Page 34 of The Wedding Toast
“True.”
Ollie couldn’t help smiling when he thought about her.He kept replaying in his mind the moment that he’d first seen her.When he’d landed at Little River, he’d thought he was going to have to wait a while.And just as he’d started to relax and enjoy the scenery, she’d called his name.A shiver ran down his spine.
He’d been expecting some kind of hippie chick, so he’d been shocked – stunned, if he were honest – when he turned around to see a gorgeous girl dressed in cargo pants and a denim jacket, a duffel slung over her shoulder, her light brown hair tied in a messy braid.It had been gray and damp at the airfield, but he swore a ray of sunshine had broken through the clouds when he laid eyes on her.
Reaves snapped his fingers in front of his face with a chuckle.“Hey, come back to me,” he said when they reached the door to the conference room.“We need to talk through scheduling and flight plans with these guys one last time.I need you with me.Are you with me?”
Ollie laughed.“Yeah, I am.”
He pushed the door open, and they walked in to join Jacob and Bentley, and Trick and Elliott, who were already there waiting.
He checked his watch.“Sorry we’re—”
“You’re not,” said Jacob with a smile.“I’m the one who should be apologizing for making us all meet and go over the details one last time.I know you guys know what you’re doing.I just…”
Bentley smiled.“There’s no need to apologize, is there, guys?”
“Not at all,” said Ollie.The others murmured their agreement.
Trick and Elliott ran just as tight an operation as he and Reaves did.Attention to detail came with the territory.But since the details of all their flights over the next few days were part of the logistics of Jacob’s wedding, Ollie couldn’t blame the guy for wanting to stay on top of it all.
For the next half an hour, the six of them talked details, and Ollie was surprised at just how often his mind returned to Callie.He should probably forget about her.She lived all the way up there in Fort Bragg anyway.
But… he smiled, remembering the way she shook hands with him, pumping his hand up and down.She seemed to shine when she smiled, and her hand had felt warm inside his.Warm and rough, she was down to earth, a maker.He didn’t know how to describe it; he only knew that she was different from most of the women he knew.
He made a face; he found it attractive that she was so… real.But he already knew that she wasn’t likely to even give him a chance.She’d seemed relieved when he’d said that no, he wasn’t from one of the wine families.She’d told him that she felt a little out of place around them – she wasn’t used to the planes and the big estates and the kind of people who lived here.By then, he wasn’t going to set her straight about his own background – he didn’t want to put her off and blow any chance he might have.
As they all walked back outside a little while later, Jacob caught his gaze.“Mind if I have a quick word before you leave?”
“Sure.”
“I’ll see you outside,” said Reaves.
He had to laugh as he watched his friend hurry down the steps.
“What’s the deal with him?”Jacob asked.
“I think he wants to see if the little girl’s around.”
Jacob chuckled.“He’s not alone.Zia seems to be winning hearts wherever she goes – winning hearts and bestowing names.Have you met her yet?”
“No, but from what I hear, I’m a little nervous.”
“I can see why.It could go either way.I’m saddled with King of the Cornflowers – although, I also get to be ruler of the Empire, so it’s not all bad.”
“Reaves is Prince Daddy, and I feel like he’s not as upset about that as he should be.”
Jacob laughed.“I know, I’m not sure what to make of that one.So far, I think Slade wins – he’s the growly dragon.”
“So I heard.I’m almost tempted to look a bit scary to see if that earns me a better name.”
“I’d advise against it – she’d probably see right through it and name you accordingly.”
“Good to know,” said Ollie.“But sorry, you wanted a word?”
“Only to let you know that Will’s going to handle everything while we’re on our honeymoon.I know you don’t usually get involved, but I didn’t want you to think that there’d be any gaps.”
“Thanks.It hadn’t even occurred to me.I leave everything to—”
