Bud Reynolds is his favorite player, said Jack, shooting Hunter a glare. Then his more normal expression quickly returned as his attention shifted to Kristy. The Budster is up for player of the year. Hes ten for thirteen on threes from the straight away.
And seventeen for thirty-five from downtown, said Hunter. You should really join me at
Kristy doesnt like basketball, said Jack.
She fought a moment of panic. I never said I didnt
She might change her mind, Hunter put in.
I could learn, Kristy offered. If basketball truly was the golf game of the Osland corporate world, she was more than willing to give it a try.
Jacks mouth thinned as he spoke to Hunter. Dating Kristy is not the answer.
Dating? She glanced from one man to the other. Dating? What had she missed?
Its nothing but a basketball game, said Hunter.
Drop it, said Jack.
Then a voice interrupted from the planes intercom. Mr. Osland?
Jack pressed a button on his armrest. Yes, Simon.
Just to let you know, were reading an indicator light up here.
A muscle in Jacks temple twitched, and everything inside Kristy went still.
Ill be right up, he said.
No need, Simon responded with a static crackle through the small speaker. Id like to have air traffic control divert us to Las Vegas to check it out.
Jack shot Hunter a glance.
Kristy tried to interpret his expression. Were they out of gas? Out of oil? Losing an engine?
He pushed the intercom button. Your call, Simon.
Roger that, sir. The intercom went silent, and Kristys throat turned paper-dry.
Neither of the men spoke.
An indicator light? she rasped.
Im sure its nothing to worry about, said Jack.
Kristy waited, expecting him to say more.
Thats it? They were at thirty thousand feet, and something was wrong with the plane. She picked up her mimosa and took a healthy swallow.
The jet is in perfect running order, said Hunter.
Her voice rose. Except for the indicator light.
Her thoughts flashed to her sister. Sinclair had begged her to postpone the trip until after the holidays. But Kristy hadnt wanted to risk losing Clevelands interest. So shed insisted on rushing to California.
If only shed listened. If only dreams of fame and fortune hadnt clouded her brain.
Then she wouldnt be here. Shed be home and safe, instead of facingShe stared up at Jack. Can you at least ask him what the light was indicating?
Kristy
She nodded to the intercom button. It was her life at stake, too. Will you ask him?
Jack heaved an exaggerated sigh. Trust the pilot. Hes a professional. And if it was serious, Simon wouldnt be chatting about contacting air traffic control. Hed be declaring an emergency and taking us down.
Kristy peered out her window at the last orange sun rays in a darkening sky. She didnt see a fire, didnt hear any metal twisting, and the aircraft wasnt losing altitude or bouncing around. Then the steward appeared, looking calm and collected as he cleared away the drinks.
She supposed there would be a few more signs of panic if a fiery death was imminent.
Relax, said Jack.
Itll be fine, said Hunter.
But both men were on alert.
Then something banged on the airframe. The plane lurched sideways, and the steward nearly fell over.
Buckle up, Jack commanded.
The man nodded, his face instantly pale. He slipped into the nearest seat and clipped on the belt.
There was relative silence for a few minutes. No more banging, and the plane stayed smooth, the engines purring normally.
Ever been to Vegas? Jack asked into the steady hum.
Kristy blinked at him.
Ever been to Vegas, Kristy?
She shook her head, stroking Dee Dee with a trembling hand. She wished now shed left the little dog at home. At least then Dee Dee would be safe. Sinclair would have adopted her, Kristy was sure of that.
She blinked away a burning in her eyes. Sinclair. What if she never saw her sister again? Or her parents? What if her family was forced to watch the twisted, fiery wreckage of the jet on the evening news, knowing
Kristy?
She glanced up to see Jacks expression soften with sympathy. Everythings going to be just
The plane banged again, this time taking a sudden drop in altitude and leaving her stomach behind.
Simon is the best in the business, Jack bravely carried on.
Thats reassuring, but its the plane thats the problem, Kristy reminded him.
Its just an indicator light.
Well, it is indicating something.
Her fear morphed into anger. She knew it didnt make sense to be mad at Jack. It wasnt his fault they were all about to die. But he was the one arguing with her, and she couldnt seem to bring herself to think logically.
The intercom crackled to life. Mr. Osland?
Jack was quick to respond. Yes, Simon?
Its the hydraulics on the right aileron. But were compensating. And were cleared to land. I dont want anybody back there to panic.
Were not panicking, Jack responded.
Im panicking, Kristy hissed.
He says hes compensating.
What else is he going to say? That we should write our wills on a cocktail napkin?
Hunter crossed to the seat beside Kristy. He belted himself in then took her hand in him. If it was a serious danger, hed be telling us to assume the crash position.
Do we know the crash position?
Feet back, head down, hands behind your neck. Jack demonstrated.
Kristy tugged her hand from Hunters and tried it, just in case, while the landing gear whined, and the wheels clunked into place.
Simons voice came over the speaker once again. Relax, everybody. Make sure your seat belts are tight. Im not expecting anything but a slightly bumpy landing.
Kristy clasped Dee Dee to her chest, glancing out the window, trying desperately to quell the churning in her stomach.
She could see the outskirts of the city. The houses loomed large against the desert landscape. The strip rose up in the distance, glaringly brilliant and really quite beautiful from this angle. Shed give a lot to see the inside of a bright, clanking, smoky casino or even an Elvis chapel before she died.
Kristy?
What?
Jack reached for her hand across the table. Look at me.
She glanced up as his warm palm closed over hers. She wondered vaguely how his hand could be warm at a time like this. Hers felt like ice.
What the dogs name? he asked softly.
Dee Dee.
Dee Dees going to be okay, he said.
His eyes locked onto hers, and his deep voice rumbled through her body. Youre going to be okay. And Im going to be okay. An hour from now, well all be laughing about this over wine and grilled lobster on the Strip.
Kristy didnt really believe him, but he seemed to be waiting for an answer. So she gave the barest of nods, and he squeezed her hand in response.
Just keep looking at me, Kristy. I swear itll be all right.
She held his gaze, and she started to feel hope.
The runway rushed up to meet them. The plane lurched to one side. Red emergency lights flashed in her peripheral vision. But for some ridiculous reason, Kristy kept her faith in Jack.
Two
As the Gulfstream finally coasted to a halt at the far end of the runway, Jack quickly rose from his seat. There was no reason for anyone to be hurt, but he wanted to make sure.
True to Simons word, it had only been a bumpy landing, followed by a long stretch of deceleration. Even now, the emergency vehicles were struggling to catch up.
Still holding her hand, Jack went to Kristy first. Okay? he asked, peering into her eyes.
She gave him a series of swift nods, one hand stroking the little dog.
He smiled at her, let go of her hand and moved forward to where Leonardo was belted in. The man looked pale, but otherwise perfectly fine. Jack strode past the small closet and pulled open the flimsy cockpit door. Simon?
Alls well, Simon confirmed.
The copilot gave Jack a thumbs up.
There was a loud banging on the cabin door, and Jack quickly released the latch and lowered the staircase.
Everybody okay? shouted the fireman standing closest to the stairs. He was flanked by two others in their turnout gear. Behind the trio was a lights-flashing fire engine, an ambulance and two paramedics on the rain-spattered runway.
Were all fine, said Jack as an airport security car pulled up, yellow lights adding to the show.
Simon appeared next to Jacks shoulder.
A hydraulic problem, he told the emergency workers. Ill meet you inside to fill out the paperwork.
You need me for anything? asked Jack.
Simon shook his head. Ill take care of it. But youll have a few hours to kill.
Jack nodded then turned to find Hunter and Leonardo both on their feet. Leonardo was helping Kristy into her coat, balancing the little dog in his arms while he tried to be of assistance in the narrow aisle.
We might as well go inside, Jack said to them. Itll take some time to do the incident report and look at repairs.
Can I be of assistance? asked Leonardo.
Dont worry about us, said Jack. Simon or I will call you when we know anything.
Thanks, said Leonardo, handing the dog back to Kristy and giving it a pat on the head.
Jack gestured for Kristy to be first out of the aircraft, and one of the firemen came partway up the stairs to take her hand.
Im fine, she protested.
Its slippery from the rain, maam. If you follow me to the car, security will take you to the terminal.
Jack shrugged into his overcoat and followed them down the stairs. Hunter was right behind him, and the three hitched a ride in the back seat of the sedan to the main terminal at McCarran International.
As the glass doors of the terminal glided open, he breathed a sigh of relief. Everyone was safe, and the plane was intact. But, as soon as those facts were neatly filed away, his pragmatic brain began calculating the silver lining. At the very least, hed bought himself three or four hours. Because, despite his connection with Kristy during the emergency landing, his mission hadnt changed. And he now had some extra time to figure out how to stop her wedding to his grandfather.
The doors swooshed shut, and the noise and confusion of the main terminal engulfed them. They joined the crowd snaking its way past the luggage carousels and rental-car booths, and Jack fought an urge to put an arm around her shoulders and keep her close to his side. Ridiculous, he told himself. Shed had a bit of a scare, sure. But she was from New York City. This crowd certainly wasnt going to rattle her.
He raised his voice so that Hunter and Kristy would hear him over the din. I say we head for Bellagios. He couldnt see hanging around an airport for three or four hours. Not when Le Cirque was so close by.
Im going to grab a commercial flight, said Hunter, slowing down and stepping out of the main pedestrian stream. The escalator next to him stretched up to the departures level. Ive got a golf date with Milo and Harrison in the morning, he finished.
Jack glanced at Kristy, worried she might hop on a commercial plane, as well. But he quickly realized she wouldnt want to pay full price for a same-day ticket.
I guess its just you and me, he put in, before it occurred to her to call Cleveland and ask for his credit-card number.
Kristy glanced around the crowded terminal. You go ahead. I can wait here.
Was she masochistic?
My treat, he clarified, in case money was stopping her. He would have paid for her dinner in any case. It was his plane. She was his guest.
She started to back away. Im sure you have plenty to do without me hanging around.
Like eat a steak and drink a martini?
She smiled at that, and it was hard to imagine she was a gold-digging opportunist.
Reports to read? she asked. Phone calls to return?
It was nice of her to offer. Really it was. But didnt she know enough to shut up and take the free dinner? Besides, he had no intention of letting her out of his sight.
Im honestly only planning to eat, was his answer. And conspire against her, of course. But he didnt think it was necessary to divulge that bit of information.
She gave him a look that said she didnt believe him. What about Dee Dee?
The hotel will take care of her. You wont be the first celebrity to show up with a pet.
Im not a celebrity.
Yeah, but they wont know that. Ill get us a really long limo, and I guarantee the concierge will find a solution.
He could see she was still hesitating, so Jack brought out the big guns. Do you really think my grandfather would ever forgive me if I abandoned you in an airport?
Her eye twitched, and he knew he had her.
He knew he had her even before she opened her mouth.
Okay, she finally said with a nod. We dont want to upset your grandfather.
Thats right. We dont.
Hunter gestured to the up escalator with a jab of his thumb. You two kids have fun. Im off to find another ride.
Kristy gave Hunter a brilliant smile and moved gracefully toward him, her hand outstretched. It was a pleasure to meet you.
Hunter reached for the hand, a goofy grin growing on his face. Me, too. Im sorry I have to leave you here.
Dont be silly. You obviously have things to do. Me, Im clear for the rest of the weekend.
Really?
Jack could see Hunter rethinking his golf game with Milo and Harrison.
If you want to come along, Hunter said to Kristy. We can probably catch something on United.
Jack wasnt about to let that happen. Kristys not interested in being stuffed in a last-minute back seat of a commuter jet.
How do you know? asked Hunter.
Because she has a brain, said Jack, shifting in front of Kristy, squaring his shoulders and giving his cousin a crystal-clear back off glare. How was he supposed to save the family fortune if Kristy was off flirting with Hunter?
Hunter shrugged his capitulation. Catch you next week, then.
Yeah, Jack returned. Next week.