beams back. His one cheek dimple is extra deep this afternoon.
Niki takes my bag from the car before passing the keys to another person. He has someone to park his car! My stomach bubbles, and I will myself not to make an arse of myself.
“I’m Michael. If you need anything, please ask.”
“Anything?” I sing, imagining crisp sandwiches and a personalised cocktail.
He nods before looking over my shoulder. “Mr. Coulter, we’ve cleaned the plane for your arrival. It should meet your specifications.”
“Thank you, Michael.”
I stare at the plane. “I forget how rich you are sometimes. You’re the guy who made me breakfast this morning, dresses in team joggers, and hangs out with me. But you’re a millionaire.”
He takes my hand. “You know it’s not hanging out. You’re meant to be working.”
I thread my fingers with his. “Speaking of which, your trainer wants you only to eat vegetables and chicken for the next week. He said I need to keep an eye on you because you’re not losing your bulk quick enough.”
“Okay.” Niki leads me up the steps to the aeroplane.
“I didn’t tell him I liked your bulk, but I do.”
Niki winks at me. “Are you giddy because you’re travelling on a private jet for the first time?”
“Maybe,” I say, drawing the word out. But it’s not just that. It’s Niki. Being around him and knowing he does whatever he can to care for me sends my heart rate skyrocketing.
This isn’t my life, but I’m filling my Niki cup for a few days.
I gasp as I reach the interior of the plane. The seats are like leather television chairs, and I rush to sit in one.
“It’s like heaven.”
Michael smiles as he offers me a glass of champagne. I raise my eyebrows at Niki, as I’d like my boss’s consent before I drink during a work trip. He nods in that authoritative way that makes me needy.
“I’ll give Rosie a tour as you prepare for flight,” Niki says as I sip my champagne and try to hide my giggles from how the bubbles tickle my throat.
Niki holds out his hand, and I grab it tightly to keep myself from turning in circles.
He leads me past a table and a sofa. “We won’t have a full meal today, as it’s not a long trip, but I usually have something on long hauls. You can have a snack if you want.”
“What do rich people eat on their private jets? Is it all caviar and lobster?”
Niki smirks. “Yes, that’s all I’ve ever eaten. The first thing I requested at birth was a glass of champers.”
“Whatever.” I elbow him. “So if I asked for a Monster Munch sandwich, would they know what I meant?”
He wraps his hand around my shoulder, and the heat of his palm makes me roll my hips. “If you want a crisp sandwich or cupcake, all you have to do is ask. When you agreed to come to Monaco, I called ahead and asked them to stock your favourites.”
He’s too good to me, and I don’t know what to do with that, because rewarding him with kisses isn’t allowed.
As we reach the back of his plane, I let go of him and jump up and down.
“Oh my god. Your plane has a bed. Are you kidding me? You were such a player. How many women have enjoyed the Niki Coulter mile high experience?”
He shifts between his feet. “In here, none, because I bought this plane four months ago, but before that, in my old plane…You don’t really want to know, do you?”
I offer a half smile and shake my head. “No.”
But it’s not because I don’t want to hear about his past. It’s because he wants to return to who he used to be. That means he’ll bring women to this plane, his house, and his car.
He blinks a couple of times at me.
“We’re departing in a couple of minutes,” Michael says, appearing.
Niki leads me to the chairs, but it’s like he’s emotionally walking away. He’s walking to his future, which involves me as his assistant and nothing else.
With the plane safely in the air, we reconvene on the sofas.
“How’s Tabi?” he asks as he watches a recording of qualifying on his laptop in preparation for tomorrow’s race.
“She’s having lots of fun. They’re at the zoo today, and she loves the zoo. I called this morning once I stopped sounding like a cross between a goat and a troll.”
“You were drunk as hell when I picked you up.” His eyes twinkle. “You told a man I’d be livid because he touched my wife.”
I squeeze my eyes tightly closed. “Sorry about that.”
“I liked it. I’ve not thrown a drunk woman over my shoulder in a long time.”
I open one eye, and he chuckles.
“I haven’t been over someone’s shoulder in a long time.”
“Pretty knickers, by the way,” he teases.
“You looked away! I think. It’s all a bit woolly. Tell me you looked away.”
“I did, but I caught a glance by accident.”
I roll my eyes.
“Niki, thank you for caring for me. I don’t know what I would’ve done if you hadn’t collected me.”
“Rescued you. Your words. Is it okay if I hold you? I’m craving a human touch today.”
I nod, and he lifts his chest and opens his arm. I tuck in beside him. I don’t know if it’s what happened over the last twenty-four hours or what’s bubbled away for months, but I don’t care how this isn’t standard boss and assistant behaviour. I want him close.
“I’ll always be there for you, Rosie,” he murmurs against my hair. “All you have to do is ask.”
I suck in a breath. It’s like he’s giving me the boyfriend experience without being my boyfriend. I rest against his chest. His heartbeat is steady, the comfort I need. I wrap an arm around him. He’s tactile with me but not with anyone else. That has to mean something.
“Do other people hire this?” I ask, wriggling against the plush sofas. They’re so soft.
“Sometimes, but I always get it deep cleaned before I fly. You never know who’s been here or what they’ve done.”
Cars whizz around a track on screen. The speed is hypnotic.
“I think your health anxiety is improving,” I reply.
“It’s like I’m returning to old Niki.”
I tense. I want him to feel better, even though it means losing him. My gut is like a wrung out washcloth. Each time something good happens, it’s wrung tighter until my stomach is just knots. “How are you feeling about dinner tonight?”
His hand against me tightens. “Anxious. The restaurant is attached to the hotel, so I’ve been there before, but I’ll be on edge because I can’t control the situation like I need to.
Thank you for calling ahead and sorting out my needs.
I’d be more anxious if not for that.” He rewinds a few seconds as a Coulter car retakes a corner.
“I hate that my parents will pick up on my anxiety.”
“They still don’t know?”
His words rumble against my body. “No. I need to tell them, but my dad doesn’t understand mental health issues, and it was his heart attack that added to the panic. I don’t get to own his experience.”
“But you get to be affected by it.”
He twirls tendrils of my ponytail around his fingers. “I guess. Tonight, you can have room service, or I can arrange for a tour guide to accompany you around the city.”
I lean back to look at him, brushing his chest. His muscles ripple beneath my fingers. “I wasn’t sure if you wanted me at dinner. But I’d understand if you’d rather I didn’t spend time with your family.”
I refuse to break eye contact as he gazes at me. His lips are inches from mine.
“It’s not fair for you to be around my dad, especially with how he can be, but if you want to, I’d love to have you there.”
I stare at his flushed cheeks and earnest eyes. He’s so damn beautiful.
“I’d love to be there. I’ll help you with your anxiety, too.”
He tucks my hair behind my ear. “You’re like my safety blanket. I don’t deserve you.”
I settle against his chest. “No, you don’t, but you can keep me for a little longer.”
As Niki returns to watch qualifying, I contemplate how much longer I can stop myself from falling harder.