Page 15 of Mayhem
“You don’t have to. But I know you won’t listen,”Paetyn said, pulling a laugh from Erin. “So, I’m sure you’ll think of something,”he finished smiling at her, and he watched as those brown eyes sparked momentarily with mischief.
Paetyn wondered what flashed through her mind then, but he wouldn’t ask. If things went his and Cruz’s way, they’d find out soon.
“I’ll come get you when we’re about to land if you’re sleeping. There’s a bathroom through that door,”he told her, gesturing.
“Thank you,”Erin responded, taking her shoes off. Paetyn turned, closed the door behind him, and returned to where they’d left Cruz.
He retook his seat, and the other man looked up at him with a smirk.
“What?” Paetyn questioned.
“I’m just wondering how hard it was for you to leave that bedroom.”
Paetyn decided not to respond and instead picked up the book he’d been reading as they’d taken off. He was aware that Cruz more than likely knew the answer and just wanted him to say it.
It wasn’t long before he put the book aside to take out his laptop. He figured he’d do some work for the bistro he wanted to open. He could still nail down a menu even though he had not decided on a new location. He wanted it to be precise and short. Long menus made it too hard on the patrons, and it was also an unneeded expense when you purchased ingredients for something that wasn’t ordered. It was how most restaurants lost money or failed.
He was so focused on work that he hadn’t noticed Cruz getting up to make them a drink until the glass was held out tohim. Paetyn took it with a thank you and returned to what he was doing. One drink wouldn’t hurt them or keep them from being able to move Erin’s belongings, speaking of which.
“You did ensure that a moving truck would meet us when we arrived, correct?”Paetyn questioned, looking up from his screen.
“I did. It should be in the hangar when we land.”
Paetyn nodded before turning his attention back to his screen. He supposed having a private hangar did make it easier, especially since he knew that in any other case, a moving truck more than likely wouldn’t be allowed on the commercial tarmac.
When the announcement came over the speaker system that they needed to put on their seatbelts, Paetyn saved what he’d worked on and closed his laptop, standing to wake up Erin.
He knocked on the door lightly, and when he didn’t receive an answer, he opened it, looking in to find her curled up on the bed. He couldn’t help but smile to himself.
“She looks so tiny,”Cruz said behind him.
Paetyn admitted that she looked tiny compared to them. However, most women looked small next to Cruz’s six-foot-six-inch frame. Erin was tall. Paetyn would guess she stood at about five feet ten or eleven. However, they were both still several inches taller than she was.
Paetyn approached the bed, sitting beside Erin. Bringing his hand up, he slowly rubbed the knuckle of his index finger up and down her cheek.
“Erin,”he called softly, and she stirred slightly. “Erin, you have to get up. We’re about to land in a bit.”
Erin stretched slightly, and Paetyn removed his knuckle. “Do I have to?”
Paetyn smiled as Cruz chuckled from the door. “I’d prefer if you did, for safety,”Paetyn told her.
“Fine.”Erin sat up. “I’m going to go to the bathroom and be right there.”
Paetyn nodded as he stood, made his way back to his seat, and buckled his seatbelt. Only a few minutes later, Erin emerged from the bedroom, sat in the seat she’d been in before, and put on her seatbelt.
Paetyn decided they’d stop and get something to eat on the way to her apartment. She hadn’t eaten anything that morning, and he would make sure she did before they started moving everything.
Erin looked around the empty apartment. Like all apartments, it looked different without Chayse’s furniture. It was bigger than her last apartment, so Erin knew she would enjoy the extra space.
When they’d arrived, she went to the office to drop the lease in the drop slot with a copy of her license. Chayse had added her and emailed the forms for her to sign. Erin had kept the spare key from her previous visit.
Looking around the living room now, she tried to envision how she would set her furniture up. A part of her had expected Paetyn and Cruz to have some of her furniture waiting in the hallway. However, they hadn’t. When she checked her phone, she saw she had a text from Paetyn saying they’d be back in a few minutes.
She went down the hall and looked into the primary bedroom. Because of where the cable line was, there was only one way to set up the bedroom if she wanted cable. However, Erin was okay with just having streaming subscriptions, so it didn’t limit her.
The closet was also larger than her last one, which meant she wouldn’t have much trouble fitting all her clothes, though she was sure her shoes wouldn’t fit. On the plus side, she could use the closet in the second bedroom.
She went to the hall bathroom and smiled when she saw that Chayse or Taila had left the décor there. Erin was grateful for that. It meant she didn’t have to go out and find decorations for it.
