Nineteen

Emery

No, we definitely were not driving.

I stared at the Wright private jet with equal parts shock and awe. It was a gorgeous, sleek machine that would get us to Austin in just over an hour. And we had it all to ourselves. I’d joked about him having a private jet only a couple of weeks ago, and here I was, about to be on the damn thing. It felt beyond surreal.

“Allow me to get your bags, Ms. Robinson,” a man said. He was decked out in a suit and looked proper as fuck.

“Oh, um…okay,” I said, relinquishing my bags.

“Thank you, Robbie,” Jensen said. He took my hand in his and smiled down at my stunned face. “Why do you seem so surprised? You knew we were flying.”

“Sure. Just…crazy.” I closed my mouth and tucked my other hand into my back pocket to try to cover my discomfort at the display of wealth. “Is this how you try to impress all the girls?”

“No.” He used our linked hands to draw me into his body, and he gazed down at me with intense interest. “Just you.”

I didn’t believe him, but it didn’t matter. I was sure he had used his private plane to woo many girls. But he was mine right now, and I wouldn’t cloud our time together by thinking of something like that. I would enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime experience. Texas was a state that judged distance by hours, not miles. It was a luxury to skip the drive time that I had become so accustomed to.

We walked up the steps and into the luxury cabin. It was outfitted in cream leather with a full wet bar and mounted flat screen TVs. A door was closed in the back, and I could only imagine what it held. I was going to go with either a king-size bed or a Jacuzzi. I laughed at my own wandering thoughts.

Jensen came up behind me and put his arms around my waist. “What is so funny?”

“Nothing.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, kissing my earlobe.

“I just suspect that you have a hidden Jacuzzi or something back there,” I said with a shrug.

He kissed me again and laughed softly. “Not quite. It’s used for business.”

“Much more boring.”

He drew me into him, and we took a seat on the couch. Robbie returned and offered us drinks before takeoff. Robbie brought me a mimosa and Jensen a Bloody Mary.

I raised my glass to his. “Cheers.”

“It’s five o’clock somewhere,” Jensen said.

He clinked his glass against mine and took a long sip. Then, he rested an arm back across the seat as we taxied down the runway.

“So, what’s the big plan for your paperwork thing?” I asked.

“I officially sign the paperback for the Tarman Corporation merger this afternoon. So, we’ll have the morning to ourselves today and all day tomorrow.”

“Oh, good. I like that. Is there anything you want to see while we are in town?”

“Whatever you want to show me. You’re the one who lived there after all.”

“True. I have a few things in mind.”

“Good. Me, too,” he said, dropping his mouth on mine.

We made out through most of the flight. Jensen disappointed me by showing me that the back of the plane was just for business. But I was excited enough being here with him, drinking, and eating gourmet sandwiches a mile up in the air. Soon enough, Robbie announced out descent and we buckled back into our seats.

Our flight landed seamlessly at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Robbie retrieved our bags and placed them in the back of the waiting town car.

I could hardly wrap my mind around the fact that this was the Jensen that I was dating. When we were together, he was not the CEO of Wright Construction. He drove his truck and ate tacos and wore jeans. It lulled me into forgetting about his money, which I appreciated. I didn’t find him ostentatious in any way, but I was sure he had to be at times with his business contacts. Appearances were everything.

“Apartment first?” he asked, opening the door to the town car for me.

“I suppose so.” I slipped into the backseat, and he took the seat next to me.

I watched the city I had lived in for the past three years zoom by me. Despite having gone to college in Oklahoma, I adored Austin. Maybe not their football team but definitely the town. It had its own vibrancy that was impossible to find many other places. Between the food trucks, hipster living, and overall weirdness, it was a dream local if you could ignore what felt like eternal bumper-to-bumper traffic.

My apartment looked much the same as I’d left it. A mess.

I cringed when I opened the front door. A tornado had come through here for sure. That was the only explanation for what it looked like—besides the fact that I had been neglectful of the one bedroom for close to three years and then torn through it when I moved out.

“Um…maybe you should wait in the car,” I said, barring him from entering the room.

“What? Why?”

“Well, because it’s a hot mess. And I need a few minutes…or hours to tidy up.”

Jensen arched an eyebrow. “We’re not wasting hours here. Why don’t we just get the things you need? Then, I can have a cleaning crew come through and box everything else up.”

“No way! I can’t let you pay to clean my apartment!”

“Fine. Then, let me inside,” he countered.

I glared at him. I should not try to negotiate with someone who did it for a living. “All right. Well, don’t judge me.”

“I’ll judge you for the incredible woman that you are, Emery. Not for anything else.”

I swooned at his words and let him inside. “You’ve been warned.”

He stepped inside and then laughed. “I spoke too soon.”

I smacked him in the chest. “Jerk.”

“I’m kidding. I’m kidding. Come on, let’s get started.”

We spent about forty-five minutes going through my bedroom before I eventually relented. He was right. This was way too much work for one morning. I’d be here for a couple of days, going through my stuff. It would be better if I just packed it all up and shipped it home where I could go through it later. Luckily, the furniture was staying for this semester for the person who would be subletting.

Jensen and I brought out the boxes to the town car and then checked into the suite he’d reserved. I hadn’t even seen him pick up his phone to call for someone to come to the loft, but he told me on the way to campus that someone would be there tomorrow.

I might have dated a Wright in high school, but I hadn’t had this. At that time, their father had been wealthy. But I hadn’t understood money then. I hadn’t realized what it meant the same way that I did now when I didn’t have any. With Jensen, it was clear, the power and prestige that came with that kind of wealth. He made things happen. And he didn’t even bat an eyelash.

The town car dropped us off in front of campus, and I was ready to show him around, but I could already feel myself crashing. Early mornings were not my thing.

“Coffee first?” I suggested.

“Definitely.”

We traipsed across the street to my favorite local coffee shop. I’d been there about a million times since it was such a short walk from Garrison Hall where the history department was held. The next closest shop was a Starbucks, but in Austin, local was king. Especially when it came to coffee…and tacos.

My heart felt giddy as we approached the building with sleek black tables on the outside, already half-abandoned since school was out. Only a few people were still hanging out. We breezed in through the front door, and I breathed in the scent of the coffee brewing. I could already taste my favorite latte on my tongue.

Then, it all turned to ash.

My feet stopped moving.

Jensen took two steps ahead of me before realizing I had stopped entirely.

But I couldn’t look away from what was in front of my face.

It hadn’t occurred to me at all that Mitch might be here.

“What’s wrong?” Jensen asked. He took one giant stride to appear before me. “Hey, tell me what’s going on.”

“Emery,” Mitch said over Jensen’s shoulder.

Jensen whipped around and took stock of the man standing before him. Mitch was about average height with slicked back long blond hair. He wore a black suit jacket with jeans. I had always thought he looked so sharp, and knowing the intelligence under the persona was even more appealing. But, seeing him now next to Jensen, I realized that Mitch looked cheap and grungy.

Cool professor, he might be.

Sexy CEO of a Fortune 500, he was not.

Jensen seemed to put the pieces together almost instantly. He bristled with barely concealed anger and tried to shield me from Mitch. “Let’s just go somewhere else.”

“It’s okay,” I said, finding my voice. I put my hand on his sleeve. “This is my favorite coffee shop.”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

I nodded, and Jensen instantly backed off. But he was still tense and looked ready to pounce if Mitch came any closer.

“I’m so glad you’re back. I knew you would be,” Mitch said with a confident smile.

He took a couple of more steps and then tried to pull me in for a hug. I stumbled backward in shock and revulsion.

How could he think I would want to touch him after what he had done?

Before I even had a chance to speak, Jensen crushed his hand on Mitch’s shoulder to keep him from getting near me again. He was boiling over.

“Don’t lay a hand on her,” Jensen growled. He gave a little shove and then released Mitch.

Mitch looked him over, as if he hadn’t noticed him. Jensen stretched even taller and broader than normal. He was all testosterone and aggression. Mitch had his classic sly grin in place. He was assessing the situation but not to size Jensen up…just to belittle him with his eyes.

“Always nice to meet a friend of Emery’s,” Mitch said, sliding a hand back through his hair. “I’m her dissertation adviser, Dr. Mitch Campbell.” As if Jensen hadn’t just pushed him away from me, he held out his hand.

Jensen coldly stared down at it. “I know who you are.”

“And you’re not my dissertation adviser,” I cut in. “I quit the program.”

Mitch laughed and waved his hand like he was brandishing a magic wand that could make it all better. “You were just upset that day. I told the department to dismiss the withdrawal paperwork, and I had you reinstated. I knew you’d want to finish up. You only have another year.”

My jaw nearly hit the floor when the words tumbled out of his mouth. “You did what?”

“The department seemed confused that you would up and leave out of nowhere. As was I, Emery,” Mitch said. “I don’t know what you think happened or what you think you were doing by leaving, but it’s over now. You don’t have to be so irrational about it all. I’ve fixed it for you.”

“What I think happened?” I sneered.

“Gaslighting,” Jensen said under his breath. “Priceless.”

“I don’t even have time to listen to this,” I said with fury in my voice. “I know what happened. I know what you did to me. And I am leaving the program. I cannot believe you went behind my back to toss out the paperwork I’d filed.”

“Emery,” he said, stepping toward me again.

“Stop.”

“You heard her,” Jensen said. He moved in between us. “The last thing you want to do right now is make a scene. The last thing you want is for me to take this up with the president or the provost. I happen to be on a first-name basis with both.”

“Are you threatening me?” Mitch asked.

“Depends on whether or not you walk out of here right now.”

“Who is this guy, Emery?”

“He’s my…” I began and then trailed off.

What was Jensen?

“Boyfriend,” Jensen filled in.

My eyebrows rose dramatically. Boyfriend? Whoa! Whoa! Where had that come from? My mouth was open slightly, and I wanted to say something, but I didn’t know what to say. Not that I didn’t like the phrase rolling off his tongue, but I hadn’t even known what we were doing. I hadn’t known where this was going.

Now, he was claiming me.

Jensen Wright was claiming me.

“Boyfriend,” Mitch said. He seemed to weigh his options. He faced me, but I narrowed my eyes in warning. “Well, that was fast.”

“Not fast enough,” I muttered.

“Why am I not surprised?” Mitch said, reaching for his trendy leather messenger bag. “You always did like to be a kept woman.”

I winced at his assessment as he brushed past Jensen and out the door. Shots had been fired. And I’d let him have the last word. Ass.

“Emery…”

“Let’s just get some coffee,” I whispered. My head was spinning. Between the confrontation with Mitch and Jensen claiming he was my boyfriend, I needed a second to think.

“I didn’t mean to spring that on you,” he said. He sounded sheepish.

I glanced up at him and saw that he actually did look sheepish.

“I meant for the whole thing to be romantic. To take you out to dinner and ask you over candlelight if you’d be my girlfriend. Then, it just kind of slipped out.”

“Oh,” I said softly. “Wow.”

“I know it’s fast and that I have a lot to tell you, but I want you to be mine.” He reached out and brushed a stray strand of hair out of my face. “I can’t get you out of my head, and I don’t want you out. So, do you want to be my girlfriend?”

I laughed abruptly, and then it suddenly poured out of me. This was so formal. So controlled. So purposeful.

“What?” Jensen asked. His body became guarded, as if preparing for the fallout.

“You really aren’t like any other guy, are you?”

He arched an eyebrow in question.

“Most guys are too busy trying to keep girls dangling on the line, but you just come right out and say you want a relationship.”

“I’m a businessman. I say what I want, I negotiate for it, and then I take it. I don’t want to lead you on.”

“I like that.”

He beamed.

“And I like that you said you were my boyfriend.”

“Good,” he said, drawing me in for a kiss. “Does that make you my girlfriend?”

“I guess it does.”