The Debt 7 (Club Alpha) by Kelly Favor Read Free Book Online

licked her lips, trying not to show
how turned on she was.   “That sounds
nice.”
    “I think so too.”
    The plane banked to the right side,
rolling so that it almost looked like their window was pointing straight at the
ground.   And then, after a few
seconds, it straightened out and, other than a few bumps of brief turbulence, they were seemingly floating on air.
    The stewardess got up and
approached.   “Would either of you
care for a drink, or something to eat?”
    “I think a couple of glasses of champagne
will do just fine,” Jake told her.
    The stewardess flashed Jake a wide grin,
and then another quick icy glare in Raven’s direction, before walking away
towards the other side of the plane.
    “She doesn’t like me very much,” Raven
told him.
    “Who, the stewardess?” Jake waved it off
as silly.   “You’ve got to stop
worrying so much about what other people think of you,” he said.   “Especially strangers.”
    Raven nodded.   “I know.   I just hate how people make assumptions,
and they always seem willing to believe the worst.”
    “That’s how a lot of people are, but not
everyone.   And that’s their
problem.   Don’t make it yours.”
    Raven gave him a sidelong glance.   “You’re pretty smart for a musician.”
    “Well, I did read some philosophy books,
so maybe I’m not as dumb as you’d assumed I was.   See? Now you were the one making
assumptions.”   He grinned at her.
    She couldn’t believe how handsome Jake
Novak was—but more than that, he was beautiful inside.   She was staring into his eyes and it was
as though she could see his soul.   Raven realized she was staring for too long when Jake averted his gaze,
seeming uncomfortable with her attention, pulling his hand away.
    The stewardess was back with two full
glasses of champagne.   “Please let
me know if you need anything else,” she said to Jake and only Jake, as she
handed off the glasses.
    Raven thanked her and was ignored.
    Jake turned and clinked glasses with her,
smiling warmly.   “Here’s to
Florida,” he said.
    “To Florida,” she agreed, then brought
the glass to her mouth and sipped.
    “To warm sands, warm bodies, and you
lying naked in my arms all night long,” Jake whispered.
    Raven felt her arms break out in goose
bumps as he spoke.   “You’re making
fun,” she said.
    Jake shook his head no.   “I’m not, Raven.   You have no idea what I’m going to do to
you.   It’s going to be just the two
of us, in my house, and nowhere to go.   I hope you can handle it.”
    “I’m pretty sure I can,” she replied
confidently, tipping the glass to her lips and drinking a large sip of
champagne.  
    “Good,” Jake told her.   “Because this is the beginning of the
rest of our lives.”
    The rest of the ride was uneventful, and
she even caught a little sleep before they landed.
    The ride from the airport to Jake’s house
on the island of Siesta Key, Florida, was stunningly beautiful.   Everything was so crystal clear, and the
colors so bright, as if the dial had been turned up on the world itself since
landing.
    They were driving in a rented Jeep, the
wind in their hair, their luggage stuffed in back, as Jake drove, wearing
sunglasses that made him look even more like the movie star he was.
    Raven had bought a pair of sunglasses at
the gift shop and was sporting them as she looked off to her right at the
ocean, while they crossed a large bridge.
    Birds flew by them and landed beak first
on the water, trying to hunt for fish.
    Boats drifted toward the horizon.
    Around them, palm trees drifted to and
fro, blurring as they sped by on their way to Jake’s home.
    “This is the island,” Jake told her, as
they exited the main highway, and then turned off onto an even smaller road
that led them into a slightly more remote area.   There were plenty of tourists walking,
cycling and driving, and the air smelled of salt water and magic.
    Raven’s entire body relaxed as she
watched