“You were about to strip for me.” Gavin tossed his keys onto the table and started unbuttoning his shirt. After slipping it off, he leaned against the doorjamb of the kitchen and crossed his arms as he watched her undress.
Jessica peeled the last piece of clothing from her body and moved toward Gavin. She took his face in both of her hands and pulled him into her mouth. It was then Gavin shoved Emily back into his aching heart’s closet, locked the door, and threw away the key. As he unbuckled his belt, one clear thought attacked his mind.
Emily would be proud he was taking a “void filler” to bed tonight.
CHAPTER FOUR
With fear eating away at her stomach and a desperate ache for Gavin consuming her, Emily handed her bags to the flight attendant as she stepped into Blake Industries’ private jet.
Olivia raised a playful brow. “Hmm, maybe I need to break a few hearts in order to get special treatment like you… Yes. It’s been decided. While you’re gone, I’m gonna find me some rich dude, fuck around with his head a little, and get his brother to send me to where he is in absolute fucking luxury so I can reclaim his love.”
Emily stared blankly at Olivia, her mouth agape.
“You know I’m only kidding, Em.” Olivia laughed and grabbed Emily’s hand, tugging her toward the back of the jet.
Trying to keep up, Emily sighed and shook her head. “What are you doing, nut job? You’re not coming with me. Or is this something else you’ve decided on a whim?”
“This is Blake Industries’ new jet, and if you think I’m stepping foot off it before I see every inch, you’re just as flighty as I thought.” Olivia halted and snorted. “I just made a joke. Flighty, flight, fly, flying. Get it?”
“Yes. I get it, Liv. Wanna know what I’ve decided on a whim?”
Olivia tilted her head, her eyes wide. “You’re not changing your mind, are you? I said I was kidding around, Em. You know I’m your biggest fan right now. I know this is scary for you—the whole flying thing and Gavin possibly not taking you back—but you have to do this. The pilot doesn’t look drunk, well, not too drunk, so it’s pretty safe to say you’re in good hands. Besides, if you don’t go, you’ll never find out what could’ve happened with you and Gavin. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”
Emily placed her hands on Olivia’s shoulders. “I’m not changing my mind, Olivia, but I’ve decided you’re no longer allowed to drink cappuccino.” Emily dropped her arms and smiled. “For someone who practically vibrates after one cup, two cups and you look like you’ve been smoking crack.”
“Oh. Right. My mother tells me the same, minus the whole smoking crack part.” Olivia reached for the back cabin door. “She usually says I look like I’ve committed a murder.”
“What are you doing? We can’t just go in there.”
Olivia whipped her head around. “Why not?”
“Because it’s Gavin and Colton’s private cabin.”
“Big deal.” Olivia shrugged and pushed open the door. “Like I said, I want the grand tour before I get off.”
Emily shook her head and watched Olivia disappear into the cabin. When the engines roared to life, she squeezed her eyes closed and clawed the tops of leather seats on either side of her. The vibrating sound immediately ignited her sickened fear of flying. She shivered. With a trembling breath and heart bouncing against her ribs, Emily mentally flipped through her one and only reason for being there.
Gavin…
Swallowing down her instinct to get the hell off the jet, Emily steadied herself, wiped away the sweat gathering on the back of her neck, and took two tentative steps forward. She tried to breathe deeply through her nose as she took another step, her fingernails nearly puncturing the cold leather. Grabbing the smooth, mahogany doorframe of the cabin, Emily peered in and found Olivia sprawled out on a king-sized bed, her lazy smile showing she was comfortable.
“You need to get up,” Emily stated. She shakily made her way across the room.
Smile faltering, Olivia sat up and pursed her lips. “You’re seriously no fun.”
“I know.” Emily frowned and rushed a hand through her hair. Her eyes darted around the room and landed on a blue Yankees cap hanging on a hook next to the minibar. Momentarily, she froze. Ignoring both her fear of flying and Olivia’s bitching about something as she slipped off the bed, Emily stared at the cap before moving toward it. Lifting her hand, she gently grazed her fingertips against it, her heart heavy with memories of Gavin’s smile shining in the sun as they sat at the game just a few months before.
As if the cap had seared her skin, Emily dropped her hand, hot tears blurring her vision. Backing away, she once again resisted the urge to flee. Run. So used to running from everything, the habit consumed her, but it faded as a slow smile curled her lips. She closed her eyes, a tear slipping down her cheek, and allowed Gavin’s sweet, dimpled smile to wash over her. Allowed it to propel her into the unknown of what was to be of their future. If anything at all.
Emily felt a hand on her shoulder, and she swept away her tears, not wanting Olivia to see she’d been crying. Quickly, she turned around and made her way past Olivia.
“Are you okay?” Olivia asked, following her out into the aisle.
Slipping into one of the seats, Emily rested her head against the window. “I’m fine.”
Arms crossed, Olivia arched a skeptical brow. “You know, you’re really not a good liar.”