Page 3 of Come Fly With Me

“No, it’s what passes for panic. I don’t want the uni owning my work.” He had plans for that research. He was going to get rich, then go home and sweep Maggie off her feet. That money was hisinwith her because his looks sure as hell weren’t going to do it. It was a lesson he’d learned from watching Bill Gates—nerdy guys needed moola to get the girl.

“Unlock my phone,” Rachel ordered. “I’ll ask my father if you can use the company lawyer.”

“Aren’t lawyers expensive?” He was pretty sure that, whatever they charged, the allowance his parents gave him wouldn’t cover it.

“Yes, they’re expensive, but don’t worry about it this time. I’ll also have him draw up a contract for us while he’s at it.”

“We need a contract?” Harry’s eyebrows shot up. His brother never covered this in the talk he gave him before he left for uni. “To be friends?”

“No.” She shook her head in clear disgust. “This is why you need me. I’m going to be your business manager, and we need a contract to set that up. It will give me permission to apply for the protection your ideas need.”

Harry looked around, checking the bustling cafeteria for cameras. Was this a joke? A skit for that College Humor site? “Uh, I don’t need a business manager,” he said at last. “I don’t have a business.”

“Yes. You do.Youare the business.”

“And you’re going to manage me?”

“Goodness knows you need it.” Her thumbs flew over her iPhone screen as she spoke.

“This is a weird conversation.” Harry was beginning to wish he’d picked another table.

“Don’t worry. This is just to get you set up. I have no intention of doing this long term. I have plans, and babysitting your budding software career isn’t one of them.”

“Plans?” It was becoming increasingly clear why Rachel had been sitting alone—she was as much of a freak as he was. She just hid it better.

She nodded. “As soon as I get my degree, I’m going to work in the family company. One day, I’ll take the helm when my father retires. Sure, everyone thinks it will pass to my older brother, Jonathan, but he isn’t as interested in it as I am. Jonathan is more of a financial whizz. But I can’t wait to get my hands on the company. I have so many ideas for making it bigger, better, stronger. It’s what I was born to do. But first, seeing as I’m here for the next few years, I may as well help you set up your company. Somebody has to make sure you don’t get ripped off.”

“Rachel?” Harry waited until she looked up from her phone. “You know you’re kind of scary, right?”

For the first time since he’d rocked up to her table, she smiled. And that was kind of scary too.

The Beginning and the End of the Invertary Football League

This story takes place after Bad Boy, where we first met Flynn Boyle, a former professional soccer player. At this point, Lake’s plan for a Benson Security office in London is still a pipe dream. And Mitch, Logan, and Megan haven’t met their soulmates.

Although Joe has met his in Julia.

She just doesn’t know it yet!

The first—and last—match of Invertary’s brand new, minuscule, football league took place on a misty Saturday morning in October. For this auspicious occasion, Flynn Boyle had chosen the pitch nearest the pub, thinking he might need a stiff drink once the match was over. He’d been on the field five minutes, and already he was craving a double whisky.

“Where’s the rest of your team?” he asked his high school nemesis as they stood in the middle of the pitch. The man was flanked by his three younger brothers and a few of their friends.

Lachlan MacGregor folded his arms over a blue shirt printed with the words Invertary Invaders. There was a smirk on his face that Flynn wanted to wipe off with his fist. Even after all these years, Lachlan got on his very last nerve.

“They’re getting changed.” Lachlan nodded toward the concrete block that housed the changing rooms. “We need to talk about a handicap. It’s no’ fair that we’re up against a professional—even if he only played for Arsenal. We want a two-goal head start.”

Aye, Flynn’s fist had a burning desire to be buried in Lachlan’s face. “Not happening. Your team has its fair share of competent players. Hell, you could have gone professional if you’d wanted.” And didn’t those words just burn in his throat? “Everybody on your team grew up playing the game. Whereas I have a bunch of Americans, who call the game soccer and think football is basically rugby played wearing armor. Josh over there doesn’t know his arse from his elbow. He’s handicap enough to even things out.”

“I heard that,” Josh shouted as a ball flew through the air and hit his head.

“See what I mean?” Flynn said in disgust.

“Stop pissing around,” Lachlan said. “We both know you could be a team of one and still run rings around any other side. Plus, look at your goalie. If we get anything past him, it’ll be a miracle.”

Flynn glanced back at Grunt, who at six and a half feet of pure muscle, bore a striking resemblance to the Hulk. “Don’t worry too much about him. He’s American an’ all.”

“He knows how to play the game, right?” Lachlan said, his eyes also on Grunt. “He’s no’ likely to lose the plot and run rampage through my team if a ball comes at him, is he?”