Chapter 41
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
Aspen Airport
An April Adventure
“Do you think they’ll send out a search party when they discover we’re gone?” joked Matthew. He looked furtively left and right as he and Rachel made their way hand in hand across the tarmac to the waiting private jet.
I’m so glad I decided to accept his invitation.
“Aspen airport will have its spies, but once we are in the air, there won’t be much they can do,” she replied.
“Just as long as they don’t have the number for Interpol. I dread to think what my parents would say if a team of international police descended on the island in the middle of a family wedding.”
She loved that he was in a fun mood. They’d made good progress on the new design for the site, and this weekend’s escape couldn’t have come at a better time. She’d told Kellie and Dan about the trip, and they had promised to keep it a secret from Dan’s parents .
Late yesterday they’d sent some initial CAD drawings and cost estimates to both the Brock family and the town planning committee for their comments. Matthew was especially keen to get feedback from the other interested parties.
Rachel doubted he would take too kindly to anyone attempting to pull apart the next model he presented at a public forum. And while he’d accepted her numerous apologies over the way she’d treated him that night, she still felt terrible about it.
This wedding trip was the perfect opportunity for Matthew and her to get some distance between them and the ski lodge. To do as he had suggested and let the change of scenery give their creative minds a chance to shift and flow.
As they neared the Royal Resorts jet, Rachel’s pulse quickened. This wasn’t her first trip on a private jet—she had friends with money enough to own their planes. But at the end of this flight she would be meeting Matthew’s family. She would be stepping into his world.
What if they don’t like me?
She was still apprehensive about making this trip, but with her hand in his and the promise of them sharing a bed in the Caribbean, her reasons for worry were slipping away.
A couple of nights in New York City, then on to Turks and Caicos. She was with the man she’d lost her heart to, and for the time being that was all that mattered.
I’ll deal with the future when it arrives. I just want to live for now. With him.
Within an hour of the Royal Resorts jet touching down in Teterboro, New Jersey, a private helicopter had delivered Rachel and Matthew to New York City. From the riverside helipad it was a short drive to the Manhattan skyscraper where Matthew and the other members of the Royal family lived.
“Mom and Dad have the family estate in upper state New York, but we all keep apartments here in the city to make it easier for work, and travel,” he explained.
Pressing the side of her head to the window of the town car, Rachel peered up at the tall building which also housed the offices of Royal Resorts. “I expect it’s a very short commute.”
How amazing would it be to live somewhere that afforded you the luxury of rolling out of bed mere minutes before you were due at your first meeting?
I’d be so tempted to arrive to work in my jammies and fluffy slippers
Matthew’s hand settled on her knee, sending a shiver down Rachel’s spine. She’d been jittery ever since they’d landed. He’d mentioned his family a few times, but the thought of actually meeting some of them had Rachel clasping her hands. Her thumb rubbing back and forth over the skin of her ring finger.
“We will be having dinner with Vivian and Bryce later this evening. Tomorrow morning, Vivian will be taking you shopping for wedding clothes.”
She had packed her best clothes just in case there were any changes in plans, but from the way that Matthew talked, it seemed he had everything well in hand.
The car turned off the busy New York street and into an underground parking garage. As soon as it had glided to a stop, the driver stepped out and came around to open the door. All those hours of deportment training came to the fore as Rachel slid her legs to the side and got out of the car in one elegant move. As she did, she caught the approving smile of Matthew who had climbed out and was waiting for her.
He took her by the hand. “Come on, let’s head upstairs and we can have a drink before we’re due to meet with the others.”
I’d kill for a quick nap. I’m not good with early starts.
But this was Matthew’s home town, and she wanted to do everything right today and all through the weekend. “A drink sounds great. Will we have time to shower and change before we go meet your brother and his fiancée?”
Rachel always felt icky after she’d been on a plane, even a fancy private one. Not that she would dare say that to Matthew.
He spun her into his arms, planting a toe-curling kiss on her lips. She was a modern career woman but loved it when he manhandled her like this. It sent tingles all through her body.
“Did I forget to mention we were going to have a bath together while we had that drink? Yes, Rachel sweetheart, we will have time. But first I want to show you my California king bed. It puts the one we have in Aspen to shame.”
He called me sweetheart. Insert happy sigh.
A sexually sated and blissful Rachel was a relaxed Rachel. Matthew caught the floaty dreamy expression on her face as they made their way to the elevator later that evening. It did wonders for his male ego knowing he’d put that look there. He wanted everything to be perfect for this weekend, and his thoughts started and ended with this woman.
Reaching the door of his brother’s apartment, he briefly let go of Rachel’s hand and pressed the buzzer, before taking her hand once more. The need for their bodies to be constantly touching just seemed right. He didn’t question it.
“Don’t be nervous, they don’t bite. Much.”
The door opened and Bryce stood on the threshold. He took one look at Matthew and gave an evil grin. “So the bears I sent to eat you failed in their mission. I knew I should have sent sharks with laser beams instead.”
Heat burned on Matthew’s cheeks.
Oh no, not a joke about bears. Fuck.
His brother was going to embarrass him in front of Rachel. He turned to her, an apology ready on his lips, but instead of his date for the wedding being horrified about the bear reference, she simply offered Bryce her hand. “We can all be grateful Doctor Evil’s terrible plans were thwarted. Hi, I’m Rachel Little, another Austin Powers fan.”
Bryce’s face lit up with delight. “Bryce Royal, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Rachel. Come in.”
He stepped back into the room and ushered his guests inside. Matthew shot his brother a silently mouthed ‘asshole’ as he followed Rachel through the door.
Vivian was at the dining room table setting out glasses. She took one look at Rachel and, abandoning her task, hurried over. “Rachel, hello! Welcome.”
Bryce pressed a glass of Shiraz into Matthew’s hand and leaned in close. “She seems fun. If you want my first thirty second impression of Rachel, I’d say your arch nemesis might be a keeper.”
As Vivian and Rachel disappeared on an impromptu tour of the apartment, Matthew finally allowed himself to relax. He sipped at his drink.
“I think you could be right.”
Rachel couldn’t remember the last time she’d laughed so much. The Royal brothers should be on the stage, their banter was so funny. Bryce might be the CEO of a large corporation, but he had a brilliant sense of humor. Over dinner she kept stealing glances at Matthew, and it was clear he worshipped his older brother.
The fair haired Vivian also made no secret of her complete adoration of her fiancé. The little touches and winks she and Bryce exchanged during the course of the evening were the sweetest thing.
“So, the two of you are getting married in a couple of days, you must be excited,” said Rachel.
The others at the table exchanged nervous glances before Matthew reached out and took hold of Rachel’s hand. “It’s another member of the extended Royal family who’s getting married on Sunday.” She waited for him to offer up some names, but he didn’t, and the topic of conversation quickly changed.
I wonder if … no. All the rumors are talking about that happening in July out in LA. This has to be someone else in the family.
Rachel was surprised to discover that Vivian didn’t come from the New York social set or old money. She’d been born and bred in Queens and had only met Bryce by chance at one of the company resorts in California. From the cute little stories which Vivian shared over dinner, their relationship had apparently got off to somewhat of a rocky start. Their journey to a happily ever after had involved Bryce crisscrossing the country in pursuit of Vivian, before finally securing her heart on a moonlit beach in Florida .
Now that’s a love story I’d pay to see if they made it into a rom-com movie.
It was only when she began to tell her own story of how she and Matthew had first met, that the serendipitous beginning of their romance finally hit home.
“Matthew literally saved my life. I was being dragged onto the road by a cart laden with heavy suitcases, and he rescued me.” She turned and gave Matthew an impromptu kiss. “He was the hero of the moment. If he hadn’t stepped in, I’m sure I would have died.”
Neither of them had said the L word, but in that moment as she sat smiling at him, Rachel’s heart whispered its longing.
Don’t leave it too long to tell him how you feel. Before it’s time for either of you to leave Aspen, he should know you love him.