Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,154
the time?” She arched her eyebrow at me.
I laughed. “I’ll be staying in the city, and the first chance I get, I’m flying home,” I said.
Avery’s cell phone alarm went off. “That’s my timer. I had a feeling I’d get caught up with you and forget to pick my little Christmas angel up from practice.”
I stood and brought her in, holding her tightly against me. “I love you.”
“Well, if you can manage,” she said, “meet me for lunch tomorrow.”
“I’m stacked in, gorgeous,” I said. “Trust me, I’m doing everything I can to get out of flying to London.”
“I know I gave you shit for being chained to work, but I do get it. I am still here, and Addy will still be here. Women have their men traveling for work all the time. Don’t start slacking on your job just because you’re dating some crazy hot chick with dazzling eyes, Mr. Mitchell.”
“You have it all nailed down, don’t you?”
“I’m at peace with it. In fact, I wouldn’t be shocked if your elite, sexy ass had to take your private jet to Dubai for some business conference too.” She laughed, and then after a small kiss, she turned to get into her driver’s seat. “Despite the low points, I had a fantastic weekend, Jim. Thank you so much for everything. Addy loved it, and so did I.”
“I love making my ladies happy,” I said, relieved we ended our weekend on a high note.
I waved her off after she blew me a kiss and then floored it in the open parking lot, most likely just to taunt me with the reminder of her lead foot.
After a painstaking week of non-stop work, Thursday night was when I knew I had to fucking fly to London for sure. This deal had me by the balls in the worst way. It didn’t matter that I’d busted my ass all week—missing out on so many opportunities to see Avery—this trip couldn’t be avoided.
Friday morning, I called Avery to give her the news. It was bad enough that I’d sacrificed so many lunches and dinners that we could’ve shared all week, now that was all for nothing.
“I’m getting ready for work,” she said. “I’m guessing this is the call that we’re not seeing each other this weekend?”
“Yes. I’m so sorry. I tried everything, really,” I said as I buckled into the leather captain’s chair on the company’s jet. “Next weekend, perhaps we can try out the beach thing again?”
“You might need drysuits instead of wetsuits this time. It’s going to be chilly next weekend since we are heading into fall.”
“Those are the best waves,” I said with a smile.
“Yeah, Addy isn’t going near those.”
“What if Addy and I watched her badass mom enjoy them instead?”
“Are you already at the airport? Damn, you’re leaving early. You must’ve been up since three in the morning.” She laughed into the phone. “Oh, hold up, that’s Larry calling me,” she said before clicking over.
I watched the tarmac as the plane backed out, Alex sitting across from me, finishing up whatever call he was on before we took off. I did not want to leave, but I knew I’d be more focused once we were in the air, and Alex and I would start going through numbers and marketing pitches for the chain we were busting our asses to secure.
“Jim,” she said in a softer voice when she resumed our call, “are you still there?”
“Listen,” her voice became stern, “I’m never going to hide shit like this from you, but don’t lose it when I tell you I’ve got this and can handle it, okay?”
I rubbed my forehead. “Go on,” I said, knowing this was about Derek and praying with all that I was that she was about to tell me she was keeping Addy this weekend if that fucker was out again.
“Derek’s at the house. He’s out. I’m fucking pissed about it too, but Larry and Annette said they’d be the first to call the cops on his ass if he so much as touches anything to get high around Addy.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and forced the rage into my balled-up fists. “I won’t even ask how he was released,” I said as calmly as I could. “You feel comfortable with Addison around him after he scared the fuck out of her last weekend?”
“I’m leaving this up to Addy. If she doesn’t want to go, then she stays with me.”