Page 55 of Just Business

Austin laughs, but pats the dashboard affectionately. “Ya know, I was just thinking the same thing. This van has been good to me over the last couple of weeks.”

When we get to the airport, I run to drop the van keys in the rental drop box, and head to where he’s waiting at the steps of the small plane we’ll be flying in. When we climb on, I’m taken aback by how nice the inside is. I’ve flown plenty of times in my life, but never first class and never a private plane. Against one wall is a buttery leather seat that's the length of my couch with a wood grain coffee table in front of it. I walk over and take a seat and Austin settles beside me.

I’m digging through my carry on for my earbuds when I realize how oddly quiet he is. When I glance over, his leg is bouncing and he’s twirling his thumbs over themselves. For a brief second the thought that he’s regretting inviting me hits me.

“You okay?” I ask.

Austin looks up, his brow creasing and his thumbs stall. “I don’t like flying. I don’t have much choice about it, but I hate heights.”

Inwardly, I sigh with relief. “Here.” I hand him one earbud. “Let’s listen to music. It’ll be a good distraction.”

I unlock my phone and bring up my Spotify playlists. Before I can swipe off the screen to hide the evidence, he snatches my phone from my hand.

“Penny Middle Name Miller. Did I just see my songs in your playlist?” He scrolls looking at all his songs on the screen. “If I didn’t know better, I’d think you might be a fan!”

I snort a laugh. “Penny Middle Name Miller. It’s Elaine. Penelope Elaine Miller.”

“Penelope Elaine,” Austin repeats, making my name sound like music rolling off his tongue. “I love that.”

“Penelope was my grandmother’s name. And Elaine was my mother’s middle name.”

“Beautiful,” he replies, a soft smile on his lips. Then his face twists into a smirk. “So about these playlists. If you’ve got my music in here”—he tilts the guilty phone toward me—“I’m guessing you already know my middle name.”

“I do like your music. I like your older stuff better, though, Austin Ryan James.” He smiles, and I cover my eyes with my hand. “I can’t believe you didn’t even know my full name yet.”

He reaches for my hand, curling our fingers together. “We’ve got plenty of time to learn things like that about each other.”

The pilot comes on over the speaker, interrupting us, and before I know it we’re in the air. I settle against Austin, dozing off with my country playlist fading in and out of my dreams.

* * *

“Wake up, Penn. We’re here.” Austin shakes me gently. “Tyler’s already here to pick us up.”

We gather our things and step off the plane. We’ve landed at a small private airport right outside of the city, and a black Volvo SUV sits next to the gate. As we approach, the passenger door flings open and a flash of dark hair almost knocks Austin down, squeezing him like a boa constrictor. When he pries the woman off him, he spins her to face me. She’s taller than me, with chestnut hair that hangs halfway down her back. A tiny stud sparkles in her nose, and a smattering of tattoos decorates her arms. She’s wearing a Fleetwood Mac t-shirt and cut off shorts, and she’s absolutely gorgeous.

“Penny, this is my sister, Cass. Cass, this is Penny, the studio owner and my—” He cuts off abruptly, and I raise an eyebrow at him. I’m dying to know how he was going to finish that sentence.

Cassie opens her arms for a hug and I lean in, returning her hug before we both pull away.

“Sooo, you’re the woman my brother told me all about.”

“What the fuck, Cass!” Austin barks out beside me. He’s chuckling, though.

“What?” she asks, feigning innocence. “You’ve told me all about her studio and her town, that’s all I mean.” Then she turns to me and gives me a big, exaggerated wink. Gah, Josie would love her.

While Austin was introducing me to his sister, the man who I assume is Tyler has walked around the SUV to stand beside Cassie.

“Ty, this is Penny Miller. She’s the woman who will finally make me a star.” Austin snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me to him.

I roll my eyes, but I’m laughing along with them. I’ll never live that down.

Tyler is as tall as Austin with hair the same shade as Cassie’s. He’s tan and his eyes are the most unusual shade. Somewhere between hazel and green. He’s wearing black framed glasses and a tight fitting black t-shirt. He’s extremely handsome, giving off Clark Kent vibes. Any minute he might take off his glasses and turn to Superman to save the world, all while doing my taxes.

“Is that right?” Tyler asks, extending his hand to me. I intend to give him my firm handshake that I’ve mastered for anyone in the industry, but he clasps my hand in both of his. His smile is warm and friendly, belying his serious facade. “About time someone helped you get famous. Can’t let all that cocky arrogance go to waste now, can we?”

Their banter helps put me at ease. Tyler and Austin throw teasing digs back and forth, and it's obvious how close they are.

We load everything in the back of the SUV and climb in. Cassie sits up front and Austin and I get into the backseat. Quietly, I observe their interaction as we drive.

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