Page 41 of Made For You
Dean’s smirk morphed his features, and I was wary once more about what he was thinking.
“No need to do that. Your girl lives close enough. Better go pack those bags. You’ve got a wife to visit.”
Chapter Eleven – Talon
Twenty-four hours later, I was resting in the cushioned leather seat of my chartered plane. I used Charlie again, because he was one of my favorite pilots. He didn’t put up with my bullshit either. He felt like more of a grandfather to me than my own. He and his family had been flying the Wilders around as long as I could remember. My uncle had a private plane he used our company money for, but none of us were allowed to use it.
I mentioned once before that it seemed as if he was using business finances for personal use, and I received a black eye for it. I was fifteen at the time and much smaller than my uncle. I doubted he would try to lay a hand on me now, since I towered over the man.
“Mr. Beckett, can I offer you a beverage?” Leon, Charlie’s grandson and my flight attendant, asked just as the plane reached altitude.
“Gin and tonic,” I told him brusquely as I booted up my computer. Even though Dean said I could work from anywhere, I always found it the most difficult to work away from a standard office. I knew others could. I just preferred the confined space to focus on my tasks. I’d already started scoping out the layout of the lodge to determine the space where I’d like to construct my office.
I was apprehensive at first when thinking about setting foot in the old hotel. But it was a place my mother loved, and it would offer me a glimpse of the woman I barely knew. That was the only reason I agreed. The longer I let the idea fester during the night, the angrier I became at the fact that my family let the property go to waste. They could have spent all this time making it the go-to rustic haven, in memory of my mother.
Well,theydidn’t do it, so I would. I even started throwing around ideas for the name. The Hilltop by Wilder Hotels. The Escape by Wilder Hotels. The Mallory by Wilder Hotels—an homage to my mom. The third idea was my number-one choice. It would be a big “fuck you” to my grandfather and the rift he caused.
“Here you are, Mr. Beckett.” Leon set the drink on top of a napkin he placed on the table in front of me. I peered around the screen of my laptop and noticed he also set a key beside it.
“What’s this?”
“A… um… gift from Mr. Rossi.”
Dean. What was that bastard up to now?
I lifted the shiny piece of metal, studying the ridges.
“What is it?” I rumbled. Luckily, my gruffness didn’t put Leon off.
“A key, sir.”
“Yes, but to what?”
“Apologies, Mr. Beckett. He said you’d know. Is that all?”
I had no idea what it was for, but I slipped it inside my pocket regardless as I nodded to dismiss Leon. Then something crossed my mind, and I found myself calling out to him. “You… uh…. Were you on board when Ms. Easterly traveled?”
“Oh, yes, sir. She was the loveliest passenger. She had the entire crew, except my grandfather, singing karaoke.”
That sounded like her.
“Huh. Was she any good?” I wondered out loud.
“Is anyone really good at karaoke? I wouldn’t say she’s Adele, but it wasn’t unpleasant.”
Slipping the key free from my pocket, I twirled it between my fingers as I thought about watching Aurora sing along to some cheesy song with the crew I’d known for years.
“Is that all, sir?” Leon asked again. He was still standing in the same place, except his hand was braced on the doorframeof the main opening near the front. It was then I noticed we were experiencing a bit of turbulence.
“Yes. Thank you.”
“And, sir?” Leon called out just as I turned my attention back to the key in hand. “I believe that is a key to a house.”
Grinning, I brought it up to eye-level and examined it closer. Dean was a fucking miracle worker. It was a key to Aurora’s house. I just knew it. The man had connections everywhere, so it wasn’t unheard of for him to secure something like this. But it did leave me wondering who might also have a key to her home. That was something I was going to have to rectify once I moved in temporarily.
The flight was a quick two hours, and even through the turbulence, it was relaxing. I reviewed and revised the budget Dean set up along with the projections for reservations over the next five years.
As I departed the plane, I thanked Charlie for the safe landing and shook hands with Leon.
