The Billionaire's Marriage Contract(15)

Amy laughed. “The ink isn’t even dry on that marriage license, and you’re already talking about my next marriage? How about we try to make it through this trip before we make any statements about the future. By the way, what did you mean when you said we have to head out to meet Hank?”

“We’re going skiing with him.”

“What do you mean we’re going skiing? It’s sixty five degrees outside, and I don’t know how to ski.”

“It’s thirty five in Wyoming. It’s spring skiing at its best.”

“What on earth are you talking about?”

“We’re visiting Hank Harris this weekend. We’re on our way to the airport now.”

Amy shook her head and took a deep sip of champagne. “Did you not just agree to include me in your plans?”

“I did include you. I’m telling you now.”

“We have to work on your definition of inclusion,” Amy replied. “Besides, I have to stop by my house, or do you expect me to wear this all weekend?”

Ethan laughed. “Of course I don’t. I already packed a bag for you.”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, I am. You’ll have to trust me on this one. As much as you need me to trust you, I need you to trust me. Can you do that?”

“Sure,” Amy said, “but I’m very particular about what I wear.”

“I saw to every detail. Don’t worry. You’ll have everything you need for spring in the mountains and a few other things as well.”

“Do I even want to know?”

Ethan gave her another wry smile. Perhaps some things were best left to the imagination.

What are you up to? Amy wondered as she looked back at Ethan. There was something he wasn’t telling her. She could tell. She always knew when men were lying and when they were being completely honest. It was something deep inside her, an instinct that had served her well over the years. Well, she almost always knew, but with Ethan, it was hard to know what was going on.

As they rode the rest of the way to the airport, Amy couldn’t shake the feeling of being off-balance, like the world had shifted beneath her. It was the way she used to feel back when she had started working in crisis communications, back before she had seen it all, back before she knew with certainty the outcome of every situation. For the first time in years, Amy didn’t know what to expect from the man sitting across from her, and, for the first time, she liked the uncertainty.

Amy looked out the window and watched as they sped past the airport. “Ethan, where are we going?” she asked.

“Private airfield. You didn’t think we were going to fly commercial, did you? Don’t tell me that’s an unpleasant surprise.”

Amy couldn’t help but laugh. So far, the surprises hadn’t been unpleasant at all.

***

“You know, Amy, I think this trip will be good for both of us.” Ethan poured himself a glass of mineral water and looked out the window of his Gulfstream. From 30,000 feet, the farmlands of Iowa looked like one long, unbroken blanket of white, and as the sun began to set in the west, Ethan watched the pink and purple hues of dusk spread across the sky. He didn’t want to admit it to her, but he had enjoyed the hell out of the past few hours with Amy. There was just something about her.

“I can’t wait to hear you explain this one to me,” Amy said. She and Ethan had been flirting back and forth since they had settled into their seats in the lushly appointed cabin of Ethan’s jet.

“I thought explaining things away was your job,” Ethan replied.

“I thought my job was to look wifely.”

“You’ve got that one down.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Amy asked as she sat up in her seat. She wasn’t sure if she should be offended by Ethan’s comment.

“Easy there, I just meant you’re very convincing as my wife. I meant it as a compliment.”

“We’ll have to see if you can live up to being my husband.”

“I wonder if you’ll talk like that in bed.”

“What? We’re sleeping in the same bed?”

“Of course we are. We’re husband and wife. I thought I was pretty clear about that.”

“I haven’t shared a bed with a man in… well, I can’t believe I’m talking to you about this.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean you probably can’t even remember how many women you’ve shared a bed with in the past year.”

“In my defense, I was never good at math,” Ethan replied.

“Charming.”

“Hey, you’re the one who brought it up. Besides, that’s what makes me such a great client: a new scandal every few months.”