Chapter 40 Nikki

I glare at Landen as he chuckles but does as Bronson requested and places two small pain killers into the palm of my hand.
Wine.
Who the hell invited wine anyway?
“I hoped you’ve learned your lesson Miss Myers, drinking needs to be within a controlled environment.” Bronson smirks. He’s been that way all morning and now that we are on the plane, his jokes and sense of humor have made an unfamiliar appearance.
What the hell did I say to the man last night? And why is he acting so nice to me?
“Humor doesn’t suit you when I’m suffering through a hangover.” I mutter, then take my pills, downing them with a gallon of water. This morning I was woken up by a very chirpy Bronson. he came into my room, pulling back the deep marron curtains, revealing the harshest sun I have ever seen. I tried throwing my pillow at him, but he only chuckled and shook his head, left, then came back into the room with breakfast. I don’t know what was said last night, being drunk can have that affect, but I hope I didn’t reveal anything too personal with Bronson.
Neither of us need the truth coming out.
“It’s better than being afraid of the flight wouldn’t you say?” His smile is clear as he takes a sip from his tumbler. He’s right, I don’t know if it’s the fact that I’ve been on a few flights now, or the fact that I am so hungover that I cannot even tell we are flying, but I don’t feel sick like how I did before on the plane.
Blessings can appear in small amounts I suppose.
“So, what city are headed to next?” I ask taking the cool cloth I was given my Jim and placing it back on my eyes. The instant relief I feel causes me to moan and I hear Bronson clear his throat in the background.
“Houston. Although we are a bit ahead of schedule.” One eye peeks out of the cloth and connects with Bronson. “I thought it would take me a few days to get ahead of the deal with Blodgehorn. I didn’t think I would have it that very day.”
“Your welcome.” I state and smile when I hear him chuckle again. I’ve really come to enjoy that sound.
“So, we may be heading to Houston, but we won’t be meeting with Mr. Lornson, until tomorrow evening.”
“And how long is the flight?”
“About four hours.”
Nodding my head, I lay the cloth back against my face and lean back in my soft leather chair. It isn’t until I feel someone shaking me, did I realize I not only slept, but did so for the entire plane ride.
“Time to wake sleepy head, we’re landing.” Opening my eyes, I notice a few things. One, my cloth is gone, two I f*cking drooled, and three, I happened to be laying not only on Bronson’s shoulder, but he has taken off his suite jacket, leaving just a simple button up, tightened around his chest and shoulders.
I get up, wiping away the embarrassing drool, then look around. It’s just us in the main area of the plane, I don’t see Landen anywhere and Rand and Jim are far enough away from us that they cannot hear us.
“I slept the whole way?”
“You did.”
Sitting up further, I stretch my body, marveling in how much better I suddenly feel. Between my head pounding and my skin still sweaty from the night before, I felt like I was knocking on deaths’ door.
“Sir, we are arriving. It’s four o’clock and the SUV will be out waiting for us.”
“Good, thank you Rand.”
Everyone bustles around me the words spoken earlier flow around in my head. Early, we are a day early. I stand, looking out of the window and notice we have not only landed but there are two men outside the plane, one of which is wearing a small black flat top hat, indicating that he must be our driver.
“Bronson?”
“Yes?” I turn and watch his eyes land on mine as he gathers his things, handing them off to Rand and Landen, who has seemed to have emerged out of thin air.
“Let’s go somewhere.”
Bronson says nothing at first, then looks around the plane as everyone begins piling out. “That’s the goal here Nikki, no one expected to be sitting here on this plane forever. We’re heading to the hotel now.”
“No, I mean, really go somewhere. It’s early enough, there is plenty of sun, let’s go and do something fun.”
“Nikki, what– “
“Sir, the car is waiting on us.” Bronson turns towards Rand and nods his head, then looks back over at me offering his hand. I take it instantly remembering how it felt when he placed me in my bed last night. I dreamed his lips graced my forehead and damn what I would give to have actually felt that.
Bronson exits the plane, his hand never wavering form mine until we get to the SUV. It’s the same as the other, all black and large, filled with the highest of tech gadgets.
I watch as Bronson speaks with not only the pilot and copilot but shakes hands with our new driver and a few other men dressed all the same. When we were in California and Washington, I noticed Rand drove, this time, it looks like it will be a new guard.
Great. More of them.
“Have fun last night?” I turn and see Rand walking over towards me with a confident stride. His eyes are blocked by sunglasses, but I know I couldn’t read him even if they were nonexistent. The man is a walking statue.
“Judging by my hangover I want to tell you yes, but I’m sure that would be a lie. What’s it to you anyways.”
“You’re good for him.”
Wait. What? “Pardon?”
“Bronson is usually broody, and that’s his good side. He’s arrogant, hard, and business always comes first. But there is something about you being here, on this trip, that is good for him. I’ve seen him smile, seen his kind side, and for the first time in all the years I have know him, I see him happy. I think you’re the that’s doing that for him.”
I don’t speak, I don’t even know what to say. Rand gives me dirty looks so often, I figured he would never say anything to me out of the realm of insults. But this? This is something else. I look over at Bronson as he shakes hands one last time and heads back towards me then smile at him. I think I finally have earned their trust.
Thing is, I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not.