Fourteen
Breedlove birthdays were always exciting. As the firstborn son of this close-knit clan, Christian knew that well. But as he relaxed against the company limo’s luxurious interior, he had to give it to the family, especially his dad. They’d surprised him at a time in his life when he thought few things could. The gift he’d received just hours ago had been totally unexpected, had humbled the self-confident, almost cocky businessman in him even as it had filled him with pride.
Now, as they passed the family mansion and reached the estate’s private airstrip, Christian realized one more surprise awaited him. A slow smile spread across his face, highlighting dimples that more than a few times had gotten him out of trouble with authority and into the romantic crosshairs of the opposite sex. One look and he was mesmerized. What he saw was a thing of beauty. Sleek lines, muted earth tones, curves in all the right places. Wow.
Christian looked over at his brother Adam, who was on his smartphone, texting away. “You knew about this?”
Adam looked up. “About what?”
Christian’s smile broadened. “Yeah, you knew about it. Ty is here.” His best friend had cut short his business trip and come to help the eldest Breedlove sibling celebrate a milestone. And boy, had he arrived in style.
The sound of another car approaching pulled Christian away from the dazzling view. He turned and saw his dad’s newest toy—a black Escalade SUV customized with all the bells and whistles—pull up next to the limo that he’d exited. Their driver, Elvis, hopped out and opened the door for Christian’s mother, Victoria, while his father, Nicholas, eased out the other back door, grinning as he approached his firstborn.
They knew about this, too? That Tyson had flown in to surprise him on his birthday and show off what looked to be a brand-new Gulfstream G600 jet?
“Well, son, what do you think?”
Christian returned his attention to the rare and opulent beauty now backlit by the setting sun.
“I think I owe Tyson money.”
“Why?” Adam had finally put away his phone when they pulled up and exited the limo to join the group.
“To settle a bet. After flying in one of those customized babies last year, we put a thousand bucks on which one of us would be the first to get our own.” Christian waved his hand toward the plane. “Looks like Ty won.”
The door of the plane opened. Christian took a step forward as the airstair lowered and someone moved through the doorway.
“Happy birthday, Christian.”
He stopped in his tracks, shielding his eyes against the sunlight to get a better view of the newcomer, convinced that the ethereal beauty before him could not be real. A woman—tall, richly tanned, with curly dark hair cascading over one shoulder—beckoned him with a smile.
Stunned, Christian turned to his mother, who now stood next to Nicholas, her face beaming. “Who is that?”
“You remember Lauren, don’t you, dear? Faye’s daughter? She was heading this way, and I felt you wouldn’t mind that she caught a ride on your plane.”
“Wait, what? My...” Christian looked from his parents to Adam. Everyone was smiling.
Nicholas slapped Christian’s back before placing an arm around his shoulders. “Happy birthday, son.”
Christian turned back to where Lauren now descended the plane’s airstair. She was dressed in a belted wide-legged jumpsuit that emphasized pert, ample breasts and a small, curvy waist, and Christian noted a casual yet almost regal air about the way she carried herself. The emerald color brought out the golden tones in her skin and highlighted specks of green in the hazel eyes now fixed on him as she neared them.
He whispered to his mother, almost incredulously, “Is that my birthday present?”
Victoria continued to smile at Lauren while coyly replying, “Only the plane, son.” Seconds later Lauren stepped into her open arms. “Hello, darling.”
“Hi, Victoria.” Lauren turned to Christian. “Hi, Chris.”
“Hello.” He hitched a thumb toward the plane as he looked at her. “So, Tyson isn’t in there?”
“Who’s Tyson?” Lauren asked.
“Chris’s best friend,” Adam replied.
Lauren slowly shook her head from side to side. The impish upturn of plump, glossy lips begging to be kissed suggested to Christian that she’d been in on it, too.
He turned sincere, grateful eyes on his parents. “Mom, Dad... I don’t know what to say except...wow...thanks.”
“You deserve it, son,” Nicholas said.
Christian turned back to the plane. “Well, hot damn!” he exclaimed as the truth fully sank in. He reached out and offered Lauren his arm, which she graciously accepted, then gestured for his family to follow them. “Come on, beautiful. Show me around!”
Even in his excitement, Christian noted Lauren’s silky skin and caught the subtle scent of something floral and delectably spicy. Gentleman that he was, he stepped back and allowed her to precede him up the stairs. The view from the back was the same as from the front—very alluring. So much so that entering the upscale and stately cabin that had been tailor-made to the specific instructions of his interior designer mother was almost anticlimactic.
Almost, but not quite. As Christian stepped inside the cabin and looked around, the magnitude of his parents’ generosity made his chest swell with gratitude. The interior was exactly what he’d imagined while talking with Tyson, as comfortable as any found in the homes on the Breedlove estate. Walls covered in ivory suede. Ebony-stained hardwood floors. Recliners upholstered in jacquard chenille boasting company colors of black, white and tan. Seats on the left side of the cabin could be swiveled to view the flat screen mounted up front or around to the dining table behind them.
Christian looked from Lauren to his mom, his voice raspy with emotion. “How did