Page 65 of Flight Plan

“Sounds expensive.”

“Well, after the potential investors saw you in action—watched you maneuverer our custom dragon-copter in a raging storm to save Jack—they’ve agreed to come on board and fund a campaign featuring the helicopter. So, it sounds like you’re getting a big raise—if you choose to stay on with the company.”

“What? Really?”

“Overnight, you’ve gone viral. You’re a real-life hero. Well,” he quickly corrected. “You served our country, so you’ve always been a hero.”

“Wesley. Shut up and kiss me.”

He didn’t hesitate to capture her lips, and they shared a long and passionate kiss. But he broke away, forcing her to look at him. “And us?”

“All this is so crazy.”

At his long sigh, she guessed he still questioned her feelings for him. “But us? I’ve never felt more sure in my life. I love you. And I want to be with you, always.” With his profession of love, all her uncertain questions about a position, a place to raise Jack, and her own feelings were answered.

He kissed her again, but it was her who broke contact this time. “Besides, I can’t let anyone else fly my dragon-copter.”

“Good. Because she was made for you to pilot.”

“Oh yeah?” Love filled in her heart. “As it turns out—I was made to be your badass muse.”

“Yes, Ava Baxter, my muse, my love.” He reclaimed her lips in an exquisitely loving kiss as she wrapped her arms around his neck, accepting he was her future.

“Mom?” Jack called as he returned with Goliath.

She managed to untangle her tongue from Wesley’s before he entered, but she remained within his tight grasp.

Jack stopped when he saw them, wonder on his bright face.

“You know, Jack,” Wesley got the boy’s attention, “your mom is a very special woman.”

Jack shifted his gaze to her then back to Wesley, looking perplexed. “Yeah, she’s the best.”

Jack’s comment warmed her heart.

“I love her a lot,” Wesley revealed.

Jack beamed. “Me, too.”

“How would you feel about you and your mom moving in with me in my penthouse in New York now that summer is coming to an end?”

Jack’s mouth fell open as he gasped. “Like a real family?”

“Yes. A real family,” Wesley said, giving her a squeeze.

“Even Goliath?”

“Of course!”

Jack raced over, wrapping his arm around her and Wesley’s waists, Goliath sandwiched between them. “This is awesome! And I’ll get to have a brother, too.”

Ava saw tears shimmer in Wesley’s eyes when Jack brought up that Tejas would be his brother. Her heart felt so full, causing tears of happiness to bubble on her eyelids. For once in her life, she didn’t try to control the tears, allowing them to flow freely down her face and drip off her chin. Wrapping her arm around Jack, she stood in the embrace of her new family.

It turned out family wasn’t identified by blood or last names, but by never giving up on each other. This summer, Ava was blessed with a huge family, including the girls in the club, the team, and even Brock.

Ava clutched the arms of the boys in her embrace. “I love you both so much.”

“What about him?” Jack asked about Goliath.

She smiled through her tears, correcting, “I love all three of you so much.”