Chapter 30
Someone has to know if I go missing to look for my body in Traverse City, Michigan, so I text Kelsey.
It’s trusting to hop on a plane with someone you’ve known for less than a month, but it feels right even with the car ride conversation being a bit intense.
It’s way too soon to be in the weeds on those topics anyway.
The six-seat jet is cozy, with one seat on each side of the aisle. Gideon sits across from me in the second row. After we take off, he says, “I want to know more about Danielle Sommer.”
“First off, it’s just Dani. Legal name—Dani Sommer.”
“Oh … did you know your name has a Hebrew origin?”
“Only from those baby name sites and looking up name meanings.” I adjust my position to sit pretzel-style. “My parents probably just thought it sounded cute.”
“It is cute.” He winks.
“So, you want to know more about me. I’ll give you my undivided attention for the next hour,” I smile, turning off my phone for emphasis.
“You know you don’t have to turn your phone off—not even on a commercial flight.”
“I know it’s mostly security theater.” I lean toward him. “But seriously, you have my full attention.”
“How did you get into PR?”
There’s a landmine. It’s another seemingly simple question without an easy answer. I don’t want to talk about Shirts, the startup I co-founded a few years ago, right now.
“Is everything so serious with you?”
“The short answer is—I’m messy.”
“At least you’re not boring.” At that, heat courses through my body. My thoughts race to the inevitable amazing sex we are going to have once we get to the hotel.
“You’re not a typical PR girl, either,” he says, breaking my daydream. “That’s why I’m curious.”
“Have a lot of experience with PR girls?”
“They’re disproportionately attractive.” He shrugs.
In the plane? My mind thinks about the possibilities. We can’t. It’s not really set up for the mile-high club.
“I’m not sleeping with you tonight,” he says as if he just read my mind.
I pout, then roll my eyes. “What’s with all this self-restraint? Did you forget you plowed your tongue into my mouth the first time I met you?”
“The first time I met you, I thought you were another pretty-faced PR girl.”
“And now?”
“There’s a lot more behind those hazel eyes.”
I groan, then laugh. Why is my initial instinct to be a brat and scoff? I stare into his hazel eyes, which change color more than mine, depending on the lighting. Right now, they’re dark.
“I’m not looking for a boyfriend,” I softly say. “I’m looking for something fun.”
“You say that now.”
I shake my head, amused by his cockiness, then look out the window.
He deeply chuckles, then says, “At the construction site … I’ve never done something like that in my life.”
“You don’t go around pinning women up against walls?”
“Only when they ask for it,” he flirts.
“Stop being such a tease,” I sexily whisper to him.
We land at Cherry Capital Airport on the northwest side of Traverse City. A flood of texts rolls in when I switch on my phone.
Adam Harris
I miss you.
Don’t let him distract you from this weekend. I ignore it like I’ve been ignoring his other texts.
Kelsey
Be safe! Wear protection ;)
I smirk, exiting the plane.
Gideon throws my leather bag over one shoulder and his duffel on the other, and we hop into a car that’s waiting for us.
“Do you want to shower when we get to the hotel?” he asks.
“Is that an invitation?” I flirt.
“Well … tonight, it isn’t.”
“Are you saying I should shower?” I squint.
“Don’t read into it. I’m saying if you want to, we have time.” His hand rests atop mine.
I love that he takes charge and plans everything. I have no idea what we’re doing this weekend, but I have a hunch it’s going to be more than I can imagine.