“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.