Finally the car stopped and I took out my earphones, letting Norah Jones’ Pandora station fall into my lap.
“Why have we stopped at a private airplane?”
“Mr. Branch is in the airplane waiting for you. He’s going to take you to your meeting.”
“Oh.” Figures. I was still getting used to the billionaire way of living. Of course meetings aren’t limited to just one city or state at this level of life. Heck, I’d learned that even living quarters aren’t to be limited to a one-hour radius. That’s why God had created flight. To be used in good measure and stewardship!
“Hello, Miss Longhouse. Right this way, ma’am.” A man I did not recognize opened the door and escorted me out of the car. “If you will follow me, right up these steps over here.”
Oh holy moly. I’d never been on a private jet before. It seemed a bit larger than most private jets. Of course it was! It belonged to…wait for it…billionaires. But it certainly looked like it could seat a whole football team!
“Mr. Branch is finishing up a phone call in his suite and will be with you in about thirty minutes in flight. Have a nice meeting.”
Standing next to the top of the boarding stairs was a suited woman. Smiling brightly, she held out a glass of champagne to me.
“Hello, Miss Longhouse. Welcome aflight. I’m Kendra, and I’ll be your assistant today. Champagne?” It was 3 P.M., too early for a drink.
Heck, it was five o’clock somewhere, right?
I accepted the glass. “Thank you.” Wow…this was something.
Opulent white leather seats sparkled like diamonds. These were the type of seats one feared spilling anything on. I was aboard the Rolls Royce of jets. I walked into a room that would be fit for a living room in any large home. Sofas, throw pillows, - I realized it was the welcoming foyer of the jet. There were even crystal vases with peonies in them. What a scene!
“Would you like anything special on? Television? Apple TV? Are their any shows you’re dying to catch up on in case Mr. Branch is detained in his meeting?”
I should brainstorm, I really should. But after all I’d been through in last few days, all that crying, feeling, blushing, lying, hiding and baking, it was nice to kick back and lounge in this uberly chic room. The heavy silk curtains that draped majestically over the windows infused me with the relaxed feeling of being in a 5-star- heck, 7-star hotel.
I sure felt cozy.
“You know, actually I started a show with my cousin. It’s called the Paradise. It’s an English show though, British television.”
Her face lit up with recognition. “Oh, I just loooooooved that show! I know exactly what you are talking about. I may even have to join you!”
“Ha! Well hopefully Mr. Branch won’t be hours-long on that phone call.”
“Right,” she said quickly, her face suddenly changing a bit while her smile remained. “Well, enjoy your champagne. We have plenty of where that came from!”
She switched to professional mode. “During take off, please take your seat over in one of the seats with seat buckles, and then once we are situated in air, I’ll come and let you know. Then you can take your cozy seat in one of those sofas over there.”
She spoke with the soothing nature of sweet tea. She really excelled at her role. I wondered if she met a lot of billionaires this way and if that was her aim for the position.
My family died in a private plane crash, echoed around my brain in fearful altitudes.
The Champagne smiled at me. I can help your fears.
That you can.
I quickly sipped the bubbles, nervously looking at my phone and gearing up for takeoff. I completely finished my glass in five minutes.
“Kendra, please make your final rounds. Take off in five.” I overheard the captain instruct on a mini speaker nearby. With her face as bright as a sunbeam, she pranced back with the bottle of Cristal.
“Thought I’d tip you off a bit. There you go. Now, we’re about to take off. I’ll be back in about twenty.” She smiled warmly as she worked.
“Thank you!” I called out after her. It was just what I was needed.
She walked away and I couldn’t help but to notice she was around my age. I immediately thought of Ashley and her desire to be in this type of social circle. I made a mental note to fill her in of this job once I landed later tonight. A total tip and a total thank you for her help last night!
I sipped the bubbles and looked at my Instagram finally.
“Whoa,” I took more sips my drink, my heart suddenly doubling in speed. My last photo I posted on Kate’s Kitchen had over a dozen comments:
Charlestondaily: Did you say yes, Kate?
Lovestotravel22: Where did you go?
MsBrunchandChamps: The cupcakes were fantastic dear! You’re going to make a beautiful bride!
CordilaMSV: Congratulations darling. Keep up the fanstastic work.
Begratefultoday: Atticus’ proposal was so romantic! You’re a lucky woman and he’s a lucky man to have such a great cook like you!
Whaaaaaat? Did I say yes? Proposal?
My eyelids fell heavy as I took a few more sips of the champagne to settle my rattled nerves and my unbelief. Proposal!?
The mini speaker announced: “Please prepare for takeoff. ”
I took another sip as I sought to find out what on earth everyone was talking about. Switching over to my browser, I quickly Googled Atticus Branch the First’s birthday party for any gossip published online.
“Please prepare for take off. Passengers, please place electronics on airplane mode. Thank you.”
Runaway Fiancée hits the Streets of Charleston.
I snapped a photo of the article quickly before sliding the phone to airplane mode. I would be obedient on this order. I wanted to live!
I closed my eyes as I felt the jet pick up speed, zooming down the runway.
The jet lifted off smoothly and I clutched my phone for dear life, for support, for good luck, for anything as I said my prayers to make it alright. The Champagne winked at me to finish it. Boy was I sleepy. I guess it really had been a long night. Well, considering everything that had transpired lately, I was flat worn out. I placed the flute in a drink holder, finally letting my heavy eyelids win.
A small nap wouldn’t hurt anyone. Fresh mind, fresh ideas.
White noise was all I heard as I pulled the plush fur blanket over me and snuggled cozily in a down feather couch. Gosh, it was so soft. As soft as rabbit. And why was it dark? Why was I laying down?
My eyes shut open. What.The.Fuck.
Why was I lying down on this couch and how did I get here? What was happening? Why had we not landed? Good grief. This wasn’t good business etiquette to fall full-fledge asleep like this before a meeting!
And whoa, did I feel groggy… And sort of dizzy, but pleasant. I felt a lofty kind of tipsy, as if I’d coupled my drink with a Xanax. Relaxed. Airy-fairy. Hmmm…
Why on Earth did I feel like that from just one and a half glasses of Champagne?
I reached for my phone but it was dead.
As if suddenly alerted that I had awakened, Kendra came right to my attention, full of smiles and carrying a tray with water and food.
“Is everything alright, Miss Longhouse?”
“Ummm…” I scratched the back of my neck, suddenly realizing how mangled my mane had become. That must have been some nap. Where did I start with my concerns to share with Kendra? Um, how did I get to the couch? I don’t remember that? Orrrrr….
“I had a meeting with Mr. Branch. I don’t want to be late for it. Have I missed it?”
“Oh certainly. Let me go get him for you.”
“Thank you so much,” I said weakly suddenly feeling very parched. As if trained to know my very needs, Kendra held out a finger. “I’ve provided both sparking and flat water for you, as well as a fruit platter.”
“Thank you so much, Kendra.”
In an instant, I had refreshed myself with-ice cold, fresh water and pee
ring out into the night sky. I walked over to a window and peeked out to see where we were. Perhaps we were flying to L.A.? It was a six-hour flight from New York City, which made this pretty much the same flight length, so I assumed. It made total sense. L.A. had more vegans per capita than all of the U.S. Paleo seemed right up their ally with all of the entertainers and industry.
I love you…for sentimental reasons…began playing to that romantic happy piano melody in the overhead speakers. I was snapped out of my destination assumptions. I knew the song well from the Branch’s. It was one of Nat King Cole’s bestselling songs. It instantly created an easy romantic feeling.
I sipped my cold water lost in another groggy thought as I tried to make out something, anything below. But there was nothing. Gosh, I really felt relaxed. Like super relaxed. That was some power nap.
“May I have this dance with you?”
What the—
Those hands I knew so well were on my body spinning me around pulling me into him.
Him.
Atticus Branch III.
“What are you doing here!?” I fought to get out of his grip, but he pulled me closer. God, he smelled so good. He had that signature fragrance of pine, lemon and green tea. I was a sucker for it. I couldn’t help but to take a long whiff despite my anger.
His thin, cotton, fitted white V-neck t-shirt lay soft against my cheek. My angry eyes danced below, taking in his outfit in. He was in fitted gray sweats. His strong muscles teased me. Oh, how they teased me as he swayed me so.
I shook my head. “No, no, no, no.”
I couldn’t let this happen again. Haven’t I learned by now?
I fought to pull away from him but he was too strong. I suddenly felt nervous, as if Kendra or any other staff were watching. To avoid making a scene and attracting any more unwanted attention, I decided to relax as best as I could. As I relaxed, I felt strangely calm. As in a medicated type of calm. Maybe it was the fancy champagne?
“Aw, I thought you liked this song?” His tone was light and playful as he persisted, winning the slow dance war with me. Ugh! His tight body pressed up against mine made me unable to think, reason, or form sentences that made any sense. Damn it!
“Where’s…where’s your Grandfather?”
“Why? You have a thing for older men now?” His eyes twinkled in amusement.
“I have a meeting with him.” My eyes scanned the room. I would not make eye contact with him. No way, no how. I struggled to muster every ounce of strength I had to create some sort of distance between us. It was too much to have my body pressed up against his like this.
God, his back was so strong… I loved his shoulders. All I could think about immediately was that first night my body felt his cock for the first time as he picked me up and hammered into me as my body slid against the wall.
“Hmmm…oh, yeah. That meeting,” he answered, disrupting my lust-filled thoughts and snapping my pussy back in line.
Salute, yes ma’am. I’ll behave, she cried out to me.
Not…
Like she’d ever behave!
“Did you ruin my meeting by hijacking my plans?”
“I didn’t ruin anything darling, cause there was no meeting.”
I was confused. “But I…but I received a very special card from him today.” And generous check.
“That you did. But the meeting text was from yours truly.”
“Then…where are you taking me?” I pulled away from him, angry as hell.
“You’ll see my little eager one!” The music was light and continued to provide the perfect backdrop for ease, grace, and romance. But I wasn’t having any of it. Ugh! What nerve he had! But still, strangely, I wasn’t getting as angry as I normally do. I just felt so damn relaxed!
“You’ll see?” I persisted, wanting a straight answer.
“Did you have a nice nap?” He dismissed me.
“I…I…” My head was spinning. I had no idea how long I had even slept for or what the hell Atticus was doing right now.
“I made sure your drink had a nice Ambien in it so you can get a good night’s rest. I didn’t want you to have jet lag.”
“Night’s rest? Ambien? You drugged me?”
“No, no, I was looking out for you. You have to trust me. And besides, I needed you to calm down. To cool down and not be so angry.”
My eyes rolled. I boiled in anger. Channeling my fury, I decided to let him know how I felt. “What!? I could have died!”
“No, I wouldn’t do that to you.”
“Why are you playing such a romantic song when you know I’m angry with you?” That was all I could get out fast and angry.
“In hopes you’ll dance with me again. So I could feel your body next to me again.”
“Right here on this plane?”
“Jet.” He winked at me.
That rich bastard. His body launched towards me and swept me up twirling me around so expertly, with the skillset only a trained dancer possessed. Every part of me wanted to be in his arms— my heart, my soul, my body, but my rationale was so mad. I had so many conflicting feelings inside; my emotions raged like a wildfire strong enough to consume an entire home in minutes.
“So this is what rich billionaires do? They sweep away their gi—”
“So…you will then at least be my girlfriend?”
“You are just so…”
“So what?”
He continued twirling me around like mad, pressing me up against him so possessively, making sure to let me feel his growing hardness for me.
Oh God, there we go. My kryptonite. Hormones in a bottle bursting open the cork!
I loved the way his hands felt on my hip. I loved that smile. I loved that face. Loved the way he smelled. I loved the way we kissed, the sexy way his soft lips gently kissed me and could drink me in like a parched man in the desert.
I loved being with him.
As much as I hated him; I needed him. Wanted him.
“Spoiled.” I decided to say.
“What’s the problem? Kitty Kate? Do you not like me? You don’t want to play cat and mouse?” His fingers slid up my bare arm and across my collarbone. I felt shivers roll down my arm. It felt so nice to be touched, to be wanted, to be wined and dined. But damn it, I was a Scorpio; we did not just snap out of things. We held on to things. Forever. People were lucky if we ever moved on.
I glared into his puppy dog eyes.
“You look so mad.”
“I am mad! You have the whole city talking about me.”
“Well… it’s excellent publicity for your new bakery.”
I scoffed. Was that the best he could offer? “Speaking of, I was supposed to be meeting your grandfather today to discuss business.”
“And you will. Why don’t we put all the heavy feelings aside and just play a bit. Let me show you how it would be to be my girl. But first,” he whipped out his phone and snapped a photo of me without even asking.
“I’d show you off every day as my crown jewel.”
My girl?
Snap. The iPhone camera sounded.
“Hey!” I reached for his phone.
“Posted. With caption hashtag, ‘With bae’.”
I rolled my eyes. “This isn’t pretend anymore, Atticus! The game’s over. You had your music. You had your little CD.”
“Oh no…not little at all.”
I rolled my eyes.
“My big buddy over at Universal handles music acquisitions for films. They think it’s perfect for their new young adult fantasy series. He approached me after I performed it. Think Twilight, Divergent… the whole world will hear it. It’s not little anymore, thanks to you.”
I could slap at him. Claw at him. But the look on his face was one of elation and I knew he really wanted this, to be taken seriously as a singer and songwriter. We continued to sway to the music, and his hardness continued to press into my belly…which continued to make me loco.
“You know, it really is a beautiful, movin
g melody.” I cleared my throat, my insides begging, clamoring to be filled again by him. Quivering to feel his touch between my legs, to finally feel the satiating pleasure of being filled by him again. To dance in another way, another song, the melody and rhythm of us. Chills flooded my arms as my nipples hardened beneath my shirt.
“You’re my song.” He spoke low and growly, with the voice of a skilled seducer. Husky, soft, and close to my ear so I could feel the vibrations of his voice, reminding me of other vibrations he could cause in my body. Oh, some good vibrations, indeed.
I shook my head trying to shake up my lust. “No, I’m not, Atticus. I’m just apparently your muse and a woman who was in need of your money.”
“But I want you to feel more. Be more. Because I have a little secret of my own to share with you.”
“What’s that?” I rolled my eyes at him.
He reached for my hand towards his pocket.
I pulled it away as if I was about to touch a hot stove. I was not going to touch his cock. God, he had the nerve! Ugh!
He grabbed my hand again and smiled mischievously pulling me again harder towards his crotch. But he surprised me when he slipped my hand in his pocket while his hot whisper tickled my ear.
“Because I know it was you that night.”
“You knew it was me…th?”
Then I felt it.
In his pocket.
The skeleton key.
“Oh fuck.” I was breathless. My heart raced. He knew…
“Now you know how I feel about that word,” he drawled. “And clearly you know we do that oh so very well.”
“Fuck. Me.”
“Okay. I shall.”
Chapter Thirty
Kate
Southern Charmed Billionaire Page 18