Seventeen Days (14 page)

“I’d say it’s fucked up, babe. I want you to know if you’d like me to, I’ll take you to meet your father. Depending on where he is, we can leave this evening.” 

Is he real? And can I keep him?

Cause I’d truly like to keep him. 

“Yeah, sure. That sounds wonderful. Thank you.”
For everything … being you.
 

As I’m reaching up on my tiptoes to place a quick kiss on his lips, Aunt Savannah makes her way back into the kitchen, coming to an immediate stop right inside the entryway. 

“Well, I can’t say I’m exactly surprised, but I kind of am. I could see you two working as a couple, but I didn’t know you’ve progressed from friends already. Good for you two. You’ll make each other happy.”

“We’re only friends.” 

“She’s my friend.” 

Looking at each other, we both start laughing. “Maybe she would like one of us to talk at a time, Harrison. Probably be a bit less confusing. Although, we did both basically say the same thing.” 

Almost strange how we can go from a depressing subject to laughing in the span of a few seconds. 

“Okay, I’ll answer her. We’re close friends. I’m not saying I wouldn’t love to consider her my ‘girlfriend’ but she’s leaving shortly. So for the time being, we’re friends. What that says for our future together is still uncertain.” Turning back to me, staring directly into my eyes he adds, “Clear enough, Red?” 

Again with the intense gaze thing. What this man does to me, I swear. He’s sent me nothing but clear signals on where he stands as far as a relationship with him goes. He wants me, I want him, we’re holding each other at bay. “It’s insanely crystal clear, Captain.” 

Not knowing if I should ask her if she got Julian’s info or stand here in the awkwardness my kiss caused, I blurt out the next best thing. Like I said, I love making awkward situations
more
awkward. 

“Have you ever slept with Harrison?” Yeah, I literally asked that.
To my aunt.
Smacking my forehead, I groan, “Don’t answer me, I don’t need to know.” 

“Morgan, trust me, I have never slept with Savannah. She’s like a second mother to me. Did you truly think I slept with her? You must, you asked it, after all.” Shaking his head, he whispers so low it’s hard for me to hear and I’m literally inches away from him, “Wow.” 

“No, honestly, I didn’t think that. You should know by now when things get weird, I make them weirder. Hello, I asked about losing your virginity when there was an awkward silence between us the last time. Don’t listen to me. Carry on.”
Fuck, I need a filter for my mouth.
Maybe she has an extra muzzle laying around I could borrow.

Clearing her throat as if to remind us she’s still there, she says, “I have Julian’s info for you. This is as up to date as I have. Unless he’s moved within the last few months, this should be current.” 

“Um. Okay, thank you.” Grabbing the info from her, I glance down and see he’s still in Paris. There’s no way I can let Harrison pay and take me to Paris. Even if I wanted to meet dear old Dad, I won’t be asking that much of him. 

“Okay, well maybe I’ll try and call him. I’m feeling tired, so if you two don’t mind, I’d like to go lie down. Harrison, I’ll see you later.” 

Without waiting for a reply, I all but run from the kitchen and up the stairs, closing my bedroom door behind me and closing away the rest of the world. 

Looking over at Savannah, she only shakes her head at me. Neither one of us knows why Morgan took off like a bullet. She couldn’t get away fast enough. Something on that paper made her flee. 

“So, where does he live? I’m guessing it’s what made her run,” I ask.

When Savannah was telling us how she was connected to him, she mentioned he took off to Paris. I’m guessing it’s Paris as in France and not, Paris, Tennessee. When I offered to take her to meet her father, I already knew the possibility of it being out of the country. Call it a hunch, but I knew her father didn’t live nearby. 

“Paris, France. Where she was arrested. Who do you think paid to bail her out? It surely wasn’t her sorry excuse for a mother. She doesn’t know it yet, but Sienna cut her off completely. She thinks her mother is sending money to me to use for her expenses, but she’s not. I’m paying for her cell phone, her food, whatever she needs. It’s all on me. Her mother hasn’t contacted me once. She didn’t arrange for her to come here, Julian did.” 

Fuck me.
If she finds out, there’s no way she’ll bounce back. She’s barely made it through these last two days. If it wasn’t for me, I doubt she would have. Last night she probably would’ve changed the date on her flight ticket and took off, but instead, she ran to me. 

“Could you keep that bit of information to yourself for now?”
Please say yes.
 

“Yes, of course. She couldn’t handle it now. Some things are better left unsaid,” she replies. 

“I think I know why she ran; I offered to take her to meet her father. I told her no matter where he was I’d take care of it. I’m sure she doesn’t want me to pay for it. I’ve got news for her: I’m booking the first flight I can.” 

Hurrying into Savannah’s office, I boot up her computer and sit to wait. I’ll check for flights online, and if I can’t find what I need, I’ll call in a few favors. It so happens I know a pilot with his own plane. I’m not too sure his plane could get us to Paris, but it could get us somewhere closer that could. Like Atlanta, if need be. Expense is not a concern for me. Shit, I’ll go as far as using the money I have set aside to buy a new yacht. Expanding the business can always happen next spring, instead of this summer. It may sound crazy, but right at the moment it makes no difference to me. 

Finding a flight that leaves in less than three hours, I quickly book two first-class tickets. 

Venturing out to find Savannah, I find her still in the kitchen sitting at the table with her head in her hands. No one has bothered to clean up the spilled tea or broken glass yet. 

“Hey. I booked us a flight and it’s leaving in less than three hours, we’d need to leave for the airport within thirty minutes. Can you please make sure she’s packed and ready? I’m running home to pack a bag and grab Dog and drop him off here for the weekend, if that’s okay?” 

“Yes, of course. Thank you, Harrison. For being here for her and being exactly what she needs. Even if she doesn’t know it yet. She will soon enough. Trust me.” 

Bending down, I quickly hug her and jog out the back door. Hopefully I can find my passport. 

Guess I’m going to Paris. 

When I pull up to Savannah’s barely twenty minutes later, I’m surprised to see Morgan waiting for me outside, a bag slung over her shoulder. 

She doesn’t appear to be happy. She’s pissed. Again. 

Dog is barking and hanging his head out the window. He’s excited to see Morgan. The fat traitor. Maybe he liked her calling him by a different name, not that I’ll ever use it. 

Before I can get out of the truck, she’s opening the door to try and set him free. He doesn’t make a move to jump down but he does lick her face.
I know the feeling, dude.
I’d lick her too. 

“Hey, Rusty Sprockets. Did you miss me, boy? I sure missed you. Hear you’re going to have a sleepover with Mac. Sure hope the grumpy bastard is nice to you.” She’s ruffling his fur, and he’s making a sound that sounds suspiciously like a moan. It’s official, he loves her more than me. Like I said, he’s a traitor. 

“I’m all set, Harrison. Let me state, I don’t agree with you paying for us to go to frickin’ Paris but I’m ready. You’d be surprised to know, I also called and left a message on Julian’s machine so that he’s not shocked when we show up on his doorstep.” 

“Let me run Dog’s things inside and we can be off.” 

“Dog is such a lame name. Admit defeat and start calling him R.S., or at least admit it’s more fitting than Dog.” 

Shaking my head, I exit the truck, quickly making a grab for his things from the bed of the truck before I go over and pick him up. No way I’d let the old guy jump down from the truck. Even if she thought he would, he wouldn’t have jumped. He’d probably break a bone or two attempting it. I have to lift him in whenever I take him anywhere with me. 

“Be back in a second. I’ll quickly run his things into Savannah.” 

Dropping his bowls near where Mac’s are kept, I quickly fill one with kibble and the other with water. When I get back out to the truck, Savannah is there telling Morgan goodbye. 

She turns and sees me and jumps into the truck. Waving to Savannah, I jump back in the truck and we make our way to the airport. She must not feel like talking because she’s turned the radio up and has her window down. Fine by me — we can discuss things further on the plane. 

We make good time and pull into the Mobile airport within a half an hour. Good thing we both brought small bags so we can skip checking in any luggage. By the time we make it through security, our flight will probably be seating. It’s then I realize I didn’t book us a return flight home, or let any of the guys know, I was not only leaving town but the country. 

“Hey, Red, once we make it through security, I need to make a couple calls. Would you help me with making them if you brought your phone?” 

“Sure, let me know what you need. I’ll help however I can,” she replies.

Locking the truck up, I grab her hand, and we practically sprint to the entrance. She knows our time is short. Seems like everything with her is limited on time. 

Fortunately, when we make it to the gate our flight hasn’t started boarding yet. We grab a seat near the gate and set about making those calls. “Can you call Steve for me? He can let Gentry know. I’ll call Thad and see about booking us a flight home. Please tell him we may not make it back for my next scheduled tour and he’ll have to help out with that one. If he asks where we’re going or why, tell him ‘none of his fucking business’. It’s what I plan on telling Thad.” 

“You actually want me to swear at him? Best. Boss. Ever.” 

Smirking at her, I grab my phone and dial Thad’s number. He doesn’t pick up, so I try the satellite phone; he could still be out on the water for all I know. Although, he should be back by now. He doesn’t answer that, either. Hanging up, I press redial on his cell phone. Fuck, still no answer. I’d rather not leave him a message, but I may have to. Or wait till we land and call him from Paris. Shit, those international fees will kill me, though. I may have said I didn’t care about cost when it came to booking the flight, but I’d like to save cash in other ways. 

Glancing over at Red, I see she’s having the same problem as me trying to get ahold of Steve. 

“I’ll have to call Gentry.” As I’m saying that, they announce first class is being seated. “That’s us, Red. We’ll have to make these calls from Paris.” 

“Holy shit, you bought
first-class
tickets, Harrison?” she yells. Shit, I knew she’d be pissed once she found out. Blushing—yes, I’m blushing—I manage to say, “Yes, it was all I could find at the last minute. Don’t worry about it. Could you keep your voice down, please?” Her yelling is drawing unwanted attention our way. 

“Why should I keep my voice down, Harrison? Am I embarrassing you? Well, too damn bad, buddy. You spent a ridiculous amount of money on a flight to Paris, for me to meet my father. So no, I will not keep my voice down. I’m pissed. I’ll never be able to repay you, unless … you know,
I fuck you
.” 

Christ. She did not say she’d fuck me as payment for taking her to Paris. Clearly, I must’ve misheard her. Judging by the look of shock on the man’s face behind us, I didn’t mishear her.
Great
. 

“Morgan, you will not
fuck
me as payment. We’re friends. You have never met Julian and I wanted to do this for you. It’s not anything you owe me for. Consider it a late birthday present. Now, could you please board the damn plane?” 

Grabbing her bag, she doesn’t wait for me to follow. She’s already checked her ticket in with the attendant and is making her way onto the plane.
Shit.
 

The man who was behind us and overheard everything is still behind me. He’s obviously in first class, too. 

“She’s a feisty one, huh?”