Page 18 of The Millionaire's Mechanic

Georgia looked up to find Rainer watching her with an amused expression.

“What?” she asked, heat creeping up her neck.

He leaned back in his chair. “You’re the first woman to admire the fridge, not because it holds bottles of Crystal in addition to water and soda, but because of its design.”

She snorted. “Had a lot of women in this plane, huh?”

“Once upon a time,” he replied. “But I think it was a different plane. This appears to be a newer model. It’s been a while since I went anywhere with anyone.”

“I see,” she said, desperately trying to convince herself that she wasn’t jealous of those women, no matter how far back in the past they were. “Taking a dating hiatus?”

“Of a sort.” His expression unreadable, Rainer looked around him. “Where is that attendant? I could use a coffee.”

Georgia turned to her other side, randomly pushing on the other panels.

Hand halfway up, Rainer froze, studying her. “What are you doing?”

“Looking for the coffee machine.”

The corner of his mouth pulled back. “I’m afraid the fridge is the only hidden compartment we can expect.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know that I once had to redo the dash of an ’89 Ford Fiesta because the owner wanted me to install a mini-Keurig under the radio.”

“I don’t believe it.” He laughed. “Why would anyone mod a Fiesta?”

She held up a hand, imitating a Girl Scout. “I swear it’s true. The car belonged to an old friend of my foster mom. She was sentimentally attached to it.”

Chuckling, Rainer pulled out a laptop from his satchel, his attention already elsewhere.

“So…are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

The mirth bled from his expression, transforming him into someone stern and forbidding. “We’re going dark.”

Her pulse quickened at the ominous words. “What does that mean?”

Leaning back in his seat, Rainer crossed one of his long legs over the other. “You’re in this mess because of me. I’m responsible for you now. So, I’m taking you someplace where no one can find us. This will give my people time to find the men who came after me. Until they do, we’re keeping communication with the outside world at a minimum. It is also best that you don’t know exactly where we are, just in case monitored. For that reason, I’m not giving you back your phone, not right away.”

Her lips parted. Until that moment, Georgia hadn’t even realized she didn’t have the thing on her. “But I’ll need to talk to my dad.”

He nodded. “Of course. I’ll arrange it through Powell. Once we get where we’re going, you’ll be able to talk to him every day.”

Georgia stilled, telling herself that the sensation of the walls closing in around her was only in her head.

“But only through you?” Would he be there, listening to her conversations?

Rainer must have been able to sense her apprehension. “It’s temporary,” he assured her. “My people are the best. They’re going to catch these guys in a couple of days—a week tops.”

He waited for a response.

Georgia smiled weakly. “Who am I to doubt your Mr. Powell?”

* * *

Rainer knew Georgia was upset with him. Her face gave away her every emotion, enough for him to see the trace of resentment she felt over his high-handedness. But the lingering effects of her head injury and innate shyness meant she didn’t argue. She simply withdrew, becoming noticeably quiet for the remainder of the flight.

Of course, part of that was the medication. It made her sleepy. She nodded off during the last hour. When the landing failed to rouse her, he gathered her in his arms and carried her out to the Jeep himself.

The four-wheel drive was necessary for the trip up the mountain.

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