CHAPTER 20 #3
Ian glared at him.
Adam shrugged. “You asked; I answered.”
“I asked where you were, not what you were doing.”
“New Orleans.”
Ian smiled. “You finally took Eve to New Orleans?”
“Yup. She got tired of my eternal promises and demanded we go this weekend. We had a blast. She loved it.”
Ian frowned. Now he felt bad. He knew how rarely his brother and Eve had time to go somewhere together. “Damn, man. I didn’t mean to interrupt your romantic weekend.”
“No worries. We were going to fly home right after breakfast anyway.”
It was probably a nice breakfast Adam had forgone because of him. “Where is she now?”
“Right now ...” Adam checked his Breguet. “She should be having lunch at Brennan’s.”
It finally dawned on Ian. “Oh, so it’s Eve we are going to pick up at Lakefront?”
“Affirmative.” A smile played about his brother’s lips. “My favorite passenger.”
Ian had to look away. Every time Eve was mentioned, Adam’s eyes took on the same soft expression, something that hadn’t changed since their wedding.
At this point, he doubted it ever would, even when they were old and gray.
Although he was happy for his brother finding love after his first disastrous marriage, it was still too raw for Ian to witness.
A knock sounded on the cockpit door. “Food, gentlemen!”
Adam reached back to open the sliders.
Angie bustled in, bringing the scent of steak and cheese and a musky, sweet perfume that Ian instantly disliked. From the looks of it, so did Adam because his nostrils flared, and the corners of his mouth turned down.
“I heated them a little.” She handed Adam a small tray that held a sub cut in half and a fruit cup. Turning to Ian, she bent a little too low, forcing him to stare straight at her tits.
“Thanks,” he muttered, looking away and accepting his food.
“You’re welcome. I can make espresso for you after you’re done eating.”
Adam smiled at her. “We’ll let you know. By the way, what is that scent you’re wearing?”
“It’s called Lolly. Do you like it?”
He gave her his patented penetrating stare. “Some passengers might not.”
Angie knew damned well that strong perfume was against the dress code, and she looked duly chastised. “Sorry. It won’t happen again.” She quickly ducked back into the cabin, pulling the doors closed behind her.
For a while, Adam and Ian ate in silence, content to stare out at the wild blue yonder and listen to the familiar whine of the turbines. Adam finished the last bite of his sub, then reached for the fruit cup.
“So.” He popped a grape into his mouth. “What the hell was that, back there?”
Ian smiled bitterly. He had been waiting for that question. “The reason why you have a new pilot.”
Adam studied him, his eyes narrowing slightly. “You looked ready to throw a right hook. Who was that guy?”
Ian tossed the remnants of his uneaten bread. “Some surgeon she’s seeing.”
Adam’s brows nearly hit his hairline.
Ian shrugged. “What can I say? It’s complicated.”
Adam nodded slowly. “I would say so.” He was silent for a beat. “Are you OK with that?”
Ian picked up his fork and speared a piece of cantaloupe. “I was. Until I wasn’t.”
“I get it.” Adam ate another grape before quietly asking, “Was he there first?”
“No.”
Adam swore under his breath.
“I told you it was complicated.”
“I’m sorry, man. I would have advised you another way if I’d known it would be—”
“You gave good advice. It was my choice to take it. Not your fault that it didn’t work out.”
“So, what now?”
Ian smiled a little. “Now, I fly for you and get your sorry ass out of a bind.”
“How long you in for?”
“How long do you need me?”
Adam chuckled. “Permanently.”
“OK. Then you’d better hurry up and find yourself a replacement corporate lawyer because I fucking quit. I recommend Hadley if you want to take him on. He’s been doing a stellar job, better than I expected.”
Adam raised his brow in challenge. “Will you still be available for consultation?”
“What’s it worth to you?” Ian asked, using the phrase he’d deployed so often when Adam needed something from him as they were growing up.
Adam grinned. “You’re an ass.”
Ian chuckled. “I learned from the best.”
“You really like this girl.” It wasn’t a question.
Oh, back to that, are we?
“Yeah.” Ian didn’t care to elaborate.
“For what it’s worth, what I saw back there can’t be faked. She really likes you too, man.”
Ian shrugged one shoulder. “Yeah, well, it doesn’t matter. She has some issues to work out.”
Adam grimaced. “I know what that’s like.”
Those words weren’t just mere platitudes, Ian knew. If anyone understood, it would be Adam. He and his wife had somehow managed to make things work despite odds that, at times, had seemed insurmountable.
“Want more advice?” Adam’s voice was uncharacteristically tentative.
Might as well humor him and let him do the big brother thing. “Go ahead.”
“Don’t give up yet. Give her time to figure out what she wants. These things have a way of working out, and if it’s meant to be, she’ll eventually come to you.” He grinned and punched Ian’s arm. “My money is on you.”