Mr. Mitchell Billionaires' Club Book 2 - Raylin Marks Page 0,180
but I wanted her to appreciate the life we’d been blessed with. I wanted her to know that real life didn’t come so easily, and most people would never know the luxury we had access to. Jim was a brilliant businessman who’d worked his ass off to get where he was. Addy needed to have her feet planted on the ground so she didn’t lose herself in having things that most kids her age could ever dream of. If it weren’t for Jim, she wouldn’t have anything close to what she had now. I needed to make sure she appreciated all of it and never took it for granted.
Jim studied me while I was silent. “Do you believe our lifestyle will turn her into a spoiled and unruly child?”
“It’s not the lifestyle—I mean,” I stopped myself and ran my hand over my forehead. “I don’t know how to put this. I just want a hint of normalcy for her.”
“That’s perfectly understandable. Let’s go for it with a commercial flight, then.” Jim pulled out his phone and looked at me, “I’ll see if we can get a last-minute flight out. First-class tickets will be more difficult to…” he paused and eyed me, chewing on my lip. “You want us in coach, don’t you? The way we would fly if we were not wealthy, correct?”
“Would it be okay? You said work is finalized except for a few things at your London headquarters when we first get in, and so you won’t need the company plane for business stuff.”
I couldn’t discern the look on his face. Was I being ridiculous?
“It’ll work fine.” He smiled and then started typing on his phone.
Close to five minutes later, he chuckled and smiled at me. “We’re booked out on the first flight in the morning.”
My phone rang, and I looked and saw Ash was calling.
“Hey,” I said, answering the call.
“You ready for the big trip tomorrow? I thought I’d throw in a quick goodbye. Sorry that it’s so late.”
“I’m excited. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow morning now.”
“First thing?” she said. “Hang on, here’s Jake. You’re on speakerphone. My kid’s out of bed again.”
“How are the lovebirds faring?” Jake asked.
“Jim’s excited to be flying commercial tomorrow,” I said, smiling at Jim, who was sitting patiently while I put his brother on speakerphone. “He’s right here.”
“You’re flying her out commercial?” he laughed. “And here I thought you were the charming prince.”
“In fact, I am. Instead of the luxury jet—or first class, for that matter—I’m riding with my ladies at the back of the plane.”
“You’re joking, right? You understand your long-ass legs won’t fit in coach, correct?”
“Hey, we’re on a mission to show Addy that not everything is luxurious,” Jim insisted.
Jake’s laughter was making Jim laugh and making me feel like shit. “Fuck,” I said, “I didn’t think about you being cramped up on the plane.”
“Damn, I hope you got a layover or three before flying out of the states.” Jake said with another laugh.
“Nonstop,” Jim said. “I’ll survive it. It’s a small sacrifice to make sure my girls are well taken care of.”
“You’d better hope you got an aisle seat, brother. Avery?” Jake called out.
“Right here.”
“Video this shit for me, please?”
After the long trip, and seeing Jim do his best to seek comfort at the back of the plane, it was evident to me that I should’ve thought about the man’s height before I started throwing around ideas. We were definitely going to fly back to the States in the company jet since Alex was flying to London in it the next day.
Now, we were at the castle where Jim and I shared a lot of firsts. Addy loved the place more than I believed a child her age would. We explored the halls, played silly haunted castle games—Jim being the ghost and hiding all over to scare us. It was four days of picnics, walks, and us three being a family.
The day had finally come when Jim had the stablemen arrive at the house, and his horses were brought up to his massive barn—a mansion for horses. I noted seven horses were saddled, and I laughed when I looked at Jim, carrying Addy down in the adorable riding outfit we bought for her in London.
“You get to pick the one you want to ride,” Jim said.
“Wait,” I gripped his arm. “You promised you were riding with her, and she was sitting in front of you.”
“I did, Mom,” he answered. “I’m just letting her pick her favorite.”