Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Kir
I’d never been happier as we left the Sunday-morning brunch and headed out in the limo with Avril’s friends and my brothers. Holding my tongue was hard. I needed to confess how Avril had my heart, but all morning, we’d been busy with the wedding.
As we reached the airport, I waved goodbye, and she hugged everyone but stayed close. As she walked next to me, she asked, “Why aren’t we riding in the plane with the others?”
I let her walk up the stairs of the airplane first. “I thought you’d want to go to New Jersey to see your sister.”
She stepped inside. “This is all so extravagant.”
I kissed her cheek. “Let me spoil you.”
She settled into a leather couch. “I don’t want you to ever think I’m using you.”
I took a deep breath and joined her. Now was the time. I hoped we would drop all pretense and be happy. I met her gaze. “I never would. The truth is, I wanted to talk to you.”
“Got it.” The doors closed, and the pilots locked the cabin door. Once the engine started, she asked, “What’s going on? I think everyone believes us, and everything is going well.”
As we started speeding down the runway, I said, “It is. Avril, the thing is, everything changed for me.”
Her eyes widened, and she placed a hand on my cheek as we ascended into the sky. “Oh no. You’re not happy we bent the rules this weekend?”
Nothing could have been further from the truth. “That’s not it. Your trust is precious to me.”
She smiled. We soared into the skies. “Yours too. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” I said, though I needed to steer the conversation to admitting my feelings.
She sat on her hands and stared at the carpet. “If… when we break up and end this pretense, do you think your brother will be upset enough to fire me?”
Even if she hated me, I would never let anything bad happen to her. “I… I’ll speak to them, but I’d happily have you at my side, helping me analyze all the financials for this upcoming airline.”
She curled her feet under her and settled in like she was tired. I wouldn’t push her. We’d had a long, long day.
“Now that I know you more, I have to wonder why you jumped into working with your brother, as you generally are more the type to make sure everyone is good rather than take risks.”
“Because I need to change,” I answered quickly. That description fit into how I was before I’d gotten to know her. I wasn’t like that anymore. My heart began to speed up.
“And it’s not just because you’re afraid of life passing you by?”
“I was. It’s why I shook things up. It’s why I agreed with your plan.”
Her face pinkened as we started the descent. “I… hated calling you, to be honest. I never wanted a handout, but after the beach, I thought we’d be friends, since my friend is now engaged to your brother.”
The flight was too short, and I wasn’t taking full advantage of the time. I sat up. “I understand, but I wanted to somehow show you that I’m different.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Different because you started a company?”
I scooted closer. It was time. “Because until you came into my life, I was letting life pass me by, and I’m hoping with time you let me prove I’m more. I want to make you happy.”
“You already have.”
I took her hand and held it to my heart. “And what happened between us was special to me.”
Her eyes glistened, and I hoped she loved me too. “Me too. I’ve never seen such a pretty wedding.”
Now it was time to take control. “Clarissa is like family to all of us, so it’s now official she’s my sister, but I’m more interested in you.”
She narrowed her eyes like she was trying to read me. “What are you trying to say?”
I stilled and then said, “That I’m happy you called me because I’ve fallen in love.”
Her entire face went white, and she scooted away as the wheels touched ground. “That’s impossible. We’re rooming together, and we’re friends, but I’m not meant to be yours.”
My muscles tensed. I wasn’t sure if she’d heard me. “I don’t understand.”
The wheels raced to a stop. Then she said, “You have more money than most countries. You’ve been nice to me. You saved my sister, and I’m grateful?—“
I shook my head. “Stop. I don’t want your gratitude.”
The crew opened the door. She hadn’t moved. “It’s impossible to stop, but let’s not discuss this in front of my sister. Can we table this until we get home?”
“Of course.”
We stood and headed into the limo that would take us to the hospital. It was important for Avril to know her sister was fine. That was what had brought us together in the first place.
Now I had a mission. I needed to prove to her that I was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. If we loved each other, nothing could tear us apart. I could only hope this lasted. We were in lockstep the second we stepped out together.
As we entered her sister’s room, I saw that Abigail had more color to her cheeks. She smiled at us. “You two look happy.”
Avril took the seat next to her. “The wedding was amazing.”
“Good. The hot doc was back.”
Avril asked, “Yeah?”
Abby’s gaze darted between us. “He’s smart, and you know I generally don’t think that about doctors. What’s going on?”
I slipped out as I said, “I’ll leave you two alone.”
I listened to them whispering in the room. I hoped I’d be able to figure out how to prove my love. The next day, she would be at work, so I had all day to set up a perfect night.
My phone rang. On the second ring I answered. “Michael, I need my apartment decorated as Bora Bora by tomorrow night.”
“Seriously?”
I would prove I’d listened to her and that we could make the whole place feel exotic. I closed my eyes. “I know you’re moonlighting as a butler, so I’m hoping you’ll help, as no one suspects who you really are.”
“I’ll help because you and your brothers are my friends, but Bora Bora?”
I straightened my tie. “I want to impress Avril.”
“I won’t say anything if you promise to ensure that Britney has no idea who I am.”
Avril’s friend wasn’t my confidante. I simply nodded. “I have never breathed a word.”
And then we discussed details, such as black pearls, coconuts, and a heart-shaped coral reef that I wanted recreated with rose petals. I needed everything to be perfect because I’d never failed in my life, and Avril was more important than anything else.