ThenIthink,Ofcourse, he’s being genuine because facts are facts.Theseare the most incredible shoes, period.
Helifts my hand with his and brings it to his lips, leaving a soft kiss on the back of my hand that sends tingles all the way up.Itis so sweet that it makes my heart melt. (AndImentally give him more bonus points because he didn’t go for the lips and mess up my gloss before the gala.)
“Areyou ready?”
Inod, but then he leads me to the elevator, not to his car.Maybehe is planning to take me on that tour he didn’t have time to give me a couple of days ago?Insteadof a button to call the elevator, as most have,Jacescans his badge, then steps up to let some kind of laser thing scan his eyeball before exhaling into something thatI’mguessing from all my spy movie knowledge is some kind ofDNAtester.Wow.Theyreallytake their security seriously here.
Aswe step onto the elevator,Iget a little nervous. “Areyou sure it’s okay ifIgo up with you?”
Jacenods as the doors close and he presses a button. “Igot clearance for you.Butit’s for the elevator and the roof only— so don’t step off until we get there.”He’ssmiling, soIcan’t tell if he’s serious or not.AndIguess this means there’s not going to be a tour.
“Whyare we going to the roof?Doyou need to grab something before we go to your car?”
“Wearen’t driving to the gala.”
Thedoors open just then, and we step onto the roof of the building where a freaking helicopter is waiting.Itsengine is whirring and the blades are slowly turning, soIknow it’s not just parked there— it’s waiting for us.
Anotherman wearing a tux is on the roof, leaning against a railing.Hehas the same strong jawline and nose asJace, but his shoulders are a little more rounded and his hair is a bit longer and wavier.Ithas to be his brother.
Wewalk to him andJacesays, “I’dlike you to meet my brother,Miles.Miles, this isMackenzieMacNeil.”
“MackenzieMacNeil,” the man says in a smooth voice. “Mybig brother hasn’t stopped talking about you.Andhe didn’t exaggerate— you are absolutely divine.”
Ican’t help it—Iblush.
Hedoesn’t stop there.Ashe’s walking around me to take all of me in, he says, “Welldone on the dress.Notonly does it fit you perfectly, but it accentuates all the right things.”
“Miles,”Jacesays in a warning tone.
Milesturns to his brother. “I’msorry.I’vebeen inKhartoumwith drunkSudanese…businessmenfor the past several days.I’mout of practice here—I’vegot to get back into the swing of things beforeIhead into the gala.”Thenhe turns to me. “Inall honestly,Mackenzie, you truly do look divine.”
“Thankyou.”Iglance around. “Areyou not bringing a date?”
Milesshakes his head. “Therewill be plenty of single women there.Ilike to keep my options open.”
“Ihope you find an excellent option,”Isay, mostly because what else do you say to that?
“I’msureIwill.”
Wehead to the helicopter, andJaceholds my hand asIstep up into it.There’sa bench seat at the back of the small cabin and a single seat facing it, its back against the cockpit.Itake a seat on the bench and scoot over forJaceto sit beside me, andMilestakes the single seat.
Jacepulls the door shut and the pilot turns around, holds a thumb up, and says, “Allset?”
Jacereturns the thumbs up, and the blades start moving faster, the thumping sound getting louder and louder.Icannot believe that not only amIgoing to a black tie gala, butI’mgoing there in a freaking helicopter.Thehelicopter shifts forward just a bit as the landing gear lifts from the roof, thenI’mpulled back and then down a bit as it lifts up into the air.
Iswitch from watching the pilot to looking out the window, soIcan see the building whereJaceworks get smaller and smaller as we soar away from it.I’veflown in planes plenty of times before, but never a helicopter, and not right at sunset.Everythingis so much closer and feels… so much more real in a helicopter.I’mseeing actual roads and buildingsIrecognize pass below us, yet everything feels like it’s a toy version of the real thing.Especiallysince it’s all bathed in the light of the golden sunset.It’sincredible.
Iturn back toJace. “Whereare we headed?”Ihave to shout the question because of the noise, but he hears me fine.
“Justoutside ofPhiladelphia.Weshould be in the air for just under thirty minutes.”
I’llget nearly thirty minutes to soak all of this in.Itake my phone out of my handbag. “Doyou mind ifItake a picture of us and send it toLiviandMaggie?”
“Notat all,”Jacesays, and then scoots in close to me and smiles asIput the camera in selfie mode.Ishift a bit to get the windows and the landscape beyond them in the frame with us and snap the picture.
ThenIopen a text to bothMaggieandLivi.
Mackenzie:WhenJacetexted earlier “Mycarriage awaits us,” he meant aFREAKINGHELICOPTER!Ifyou need me,I’llbe just outside ofPhiladelphiafor the evening.I’msure we’ll be back before it turns into a pumpkin, butIwouldn’t wait up.
