I laughed. “We do have history. I still haven’t told your mother about the last secret pool party you had on my yacht, her crashed Audi, or last weekend when you and Caroline came home at four o’ clock in the morning. Would you like me to?”
“No.” She rolled her eyes. “I’ll see you later...It was nice seeing you again, Corey.” She gave us both a hug before walking out of my office.
“How do you tell them apart again?” Corey sat down at my desk. “I could’ve sworn she was Caroline.”
“Instincts I guess. Are we all set on the CS account?”
He nodded. “The shipment should get here within an hour. I’ll sign for it and have Greg bring it up. You made an appointment with me so I could tell you that?”
“No...” I looked at the only photo on my desk, the one of Claire and Hayley playing Scrabble. “I need you to find out who Hayley is dating.”
“What?”
“Claire slipped up and said something to me about it yesterday...She and Hayley are apparently BFFs now and they’re keeping secrets from me. I need to know who this man is so I can kill him.”
Corey blinked. “Kill him?”
“Yes.” I balled my fists. “Not literally kill him. I just want a few words.”
“Right...” Corey cleared his throat and adjusted his tie. “Well, I um...I already screened the guy.”
“Great. What’s his name?”
He sighed. “Um...”
“Mr. Statham?” Angela called over the intercom again.
“Yes?”
“Miss Gracen is on line one.”
“One second, Corey.” I picked up the phone. “Hello?”
“Hey...” Claire’s voice was faint.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing...I just decided to leave work early today.”
“Was there a fire?”
“No...” She laughed. “I was ripped off a couple hours ago. The man I’m seeing stopped by and he just...”
“He just what?”
“He left without giving me what I wanted. And to think, I purposely avoided his phone calls all day so he would get the hint. He usually doesn’t back down so easily...”
I smiled. “You’re at home?”
“Not yet. I’m leaving my office now. But as soon as I get there, I’m going to take a nice, long shower to get ready for this weekend.”
“Don’t leave. I’ll come get you.” I hung up and sent Angela an email, canceling the rest of my day. Then I looked up at Corey. “Remind me to ask you about Hayley’s asshole boyfriend when I get back.”
“Oh my goddd...Ohhh myyy—Oh my god...Jonathannn...” Claire moaned as I gripped her hips and moved her back and forth. “I....I...” She shut her eyes and cried out, louder and louder.
I watched as she let go the same moment I did, as she sucked in breath after breath and collapsed against my chest.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of taking the scenic route with you...” I rubbed my hands against her bare back. “Are you okay?”
“Yes...” She murmured and nodded her head, still breathing heavily.
I waited until she completely calmed down before pulling her up and helping her back into her dress. I ran my fingers through her hair and sighed as I pushed one of her clips back into place.
“You seem tense...” she whispered. “Are you okay?”
“What makes you think I’m not okay?”
“Because you’re making the face you always make when something’s bothering you...Is it the CS account?”
I raised my eyebrow.
“I eavesdropped a few nights ago...You were talking on the phone in bed and I couldn’t sleep.”
“Hmmm. Well, yes, it is the CS account. Would you like to offer your advice on landing the biggest deal I’ve ever pursued?”
“Sure.” She sat in my lap. “How much is it worth?”
“Why is that always your first question?” I laughed as she scrunched her face in anticipation of an answer. “It’s worth more than my entire company. A lot more...I would be twice as rich if I landed it.”
Her eyes widened. “What happens if you don’t land it?”
“I guess I would have to figure something else out...You want to come back to Statham Industries to help me if that happens?”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “Can I have a hint about where we’re going this weekend?”
“No.” I kissed her lips. I was tempted to have Greg take us on another scenic route, but I held back.
For the rest of the ride we slipped into the familiar silence that we’d grown accustomed to sharing—a special silence that no one else could possibly understand.
“Mr. Statham?” Greg’s voice came through the speaker.
“Yes, Greg?”
“We’ve arrived sir.”
The car came to a sudden halt and I adjusted Claire’s straps again.
Greg opened the door and reached for her hand, helping her to step out. Then he directed the other men that were standing nearby to load our bags onto my plane.
I placed my hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. “Are you sure about flying today?”
“Is this the best way to get there?” she whispered.
I nodded and held her hands. “But there’s always a Plan B. You know that.”
Even though she’d assured me that she was on better terms with her flight phobia, I wasn’t completely sold so I always took precautions. If she looked uncomfortable or hesitant for one second, I called the whole trip off; I’d had to do that four times over the past few months.
“I’m okay,” she said. “I promise.”
I studied her eyes for several seconds more, watching for signs of uncertainty, hints of fear.
When I didn’t see any, I walked her over to the steps and slowly led her up and into the plane. I motioned for her to sit down and pulled out the “Pre-Flight Words” paper that she’d received in therapy.
“I need you to read it aloud, Claire.” I held her hand and waited until she’d recited every word, until she gave me a look of assurance that said she was okay with this.
I nodded at the pilot and sat down in the seat next to her.
“DeLille Chaleur Estate Blanc to drink, Miss Gracen?” The flight attendant checked our seat belts.
“That would be great.” Claire leaned against me.
She fell asleep before the flight attendant returned and didn’t wake up until we stopped at a re-fueling point.
“We’re here?” she asked.
I shook my head and offered her some of my food, but she leaned against me and fell asleep again.
“Did you put something in my dinner yesterday, Jonathan?” Claire rolled across the bed and looked up at me.
“What?”
“I’ve never slept like that before...And I remember you carrying me off the plane when it landed. Did you put something in my food?”
“No, Claire.” I walked over and kissed her. “It’s called being tired. You work all damn day every day and we did have sex twice before the flight. If I thought I had to drug you to get you to fly, then you wouldn’t fly. It was only a ten hour flight.”
She blinked. “I’m sorry...Where are we?”
“Take a look.” I pulled the floor to ceiling drapes open and watched as her eyes took in everything.
We were staying right on the edge of clear blue waters, in the biggest villa the island had to offer. To the left of us was a beach of sprawling white sand and sky high palm trees. And in the distance there were rows of hidden bungalows, tucked beneath miles of lush greenery.
“What’s the name of this place?” She slid the glass door open and stepped out onto the balcony.
“St. Kitts and Nevis.”
“Could you put that in terms that a non-billionaire who hasn’t traveled the world can understand?”
I wrapped my arms around her waist and laughed. “Southern Caribbean.”
She opened her mouth as if she was going to say something, but then she stood on her toes and kissed me, pressing herself against my chest like she wanted to take this further.
“Wait...” I slowly pulled away. “I want to take you down to the other part of the beach. Leave your shoes.”