“I hope you’re right.”
“I always am, just like Decker.” Doc laughed. “I want you to think about what I said.”
I watched as the blades of the helicopter slowed. “I’m not sure I can just let it go.”
“You wouldn’t be. You’d be letting your team wrap up the end of the mission on your behalf.”
I looked out at the ocean. “I have no idea what I’m going to do once this is over.”
“I can tell you that at least three job offers will be waiting whenever you’re ready to consider them. And if anyone offers you something better than K19 does, just let me know and I’ll double it.”
I laughed, but he didn’t. “You’re serious?”
“Damn straight, I am. And if Ashford tries to top me, I’ll triple it. Hell, I’ll give up my own salary to keep you from going to work for him.” Doc put his hand on my shoulder. “I won’t pressure you to answer me now. Think it over while you’re at my family’s ranch and give me your answer by the end of the day.”
“Is that any less pressure?”
“As I said a few minutes ago, seize whatever happiness is offered to you. Now go on before my mother calls to find out why you aren’t there yet.”
“You must be Irish,” said the man who got out of the helicopter and waved at Doc before he drove away. “I’m Naughton.”
“Nice to meet you, and thanks for this.”
“Don’t thank me. I never get the chance to fly this thing. In fact, if there’s anywhere else you want to go before we head to the ranch, just say the word.”
“I don’t suppose this thing would get me to Colorado.”
“You’re right, it won’t, but one of my brother’s planes probably could.”
I doubted I could go even if I wanted to. Until Harris was well enough to be questioned, there was still the matter of no one knowing we’d returned to the States. I looked over at Doc’s brother. Obviously, his family knew. Maybe later I’d ask Doc if we could read Buck in. If so, I would do everything I could to get back to Flynn.
“It’s a quick flight,” Naughton said, handing me a headset. “But it’s a beautiful one. I’ll fly you past a couple of local landmarks that are only a little out of the way.”
The first was Hearst Castle, which I’d heard of but never visited. “Believe me, it is way more impressive from up here than it is walking through it,” he said as he circled around to go down the coast.
“That’s Morro Rock you see off in the distance. Something else that is better seen from the sky than on foot. Let’s just say that seals aren’t very good housekeepers.”
“It really is spectacular from up here. All of it.” I waved my hand in the direction of the rolling hills we were flying over.
“We’ll be at the ranch in about fifteen. Relax and enjoy the rest of the ride.”
“That was quick,” I said when we landed.
“Kade probably warned you that our mother was anxious to meet you; otherwise, I might’ve shown you a few more of the sights.”
“I can’t wait to meet her.”
Naughton laughed. “I hope he warned you not to eat before you came.”
“He did. So did your father.”
I removed the headset and handed it to him.
“Listen, I don’t know a lot of detail about what my brother does. Hell, up until a couple of years ago, I thought my father was nothing besides a vineyard owner who liked to dabble in technology. But I do know that my parents are laying out the red carpet for you. So whatever it is you’ve done, I want to thank you for your service.”
I wasn’t sure what to say, and then I thought about something Doc had said earlier. “You’re welcome.”
When the blades wound down and I climbed out, I saw someone who looked familiar walking toward me.
“Stella? What are you doing here?”
She walked up and put her arm through mine. “I heard you and I have been relieved of duty.”
“Oh yeah? I thought Doc was going to let me decide for myself.”
“I think you’ll agree once you see the present I brought you.”
“Did you get me my own airplane so I can fly back to Colorado?”
“Sadly, no. But once you see what it is, I doubt you’ll want to anyway.”
“You’re right.” I removed my arm from Stella’s and rushed toward the best gift life had given me as I saw her walking toward me. “Flynn,” I said, pulling her into my arms.
“Surprise!”
“I’d ask what you’re doing here or how you got here, but I don’t care. All that matters is that you’re in my arms. I missed you so much.” I put my hands on either side of her face and kissed her again and again. “Do you know how much I want to be alone with you?”
“I feel the same way, but this was actually Sorcha’s idea, so you at least have to meet her.” Flynn took my hand and led me in the direction of the house. “You’ll love her, by the way.”
“There he is,” said a woman with a Scottish accent who I had no doubt was Doc’s mother.
“Mrs. Butler, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” When I held out my hand, she swatted it away.
“My name is Sorcha, and we hug in my house.”
“I told you,” mouthed Flynn. “Isn’t she great?”
“Come and we’ll eat, and you can tell me all about how you conquered the evil Argead.”
Burns approached and put his hand on my shoulder. “Welcome to Butler Ranch, and don’t say you weren’t duly warned.”
“Listen, before you get started, I need to be on my way,” said Stella. “You like your surprise, right?”
I shook my head. “I love it.”
Stella put her hand on my cheek. “This is what you look like when you’re happy. It looks good on you, Irish.”
“It looks good on you too.”
“We’ll catch up soon, at the Roaring Fork.”
She said goodbye to Burns and Sorcha and then rushed out the door. “Flynn, see if you can get a helicopter ride while you’re here!” We watched as she ran over to where Naughton waited.
“The plane ride was thrilling enough. I’m not sure I’m ready to ride in one of those.”
“You’d love it. Naughton took me over the ocean on our way here.”
Flynn’s eyes opened wide. “The ocean? Is it far from here?”
“It’s less than a half hour’s drive, lass,” said Sorcha, taking both of our hands and leading us over to the table. “Have you not seen it?”
“Never.”
Doc’s mother put her hand on Flynn’s cheek. “Something tells me you’re going to be seeing quite a lot of it in the days to come.”
“Does she know something I don’t?” I whispered in Flynn’s ear.
She shrugged. “I was going to ask you the same thing.”
I had no idea how much time had passed while Flynn and I sat at the table, talking to Burns and Sorcha. The entire time, I either held Flynn’s hand or had my arm around her shoulders.
When she excused herself to use the restroom and Burns left the room too, Sorcha got up and came over to sit beside me.
“You love her, don’t you?” She put her hand on my cheek that I was sure was bright red.
I leaned forward. “I think I should tell her first, don’t you?”
She sat back in the chair and clapped her hands. “I knew it.”
“Sorcha,” said Burns, shaking his finger at her. “What are you up to?”
She stood and grabbed his hand. “Hush, you, and help me clean up the kitchen.”
I got up to help too.
“Not you,” she said over her shoulder. “It’s a lovely time of day for you and Flynn to take a walk in the vineyards.”
“Would you like to?” I asked when I saw her come around the corner.
“Are you sure we can’t help?”
“Go on now, lass. You helped cook. We’ll take care of this.”
“I knew you had,” I said once she and I were out on the porch.
“You did not.”
“Yes, I did. I could even tell you which part.”
“Okay, Mr. Smarty, what did I help with?”
“You made the cornbread and the chili.”
Flynn laughed. “You just knew it wasn’t my potato salad.”
“Or coleslaw.”
“Isn’t it beautiful here?” she asked as we walked from the porch to the gravel path that wound through the vineyard.
I stopped walking and pulled her into me. “You’re beautiful,” I said before kissing her. “I wanted to do that at least a hundred times while we sat at that table.”
“I did too.” She kissed me back.
We walked toward the sunset and stopped when we came to a bench.
“Wow,” Flynn gasped, taking in the view.
We sat quietly until we couldn’t see the sun any longer.
“How long are you staying?” I asked.
“Me?”
I laughed. “Yeah, you.”
“I have no idea. I thought maybe you did.”
“I didn’t even know you’d be here. I mean, I’m thrilled that you are.” I pulled her close to me when I saw chill bumps on her arms. “Let’s go back to the house and see if Burns or Sorcha know.”
“Sorcha will know,” said Flynn, laughing. “I don’t think anything happens in the world without her knowing about it.”
“There you are,” said Sorcha when we came inside. “Naughton will be here soon. Laird has brought your things.” She motioned to a small suitcase and then walked closer to me and took both my hands in hers.
“Paxon, I want you to let Stella write your story. The world deserves to know it.”
“I think she’ll write it with my permission or without it, not that it’s my story alone, to begin with.”
“It is and she won’t. Tell her you want her to, and she will.”
I studied her, not sure what to make of the formidable woman whose grasp on my hands was so tight and radiated so much warmth. It was easy to see Doc in both her and in Burns. He was the best of both of them.
“Promise me.”
“I’ll talk to her.”
Sorcha beamed. “Good.” She turned around and took Flynn’s hands like she had mine. “Laird is bringing a basket of food for you to take on your journey.”
“Thank you.” Flynn looked over at me and then at Sorcha. “Um, do you know where we’re going?”
“Only the first place. After that, it’s up to the two of you.”
“Where are we going tonight?”
She patted my cheek. “You’ll see.”
Flynn gasped when she saw the helicopter approach and land. “Are we going in that?”
“You’ll love it, I promise.”
45
Flynn
Instead of sitting in the one front passenger seat, Paxon sat next to me in the second row.
“There’s still enough light that I can show you some of the coast before we land,” said Naughton, who I’d met earlier when he picked Stella and me up from the airport and drove us to the ranch.
“I guess you know where we’re going,” Paxon joked.
“Let’s just say I know where you’re going first. After that, it’s up to the two of you.”
“Your mom said the same thing.”
“Ready?”
I grabbed both of Paxon’s hands when I felt us leaving the ground, and squeezed my eyes shut.
“Open,” I heard him say through the headset. “You don’t want to miss this.”
The helicopter didn’t go up too high, which meant we had a great view of the vineyards. “Look, there’s our bench,” I said, loosening my death grip on Paxon’s hands. “Oh my gosh,” I gasped when we went over a crest and I saw nothing but water on the horizon. My eyes filled with tears. Of course I’d seen photos, but nothing came close to the real thing. Not that it even looked real from up in the air.
“It’s breathtaking,” I said, looking over at Paxon.
He stroked my cheek with his thumb. “You are.”
“I can swing by the rock so Flynn can see it if you’d like.”
“That would be great,” Paxon responded.
“The rock?”
He smiled. “You’ll see.”
When Naughton veered to the left, my stomach sunk like I was on a roller coaster. Paxon pointed.
“What is that?”
“Morro Rock,” Naughton answered. “As I told your boyfriend, it’s a much better view from up here than it is from the ground.”
Wow. Naughton called Paxon my boyfriend. My first boyfriend. God, I loved the sound of that. “What’s on it?” I asked. I could see movement but couldn’t make out what it was.
“Seals. Thousands and thousands of seals. A little farther up the coast, you’ll see sea lions. They smell even worse than those things do.”
“I guess that’s why it’s better to see them from up here.”
“You got it.”
As we continued our tour, I studied Paxon as much as the scenery. There was something different about him since he left Colorado. If anyone asked, I wasn’t sure I could describe it. He seemed lighter, certainly happier. I wanted to ask him what had happened wherever he went, but I knew I couldn’t. The other thing was, I didn’t want to bring it up for fear I’d remind him of something that would make him sad again.
“Are you flying over the castle?” Paxon asked.
“Nope. Gotta get you to your lodging while there’s still enough light for you to see it.”
The same thing happened to my stomach when I felt the helicopter descending as it did when it took a sharp turn. “It’s so different from an airplane,” I said, grabbing Paxon’s hands like I had when we left Butler Ranch.
When he brought one to his lips and kissed my palm, I felt a surge of heat spread right through me and settle between my legs.
I knew Paxon was right when he’d said we should wait before he left on his mission. It hadn’t been easy, though. Every inch of my body longed to feel his touch.
I’d read enough books to have an idea of what it would be like when we were finally together. What I hoped it would be like, anyway. It wasn’t like I had any girlfriends I could ask how accurate those books were.
I guess I could’ve asked Stella, but she was marrying my brother. That would be way too embarrassing. Or Nina and Lucy, but I hardly knew them.
There was only one person I could think of that I trusted enough to talk to about sex, and he was sitting right beside me. I knew, without any doubt at all, that he’d tell me in a way that didn’t make me feel stupid or inexperienced, just like he’d talked to me about everything else.
He slipped off my headset, took his off too, and handed them both to Naughton while we waited for the blades of the helicopter to stop spinning.
“I would love to know what you were thinking about a minute ago,” Paxon whispered in my ear.
“I can show you.”
“Yeah?”
I took his hand and kissed it, pressing the lines on his palm with my tongue like he had to mine. Paxon’s eyelids half closed, and he leaned forward and kissed me.
“Hey, you two,” said Naughton. “It’s gonna be dark in about three minutes, and you’re going to have to wait until tomorrow to see your view.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, following Paxon when he climbed out. “Where are we?” I asked, spinning in a circle.
“This area used to be where Hearst warehoused all the stuff he brought in from around the world to put up in his castle on the hill. A couple of years ago, my mom bought this place and had it turned into a little seaside getaway for her and my dad. His mother and father met when they both worked for Hearst.”
“That’s so romantic,” I said, looking first out at the ocean and then at the little house that looked like it had been right here forever, lovingly cared for by people like Laird and Sorcha.
“Come on in, and I’ll show you around.”
“Do they just leave it
unlocked?” I asked when he pulled the sliding door to the side.
“Nah, Kade was here a little while ago, dropping off your stuff.” He pointed to bags I recognized as Paxon’s.
“Wow,” I said when he turned the lights on. “It looks so cozy.” It was decorated similarly to the house we’d visited at Butler Ranch, with mission-style furniture.
“My wife, Bradley—you didn’t meet her, because she’s at a wine festival this week. Anyway, she helped my ma decorate.”
“It’s lovely.”
Naughton picked up a set of keys that were sitting on one of the end tables in the living room that looked out over the ocean. “This one is for the front door. You lock the slider from the inside, and this one is for the car you’ll find in the garage. Be right back.” He ran out of the house and over to the helicopter.
“Can you believe this?” I asked Paxon.
He grabbed my hand and pulled me into a hug. “I can’t think about anything besides your tongue on my hand, Flynn. Nothing. My mind is blank. We could be on top of a volcano, and I wouldn’t know it.”
“Almost forgot this,” said Naughton, bringing in a basket. “It’s your breakfast, and there’s more in the refrigerator. I stocked the place with beer and wine too.”
I nudged Paxon when it looked like Naughton was getting ready to leave.
“Thank you so much. So, we can stay here tonight?” I asked.
“You can stay here as long as you want.” Naughton walked to another room and turned on more lights. He motioned to what looked like a dining room table. “I told my mother that you’d probably just look stuff up on the internet, but she insisted I go pick up brochures and maps from the bookstore in Cambria.” He picked up an envelope and handed it to Paxon.
“Thanks.”
Naughton put his hand on Paxon’s shoulder. “You okay, man?”
“Yeah, uh, just kind of overwhelmed at the moment.”
“That’s from my brother. I’m sure it’ll explain some of it, at least.”
“Thank you so much,” I repeated when it didn’t appear Paxon had found his words yet.
“I’ll head out now. Have fun!”
Irished (The Invincibles Book 7) Page 20