Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 553(@200wpm)___ 442(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Kenzie slipped her arms around mine, melting against me. “So, where are you taking me, Hunt?”
“I’ve got something special in mind. Romantic and private. I hope you don’t expect to be back before noon because I’ve got you booked.”
“I’m sure you can persuade me to keep the date going.”
We flirted all the way downstairs and on the ride. It was wild how easy it was with Kenzie. I dated many women before she came along and there was always a barrier between us. For some, it was because I couldn’t tell them the full truth of what I do.
Owning nightclubs explained why I was out at all hours of the night, but it didn’t explain the calls I sent to voicemail because they couldn’t be a witness to what I’d say. It didn’t explain why I lived in a fortress or was cagey with details about my family. Dating Hendrix was supposed to be freedom from all that. She didn’t want anything serious. Knew exactly what the Merchants did. She was my age and a single parent too.
Then Mackenzie Blaine stumbled out of a cab with my unconscious brother.
Mom used to say that love doesn’t tick off boxes on a checklist. You’ll find the person who is perfect for you, but not in any of the ways you planned or tried to control. Naturally, I spent years trying to prove her wrong.
“You did a terrible thing to me when you sent that damn text and blew the first hole through my resolve.”
Kenzie blinked. “Terrible?”
“Oh, yes.” I shifted lanes, heading for the final turn. “You forced me to admit my mother was right.”
“I get the feeling Adeline is rarely anything but.” She peered out the window. “Why are we in this part of the city? Oooh, is there some cool, underground pop-up restaurant out here? One night only, the chef cooks an incredible menu for their exclusive guests.”
“Ah, you’ve been talking to Bane.”
“The guy wasn’t kidding when he said he knew where to get the best of everything in the city. How does a twenty-nine-year-old hermit manage to hit every legal and illegal eatery in the fourth largest city in the country?”
“By cheating. He’s borrowing the majority of his recommendations from our mother, I guarantee it. Let me guess,” I said, “Bane issued you a challenge for naming all the bests.”
“Wow. How did you know?”
“It’s what he does. Issues a challenge when he has an ace up his sleeve.” I gave her a look. “Ask my family and they’ll tell you I was the problem child, but that’s only because I didn’t care about getting caught. I had nothing on Bane, and neither did anyone else. No evidence.”
She laughed—the sound light and beautiful like that first rush of morning air when you stepped onto your balcony. It made you feel alive.
Rounding the final turn, we arrived at our true destination.
“An airplane hangar? Oooh, is this where we’re eating?” She kissed my cheek. “Private and romantic. It’s perfect.”
Laughing, I went around and offered her my hand. “Mackenzie Blaine, when you’re with me, you have to think bigger.”
“Wait, we’re not— Are we flying somewhere?”
I winked.
“But we can’t,” she cried.
“I assure you we can.”
“But what about Laurel and Elizabeth? We can’t just take off and leave them.”
“We are coming back,” I said, trying and failing to hide my amusement. I once again towed her in the right direction.
“But what if something happens and Fuller needs us to come back?”
“Nothing is going to happen. Fuller knows where the fire extinguishers are.”
Kenzie promptly spun around and marched toward the car. I was on her in a blink, scooping her up and carrying her laughing through our family’s hangar, into the waiting jet.
“Don’t worry.” I claimed my seat, remembering that day we sat in the same ones on the way from New York. “For the last few weeks, we’ve poured all our attention into the Brotherhood. Our days aren’t promised, Mackenzie, and I won’t waste another one that I could spend with you.”
She ducked her head, burying a private, enigmatic grin in her shoulder. “I feel the same way.”
Mackenzie said that, but she didn’t give permission for the plane to take off until she talked to Fuller and was assured they’d be fine. I didn’t fault her. Anyone paying attention noticed she had more separation anxiety than Laurel these days. This was a big step for her—letting go and trusting Laurel would be safe while they were apart. I was honored she was willing to take that step with me.
“Can I guess where we’re going?” We kicked back, sipping glasses of champagne and apple cider. “We’ll be back by noon tomorrow, so we can’t be headed to Paris or somewhere like that.”
“Say the word and we could be.”
She winked. “One day, I will. But for tonight, I want to experience the first date you have planned for us. Speaking of which, you said I had to think big, so it’s guaranteed to be somewhere I’ve never been before. Off the Cinco coast is the Isle of Maribel. Most of the isle is luxury hotels, diving vacations, and beach houses.” She smirked, pleased as ever with herself. “That’s where we’re going.”