Getting Even (12 page)

I
t’s the weekend after the fund-raiser, and Glenn’s here again, just as he promised he’d be. I stretch my neck to glance at the bedside clock beyond his shoulder. 7:14 a.m.

I’m amazed I’m even up, given how much of the night we spent making each other come. When we’re together, we can’t seem to keep our hands off each other.

“Why aren’t you sleeping?” Glenn asks me.

“After last night, hell if I know.”

Glenn sighs contentedly as he pulls me into his arms. We snuggle front to front. I close my eyes and try to sleep.

But several moments later, I find myself asking, “Are you sure you want to live in Atlanta?” We started discussing this a few hours ago, during a break between lovemaking. He said he had no problem relocating to Atlanta, but I want to be sure.

“All-American Air’s hub is in Atlanta. It’ll be a great move for me. Besides, this is where you’re established. I wouldn’t dream of taking you away from your career.”

I kiss Glenn’s chin. “You’re so sweet. Have I told you that?”

“My goal in life is to make you happy.”

I lift my hand and stare at my engagement ring. “I
am
happy. I have my career, and now I have my man.”

“I’m really glad you’re doing so well,” he tells me. “You followed your dream and look where you are.”

“You’re following your dream, too. You’re a pilot, Glenn. I never would have dreamed it.”

“Yeah, but I’m working for a smaller airline, and I’m not making the kind of money I’d like. Six figures, but not high-enough six figures.”

“As long as you’re happy—”

“I am.” But he doesn’t sound convincing.

I ease my head back on the pillow to look at him. “What, baby? What is it?”

“Nothing.”

“You’re not happy, are you?” I place a hand on his face. “You never told me what happened to your dream of playing for the NFL. When we broke up, you said there were scouts interested.”

“And I went to training camp for the Cowboys, but I wasn’t good enough. I didn’t make the cut.”

“And you just gave up?”

“Naw, I didn’t give up. My plan was to give it another go the next year, and I would have—if I hadn’t pulled out my shoulder.”

“Glenn, no.”

“Yeah, it was pretty bad for several months. Then it healed pretty much completely—but not good enough to play.”

“Oh, baby.” I stroke his face now, my fingertips moving over the stubble. “I’m so sorry.”

“So am I. But I got over it. And went to L.A. Like every other hopeless fool.” He chuckles. “But while I was there, a friend was taking flying lessons, so I took some, as well. I really did enjoy it. Next thing I know, I’m getting my commercial pilot’s license, and the rest is history.”

“That’s good, isn’t it? If you enjoy what you do? There’s no point dwelling on the past.”

“I’m not dwelling on the past. I guess…”

“What?”

“You want the truth?”

“Of course. You’re going to be my husband.”

“This might sound like a big dream, but I’d like to be my own boss. Instead of flying for someone else, I’d like to run my own charter-airline company.”

“Glenn…”

“I know, it’s crazy, right? The thing is, with some of the contacts I’ve made, I’m beginning to think it’s a possibility.”

“I don’t think it’s crazy. I think it’s fabulous.”

“I would base the company out of Atlanta, so I could be here most of the time. If all goes the way I’d like, I ultimately wouldn’t have to do much flying—except to whisk you off to St. Barts or some other exotic place. And we’d have a lot of money, babe. We could have a second home in the Caymans, or in the south of France…And we’d be together more often than not.”

I have to admit, though I trust Glenn, I’m not keen on him spending many nights away from home. Let’s face it—where there’s an opportunity, there’s a well-meaning guy who’ll fall into some slut’s bed.

“It sounds like a great plan. And I can’t deny I’d like to keep you closer to home.”

“I feel the same way. Especially when our children come along…I’m going to want to be around to see them grow up.”

Our children.
The very suggestion fills me with such joy, I can hardly believe all this is really happening. I’ve never admitted this to anyone, but the sight of happy couples with babies tugs at me more and more these days. I’d always hoped to have at least one by thirty, but in the next couple years I won’t be ancient.

“It sounds perfect, Glenn.”

“It would be perfect—if I could afford it.”

“You can get a loan. Banks would be happy to lend money to a guy like you.”

“It would be a lot of money. I don’t know if I can get that kind of loan based on my salary. I could try private investors. Of course, then the company wouldn’t be mine the way I’d like it to be. Unless I had a significant amount to put down.”

“Hmm. I see what you mean.” And damn if I don’t want that second home in the south of France! “Sweetheart, I’ve got a bit of savings.”

“Not a chance.”

“Hear me out.”

“No way. I am not taking money from you.”

“How much would you need?”

“Lishelle—”

I put a hand over Glenn’s mouth to quiet him. “No, seriously. How much would it take to start the business? Tell me,” I urge him when he doesn’t say anything.

“All right. Here’s what I’m thinking. Maybe five, ten million? I don’t know for sure. I could start small, of course. I came up with a business plan—”

“You have a business plan?”

“Uh-huh.”

“So you really are serious about this.”

“I was playing around, running some numbers. But what does it matter, when I don’t have the money? I’d want at least a million of my own cash if I was going to go to investors. Let’s say I get five more people with a million—then I’d at least have a twenty percent share of the company. And who knows—maybe I can get it going for less, like maybe two mil. So if I find a business partner—maybe another pilot—we can start smaller and work our way up.”

“To a Fortune 500 company.”

“Ah. Wouldn’t that be nice.”

“It can happen, Glenn. And I can help you. I make an excellent salary.”

“Lishelle, stop.”

Once again, I cover Glenn’s mouth. “I wouldn’t have enough start-up capital, but I could cosign a loan.”

He forces my hand off his mouth. “You heard what I said, right?”

We stare each other down. I’m the first to give. “Fine. But listen, we’re going to be married. And that means we’ll be a team. The one thing I hated with my ex is that he always thought of his money as his own money, and mine as mine. Of course, that’s because when I married him, I wasn’t making as much as he was. Then I got my big break in TV, and I thought he’d be happy. Instead, he was envious.”

“Do you have to remind me you married someone else?” Glenn asks, but he’s grinning softly.

“This time, I’ll be marrying the
right
man,” I point out. “But let me finish what I’m saying. We’ll be partners one hundred percent. In the bedroom and out of it. So if you need me to cosign or whatever for this venture—which I think sounds like a fabulous idea—then know that I’m here for you and I’ll do it.”

“Good to know, but I’ll do this on my own.”

“Ugh!” I pinch him. “Why won’t you let me help you?”

“Look, I love you for wanting to help. I really do.”

“Then let me.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Will you?”

“Yes. I do love you, you know that? Because you’re caring.” He lifts my hand to his mouth and gives it a lingering kiss. “And sexy.”

“Ooh, go on.”

“And you have a delicious body that I just can’t get enough of.”

“Is that so?”

He nods. “I especially love it when you’re sitting on my face, and I’ve got my tongue deep inside you, and you just start to come…”

“Mmm.” I writhe my body against his. “We’ll never make it out of bed if you keep talking like that.”

“Who says we have to get out of bed?”

This is the problem with Glenn. The moment he starts to turn me on, I lose all sense of reason. I think I could stay in bed with him and fuck him all day if I didn’t have a life.

“Well, uh…I have to meet Claudia,” I manage to say on a ragged breath, because Glenn’s got my finger in his mouth. He’s nipping and sucking it slowly, just like he loves to do to my clit. “Wedding stuff, you know. Dress fitting…Oh, shit…”

Glenn chuckles victoriously and covers my body with his.

A couple hours later, I’m sitting at a wrought-iron table with Claudia in her parents’ backyard. We’re sipping cranberry juice as we wait for the rest of the bridal party to arrive.

“I still can’t believe you told me 10:00 a.m.,” I whine.

“I totally meant to call you and tell you I’d changed the time to eleven. Sorry.”

“It’s okay. Since I’m here early, I have something to ask you. It’s a favor, really.”

“Anything. You know that.”

“I’m wondering if you can talk to your uncle, the one who’s a bank president, about getting me a loan.”

“A loan? Why?”

“I’m trying to raise some capital for a business venture.”

“What kind of venture?”

“Glenn. He’s got this dream. He wants to open a charter-airline company—can you believe it—and I want to help him.”

“Whoa.” Claudia lifts her dark, designer sunglasses to look me in the eye. “You want to get a loan for a business Glenn wants to start?”

“Yes. We were discussing all the possibilities earlier today, and I think it’s—”

“It’s something you want to think long and carefully about. I know you love him.”

“And that’s why I want to do this for him. All he needs is a million. That’s enough to attract other investors, or even get a business loan from a bank. And hey—” I reach for and squeeze Claudia’s hand “—we could fly to the Caribbean anytime we want.”

“You and me?”

“Yeah, sure. And Annelise, of course. Can you imagine it—having a private jet?”

Claudia doesn’t say anything, but her eyes betray what she’s thinking. She’s thinking this is a bad idea.

“Claudia, please. Don’t give me that look. You know how I couldn’t stand it that David never supported my dreams. I don’t want things to be like that with Glenn.”

“I know, but—”

“And you also know I’ve been looking for some kind of business opportunity to invest in for some time now.”

“Yes.”

“Who better to invest in than my future husband?”

“Well—”

“Do not be the voice of negativity here. I know what I’m doing. Will you help me or not?”

Claudia lowers her shades and looks away. I almost want to smack her. After all, she’s not my mother. And I’m not asking
her
for money.

“You’re my friend,” I tell her.

“And friends support each other. I know.” She faces me again. “You know I’d do anything for you, even if I think you’re making a mistake.”

“So you’ll help me?”

“I’ll call you later with my uncle’s number. He’ll take care of you.”

“I love you, girl.” I feel guilty now for having wanted to smack her. It’s just that she can be so stubborn at times. “And please don’t worry. This will work out. I have a feeling about this. I know it will be great.”