He motioned for her to sit and she settled into the seat next to the window. She noted he’d positioned them in seats that were mostly away from the prying eyes of her uncle and dad.
“You’re a lot to take in sometimes,” she said when he sat next to her.
He picked up her hand and entwined his fingers with hers. “I don’t mean to be. I’m just trying to be myself. Not trying to overwhelm anyone.”
She looked at their entwined fingers and smiled as her bracelet twinkled when the light from the window hit it.
A ring would look better.The thought came unbidden and she shook her head. There was no chance of marrying a man like Garrett Oliver. For one, her family would have a cow. For another, he’d made it fairly clear in the beginning that he wasn’t looking for that kind of commitment. He wanted a date at fancy parties and her submission outside of the club.
Before the plane took off, the flight attendant served everyone drinks and promised lunch once the plane was in the air.
After lunch, the flight attendant came and took the girls to the cockpit. Henry and Jacob both fell asleep stretched out in their fully reclining seats, and Isabelle felt herself doze against Garrett’s shoulder.
“Go take a nap in the bedroom, Doll.”
She shook her head. “I’m fine here.”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “It wasn’t a suggestion, Isabelle. You worked a shift at the hotel last night, you’re exhausted. Go. Now.”
His voice stayed low and she knew she was the only one who could hear him, but she was still embarrassed. It felt like she was being sent to her room like a naughty teenager. But when his scowl deepened, she sighed and stood to make her way to the small room.
It wasn’t long before Isabelle was sound asleep. She drifted off to the thought that she hated it when he was right.
Garrett woke her two hours later with a gentle kiss to her forehead.
“Wake up, Doll. We’re landing soon.”
She rolled away from him and he chuckled, pulling the blankets away. “Come on now. Don’t make me tickle you.”
She grumbled but rolled back toward him with a sleepy smile. “Thanks for the nap.”
His arrogant smirk had her rolling her eyes as she sat up and slid around him to get off the bed. He stood with her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry if I was too stern with you out there.”
She gave a sheepish shrug. “Maybe a little but it’s OK.”
He smiled and trailed a finger down her cheek. “I promise to keep my inner Dom in check in front of your family, but I expect you to remember who you belong to, understood?”
She nodded. “Yes, Sir. Understood,” she murmured when he narrowed his eyes at her.
They returned to their seats and she noticed both girls had passed out and her dad and Uncle Henry were still snoozing too.
“What did you do, drug their drinks?” she teased.
He chuckled. “No. They’re just learning what traveling in comfort is like. I can’t imagine the five of you driving in one vehicle.”
She laughed. “Road-tripping with family is fun.”
Garrett grimaced. “You’ve met my brother. My parents weren’t much better. A road trip with family sounds like pure hell to me.”
She felt so bad for him. Family could be a royal pain in the ass, but she wouldn’t trade most of hers for the world.
On the ground, the girls bounded down the stairs where another limo was waiting for them. With seven in the car it seemed a little less spacious, but Isabelle enjoyed being snuggled next to Garrett despite the scowl on her father’s face.
“Which hotel are we staying in, Aunt Izzy? I hope it’s not the one from last time,” Catarina said.
Isabelle shrugged. “You’ll have to ask Mr. Oliver. I let him arrange everything this time.”
“Isabelle, please. They can call me Garrett. I barely like it when my staff calls me Mr. Oliver.”