Page 95 of Her Selfless Warrior (Omega Sky)
“Yeah, that’s what I said. Kane said he’s just the kind of man he would have liked to have running a division of his software company.”
“I thought Kane had to sell that?” Kostya said.
“Yeah, even though he was the one who started it, and he was the CEO, he sold it to the three men under him who he really trusted. He has it worked out that when he retires, he has an option to buy back in, but I doubt that he will.”
“Why not?”
“He’s not the type,” Lark said as they got close to the front of the line. “He’s always thinking, like my mom. Probably like your guy Gideon too. My guess is that Kane will have something new up his sleeve when he retires from the Navy. So you think Gideon is responsible for our upgrade?”
“That’s my bet,” Kostya sighed as he ushered her up to the TSA agent.
* * *
They had already startedthe boarding process by the time they arrived at their gate, but even so, Kostya and Lark were still two of the first people to board the plane. Kostya grinned when he immediately saw Gideon at the window in first class. He held up his glass of champagne in salute.
“And you’re here, why?”
“Because you need me,” Gideon smirked.
Kostya watched as Lark looked at her ticket and started to sit down next to Gideon. He then looked at his ticket and saw that he was seated two rows back.
This was a no-go.
“Hold on a second,sólnce,”he said as he pulled Lark back into the aisle. “Gideon is sitting in the wrong seat. He’s back two rows.”
“I’m sure you have it wrong, Lieutenant,” Gideon said as he held up his ticket between two fingers. “This ticket says my place is right here, and this lovely lady is my seat companion.”
Kostya gave Gideon a feral smile. “And I’m sureIhave it right, and your ass is planted in the wrong seat. Do you know how I know this?” Kostya ignored the line that was forming behind him.
“How?” Gideon’s smile got even wider.
Kostya leaned in real close and started speaking in a low voice. “Because if it isn’t me sitting next to Lark in the next twenty seconds, then I’m telling your brother Mike that you taught Felix how to hold out for bigger payouts on his Roblox hacks.”
Gideon normally had a good poker face, but Kostya had been hoarding that little tidbit of blackmail for just the right moment, and by the look of horror on Gideon’s face, it looked like he’d hit a home run.
“My God, man, you sure do play dirty. And here I was letting you and Lark live the high life in first class.” Gideon gathered his backpack and scrambled out of his seat, but not before he gave her shoulder a squeeze and hauled ass two rows back.
Lark gave him a quizzical glance. “What was that all about?”
“Long story. I’ll tell you about it during the flight,” Kostya smiled. He watched as she sat down, enjoying the way her jeans molded to her curvy bottom. Had it really been only eighteen hours since the last time they’d made love? It seemed like months.
They buckled up.
“What can I get you to drink?” The flight attendant asked.
“Nothing for me,” Kostya answered.
Lark took a moment to consider. “Water is fine.”
“I’ll be right back.”
“Okay, tell me what’s going on. Why’s Gideon here? How did he know we were going to Florida?”
“Ryker has a big mouth, and Gideon probably thinks because there’s something to do with computers, he should be involved.”
The flight attendant gave Lark her water and she took a sip. “That’s really not a bad idea. But aren’t the two of you going to get in trouble? I mean, you’re working on a project that is in the United States, after all. SEALs are only supposed to operate outside America’s borders.”
“Me going on vacation with my girlfriend is not a mission, it’s me going on vacation.”
