CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
RILEY
––––––––
I can’t believe I’m doing this. I’m going to New York.
“One week, Jeb. You’re on time and a half while I’m away. I expect every job to be completed and on time. Dave and Mick will be working on every job with you, except the Orchard project.”
“Jesus, you couldn’t give us more notice. I was going to take Friday off.”
Of course he was.
“You’ve had more Fridays off than you do sausage rolls. One week. That’s all I’m asking.” I prop my hands on my hips even though he can’t see me through the phone.
This is the most spontaneous thing I’ve ever done in my life.
It feels insane, but I’m doing it, anyway.
If Jeb lets me down, I’ll fire his ass when I get home.
If he lets me down, I could lose clients.
Colt deposited the money into my bank account, and I have no idea how he managed it. It might cover costs, but it won’t cover any reputation damage letting down customers might cause. As a businessman, he knows that.
Still, I’m forty thousand dollars richer.
Clearly, I can’t take it.
But if it covers expenses for the week, then it’s the only way I can do this. Then I’ll pay him back.
Despite the bomb he dropped on me late last night, I was able to sleep. When I woke, I knew I couldn’t say no.
So, with Jeb informed, Dave and Mick under contract, and my bags packed, I’m ready to go.
I climb into the Uber while the driver loads my bags and ring Kylie.
“Hey girl, how goes the heartbreak?”
“Well...” I chew the inside of my cheek as we pull away from the curb. “I’m on my way to the airport.”
“What? Is he back?” she gasps.
“I’m going to New York.”
“You are WHAT?”
“Colt sent me a first-class ticket and twisted my arm.”
“Oh, boy.”
Yeah, that’s about right.
“I’ll message you when I land,” I tell her. “I need to ring Mom. Talk to you later.”
“Be careful, Riley. I know this feels like a fairytale, and I wish it was happening to me, but from here, I can only see heartache in your future.”
Me too.
But here I was on my way to Melbourne Tullamarine Airport with my heart on my sleeve like a damn fool.
Like Colt said, I just want a week with him.
One night was not enough.
Check-in is a breeze once I arrive. As it is when you fly first class.
Apparently.
I wouldn’t know.
But I do now, and so far, I love it.
Mom interrogates me while I wait for my boarding pass.
“What do you mean, it’s last minute?” Mom says, sounding shocked, which is fair. “Does your dad know?”
As if I’d ring him first.
“I’m twenty-eight, Mom. I don’t need you to sign a slip.” I laugh.
It’s not the first time I’ve left the country. I’ve been to New Zealand and Bali a couple of times.
“Are the girls going with you?”
I want to lie. I don’t want to tell her about Colt or who he is, but I also don’t want her worrying about me.
“I have a friend over there. We’ve been trying to catch up, and this date worked,” I say vaguely.
“Do I know this friend?”
Christ.
“Mom, Kylie has my details of where I’m staying. I’ll call you when I get there.” I take the boarding pass and grab my carry-on case.
She goes quiet, and guilt sets in.
It wouldn’t hurt to tell her a few things, but after the conversations we’ve had lately, she’ll freak out if she knows I’m going to see a man.
“I’m going to do some shopping, see the Empire State Building, Central Park. Normal tourist things.”
I’ll also be spending a lot of time in Colt’s bed.
That I have no doubt.
“Tell me when you land,” Mom says as I head to the customs hall.
––––––––
TWENTY-TWO-HOURS later, I land in New York.
I questioned my sanity about a hundred times as we flew across the Pacific Ocean, but I’m here and now, whatever is going to unfold is happening.
It takes me another ninety minutes to get out into the terminal with my bags, where Colt is standing with his hands casually tucked into his navy suit pockets.
Good lord, this man gets hotter every time I see him.
His face breaks out into a sexy smile, and he moves towards me like I’m the other half of his magnet. Next minute I’m engulfed in his huge warm arms.
“Thank god,” he groans against my lips as they smash against mine.
Tears well in my eyes as I soak up his warmth and the feeling that this is where I belong. With him. Next to him. Against his heart.
The butterflies in my tummy do a tango, making me feel a little squeamish.
Damn jetlag.
It will pass.