Page 20 of Unmasking Secrets
He glances at Tabitha and nods.
“My co-pilot Jake is going take care of the car.” Hops passes me a tablet. “Everything has been checked, but I know how thorough you are.”
I smirk. “Keys are in the car.”
I move around the outside of the jet, taking my time as I do a safety walk-around. My eyes look over the engine blades, then scan under the belly. I kick at the tires and chuckle to myself. He’s done very well for himself.
When we’d gotten out of the military and he told me he was going to cruise around the world and have other people pay for it, I thought he was joking. With the help of his family, he turned it into a solid business model. They call it Hops Aviation,“Where you’re just a hop and jet away.”
The Falcon 2000XL is a solid choice for private aviation. I remember Hops telling me most of their jets are around this size. It shouldn’t surprise me that this is what he came in. Even if I was expecting something a little smaller since it’s only me and Tabitha. Maybe a little HondaJet or Cessna.
I circle around to see Hops laughing at something Tabitha said. I know they’re not flirting, my body still tenses. I’d be more jealous if he weren’t married or she was remotely interested. Still—she brings it out of me—this side I didn’t realize I had.
Even my ex could never understand that I wasn’t the jealous type. Clearly, there’s a reason. I shake the thought from my head. I can’t go there. We’re just friends.
“Looks good.” I pass Hops the tablet and grab Tabitha’s suitcase and my bag. “We ready?”
I lead the way up the steps and to the right.
“This is fancy.” Tabitha whispers behind me.
“There’s a bathroom in the back, and we’ll store our bags back there. Did you want to change?” My eyes trail down the dressshe’s been wearing. The blue dress clings to her curves and has a high slit on one side.
“Actually, that would be nice.” Her eyes soften.
I nod and lead her farther back and sit our bags down.
“Arch, can you help me?” She turns her back to me and points toward the zipper on her back.
“Yeah.” I clear my throat.
I know Hops is already in the cockpit and waiting, but I still pull the door closed behind us. My eyes move from the back of her neck, where she’s holding her hair up, to the top of the zipper. I reach out and slowly unzip it. My fingers trace her skin as the zipper slowly exposes her back.
“What’s that?” My eyes catch the top of a tattoo on her lower back. “When did you get another tattoo?”
Tabitha spins to face me, her hands holding up her dress. “It’s nothing.” Her eyes are wide.
She’s hiding something.
“I’m going to finish getting changed now.” She swallows. “Thanks.”
I nod. “Yeah.” I shake my head and turn around, cautiously slipping out so she remains hidden.
Why was she hiding a tattoo? I was with her when she got her first one. A small hummingbird behind her left shoulder. It never occurred to me she would get more. She never mentioned wanting them. I couldn’t make out what that one was on her lower back, and now it’s going to bug me.
Tabitha looks nervous when she returns to her seat a few minutes later. I help her get settled and then move to join Hops in the cockpit.
Hops passes me the flight plan. I skim over the papers and then look over the instrument panel. We go over the weather and everything required of us before takeoff before he stares at me and snickers.
“What?” My eyes narrow on him.
“Who is she?”
“A client.”
“To you?”
My jaw ticks.
