Page 18 of Heat Haven Holidays

I eye him with suspicion. He isn’t wrong. My closet is the only place I didn’t look for my Christmas gift. I should have been snooping on the computer to get the details for this trip,obviously.

“How long are we staying for?”

“Two weeks,” River says, smiling and kissing my shoulder. He readjusts my bra for me and I smile back at him. I know he just wants to take a moment and have a quickie before the flight, but nothing is quick with our pack. We can have all the intentions in the world to have quick shower sex, but then it turns into a four-hour-long orgy.

“Go get ready, baby,” Dean says.

“The dogs!” I exclaim, “I can’t just leave my babies here. Who’s watching them?”

“Don’t worry, sweetheart. I arranged everything with Cheryl. They’re in good hands.” Harry looks at me with knowing eyes, trying to give me a guilt trip about leaving. The last thing I need is the dogs feeling betrayed by me. I spend far more time kissing their heads and telling them I love them than I do packing, carefully I place their gifts in my suitcase smiling as I tuck them away. Grayson already did a good job when it comes to clothes, shoes, and hygiene.

I make sure to kiss all the puppies one more time before we leave the house. Cheryl promises to update me with pictures and she tells me to do the same.

I’ve always wondered what my father did when he spent Christmas away from Stephan and me. When I think about Stephan my heart hurts. I’ve done a lot of work with Phoebe to really come to terms with everything, but it doesn’t hurt any less.

I gave him my forgiveness, but sometimes looking in the past you realize that someone you idolized never really deserved it in the first place. After my niece was born, Daphne couldn’t stand being in the middle, and while I can understand that, I want a relationship with my new niece. I’m just not sure if I can ever be around Stephen again. I know that Dean doesn’t want that, but it’s hard knowing that I have family out there. Phoebe tells me I shouldn’t let my big heart be so open that the same people can hurt it all over again. It’s just always so hard when I think of Stephan. It was usually just us on Christmas. I wonder how he and his small, little family are spending the holidays.

I’m obviously in a trance standing in the foyer when River grabs me gently by the elbow. “Everything okay, angel? Are you nervous about flying?”

“No, I’m just going to miss the dogs.” It’s half of the truth, but River buys it as he opens the back door and we both slide in. This is pretty much protocol when we are all in the same car. River and I sit in the back while Grayson drives and Dean rides shotgun. It just makes sense physically, and it doesn’t hurt that River almost always gets handsy with me in the backseat.

When they said that we were going to the airport, I thought they meant JFK, not a small runway with a black private jet that says Sørensen Enterprises. Did I mention that I still don’t truly know how rich Grayson is? He was being extremely modest when he told me before that he owned an engineering company. He has shares in different conglomerations that reach all parts of the world, and I still don’t fully understand what the fuck it is he does. The man spends most of his time with me and River. Whatever he does, he is doing a damn good job of it.

“Mr. Sørensen, so glad to see you again. Welcome, I’m Terrie and I will be your flight attendant. Anything you or your pack needs during your flight, please just let me know,” the beautiful flight attendant says. She’s extremely respectful and gives me a beaming smile and dims her enthusiasm for my pack.I like you, Terrie.

Grayson takes my hand, gripping it tightly as I walk up the stairs. “I can climb the stairs, Grayson.”

“I just always want my girl to be safe,” he replies, and any retort dies on my tongue. Ever since the incident, I’ve hardly ever been alone and my safety is paramount to my pack. Some people find it overbearing, but I preen under the undivided attention they give me.

Grayson’s hand is tight in mine as we take the stairs up the jet. My mouth nearly hits the floor when I take in the jet’s interior. There is a long black leather couch on the left-hand side and a small table with four cushioned chairs on the right. A bar follows and there are two doors at the back of the plane. I’m guessing the bathroom and possibly even a bedroom. My mind obviously zooms toward the idea of joining the mile high club. I mean, Grayson did say that it was going to take a long time to get there.

We all sit in one of the solo black leather chairs and I feel disappointed. I wanted to be on someone’s lap.

River smiles at me and plays footsie with me under the table. “Don’t worry, angel. After take-off, you can come and sit on my lap.”

I beam at him as the flight attendant comes by. “Please put your seatbelts on for departure. The pilot has announced we will leave shortly. I will be upfront if you need anything. Our first stop is Los Angeles to refuel.”

“How many stops do we have?” I ask, looking at Grayson.

“Just two stops, Los Angeles, Honolulu, then finally Bora Bora.”

“This plane can go that distance?” I ask him, biting my nails.

“Yes, everything will be fine, sweetheart. This isn’t some small dingy jet. It’s a Bombardier Global 7500.”

I eye him suspiciously because I have no idea what any of that means. “I’ve flown directly to Beijing on this thing. We’re only stopping as a safety precaution, being over the Pacific,” Grayson says.

“That sounds really reassuring,” I mumble and stare out the jet window. I watch as the man with the air traffic cones gives the signal for the pilot to move. Dean’s hand lands on my thigh and he rubs soothing motions over the muscle. I exhale heavily and look over at him. He smiles down at me and I smile back.

“Once we’re in the air, we can play whatever game you want.”

Immediately my mind goes to let’s play ‘hide the pickle,’ but I know that’s not what he was referencing. This is going to be a long flight. “Maybe Phase 10?” I say.

“No cheating this time,” Grayson says across the table.

“I didn’t cheat,” I say, pouting.

“River gave you any cards you asked for,” Grayson replies, arching his eyebrow at me.

---