Page 67 of Sealing the Deal

The rest of the group bundle on after her. Mama is first, all calm authority, but there’s a warmth to her now that wasn’t there at that first meeting in the skybox in Buffalo. She greets me with a hug and thanks me for the ride. Then come Serena and Harper, mid-conversation and already laughing.

Donny is next, pausing in the aisle to take it all in. “And here I was, thinking I was your only friend,” he calls, clapping me on the back.

“Oh, you are,” Flic says from behind him. “We just use him for his money and his jet.”

Laughter ripples through the cabin, and I’m smiling too, even as my world narrows to one woman. She’s wearing a tight red sweater with white trim that somehow manages to look both casual and lethal, the black jeans that fit her like a second skin, teamed of course with her biker boots. Her hair is loose down her back in glossy white-blonde waves.

“I missed you, too,” I reply, meaning it.

Her gaze lifts to mine and the pull between us is a physical, undeniable thing. We both said we’d only cross the line that once. But standing here, watching her smile at Mad, at Mama, at me, thinking of the flirty messages we’ve exchanged this week, I’m certain I’m nowhere near done with this woman. Not even close.

It takes everything I have not to kick all the other passengers off this plane, lock the doors, and take her somewhere far away. A desert island, just the two of us, sounds ideal right about now.

The spell breaks when Mad pipes up, impatient. “When are we going?”

Helena doesn’t miss a beat. “When my brother picks his jaw off the floor and takes a seat,” she calls out.

Laughter erupts again. Introductions finish. I drop into a chair, very aware that Flic pointedly avoids the empty space beside me, choosing to slide into a chair beside Mad instead. I tell myself I don’t mind. I lie.

Nicholas moves smoothly down the aisle, joined by another member of staff I’ve brought in to help him today. He runs through the safety demonstration with practiced ease before taking drink orders. It’s under two hours to Kansas City, but judging by the volume of conversation as we taxi toward the runway, it’s going to be a boisterous flight.

Donny moves to sit next to me. “Did you hear Flic defending your ass on Fourth & Forever this week?”

I smile. “I did.”

“Gotta say, I thought you were crazy to try and work with Denver’s biggest fan, but you were right, man. She’s made a huge difference to how we’re seeing things and the fans’ opinion of you.”

“And the sponsors?”

“Watching closely but less worried, I’d say.” Donny drops his voice before he continues. “I got your email.”

“Which one?” I ask.

“Both of them.” He studies my face. “You sure?”

“Yes,” I reply without hesitation. I glance toward the lounge area where Mama and Serena are already laughing over something Mad has said. “And before you ask—I’m not moving on the outreach program, either. It stays exactly as it is.”

He sighs, probably remembering the two-hour budget meeting we had this week and how I refused to move an inch. “No one wants to get rid of it altogether. It’s just trimming it a little to save on costs while we get ourselves⁠—”

“No,” I cut in. “No cuts. We should be expanding the team’s role in the community. It’s like Flic said, we need to get out from under the radar.”

“And the other thing—” Donny starts.

“Not now,” I say quietly, aware of Flic and the Sullivans only a few seats away. The second email—the one about the future of the Stormhawks, my future with them—isn’t something I want anyone, especially not Flic, to know about yet. Let the lawyers do their work. It’ll come out eventually. The thought makes me feel a little queasy. I just hope Flic will understand when the time comes to tell her.

My attention slides back to her. She’s laughing now, playing a clapping hand game with Mad, and looks completely unguarded.

Donny follows my line of sight and presses a hand to my shoulder. “Yeah. Well, for what it’s worth, Ashborne, I’ve known you a long time. I’ve never seen you this relaxed.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Of course you don’t.” He smirks. “Just glad your dick didn’t drop off, after all.”

“How much is it going to cost me for you to never mention my dick again?”

Donny laughs. “Some things are priceless, man.”

My phone buzzes in my pocket. New York. Ashborne Holdings. My father. I don’t even look at the screen before silencing it. I can’t be in two places at once, no matter how hard I try, and today is about the Stormhawks and spending time with the woman I can’t stop thinking about.