Page 29 of Forgotten Promise

It was too soon to say it, but when he kissed her, she felt those words like a vow. A promise that he would love her forever.

Then that sweet kiss turned very, very sexy.

* * *

It had been a beautiful moment. At nineteen, she’d thought that look was a promise. One she’d believed in with her whole heart.

Kailani slowly opened her eyes.

And it had been forgotten the very next week.

Chapter Eight

They landed in Van Nuys. John didn’t really consider himself a snobby Angelino, but seriously…Van Nuys?

“Seriously…Van Nuys?” He looked at Benjamin, who was signing something for the attendant who’d greeted them in the small private terminal, which was a building only slightly larger than his house, set nearly a mile from the main airport terminal.

“It’s the only place that had a runway available at the time we needed,” Benjamin said apologetically.

“Wait, what’s wrong with Van Nuys?” Kailani looked around.

“Nothing, it’s just…not L.A.”

Kailani’s lips twitched.

“The San Fernando Valley is not L.A.,” John declared. “Though I have some friends on the Van Nuys P.D. Their vice department is no joke.”

“We might be waiting a while for a car,” Benjamin said apologetically. “Given the time, most of the dispatch offices are closed.” It was 3:30 in the morning, and the attendant who’d unlocked the terminal doors had looked half asleep. “Let me call some people I know, they might have their private drivers available, or the number of a driver I can call directly.”

John looked at the two of them, these people who both were and weren’t his. They were Schrödinger’s marriage.

“This is my town,” John said. “I’ll get us a ride.”

He might internally think that north of the 134 was too far away to deal with, but L.A. was his, and while they were here…he’d show them a little bit of his city.

John pulled out his own phone.

Ten minutes later, they waited on the curb in the dark. When a Van Nuys police cruiser pulled up, John stepped forward.

“Detective Wilson?” the officer asked through the window.

“Yes, thanks for the ride.”

“Detective Espinoza says she still owes you.” The officer sounded like he was reciting the message. “And that this isn’t that big of a favor.”

John laughed. “Okay, tell her I’ll think of something.” He turned to his companions and then gestured at the cruiser.

“This is our ride?” Benjamin asked stiffly.

“Yep.” John opened the back door for Kailani.

Kailani stared at him, and John felt a little guilty, but she gamely slid into the backseat. Out of habit, he put his hand on the top of her head to make sure she didn’t hit it.

Benjamin helped him load the bags in the trunk. John opened the driver’s side back passenger door for him.

“I’ve never been arrested,” Benjamin pointed out.

“You’re not under arrest.”

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