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Category:
Romance
Publisher: smashwords
Type: Fiction
Pages: 223
Copyright: April 4, 2012
ISBN-13: 9781476487427
Price: $2.99 (eBook)
Come Fly With Me is a contemporary romance with a hint of mystery.
Haven’t we all experienced a moment when we’ve said something we wish we could take back? What if you were an eleven-year old girl and thought that moment caused the death of someone you cherished? Allison Ross, now a twenty-nine year old art gallery owner in Chelsea, was that young girl. The sudden death of her father in a suspicious car crash begins the unraveling of the tightly-wound world she has built around herself. This present day tragedy raises the unresolved issue of her Uncle Joey's untimely demise, for which she feels responsible. Adding to her turmoil, she is shocked to learn that she's been named interim CEO of her father's luxury jet company. Past and present blur as she fights to maintain control of a company she wants no involvement in while she struggles to keep her gallery afloat.
Excerpt
“I can’t believe you made me stop on the way over here so you could get that.” Allison pointed to the grease-stained paper bag Alex was unwrapping. “Ella would have fixed you anything you wanted—‘One only has to ask on a RossAir Jet’.” She smiled as she swung her hand around the cabin interior and ended it with a flourish.
“I know; I’ve seen the ad campaign. But I like my burgers extra-greasy,” he said with his mouth full.
His enthusiasm for his meal made her feel nauseated; she couldn’t eat a thing when she flew. She adjusted the pressure-point bands on her wrists that helped with her motion sickness. She saw him smile in amusement at her preparations. I’m glad he finds me so entertaining, she thought, annoyed. The trip to Buckhead was a short hop, and she might as well make efficient use of her time. Normally she was not a nosy person, but it was vital that she find out as much as she could about Alexander Coventry.
Allison cleared her throat and looked sideways across the table at his wrapper. It seemed empty and the loud chewing noises seemed to have abated. She chanced a glance—the coast was clear. But as she turned to him for a full view, Alex opened his mouth wide and showed off the last remnants of masticated beef.
“Ew, you are so gross! And juvenile, what’s your deal, Alex?”
“Gotcha!”
“Might I remind you that you are supposed to be on your best behavior, I haven’t signed your new contract yet.”
“I apologize. I couldn’t resist—your expression reminded me of my sisters.”
“Oh, you have sisters—how many?”
“Four.”
“Did you say four?”
“Yes Ma’am.”
“And you are…?”
“Smack in the middle. My older sisters used to put ribbons in my hair and my younger sisters would force me to sit at their tea parties.”
“Why didn’t they just play with one another and leave you alone?”
“’Cuz that wouldn’t have irked my dad—and annoying my dad is the most fun game of all,” he laughed.
“Will they all be at your mother's birthday party?”
“Of course—attendance is mandatory. Besides, it’s easy for them, they all live within shouting distance of each other.”
“Really? How unusual.”
“No, it isn’t. It’s a family requirement. Children are the must-have accessory. And having grandchildren nearby is part of the sisterhood code; showing them off is a favorite pastime in Atlanta. Also, whomever’s daughter manages to stay married to the richest jerk, and is able to maintain her prom weight is the winner—competition is the lifeblood of society down south.”
“So, then by those standards, you’ve lost.”
“Actually, I’ve maintained my prom weight."
Allison rolled her eyes in response.
"But, I've won, you see, because I got the hell out. And anyway, since I’m a rich son-of-a-bitch, I can get married at anytime and still enter the race.”
“You’re pulling my leg about all of this, Alex.”
“I couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried. Did I mention that my mother is a former beauty-queen winner? The information is fuzzy as to which contest she was actually a participant in, but what we all know for sure is that she WON. She pulled out the rhinestone tiara for my sisters’ weddings.”
“I guess that’s kind of sweet, that the ‘borrowed’ thing they wore was something so meaningful to their mother.”
Alex smiled, “My mother wore the tiara.”
Allison’s eyes opened wide, “Now you’re pushing it—that could not possibly have happened.”
“I think you’ll be seeing all kinds of crazy this weekend." Alexander’s eyes glinted with amusement.
Allison’s head was spinning; she was convinced that he was just amusing himself at her expense. I can’t even trust him to have a civilized conversation with me, how can I possibly trust him to run this company. I think I’ve come on a fool’s errand.
Her look was skeptical. “Fine, have it your way, but if I could switch topics for a second, when did you realize you had a fascination with planes and engineering?”
He scratched his chin. “I reckon that would have been the first time Daddy took me up in his Gulfstream IV.”
She rolled her eyes again, “Your father owns a jet?”
“Yes.”
She looked at him silently for a few beats and then shook her head. “I've been meaning to Google you. So, your family really does have money?”
He nodded. “The Coventrys are an old-moneyed family with deep roots in the South. My daddy used to say that money grew on trees, and I believed him.”
“So you meant it when you said back at the office that you could start your own thing.”
“Yes,” he replied. “I may sound flip about a lot of things, but no one could ever accuse me of being a liar—or a fool.”
“So, why work for my father, why not try your own hand at it?”
“Well, first off, I didn’t know a thing about running a company a few years ago. And secondly, Daddy’s money comes at a steep price.”
She nodded, “It usually does. I don’t think family and business mix.”
“Is that why you opted out of joining the business?" Alex asked. "You obviously have a very sharp business mind; you seem to have grasped a lot about the business in a short amount of time.”
“I don’t think my relationship with my father could have survived had we worked together. My father and I went toe to toe on a lot of things. That would have been a disastrous mix in business. My father was used to being unchallenged in our home. When I was old enough to talk, I started to face up to him and haven’t stopped since. Well, up until a few weeks ago, I guess.”
Alex nodded. “Right. That is tough; the suddenness of the whole thing.”
“You know, I’m kind of glad it happened that way.” When she noted Alex’s surprised expression she hurried to explain. “My father was always such a presence in a room; my mother learned early on that he cast a large shadow and found that the house remained peaceful if she stood one step behind him. He commanded a lot of respect and attention. I would have hated to watch someone with such zest wither away through a prolonged illness. He’ll always remain vibrant and alive in my mind.”
“Well, it seems like you’ve gotten much of your father’s strength of character.”
“I’m like him in a lot of ways—that’s why we clashed so much. But it’s my mother I really admire. Marriages followed a different formula thirty-five years ago. She deferred to my father in family decisions, even though her advice and counsel many times would have been more reasonable. She is smart and talented, a gifted artisan, who allowed her needs to sit in the background while she put her energy into her home and family. That’s probably why I’m self-centered; I never want to abdicate my control to a man like she did.” She shrugged, suddenly uncomfortable for having spoken so easily and openly to him.
He was smiling and shaking his head. “We couldn’t come from more dissimilar backgrounds. In my house, my mother is in charge and my father is so crazy about her, that he lovingly steps aside and lets the spotlight stay directly on her. It’s a fascinating dynamic. They grew up together and were childhood sweethearts. They have a beautiful, crazy bond that seems to have worked for all these years. I think you’ll really enjoy meeting them. There are all different types of marriages, just like there are all different types of people. You should keep an open mind toward the institution.”
“That’s not what I would have expected you to say. Here you are, thirty-four, maybe thirty-five?”
He nodded.
“And unattached,” she finished.
“As soon as I feel more settled in my career, I’ll marry.”
Allison studied his profile as he looked out over the brightly lit city. He'd tossed off those last words with such ease, as if he was saying, “please pass the mustard” with the confidence of a man who knows exactly where he’s headed. Allison followed his line of sight and steeled herself for the landing. She admired his matter-of-fact approach to life; he was non-judgmental and easy to talk to—maybe he was right, and she was starting to like him. The plane dipped a little as it began its descent. She gasped and Alex turned toward her with concern.
“I’m fine, I just hate flying,” she said meekly.
“Well, aren’t you just full of surprises,” Alex said.
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