Page 33 of Where We Bloom (The Blackwells of Montana #3)

Chapter Eighteen

BILLIE

“ R eady?”

I feel frazzled, but I let out a breath, staring at my side of this massive closet, and hope that I remembered everything for this trip.

“I hope so,” I reply. “What if I forgot something? What if the outfits I chose aren’t what I really want to wear?”

Connor wraps me in his arms from behind and kisses the top of my head.

“Then we’ll get whatever you need when we’re there.”

“I feel a little unorganized.” I fidget with the shamrock necklace at my throat.

No moving boxes remain after the whirlwind move into Connor’s house earlier this week. The movers came to my house Monday morning. I pointed out everything that had to come with me right away, and we’ll get the rest when we return from this trip .

I managed to unpack my clothes and bathroom stuff Monday night. Everything else is in boxes stashed in a guest room for now until I have time to deal with it.

“Breathe, angel.”

I lean against him and take a long breath. He’s so warm, so solid behind me that he soothes me. “It’s been a crazy week.”

“I know. Do you feel okay leaving the shop?”

I turn in his arms so I can wrap myself around him.

“Actually, that’s the least of my worries.

I’ve spoken with Emily, and she’s feeling super confident in her new role.

We’ve scheduled plenty of check-ins while I’m away, and the new hires are already doing great.

The girls have it handled, and I have plenty to work on remotely. It’s going to be just fine.”

“Good.” He presses another kiss to my head. “The jet’s waiting, but if you need another minute, take your time.”

“No, I’ll overthink it.” I step away, and grab my computer bag, which Connor takes out of my hand. I follow him downstairs to where Miller’s waiting at the SUV. “Are you going with us, Miller?”

“Of course, miss.” He waits for me to hop in the back seat before closing the door for me.

Just as he puts the vehicle in gear, I yell out, “Shit! Wait.”

I rush out of the car, back inside and up to the bedroom to grab my reading device, then run back outside.

“That was almost catastrophic. ”

Connor lifts an eyebrow.

“My Kindle.” I wave it in front of him. “I’m going to read to you later.”

“Is that so?”

I laugh and slip the device into my computer bag. “Sure, why not? This one is spicy.”

“Is it the unhinged hockey player?”

“No, I finished that one. And unhinged doesn’t even begin to describe that guy. It was hot as fuck.”

Connor barks out a laugh, and I grin at him.

“You have a great laugh.”

He smiles and lifts my hand to his lips, and we sit in relative silence on the short drive to the airport.

I rode on Connor’s private jet earlier this summer when he took our whole family to London to watch Skyla and Mik dance for the coronation of the new king and queen, so I’m not new to private flying, but it’s still exciting.

This plane is wow. The opulence is incredible, with rich, buttery leather seats, televisions, tables to eat or work on, and a bedroom with a king-sized bed in the back of the plane. The bathroom has a full shower.

I take a seat in the middle of the plane, set my bag on the seat next to me, my sweatshirt on the other side of me, and sigh in happiness.

“Are you comfortable, then?”

I grin at my billionaire. “Hell yes, I am. I’m spreading out. Don’t even think about trying to crowd me.”

“I’ll sit across from you,” he replies with a smirk, watching me.

He’s in navy slacks and a white button- down, which is his work-casual look when he doesn’t go with a full suit.

His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, and the muscles and veins in his forearms make me salivate. “What are you looking at, angel?”

“Your arms,” I reply honestly. “They do things to me.”

His eyebrow lifts in surprise. “What kinds of things?”

“Sexy things.” I bite my lip just as Miller climbs on board and walks between us toward the back of the plane, and I grin at Connor.

The flight crew is already here. The pilots are in the cockpit, the door open as the flight attendant prepares us for the flight. I don’t like how she keeps looking at my man. She’s probably thirty-ish, pretty with blond hair tucked back in a low bun, her slim figure showcased in a red uniform.

She glances over at Connor and licks her lower lip, and just like that, I’ve had enough.

“Be right back.” I stand and cross over to her. “Hello, I’m Billie.”

“Oh, hi.” Her smile is as fake as my acrylic fingernails. “How can I help you?”

“What’s your name?”

“Uh.” She frowns and glances over my shoulder, but I block her view of Connor. “I’m Bethany.”

“Are you new, Bethany? Or have you worked on one of Mr. Gallagher’s flights before?”

“This is my first flight with this crew.” Her face has gone to stone. She doesn’t like me.

That’s okay because I now don’t like her either .

“Listen, Bethany, I’m going to need you to stop eye-fucking my man.

We have a long flight ahead of us, and I find it incredibly unprofessional that we’ve been on board for roughly six minutes, and you already have him down to his skivvies in your brain.

So here’s how it’s going to work. Either you keep it professional or we replace you. What do you think?”

“I … I didn’t … I’m so sorry that you thought?—”

“What’s it going to be, Bethany?”

“Of course, I’ll be completely professional.”

“Great.” I give her a toothy smile. “I appreciate it. Whenever you have a moment, I’d love some ginger ale, please. Sometimes my tummy gets a little off from the bumps.”

I wink at her and return to my seat, and Connor is lounged back in his seat, his hand over his mouth, watching me with hot, intense eyes.

“I didn’t like that,” I inform him.

“I heard,” he replies. “Come here, angel.”

Without hesitation, I move across the aisle, and Connor tugs me into his lap, cups my face, and kisses the hell out of me.

When I come up for air, I rest my forehead against his.

“What was that for?”

“I love your backbone,” he growls against my lips.

“She was being rude, and she’s an employee. That doesn’t fly, no pun intended.”

He smiles, then brushes his lips over mine again, gently this time, as if he’s soaking me in .

“I always want you to speak up for yourself.”

“Good.” I kiss his chin. “Because I will.”

“The cabin door is closed, and we’re getting ready to take off,” the pilot says through the speaker.

“Should be a smooth five-hour flight to New York City this evening. There might be a few bumps as we climb to our cruising altitude of thirty-six thousand feet, but we’ll be quick getting through them.

Enjoy your flight, Mr. Gallagher and Miss Blackwell. ”

“I’d better get buckled in.” But instead of moving off his lap, I wrap my arms around his neck and hug him close, bury my nose in his neck and breathe him in. His arms tighten around me, and he whispers in my ear.

“Are you okay? Did she upset you that badly? We haven’t taken off yet. I can have them stop, and we’ll replace her.”

“Oh no.” I shake my head. “I’m not upset. I’m just enjoying you. Snuggling you is my favorite hobby.”

I feel him smile against my hair as he presses a kiss there. “You’re so sweet, bumble.”

“I don’t think Bethany would agree with you.”

He chuckles, making me smile. “Who gives a fuck?”

“Not me.”

I’m not lying. Snuggling up to this man is my favorite thing in the world. It’s even better than reading. Since we’ve been together, I’ve slept better than I ever have in my life. Nothing brings me peace like being held by Connor.

“Okay.” I kiss him once more, then climb off his lap, sit in my seat, and buckle the belt, relieved I don’ t have to ask for an extender. I usually don’t, but sometimes airlines like to fuck with big girls and their self-esteem, and the belts wouldn’t fit a toddler.

“Before we take off,” Bethany says, carrying a glass of ginger ale on a tray, “I wanted to make sure you have this in case we have bumps like the pilot said.”

“Thank you,” I reply with a genuine smile this time. “I appreciate it.”

“Would you like anything, sir?” Bethany asks Connor, keeping her face perfectly bland.

“No, thank you,” Connor replies, not even looking her way.

Bethany nods and returns to the front of the plane as I happily sip my drink and eye-fuck my man.

He really is gorgeous with all that dark hair, those green eyes that burn right into me, and a body made for sin.

An hour later, with a bowl of popcorn at my elbow and more ginger ale, I’m typing away on my computer, deep in thought.

I reached out to a few graphic artists this week to see about working together on special edition hardcovers for some upcoming books, and I’m glancing through samples they’ve emailed when my screen goes black.

I narrow my eyes and hit the keys, but nothing happens. So I pick it up and shake it.

Still nothing.

Maybe the battery died? I pull out the cord, plug it in and connect it to the laptop, but still nothing .

“No.” I drop my face in my hand and whine. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My computer died.”

“I can keep you occupied while you give it time to charge.”

I lift my eyes to Connor, who’s working on his own computer, looking sexy as hell in his glasses, but I don’t return his smirk.

“No, I mean, it died. I’ve only had it for three years, dammit.” I slam it shut and lift it over my head like I want to throw it, but instead, I slip it into the bag and flag down Bethany. “I need a glass of wine, please. White is good.”

“Of course.” She nods and heads to the kitchen.

My gaze returns to Connor. “I’m going to assume that Bethany isn’t going to drug me and indulge in one glass of wine so I can mourn the computer properly. Thank God everything on that laptop is also on my desktop at the store.”

He hides his smile behind his hand. “I’m quite sure there are about sixty Apple stores in Manhattan alone.”

“Yeah, but I can’t migrate my information over if this laptop is dead. It’s a huge pain in the ass.”