Page 98 of Where We Bloom

“I know. Do you feel okay leaving the shop?”

I turn in his arms so I can wrap myself around him. “Actually, that’s the least of my worries. I’ve spoken with Emily, and she’s feeling super confident in her new role. We’ve scheduled plenty of check-ins while I’m away, and the new hires are already doing great. The girls have it handled, and I have plenty to work on remotely. It’s going to be just fine.”

“Good.” He presses another kiss to my head. “The jet’s waiting, but if you need another minute, take your time.”

“No, I’ll overthink it.” I step away, and grab my computer bag, which Connor takes out of my hand. I follow him downstairs to where Miller’s waiting at the SUV. “Are you going with us, Miller?”

“Of course, miss.” He waits for me to hop in the back seat before closing the door for me.

Just as he puts the vehicle in gear, I yell out, “Shit! Wait.”

I rush out of the car, back inside and up to the bedroom to grab my reading device, then run back outside.

“That was almost catastrophic.”

Connor lifts an eyebrow.

“My Kindle.” I wave it in front of him. “I’m going to read to you later.”

“Is that so?”

I laugh and slip the device into my computer bag. “Sure, why not? This one is spicy.”

“Is it the unhinged hockey player?”

“No, I finished that one. And unhinged doesn’t even begin to describe that guy. It was hot as fuck.”

Connor barks out a laugh, and I grin at him.

“You have a great laugh.”

He smiles and lifts my hand to his lips, and we sit in relative silence on the short drive to the airport.

I rode on Connor’s private jet earlier this summer when he took our whole family to London to watch Skyla and Mik dance for the coronation of the new king and queen, so I’m not new to private flying, but it’s still exciting.

This plane iswow.The opulence is incredible, with rich, buttery leather seats, televisions, tables to eat or work on, and a bedroom with a king-sized bed in the back of the plane. The bathroom has a full shower.

I take a seat in the middle of the plane, set my bag on the seat next to me, my sweatshirt on the other side of me, and sigh in happiness.

“Are you comfortable, then?”

I grin at my billionaire. “Hell yes, I am. I’m spreading out. Don’t even think about trying to crowd me.”

“I’ll sit across from you,” he replies with a smirk, watching me. He’s in navy slacks and a white button-down, which is his work-casual look when he doesn’t go with a full suit. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and the muscles and veins in his forearms make me salivate. “What are you looking at, angel?”

“Your arms,” I reply honestly. “They do things to me.”

His eyebrow lifts in surprise. “What kinds of things?”

“Sexy things.” I bite my lip just as Miller climbs on board and walks between us toward the back of the plane, and I grin at Connor.

The flight crew is already here. The pilots are in the cockpit, the door open as the flight attendant prepares us for the flight. I don’t like how she keeps looking at my man. She’s probably thirty-ish, pretty with blond hair tucked back in a low bun, her slim figure showcased in a red uniform.

She glances over at Connor and licks her lower lip, and just like that, I’ve had enough.

“Be right back.” I stand and cross over to her. “Hello, I’m Billie.”

“Oh, hi.” Her smile is as fake as my acrylic fingernails. “How can I help you?”

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