Billionaire Ghost Tour - Stephanie Fowers Page 0,7

would be out. Rosa wasn’t the type to let this go if she knew. The plane was at the tarmac, and he walked to the front of the plane pretending to get their baggage. The consequences of his plane ride would plague him all day. He resorted to his last coping technique:

Repeat your mantra.

Closing his eyes, he repeated one thought in his mind: Be still and know that I am God. His mother had quoted that scripture often enough while he was on his hospital bed. Once it had felt good knowing there was a higher power out there watching out for him. He’d always had a healthy respect for God, but now he turned to his faith out of desperation. Be still and know that I am God. But his trust had been broken so many times. His responsibilities seemed too important to let go. He’d depended on himself for too long. His body had betrayed him again. Nothing was certain. Sure, he clung to what control he had, so how was he expected to give what was left over to God? His first battle was to trust that God wanted the best for him; his second was to blindly trust His judgement. Surrender was still too terrifying a thought. Be still and know that I am God.

He felt Rosa’s soft touch at his back. “Are you okay?”

Opening his eyes, he swung around and relaxed his expression. “Did you want your baggage with you or should we have the staff take it to the house?”

It was a lousy excuse for appearing to be so lost in thought, but she bought the story. Smiling serenely, she shrugged. “I don’t plan to be tied down to much baggage while I’m here. I say you do the same. Treat this like a true getaway. I hate to see you stressed like this.” She kissed his forehead and flitted to the exit, her beautifully feminine hips swaying like she was caught in a dance.

Taking her advice, he left his luggage behind and followed her out the door and down the ramp. Parked to the side was a Mercedes Maybach convertible that belonged to no other than his friend, Aaron Mills. Despite his laid-back demeanor, Aaron was serious about his friends. He’d been the one who suggested Janson build a place at the Mountain Cove next to his, so he could have a place to retreat when the media attacked. Aaron constantly had Janson’s back, even if it meant ruining his own reputation to do it. Aaron leaned against the polished red paint, waiting for them. As they neared, he popped the trunk. “How was the trip?”

If Janson could’ve figured out a socially acceptable way to ride a bike to here from his hometown in Texas, he would’ve done it. “We survived.” He still felt like he was choking. His panic would follow him for the rest of the night. Maybe by morning he’d feel like a real person again.

Aaron’s hand rested on the trunk. “Where’s your luggage?”

Janson realized he was standing there like an idiot. “It will follow us.” The top of the compact convertible was blessedly open—there was no way he’d feel trapped in that thing, though he wondered how he’d fit in there with his bodyguards. “Maybe we should get in the trunk,” he suggested wryly.

“If that’s your thing,” Aaron joked, slamming it shut, “though there’s plenty of room up front.”

Rosa clutched Janson’s arm with a warm giggle and leaned against him. “I’ll ride up front with you and your friend.” Her kiss against Janson’s cheek echoed in his ear.

Aaron seemed surprised to see her. If Janson didn’t know better, he’d think Aaron was disappointed that he’d brought company. Aaron covered his resigned look with his signature grin. “Who’s this?”

“Rosa Young. She needs a break from real life.”

She shook her head, her thick hair bouncing over her shoulders. “He’s only using me as an excuse. We both needed to get away.”

Aaron glanced over at the burly bodyguards. “Your entourage has grown.”

Janson shrugged. Aaron should get it—he had faced more than his share of crazed fanatics who wanted him dead for daring to stick his neck out. Aaron indicated the roomy back, and Vin and Dwayne approached it, inspecting the vehicle with wary eyes. With their muscular girth, it would still be a tight fit. Aaron laughed. “I should’ve brought the minivan.”

Rosa seemed to enjoy their predicament. “It is only a thirty minute drive. We do not mind getting close to each