Page 57 of Don't Puck Up
Um…
Where did… I don’t even know what to say to that.
Chris’s brows hiked up, and he grinned.
I giggled and sent him another message.
But it wasn’t a no. Have we just discovered your secret? OMG, you’re Bond. Vigilante Bond. I’ll have a martini, shaken not stirred for you next time we see you.
He sent a row of cry-laughing faces, and my cell started ringing.
“Hey, you,” I answered. “You’re on speaker. Chris is here too.”
“Bond. Vigilante Bond at your service,” he said, sounding exactly like Sean Connery.
I laughed again and flicked my gaze to Chris. He was wearing the same lovestruck smile as me. This man made us both happy.
“What are you up to?” I asked. “It’s All-Star weekend, and Chris is home. We have four uninterrupted days together. Can we see you? We can come to you.”
“About that—”
“Please?” I begged.
“I was going to invite you away for a long weekend. It’s short notice, I know, but I wasn’t sure if I could make it happen before this evening.”
“We’re game,” Chris said.
“Good. Pack your bags.”
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to remember what clean underwear I had.
"Don't worry about the details. They’re all sorted. A driver will be there to pick you up at 9:00 a.m. sharp."
"V, what clothes do we need?" I pressed.
Hechuckled. "Well, I'd prefer you to be naked all weekend, but it'll be cold—cold enough for snow—so bring something warm."
My heart fluttered, and my smile grew impossibly bigger. This was big. It was huge. Going away for the weekend wasn’t just a step further, it was a trip to the moon on the scale of next steps. Maybe he was ready for more. Maybe we could make this work.
***
We were ready. Two duffel bags sat next to the front door. I’d done my hair and makeup and picked the cutest snow-bunny-esque outfit I owned—white leggings and fur-lined boots with a pale pink sweater, matching furry coat, and a pink-and-white beanie. Chris was dressed much like he normally was—blue jeans and a charcoal sweater, but he’d paired boots with his outfit rather than sneakers. He was also wearing a charcoal scarf that was so soft, it made me want to rub myself all over him like a cat.
There was a knock on the door at promptly 9:00 a.m., and the driver, a smiling man with a moustache and goatee, already had the car open for us. He took our bags and loaded them into the trunk while we got comfortable.
“So, are you allowed to tell us where we’re going?” I asked, excitement getting the best of me.
“I’m told it’s a surprise gift for you both, so no, unfortunately not.”
We didn’t have to wait long, though, before we were pulling into San Diego Airport, but this was a part of it I’d never been to before. There were helicopters everywhere, and I looked at Chris, my eyes wide and my heart beating fast. Then I grinned. “Oh my God,” I murmured. “What has he done?”
“I have no idea, but this is too much.”
We checked in at the reception desk, giving our names to the lady there, and she led us into a waiting room. “We’ll take care of your luggage and call you once your pilot is ready for you. In the meantime, feel free to help yourself to coffee and pastries.”
“Thank you,” I murmured. She’d been very careful not to tell us where we were going. Apparently, everyone was in on the fact that this was a secret trip.
Our wait was short, and the trip in the helicopter was exhilarating. I watched as the pilot navigated the bird easily, taking her up and heading almost directly north. “We’re going over the San Bernadino Mountains, folks. The view up there is real pretty at this time of year.”