A Reckless Note

Chapter Thirty-One

Once we're inside the airport building, it's clear the entire crew knows Kace, and knows him well. It's also clear that they like him and he likes them. The only person I've found to hold Kace in negative regard is Alexander, and I can't help but wonder what that's all about. For now, Kace introduces me to everyone we come in contact with, and it seems there is never a moment that he's not touching me.

It's not long before Kace is helping me into my seat inside the massive chopper and leaning across me to latch my seatbelt protectively. Everything about him right now is protective, and that I can't help but welcome. There is a warmth between us that expands each moment, a pull like nothing I have ever known. The chopper roars to life, and all that is forgotten. There is only the control freak in me that my mother created, that now has no control. I am freaking out. Kace grabs my hand and speaks to me through the headset I'm now wearing.

"Easy, baby. Close your eyes. Then you're not second-guessing the pilot."

"I can't do that."

"You can. It'll help. I promise."

We lift off and his arm is around me, pulling me close. I do exactly what he says. I squeeze my eyes shut and bury my face in his chest, my fingers curled around his T-shirt. Once we level off, he convinces me to open my eyes, and I surprise myself by relaxing into the ride and the miles of cityscape and beautiful water below. Landing sets me off again and I'm back to clinging to Kace.

Once we are on the ground, Kace helps me from the chopper and into a chilly afternoon that seems to be growing chillier, catching my hand as we hurry inside. "Winter is here," I declare as we step beyond the doors, a heater blasting us. "And I didn't bring my coat. I don't know what I was thinking."

"You won't need it in Austin," he says, "but I've got us both covered while we're here, which won't be long. I moved our flight up so we can have two nights in Austin."

"I thought we were staying here tonight?"

"We were, but my agent sent me a text while we were in the air. His meeting was cancelled. That means he'll be here, where he will pursue me the entire time we're here. I'm not in the mood and neither are you, I promise you." Our bags are handed off to us and Kace grabs the garment bag Edward handed him at the apartment, that I now see has a Chanel logo on it. He unzips it to reveal a knee-length black trench. "They didn't have your size at the store, so they had to have it delivered from across town." He pulls it from the bag and holds it out to me. "Come," he orders softly. "Let it keep you warm until I can later."

I step in front of him but I don't turn. "You're doing too much for me, Kace. I don't need you to do this."

"I do nothing I don't want to do, Aria and when it comes to you, 'I want' pretty much means everything. Now, turn around and put this coat on before I starve to death right here in front of you and I'm close. It's about to get brutal. Melting clothes. Screaming. Me in a puddle of mush on the floor."

I laugh, despite myself. This man undoes me in every way. I push to my toes and kiss his cheek. "Thank you," I say, and then slip my arms into the coat, which is a perfect fit.

"It's perfect and beautiful," I say, snuggling into it. "Thank you. For it and not melting into a puddle on the floor."

His mood has done one of his one eighty shifts. He doesn't laugh, instead he grabs the lapels of the coat and tugs me close. "I don't want your thanks, Aria, but I do want you." He kisses me hard and fast. "Just you. You understand?"

"Yes," I say, not sure where this dark side has come from nor do I fight it. "And I just want you. Do you understand?"

Seconds tick by before he smiles, a whiplash shift of mood. "You are never what I expect."

"Says Mr. Wickedly Intense who suddenly breaks out in a smile."

"I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

There is an easy playfulness to him now that I eagerly embrace. "I'm sure you do."

His cellphone rings and once again his mood shifts, his expression tightening. "And that will be my agent, who is exceedingly eager to harass me." He releases me, snagging his cell from his pocket. "Yep. It's him." He hits decline and kneels next to his suitcase and proceeds to stuff my garment bag inside while removing his favored light brown leather jacket. Once he's shrugged it on, his arm slides around my shoulders. "Off to war," he says. "The battle will be brief but bloody."

"That bad?"

"Yes."

He offers nothing else, but he doesn't have to. He's made up his mind. It's in his voice, in his entire demeanor. Kace August knows what he wants and he's going for it. He's not afraid of change. He's not afraid of the future. Just like Gio, and in my heart I know that I pushed Gio away by trying to stop him from what he craves. He wants what is left of our family. And the truth is, so do I.