Page 97 of Passenger Princess

I sigh, and Hank laughs.

"Why don't we make it past the end of this tour before you start making a new business plan?" She glares at me, and I can't resist moving a hand to push her hair back over her shoulder, a small smile on my lips. “But yeah, Princess. Whatever you want."

"Thanks, Janine, that was a great idea," Ava says.

"If you do start it, make sure you let me know or have Jaime let us know. I know that we have so many people we know who would be interested, old clients of Hank's who would love to learn more about self-defense. You could even have them co-host pop-ups! Some celebrities to add some pizazz. You could travel all over?—"

"Janine," Hank says in warning.

"What?"

"You're gonna give Jaime a fuckin' coronary. Just look at him."

I force myself to unclench my jaw when Ava laughs.

"Yeah, I think Jaime is ready to relax for about ten years after we get back from his tour. I've really been testing his patience."

"Oh, I'm sure he loves it," Janine says with a wave of her hand.

I reach over, putting an arm around Ava's shoulders, then leaning over to press a kiss to her hair. "I'm more than happy to have her test my patience for as long as she wants," I say, and I mean it. Ava blushes, Janineawws, but Hank just stares at me thoughtfully before giving me a small, almost imperceptible nod.

After dinner, Ava and Janine make their way to Janine's craft room so she can show Ava some project she's working on when Hank finally sits back on the couch we're sitting on, crossing his arms on his chest.

"Never thought I'd see the day."

"Shut it, Hank."

"Just saying, it's good to see you interested in something other than work. It's been a long time coming."

"I suppose,"

"So what are your plans after all of this? Assuming your plan of disappearing into the Poconos for a life of peace and quiet is off the table," he says.

"Yeah, I don't see Ava being too into living off the grid." I say with a smile, not able to picture her being too far from civilization and shopping and other people for her to socialize with. Though, I bet I could probably convince her to hole up with me for a few weeks at a time. A compromise. We'd have to bring Peach, of course. Peach, whohas been trotting around Janine and Hank's house like she owns the place.

"You gonna stay with Five Star?"

"I...I don't know. For one, I'm not sure if they'll want me there after they find out about me and Ava?—"

"So, you two are going public?"

"After the tour is done. I'm going crazy as it is, everyone not knowing she's taken," I confess.

He nods his approval. "Good, good. You know I put in provisions for if you get let go or leave early. You and any employee there longer than ten years before the company was sold are covered. There's a different account for your retirement no one can touch."

"Yeah, Miles told me. Wish you'd have informed me of that, I probably wouldn't have waited so fucking long to make things official with Ava."

"Bullshit." Hank laughs, and I stare at him before he leans forward. "You have always been a cautious kid from the moment I met you. Weighing pros and cons past the point of it even making sense. The only way you would have given in earlier is if she pushed your hand."

"She tried to push me," I groan, remembering the weeks of Ava teasing and taunting me.

A unique kind of painful pleasure.

"Oh, I believe it. Her and Janine? Two peas in a fucking pod, could see it a mile away. They're the same woman. So, you know, good luck with that."

I groan, knowing the number of headaches his wife has given him over the years. But I also know the joy greatly outweighs the headaches.

"You'd be good at running your own firm," he says a few beats later.

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