Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54968 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 275(@200wpm)___ 220(@250wpm)___ 183(@300wpm)
Hawking spoke through his earpiece. “Problem?”
“Ask Magnus to check the ninety-degree box.” That would be enough code for the computer guru to focus on the man standing across from him. He would understand that Kestrel had noticed something suspicious.
Then, he spoke to his riders. “Thank goodness, that only controls the air conditioning inside the booth. We have our own air vents up there.”
“Would that be the wind?” a teenager asked, trying to look totally bored.
“You got it. We’ve got a few gusts up there pushing the clouds out of our way so we’ll get the best view. This is your lucky day. Ready to go? Want to be in front with me?” he asked the teenager.
“Yes! I mean, that would be fine,” he answered, trying to play off his excitement as his parents and sister hid their grins.
As soon as he got everyone loaded and the engines turned on, he fit his headphones over his ears and motioned everyone to do the same. He asked everyone to check their seat belts and give him a thumbs up that they could hear him. “I’ll tell the controllers that we’re taking off.”
He switched to a different frequency while resting his hand over the display on the dial so the man sitting behind him couldn’t see the numbers. Covering his mouth with his other hand as if that made the sound reach the controllers faster, his real purpose was to make sure the man couldn’t read his lips.
Kestrel asked, “You there, Magnus?”
“Got him. I’ll do some digging. Let me know when you can what spooked you.”
“Will do.”
Grateful that Magnus had understood to look ninety degrees from his location as they stood talking, Kestrel knew he’d have the guy’s third-grade teacher’s name when they got back, as well as truly important information about his life. Magnus was thorough. I’m glad he’s on my side.
Looking at his watch as he jogged to the main building, Kestrel tried to judge if he had enough time to pick up Zara from the basement and take her upstairs for some alone time before dinner. No, he definitely wanted more than a quickie. Kestrel cursed the extra time he’d taken to exceed the requirements to secure the helicopter in place. The guy had rattled him. He planned to ask Magnus to block him from scheduling any more flights.
Heading downstairs, he found everyone already seated around the table. The food hadn’t arrived, but everyone was sitting and chatting. Zara sat in his chair. Her hair was piled on her head, with corkscrew curls rioting around her face.
“Kestrel! About time you got here,” Caesar called, waving his beer.
“You look rough, buddy,” he replied.
“This is my third shirt today. The waters were choppy, and not everyone’s stomach was cooperating,” the scuba instructor shared.
“Ugh. Thank goodness you have an endless supply. And a wet suit to put on,” Kestrel sympathized.
“Let’s not even talk about that,” Caesar said with a laugh.
Kestrel stroked his hand over Zara’s back. She fidgeted in his chair several times as if she was fighting herself to stay seated and not jump on him. He pressed his lips to the crook of her neck and kissed her sweet skin before whispering in her ear. “It’s okay to run to Daddy.”
Instantly, she bolted up from her chair to throw her arms around him. Kestrel lifted her off her feet as he kissed her lips hard. When he pulled back to look at her, he watched her blush enchantingly. “Come sit on Daddy’s lap,” he said quietly and scooped his arm under her knees before lowering them carefully to the seat.
Kestrel held her close and felt his heart lurch in his chest when she kissed his cheek before leaning back against his chest. “I like the hairdo,” he complimented before looking at Sadie and Celeste.
“Did you all play beauty shop?”
“We did,” Sadie crowed proudly and showed off her pink nails with blue polka dots.
Celeste lifted one foot from the ground to waggle the toe of her sensible lab shoes. “You can’t see them, but I have lightning bolts on my toes.”
“I don’t ever do my nails,” Zara shared. “I’m allergic to the chemicals in most polish. It makes me itch.”
“That doesn’t sound pleasant,” Kestrel said, his eyebrows pulling together in concern.
“That’s okay. You don’t do yours either, do you, Daddy?”
Hawking snorted at the idea and then waggled a finger at Celeste when a scheming expression appeared on her face. “Don’t even think about it.”
Sadie immediately looked at Rocco, and he held up his hands. “Remember, rock climber, here. The polish would last three seconds.” Sadie nodded sadly.
“We tried to talk Magnus into letting us paint his nails, but he was busy,” Sadie shared, putting air quotes around that last word.
“I think I’ll wait until my Little arrives to paint my fingernails. Besides, I was busy. Let’s talk after dinner about what I found,” Magnus suggested.