“It will be done.” He bows his head and walks into the airport to go speak to her.
“Miller, we are late,” Frost scolds as I hold my hand out and wave for a taxi.
When one pulls up to the curb, I open the door for him and wait expectantly. After a moment he rolls his eyes and gets in the back, and I follow in after him. We were supposed to be on an earlier flight, but I hadn’t really thought about it until now. I forgot about our investors’ meeting, forgot about missing our flight earlier in the day, forgot about everything when I saw her.
Was it fate that I happened to be on the same flight as her? Maybe. Am I going to do everything I can to make her mine? Definitely.
Chapter Five
Pumpkin
With each step I take away from Miller, there’s a sinking feeling forming in my stomach. I know I got his number, but what will come out of it? We flirted most of the flight, but he might have thought it was all in good fun. When the plane landed, he could have felt obligated to give me his information, and for all I know the number isn’t even real.
We live in different parts of the world doing different things. It's so hard to see how something like that could ever work. I don’t think it’s smart to allow myself to imagine it.
If I called him and the number wasn’t real, it would super suck. But if I called and he answered, that makes me a clinger that can't go two seconds without finding out what he’s up to. So, I’ll do the rational thing and wait. Even if it kills me.
“Miss Williams?” A man in an all-black suit calls my name, and I look behind me to see if he’s talking to someone else. Williams is a common name, but then I hear him say “Pumpkin” and realize he’s for sure talking to me.
“That’s me, but I didn't call for a ride.” I feel like an asshole because I just assumed he’s a driver. “I'm sorry, I don’t know why I said that. Is there something you need?” He lets out a warm laugh that makes the lines around his eyes crinkle.
“I’m your driver.”
“Oh. But—”
“Hey, I’ve already been paid, so you might as well take the free ride.” This time it’s me that’s laughing.
“You’ve made a fair point, Mr.…” I hold my hand out.
“Wyatt, ma’am,” he answers.
“Now I really do feel like I’m back in Texas.” He tries to open the door for me, but I wave him off. “I’d much rather ride in the front if you don’t mind.”
“Not at all.” He takes my bags for me and puts them into the back as I get into the passenger seat. On the dashboard he has all kinds of pictures, and when he gets in, I ask him about all of them.
By the time we make it to my parents’ house, Wyatt almost feels like a distant cousin with all I know about him and his family. It’s sweet to listen to a man go on about his family and wife while smiling from ear to ear. It's something I hope to have one day. It’s also another reminder that the job I have right now isn't really leading me down the path to that dream.
When I get out of the car, Wyatt goes for my bag, but my mom and dad are already all over me. I try not to cry as I see them rushing toward me, because this is a happy moment, and if I spring a leak my mom is going to lose it.
“Wyatt, this is my mom Rose and my father Winter.” Wyatt’s lips form a thin line. “It’s okay to laugh at that, Wyatt, we get it.” He lets out a deep chuckle. “I’d invite you to Thanksgiving dinner to meet my sister Cookie, but I’m guessing you have your own plans.”
He tries to hide his laugh and looks at me like I can’t be serious. “Cookie?”
“I know, and she can’t even bake a batch without burning them.”
“Oh, hang on one second, wait right here,” my mom says as she moves quickly back inside the house.
My dad leans close to Wyatt and whispers conspiratorially, “Word of advice, I have no idea what she’s about to bring out for you, but just take it. You won’t win the fight, and it could go on for hours.”
Wyatt nods. “Of course.”
“Smart man,” my dad says, slapping him on the shoulder. “You’re clearly happily married.”
“That I am.”
A moment later, Mom is coming back down the driveway with a box. Her hair looks so much like my own. Even those dimples in her cheeks are on full display.
“Here are some cookies to take home.” Wyatt takes my dad’s advice and takes the box from her.
“That’s mighty sweet of you. How did you know I had a sweet tooth?”
“Who doesn't?” He walks back to his car and I call out to him.
“Thanks again, Wyatt.” But as soon as I say the words, something hits me. “Wyatt, wait!” I rush over to the driver side door. “I didn't pay you or anything, but you knew my name.” I don’t know why this is only just now dawning on me
“It seems you have an admirer.” He winks at me before closing the window and waving goodbye.
“What’s wrong, honey?” Mom takes my wrists and pulls me toward the house as Dad carries my suitcase inside.
“Nothing.” I give her a bright smile as I wonder if there’s a way Miller could have sent him.
“How was the flight?” Mom asks as she hangs my coat up inside. I’ve barely crossed the front door and Cookie is all over me.
She’s covered in flour and icing and her hair is a lopsided mess. “You’ve gotta give this baking thing up,” I tell her, squeezing her close.
“Practice makes perfect.” She kisses my cheek and gets everything on me in the process. “You never texted me back.”
“I know, I was running late and then my phone was off on the plane.” She stares at me for a long moment like she’s trying to figure something out.
“I forgot to show you something.” She drags me along with her before I can try and save myself. Suddenly we’re moving straight into my old bedroom.
“Who’s got your cheeks all rosy?” she asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
“Um, the temperature outside?” It’s a lame suggestion but a plausible one.
“Where’s your phone?”
I hold my purse close to my chest, and she lunges at me and screams. I fall back onto the bed and a fight for my purse ensues. Seconds later, Mom bursts into the bedroom and Cookie stands up with a giant smile on her face, holding my purse over her head like a champion. Five years ago we would have been in so much trouble for this, but Mom just laughs.
Cookie reaches into my bag and pulls out my phone. “Looks like you have a text from someone named Miller. Let’s see what it says.”
“Oh shit,” I whisper, and suddenly my mom doesn’t think it’s so funny.
Chapter Six
Miller
I stare at the message I sent to Pumpkin and wait for a response while Frost addresses the boardroom. He’s telling them about the sale and what our next steps will be. This is all something that could have been done over an email, but he felt like the board members should hear it directly from us now that our plans to come home have changed.