Distracted, I nod and fake a smile as my attention turns back out the window.
Why would he lie to me?
An hour later we drive through a boom gate and out onto the tarmac, and I frown. Where are we going?
If I was talking to Christopher, I would ask. However, I’m choosing to remain silent.
Because if I open my mouth, I’m not quite sure what’s going to come out. I need to process this before I blurt out something nasty that I’ll regret.
Because believe me, there’s a whole lot of fucking nasty going on in my mind right now.
The car pulls up beside a plane, and I peer out. It looks all swanky, like a Learjet or something. The driver gets out and opens the trunk, and I glance over to Christopher. “What’s this?” I ask.
“Our plane.”
“You have a plane?”
“Yes.” He nods. His brow furrows as if he’s stopping himself from saying something.
He has a fucking plane?
I blink in surprise as I look out at it. “Is it safe?”
“Yes, of course.” He smiles and puts his arm around me and kisses my temple. “I would never risk you.”
But you would lie to me.
The driver opens my car door, and I smile up at him. He’s kind looking. “Thank you.”
Christopher gets out and smiles. “Thank you.” He holds out his hand and discreetly passes him some notes as a tip.
I blink again. This is like The Twilight Zone.
Christopher takes my hand and leads me up the stairs. Two stewardesses and a captain in full uniform stand inside the door. “Good evening, Mr. Miles.” The captain nods.
“Thomas.” Christopher laughs. “Good to see you, my old friend.” He shakes his hand excitedly.
“It’s been a long time, sir.”
“It has, it has.” Christopher looks around. “Where are the normal crew?”
“This is Angela and Michelle. Our other girls are both on maternity leave.”
“Babies, ha! Great.” Christopher smiles. He shakes the two women’s hands. “Nice to meet you. This is Hayden.” He presents me proudly.
“Hello.” I smile as I shake their hands.
“Lovely to meet you, Hayden.”
They seem nice.
“This way, babe.” Christopher holds his arm up, and I look around. White leather seats, plush carpet, and the most exotic-looking cabin of a plane that I’ve ever seen. It looks like something out of a movie, only I haven’t seen it in a movie because it’s too swanky. He takes my hand and leads me up the cabin. “Where do you want to sit?” he asks.
Don’t insult my intelligence and pretend that I have any control of this situation . . . it’s quite obvious I don’t.
I shrug. “Anywhere will do.”
He gestures to a double seat at the back, and I fall in beside the window. The engine starts, and I stare out at the limo as it drives off across the tarmac.
I glance down at myself in embarrassment. I’m wearing shorts and a T-shirt, feeling completely underdressed and inappropriate. I drag my hand through my messy ponytail. God . . . what must I look like? I did wonder why he was dressed up today in jeans and a button-up shirt.
Now I know.
Christopher fusses around and then sits down beside me. He leans over and does up my seat belt. “You okay, sweetheart?” He smiles as he kisses me.