“She is. She’s got a big heart, buddy, so don’t dick around with her,” Siobahn said.
“I won’t,” he said.
“Good,” Siobahn said, then stood up. “Just because she looks tough doesn’t mean she is.”
Siobahn walked out of the room, and a few minutes later he heard Scarlet in the hall. “I’ll go with you,” she said as sheentered the living room. “I’ll have Billie drive me to your house in the morning and then we can take your plane. I want to bring Lulu. Will that be okay?”
“Who’s Lulu?” he asked.
“My dog,” she said.
“That’s fine. I’ll see you then,” he said.
He left her house feeling much better this time. He didn’t overanalyze it but he knew that going to her had been the right thing for both of them. Neither of them was sure about this pregnancy or each other and they needed all the time they could find together to learn to trust each other.
Chapter Seven
Alec parked his Maserati in the garage at the airport reserved for him the next morning and then got out to open Scarlet’s door, but she was already standing there with Lulu on a leash when he came around the car. So he tried to be cool and pivoted to the trunk to unload his computer bag and one of Scarlet’s suitcases. The others were in the car that Billie was driving.
He wasn’t sure if her friend and assistant was joining them, and frankly he hoped she wasn’t because he wanted to get to know Scarlet on her own. But he wasn’t in a position to make demands. He knew that so he was willing to wait and see what Scarlet had in mind.
She wore a pair of moto-style leggings and a long T-shirt with a picture of Audrey Hepburn in her iconicBreakfast at Tiffany’srole. She arched one eyebrow at him and he realized he had been staring.
“You have great legs,” he said. “I’m not going to pretend I didn’t notice them and wasn’t staring.”
She shook her head. “Are you always this blunt?”
“Yes. Which is why I seldom socialize.”
“I like it,” she said, walking toward him with her large bag on her shoulder and the little dog walking along beside her. “Once Billie drops off my suitcase, we can leave. I have a tiny crate for Lulu to stay in during takeoff and landing. She likes to burrow in her blanket in the crate.”
“That’s fine,” he said. “I could have taken my truck instead of the sports car to accommodate your luggage.”
“It’s okay. Is that all you packed?” she asked, gesturing to his computer bag.
“I have a home in Seattle so I don’t need to bring clothing back and forth with me. And I keep a limited wardrobe on the jet, as well.”
“I’m fascinated with your life,” she said. “What is it you do that requires you to have houses all over...? Is it just the United States or are you global?”
They had stepped out of the garage and were standing on the tarmac when Billie pulled up next to them.
“Global. Just leave your luggage on the tarmac and I’ll have it collected,” he said. “Do you need this bag with you during the flight?”
“No,” she said.
He nodded and turned to walk to the jet where the attendants were waiting. He employed a staff of five who rotated during the month. He had the two pilots and then three attendants depending on what was necessary on different flights.
“Please stow the luggage and then we’re going to need to figure out the best place for a dog crate,” he said. “It needs to be stabilized during takeoff and landing.”
“Yes, sir. Will you be accompanied by the two ladies?” Marg, the head flight attendant, asked.
“I don’t know,” he admitted.
“Not a problem,” Marg said. “I’ll take care of everything. We have your desk set up, as well. Will you be needing us to adjust anything?”
“Thanks, Marg. That’s great. Whatever you’ve set up is fine.”
He boarded the plane and immediately went to his desk. But the last thing on his mind was work.