Total pages in book: 149
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142866 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Pursue her? Is that what I’m doing? It’s tickled the back of my mind maybe since the moment I saw her leading half my party in the electric slide. It slowly bloomed in my thoughts as I’ve watched her devotion to her mother under shitty conditions and her commitment to the Aspire Fund. Hendrix is an exceptional woman.
“I, uh, better go,” she says, breaking into my thoughts.
“Yeah, all right,” I say, but still search for another conversational lure to cast and keep her a little longer. “I’m glad you’re coming to Colorado.”
“I don’t think I have much choice. Nelly and Kashawn are determined. They think it’s a good idea.”
“And you don’t?”
“I think…” She pauses, and all the reasons it may not be a good idea for us to spend more time together seem to accumulate in inches, in the silence. “Maybe they could come and I could skip because—”
“No, that’s not how this works.” I harden my voice. “If you don’t come, no one comes.”
“Maverick, that makes no sense.”
“Those are the conditions.” She can read that however she wants. “So next week. Is that too soon?”
“I’m sure they’ll clear their schedules to accommodate,” she says with half-hearted bitterness that tells me she might just want to see me as badly as I want to see her.
“My people will coordinate with your people then,” I tell her.
“My people and your people can’t seem to be in the same room for two minutes without devouring each other,” she says with a laugh. “You can let Bolt know Skipper won’t be coming on this trip. And I mean that in every way you could interpret it.”
“I’ll make sure he’s prepared…” I pause, weighing the words before I say them because I know they will show a bit more of my hand. “I don’t care if Skipper comes or not, as long as you do.”
I’m not sure what has emboldened me. Was it hearing her tears again over her mother? Is that what bonded us even further and cemented my determination to see where this could go, damn the consequences?
She releases a heavy sigh. “I’ve already told you I’ll be there. Whether it’s a good idea or not remains to be seen.”
“Trust me. It’ll be fine.”
I don’t actually know that whatever happens between us will be “fine,” but I know damn well it will be worth it.
CHAPTER 20
HENDRIX
Now this is how you travel.”
Nelly follows the statement with a low whistle to further convey how impressed she is by the private plane Maverick sent for us.
“I’ve never actually been on one of these,” Kashawn says. “Flying first class, of course, but this?”
She does a slow spin, taking in the cabin’s handcrafted leather seats, the gold-trimmed walls, the plush carpet beneath our feet. The lounge is outfitted with a mammoth flat-screen television and a gourmet kitchen any chef would be proud of. I presume the closed door leads to a bedroom, but there’s no way I’m finding out. I flop into one of the rear seats, leaving the front section to my partners.
“This flight is three hours,” I say, pulling out my iPad. “And I need every one of them to prepare for this presentation. I’ve wanted to get a huge cosmetic deal for Chapel, and now that one is potentially on the table, I need to be ready when we get in front of them.”
“Look at you.” Nelly rests her hands on her hips, big sister pride in her eyes. “Bossing up and shit.”
“They saw her at the game,” I say semi-smugly. “Floor seats and face beat. She played the part, blowing kisses and flirting with the camera. Phone started ringing the next day.”
“Correct me if I’m wrong,” Kashawn says, “but isn’t that the night Maverick Bell invited you to his box and offered this trip to us?”
My smile petrifies and I drop my eyes to the iPad in front of me. “Yeah, I think so.”
“Girl, you know so.” Nelly snaps her fingers to get my attention.
“Don’t snap at me.” I look up at her, putting on a stern face, but fighting back a smile.
“Then don’t ignore me,” Nelly parries. “We’re grateful for this trip, but is there something else going on here? Like between you and—”
“Ladies,” Maverick says from the door that I assumed led to the bedroom. “So glad to have you on board. Hope you don’t mind if I bum a ride.”
My mouth drops open for a second, but I snap it closed, hopefully before he notices how thrown I am that he’s on the plane. What did he hear?
“Is it appropriate to say ‘welcome aboard’ when it’s your plane?” Kashawn jokes, bouncing a glance between Maverick and me.
“I was in Miami and hitched a ride.” Maverick walks up the aisle until he comes to my seat. “Hendrix, hi.”
“Hi.” I offer him a tight-lipped smile. “Thanks for this opportunity and for the… um, plane.”