Page 9 of Bought by His Brother's Best Friend

As I walked away, I felt his eyes following me. The evening had taken an unexpected turn—but then, I’d been waiting years for the right opportunity where Shane Bennett was concerned. Perhaps it had finally arrived, wrapped in the guise of a charity auction and twenty thousand dollars well spent.

Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

THREE

SHANE

I’d never been the type to make impulsive decisions.

For most of my life, I was the practical one—the steady counterpoint to Tyler’s spontaneity. While he was a total professional on the ice, he also had a tendency to jump from one adventure to the next. I was the guy with the plan, the schedule, the carefully considered pros and cons.

Yet here I was at 11:55 p.m., standing on my curb with an overnight bag, waiting for a car to take me to a private jet that would fly me to Paris with a man I’d always found fascinating but barely knew.

The sleek black SUV pulled up exactly on time. The driver, a professionally polite woman in a dark suit, took my bag and opened the door for me.

“Good evening, Mr. Bennett. Mr. Roth is already at the airfield.”

My stomach fluttered with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

After I’d returned to my apartment, I’d nearly texted Damien three separate times to back out. Each time, I’d stopped myself. There was something undeniably thrilling about saying yes to this crazy invitation—about stepping completely out of my carefully constructed routine.

The drive to the private airfield took less than thirty minutes.

As we approached, I spotted it immediately—a gleaming white jet with “Roth Technologies” emblazoned on the side in sleek silver lettering. It was smaller than a commercial airliner, but still substantial, with elegant lines that somehow looked both powerful and graceful.

Just like its owner.

The driver pulled onto the tarmac, stopping a short distance from the aircraft’s stairs. As I stepped out, Damien emerged from the jet, silhouetted against the light from inside the plane. He wore dark jeans and a light blue button-down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The look was far more relaxed than he had been in his formal wear, but no less commanding.

He descended the stairs with that simple confidence I’d always noticed about him, a smile spreading across his face as he approached.

“You came,” he said, as if he’d half-expected me to change my mind.

“I did.” I matched his smile, trying to ignore the nervous energy coursing through me. “Though I’m still not convinced this isn’t some elaborate dream.”

“If it is, let’s make it a good one.” He nodded to the driver, who was already handing my bag to a crew member. “Ready to board?”

The interior of the jet was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Plush leather seats that looked more like armchairs than airplane seating. Rich wood paneling. A small dining area with a table elegantly set. The carpet was thick beneath my feet, and the lighting warm and inviting rather than the harsh fluorescents of commercial flights.

“This is...” I trailed off, taking it all in.

“Excessive?” Damien offered with a wry smile.

“I was going to say incredible, but yeah, that too.” I ran my hand over the polished wood of the nearest table. “I’m almost afraid to touch anything.”

“Please don’t be. Make yourself comfortable.” He gestured toward one of the seats. “We’ll be taking off shortly.”

As if on cue, a flight attendant appeared—a professional-looking man in his forties who introduced himself as Michael. “Welcome aboard, Mr. Bennett. May I offer you a drink before takeoff? A selection of cheese and charcuterie will be served once we reach cruising altitude.”

“Can I get a coffee, please? Thanks.”

Damien requested the same and Michael went back to the front of the plane.

I settled into one of the leather seats, which was possibly the most comfortable chair I’d ever experienced. Damien took the seat across from me, watching me with barely concealed amusement as I tried not to look too overwhelmed.

“First time on a private jet?” he asked.

“That obvious, huh?”

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