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Nothing could have been further from the truth. “That’s not it. Your trust is precious to me.”
She smiled. We soared into the skies. “Yours too. Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure,” I said, though I needed to steer the conversation to admitting my feelings.
She sat on her hands and stared at the carpet. “If… when we break up and end this pretense, do you think your brother will be upset enough to fire me?”
Even if she hated me, I would never let anything bad happen to her. “I… I’ll speak to them, but I’d happily have you at my side, helping me analyze all the financials for this upcoming airline.”
She curled her feet under her and settled in like she was tired. I wouldn’t push her. We’d had a long, long day.
“Now that I know you more, I have to wonder why you jumped into working with your brother, as you generally are more the type to make sure everyone is good rather than take risks.”
“Because I need to change,” I answered quickly. That description fit into how I was before I’d gotten to know her. I wasn’t like that anymore. My heart began to speed up.
“And it’s not just because you’re afraid of life passing you by?”
“I was. It’s why I shook things up. It’s why I agreed with your plan.”
Her face pinkened as we started the descent. “I… hated calling you, to be honest. I never wanted a handout, but after the beach, I thought we’d be friends, since my friend is now engaged to your brother.”
The flight was too short, and I wasn’t taking full advantage of the time. I sat up. “I understand, but I wanted to somehow show you that I’m different.”
She raised her eyebrow. “Different because you started a company?”
I scooted closer. It was time. “Because until you came into my life, I was letting life pass me by, and I’m hoping with time you let me prove I’m more. I want to make you happy.”
“You already have.”
I took her hand and held it to my heart. “And what happened between us was special to me.”
Her eyes glistened, and I hoped she loved me too. “Me too. I’ve never seen such a pretty wedding.”
Now it was time to take control. “Clarissa is like family to all of us, so it’s now official she’s my sister, but I’m more interested in you.”
She narrowed her eyes like she was trying to read me. “What are you trying to say?”
I stilled and then said, “That I’m happy you called me because I’ve fallen in love.”
Her entire face went white, and she scooted away as the wheels touched ground. “That’s impossible. We’re rooming together, and we’re friends, but I’m not meant to be yours.”
My muscles tensed. I wasn’t sure if she’d heard me. “I don’t understand.”
The wheels raced to a stop. Then she said, “You have more money than most countries. You’ve been nice to me. You saved my sister, and I’m grateful?—“
I shook my head. “Stop. I don’t want your gratitude.”
The crew opened the door. She hadn’t moved. “It’s impossible to stop, but let’s not discuss this in front of my sister. Can we table this until we get home?”
“Of course.”
We stood and headed into the limo that would take us to the hospital. It was important for Avril to know her sister was fine. That was what had brought us together in the first place.
Now I had a mission. I needed to prove to her that I was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. If we loved each other, nothing could tear us apart. I could only hope this lasted. We were in lockstep the second we stepped out together.
As we entered her sister’s room, I saw that Abigail had more color to her cheeks. She smiled at us. “You two look happy.”
Avril took the seat next to her. “The wedding was amazing.”
