Page 10 of The Celebrity Bidder

“Because of thehelicopter.”

At that, Nadine appears from the side of the house, Scout trotting happily at her side.

“Scout insisted on a proper reunion,” she says with a wink.

I crouch as he bounds over to me, nuzzling my leg like he remembers. I scratch behind his ears, grateful for the moment to ground myself.

“He’s still perfect,” I murmur.

“He likes to think so,” Wylie says. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

I follow him along a flagstone path, past the house, toward a sleek metal helipad tucked just out of sight from the main drive.

The helicopter gleams under the soft light of dusk.

There’s no one else around.

I glance at him, then at the chopper.

“Where’s the pilot?”

Wylie slides a pair of aviator sunglasses from his blazer pocket and raises one brow. “You're looking at him.”

I stare at him.

“Seriously?”

He grins. “I do my own stunts.”

I laugh, unexpected and breathless. “Of course you do.”

He walks over to the helicopter and opens the door for me like it’s the easiest thing in the world, like we’re heading to dinner in a cab instead offlying to Nashville in a freaking helicopter.

This is happening.

Wylie Cole is flying me to dinner.

And I have a feeling he’s about to do a whole lot more than just sweep me off my feet.

Chapter 8

Wylie

Thehelicoptertouchesdownwith a smooth hum, its blades slowing as I power everything down and glance over at Bella.

She’s still grinning.

Her hair’s windblown, cheeks flushed from the ride, eyes bright with a kind of thrill I haven’t seen in a long time. Not in red carpet dates or movie premieres or staged interviews.

Bella’s excitement is real.

She turns to me with a laugh as she unbuckles. “Okay, I’ll admit it. That was... insane. But, like,funinsane.”

I grin as I climb out and offer her a hand. “Fun is the goal.”

We step onto the rooftop landing pad, and I guide her across to the restaurant’s upper deck. The view stretches wide—twinkling city lights, the Cumberland River cutting through downtown, and the Nashville skyline glowing under a soft indigo sky.

The rooftop has been set up for us. String lights overhead, a soft jazz trio playing in one corner, the scent of rosemary and freshly baked bread drifting in from the kitchen. Subtle. Elegant. Private.

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