Page 368 of How to Kiss a Hawthorne Brother
Kate and Tatum are facing me, and I watch their expressions shift before I turn and look over my shoulder, immediately understanding their open-mouthed reactions. The man standing behind me is one, clearly the pilot who will be flying us wherever we’re going, and two, drop-dead gorgeous. Tall. Dark hair. Strong jawline. Beautiful brown eyes.
“My name is Captain Blake Salano, and I’m honored to be your pilot today.”
We nod in unison, but no one says a word.
“The weather is clear between here and New York, so it should be an easy, relaxing flight. I’ll leave you to your breakfast. I just wanted to assure you—you’re in very good hands.”
“I bet we are,” Tatum says under her breath, and Kate snorts as she stifles her laugh.
The second the captain has returned to the cockpit, Olivia pulls out her phone as the rest of us start to giggle. “What on earth?” Lila says. “Where didhecome from?”
“I feel like we need to be concerned about whether he’s a real pilot or just one of Flint’s actor friendsposingas a pilot,” Tatum says.
“We definitely need answers,” Olivia says. “And I’m going to get them right now.” She makes a show of calling Flint, then drops the phone onto the table where we’re all sitting with our breakfast.
“Hey, what’s up?” Flint asks. “Is everything okay? Did Audrey make it okay?”
My heart skips at the mention of my name, and Kate looks at me and presses a hand to her heart, like she can’t believe how sweet it is that he asked about me.
“She’s here, she’s fine, and you’re on speaker phone. We just thought we should call and make sure Captain Blake Salano is arealpilot and not someone you pulled off your last movie set.”
Flint chuckles. “I thought you might like him.”
“Looking at him, sure. But all your happily married sisters want to make sure he can get us to New York in one piece.”
“Liv! Did you just spoil Audrey’s surprise?” Flint says.
Her eyes lift to me. “Captain Salano already spoiled it, but she doesn’t know what we’re doing yet.”
Theonlything that distracted me away from asking about New York was Olivia calling Flint, but now the question is practically burning a hole in my tongue.
“Go ahead and tell her,” Flint says. “She doesn’t like surprises.” Olivia’s eyes jump to mine, and my heart squeezes,again,at Flint’s efforts to be thoughtful, to remember what I told him. “I gotta jet,” Flint says. “My meeting is about to start, but you guys take care of her, all right? Hey, Audrey?”
All eyes swivel to me. “Yes?” I say, proud of hownot croakymy voice sounds.
“Try to have a good time, okay?”
I bite my lip. “I’ll do my best.”
As soon as Olivia’s call disconnects, the sisters erupt in a round of gasps and sighs and squeals. “Girl,” Kate says, gently shoving my arm. “What have you done to him?”
The more important question:What is he doing to me?
“So, do you want to know why we’re going to New York?” Lila asks.
Olivia tosses a credit card onto the table. I lean forward and see Flint’s name stamped onto the top of the card. “Brace yourself, Audrey,” Olivia says. “We’re going shopping.”
Chapter Seventeen
Audrey
The flight passes quickly.
Tooquickly, if I’m being totally honest.
Apparently, I’m supposed to get a whole new wardrobe, one fit for the red carpet and every other event I’ll be attending with Flint.
Shopping has always been more of a utilitarian experience than an exciting one for me, so all this feelsveryoverwhelming. At this point, the only thing keeping me together is the fact that Flint’s sisters are all so happy to be here. To spend the day focusing onme.
