climbed inside their vehicle. The private airport was about a thirty-minute drive.
“Have you spoken to Erin again?” Eyes asked.
“Nope, not since the strange phone call we had a few days ago. Chad assured me she’ll be there, but I’m not confident.”
“Who’s bringing her?” Eyes asked.
“I don’t know,” Brackish said. He was tense. He really, really wanted her to be there. If she didn’t show and Chad tried to throw another woman into the role, Brackish was bailing. He wasn’t going to listen to some woman talk and talk for hours on end in a jet, and then for who-knew-how-long in Paris. No way. Besides, if it got back to Erin that he’d flown to Paris with another woman, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
Most of the ride to the private airport was silent. Brackish was calculating all he’d researched and searching his mind for all Chad and Joseph had told him. There had to be a clue in there somewhere.
“We’re here, brother. Now get out of the car and have a great trip,” Eyes said as he pulled up to a small, private hangar.
“This isn’t where we flew into,” Brackish said. Damn, he was way off his game. He hadn’t realized they were flying from a different location than where most of their team had come in to when they’d first arrived in the Seattle area.
“Nope, not when Erin is coming too. You have to use a legitimate private airport,” Eyes said.
Brackish climbed from the car and grabbed his suitcase. “Try not to have too much fun while I’m gone.” Those were his parting words before he shut the door and moved toward the double doors that had a security guard who nodded at him.
Brackish nodded back and walked inside. He felt his mood increase dramatically when he saw Erin sitting in the corner of the room, a cup of coffee in her delicate hand. She looked up and their eyes met. She didn’t jump to her feet and climb into his arms, but she didn’t tell him to go away, and more important than anything else . . . she was there. That meant she was definitely going with him.
He moved up to her, not getting too close. She stood, looking a little unsure of herself and quite tired. He’d bet his last dollar she’d worked the night before. Maybe he’d get his wish and they’d cuddle together and sleep for the flight . . . well, for some of the flight.
“Good morning,” he said. “You look beautiful.”
She smiled. “I’m a hot mess right now. I only found out about this trip six hours ago. I’m tired and feel totally unprepared.”
“I respectfully disagree. You’re never a hot mess,” he said. Damn, he wanted to hold her like his life depended on it. “I’m really glad you’re coming,” he added after a short pause.
“Me too,” she said, her cheeks flushing slightly. “It was an offer I couldn’t refuse, though I’m still not really sure what I’m supposed to do.”
“I’ve missed you,” he said. He’d rather they not do the trip together if she hadn’t missed him. That would hurt. Seeing her after weeks apart made him aware that he cared about her. He didn’t understand it, couldn’t comprehend it, but he actually cared about her . . . a lot.
“I’ve missed you too,” she said, shifting on her feet. She looked down and then up again.
“Erin . . .” he began, but she held up a hand and he stopped talking. She was trying to speak and he definitely wanted to hear what she had to say.
“I’m sorry, Steve, really, truly sorry. I knew within a day of you being gone that I’d completely overreacted. I knew you hadn’t filmed me, filmed us. I’d made a mistake. But what I didn’t know was how to suck up my pride and apologize for being a jerk. At first I was incredibly embarrassed, and then days turned into weeks and I didn’t know how to approach you.” She stopped and he started to talk again, but she still held up her hand. “I truly am sorry. I should’ve said it sooner. I wouldn’t blame you for walking away. I’m more of a hot mess than I look this morning.” She gave a little chuckle at the end, but he saw deep vulnerability in her eyes. She was giving him a gift with her words. He knew without her having to tell him that she didn’t often apologize, she didn’t often open herself up