Page 159 of Flirty Fall Fling

Winter already has her phone out. “There’s a seat on the ten o’clock out of Denver.” Seconds later, she’s pulling out her credit card and buying it. She types in my information.

“I’ll pay you back,” I tell her. “I need to leave now if I’m going to make it there in time.”

What follows is the fastest hour of me packing for a trip in the history of Wardwell Manor. Josie throws things into my carry-on faster than I can veto them. Winter starts rescheduling my clients this week with zero explanations. I change outfits twice. This might be the most reckless day of my life. I have no idea where I’m going. I don’t know what will happen if I show up and he doesn’t want me there. But at least I’ll know it was all or nothing.

At the curb at the airport, Josie hugs me and makes me promise to text her if I need anything. Winter takes both my shoulders and looks me over.

“Go get your answer,” she says. “Whatever his answer turns out to be, you’ll be okay. Know that.”

“Do you think this is ridiculous?” I ask, searching her face, needing some sort of confirmation.

“It’s not,” she says. “Love makes people do wild things. But when it’s the real deal, it’s worth it. Always.”

I drag my bag toward the doors, and Josie rolls down the window.

“Remember, the tiny hexes are still on the table!”

I walk into the airport laughing with tears in my eyes.

The plane taxis to the runway at ten on the dot. I wonder if leaving Pine Haven to search for him is the right decision, or if I’ve lost my mind. I don’t have Jamie’s address. The only number I’ve ever had for him is no longer in service. New York has millions of people. Finding him in the city will be like finding a needle in a haystack. But here I am, still searching, still holding on to hope that what we shared was real.

The snowcapped mountains fade under the wing of the plane.

Winter is coming.

I fall asleep, only waking when the captain welcomes us to New York. It’s bright, and the sunshine against the city windows twinkles below us. It’s big, bold, and bright. He’s down there somewhere, and I wonder what he’s doing.

The wheels touch down, skirting the runway. I grab my carry-on and exit the plane. Before my phone completely dies, I schedule a rideshare to the hotel I booked for three days.

Forty days ago, I promised a man I’d never fall in love with him. I need to find him so he can tell me, to my face, that I’m not what he wants. It’s the only way I’ll ever be able to move on.

36

JAMIE

The doorman at Park Towers calls me Jameson twice before I remember that’s my fucking name.

My penthouse feels empty and cold. I’ve owned it for twelve years, and it might as well be staged, down to the white furniture no one sits on.

I left Colorado before sunrise with a few hours of sleep. The entire flight back to the city, I was a wreck and couldn’t nap. Somewhere over the middle of the country, I quit trying.

Once I walk inside, I shower and put on a charcoal suit, white shirt, and black tie. I smooth it flat against my chest. Under it is my necklace. It takes me a little longer to make the knot than it usually does. I’m rusty.

On my left hand is the proof that we happened. The mood ring is still on my finger, and it’s violet. I stare at it, then make my way downstairs to the car that’s waiting for me.

The headquarters is half an hour away and takes every minute of it to get there. When I enter, my name is stenciled in gold lettering on the lobby wall.

The receptionist stands and smiles. “Mr. Cross, good morning,” she says.

“Good morning, Mrs. Childress.” I give her a nod, moving to the elevator.

I have to use my key card to scan up to the top floor, where the boardroom is. The walls overlook the Hudson, and the water sparkles below. My eyes scan to the room, where twelve men wearing black suits sit. I enter, and I’m handed a stack of papers that looks like a small novel.

David sits at the head of the table. He’s the only one who treats me like a person instead of a product, but even then, it only goes so far.

Bart is to his left with a notebook full of notes in front of him. The general counsel is also in attendance. He’s wearing the calm expression of a man who’s billing thousands by the hour.

“Jameson,” David says. “Thank you for being early.”