Page 11

Chapter Eleven

Chelsea

"Where are we going?"

As soon as the game finished, Ramsey bundled me into a car and started driving out of Auckland.

When none of the guys objected, except to give Ramsey warning looks, I assumed they must have worked something out beforehand.

I didn't know how I felt about them going behind my back, but if they trusted him to take me wherever we were going, I'd roll with it.

Admittedly, Storm looked less than impressed and Dallas slightly strained, but they let me go anyway.

After Storm quietly growled to Ramsey that he better fucking look after me or he'd have him to answer to.

"You'll see." Ramsey had a stubborn set to his jaw that clearly said there was no point in pushing, he wasn't going to tell me a thing until he was ready.

What was it with these men? And why did I like it so much?

I crossed my arms and leaned back to doze against the seat while we navigated virtually empty roads. This part of New Zealand was a lot quieter than Dusk Bay.

Hopefully safer too.

We drove in silence until we reached a small campground on the east coast of the north island. He led me to a tent set apart from the others and we had a few hours’ sleep.

The sun wasn't even up yet when he gently shook me awake.

"What?" I asked sleepily.

I was comfortable where I was, rolled up in blankets. I’d been having a nice dream that involved not having to worry about people chasing us and trying to kill us.

I snuggled back down, wanting to let sleep claim me again. Why did I have to like a man who’d wake me from the beautiful dream? I should have known he had a sadistic streak; why else would I be attracted to him? I must be a masochist or something. Unless he was planning to fuck me. That I’d wake up for. I had a feeling that wasn't what was about, worse luck.

"Come on, sleepyhead," he coaxed. "It'll be worth it." He slipped out of the tent and waited until I dressed before we were back in the car driving down an empty road.

After a few kilometres, we turned off into a darkened location. The headlights only illuminated some kind of small building and another couple of cars parked outside.

Exactly the kind of place my brother would take someone to torture or kill them.

Should I run when I got the chance? Maybe, but I knew I could trust him, even in a place like this.

I hoped to hell my instincts were right. Otherwise, I was fucked.

"What is this place?" I rubbed my eyes.

Lights came on, gradually illuminating a small airfield, with an office, a couple of hangers and a few light aircraft.

"We're not going to jump out of a plane, are we? It's too early in the morning." I'd have to work up to something like that. Right then, I was too sleepy.

On the other hand, I wouldn't be able to overthink it too much. Plus, if it was still dark, I wouldn't be able to see how high up we were. I suspected that defeated the purpose of skydiving, but what did I know?

"We're not going on a plane," he said. He got out of the car and walked around to open my door. Not just because he was being a gentleman, but because I was frozen in my seat, staring out the windscreen.

As if to punctuate his words, a flash lit up the predawn morning. I flinched until I realised what it was. A burst of heat to inflate a hot air balloon.

"You didn't?" I tore my eyes away from the balloon for long enough to glance questioningly at him. I let him take my hand and tug me out of the car.

"Yep, I did." He laced his fingers in mine and let me over to the basket.

"Perfect morning for it," the balloonist said cheerfully. He was one of the bad guys, obviously. Surely only evil people were cheerful when the sun hadn't even come up yet. Right? I didn't mind mornings, but I wasn't a fan of ‘early as fuck.’ This was even earlier than that.

"Are you sure this is safe?" I eyed the basket doubtfully. I'd never been this close to a hot air balloon before. Now I was, I realised there wasn’t much between us and the ground. Just a flimsy basket, the side low enough that I could fall out if I wasn't careful.

Or if I was pushed.

"Better be," Ramsey growled. He eyed the basket like it should be the strongest basket in history, or else. Or else what, I didn't know. The basket didn't seem particularly intimidated.

"It's perfectly safe," the balloonist said. According to the embroidered stitches on the breast of his shirt, his name was Gavin. "I've done this a million times. You're going to have a ball. Get on in, your breakfast is on board already. We want to be away before the sun rises."

Ballooning in the dark didn't seem all that safe to me, but Ramsey tugged me toward the basket and inside.

I stood away from the edge, even though we hadn't left the ground yet. I'd have to work up to getting any closer to the side. Or better yet, I could stay here, where it was safe.

Another man moved to untie the basket from where it was tethered to the ground and we slowly lifted off, into the air.

Tentatively, I peered over the side of the basket. "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

"This is one of the first places in the world to see the sunrise," Ramsey said. "We're going to see it in style." He handed me a glass of champagne when Gavin poured them for us.

"I wouldn't have picked you for a romantic," I admitted. I clinked my glass lightly on his and took a sip.

"I'm not usually. For the right person…" Glass held carefully in one hand, he tangled his fingers in my hair and pulled me in for a kiss.

"That's so sweet." He tasted of sparkling wine and mint, having brushed his teeth before we left the campground.

"You're sweet." He snaked an arm around my waist and pulled me to him, facing us both to the east.

The ocean sparkled in front of us, golden with the first rays of the morning sun. Gradually, the sky turned yellow, then pink, before that gave way to blue.

This was going to be a glorious day and here we were, floating above the ground, seeing it begin.

Gavin served us breakfast of croissants, fruit and yoghurt while we admired the view, and enjoyed each other's company.

Like always, Ramsey didn't say much, but he conveyed a lot from glances and brushes of his hand over my cheek, and the occasional kiss.

I could almost forget Gavin was there, operating the balloon. He stayed behind us, quiet and discreet. Letting us enjoy the beautiful morning.

"This was worth getting up early for," I said with a sigh. The ocean was spread out in front of us, and the stunning green landscape behind. We floated over valleys dotted with houses, and beaches and inlets.

"Told you," Ramsey said, looking smug.

I shoved my shoulder into his arm. "What if you were wrong?"

He scoffed. "I'm never wrong. Anyway, I knew you'd like this. It's calm."

"I certainly needed some calm after the last few weeks," I agreed. This was so relaxing, I could have happily stayed here for hours. Frankly, the idea of getting on a plane and going back to Australia, back to reality, sucked.

"Me too," he agreed.

I slid him a glance. Everything that was going on, he’d been dealing with it for longer than the other guys. Maybe even longer than Atlas and Jay. Yes, I knew about the dark side of Dusk Bay, but he'd lived it. He needed this break as much as I did, possibly more.

"You think anyone would notice if we bought one of those cottages down there and ran away?" I gestured towards the ground with my champagne glass.

"Yes, but it's tempting," he said ruefully. His gaze lingered on a cottage as we floated past. If he had a parachute, he might jump down and never be seen again. If there were two parachutes, I might follow him.

"It really is," I said softly. "But we'd both miss the team and our families."

"Unless it's a seven bedroom house," he said.

"Frost would love that." I smiled, picturing the expression on his face. I didn't know how he'd feel about living in New Zealand, but he'd love the idea of a house big enough for all of us.

"Maybe we can find something like that when we get home. Something away from the city and all the craziness." A big sprawling house on a hundred acres sounded right to me. No neighbours nearby to bother us. We could scream and shout, and play music as loud as we liked. We could fuck in every room and all over the property if we wanted to. No one would be there to see it but us.

"I'm in," Ramsey said.

"Me too. Now we just have to convince Storm." He was very attached to his apartment. Or maybe it was the idea that the space was his and we just lived in it. Someday, he’d have to accept that a space was ours, not just his.

"He can come, or get left behind," Ramsey said dryly. "That'll convince him."

I laughed softly. "Good point. He won't want to be left out." I could just imagine his irritation when he thought that might happen. We'd earn some of his best glares.

Ramsey chuckled. "Nope." He held me closer as the balloon started to descend, back towards the airfield.

"This was perfect," I said with a sigh. "Thank you."

He kissed my temple. "Of course. Anything for my beautiful woman." Before I could respond to that, he said, "I fell for you the moment I saw you." He rested the side of his head against mine and exhaled softly. Once again, saying more without words than he ever did with them.

"You intrigued me," I said. "You're not loud like some of the others. You're quiet, but intense."

"That's me," he said simply, silently owning the moment.

"I could fall for you," I told him.

"You're not getting rid of me either way," he said. "You're mine."

The words sent shivers up and down my spine every time he said them. In the very best way. How did I get so lucky?

Sure, life was hectic and dangerous, but these six guys, who all cared for me… I was still trying to get my head around it. Six gorgeous men who wanted to share the rest of their lives with me. Somehow, I managed to score the jackpot.

"I don't want to get rid of you," I told him. "You're mine too."

"Yours," he whispered. "Always."

We held each other as the balloon slowed and bumped gently back to the ground.

"Then we go, folks," Gavin said. "Another perfect sunrise here in Aotearoa." The local's preferred name for New Zealand.

"Thank you," I told him as Ramsey helped me out of the basket. "It was lovely."

Gavin nodded and hurried to secure the basket to the ground. "Any time, folks."

I laced my fingers in Ramsey's and we headed back to the car. Back to Auckland and the airport.

Back to reality.

Fuck.