Hunter jumped in. “I have tickets to the Lakers Sonics game on Friday, if you’d like—”
“Bud Reynolds is his favorite player,” said Jack, shooting Hunter a glare. Then his more normal expression quickly returned as his attention shifted to Kristy. “The Budster is up for player of the year.
He’s ten for thirteen on threes from the straight away.”
“And seventeen for thirty-five from downtown,” said Hunter. “You should really join me at—”
“Kristy doesn’t like basketball,” said Jack.
She fought a moment of panic. “I never said I didn’t—”
“She might change her mind,” Hunter put in.
“I could learn,” Kristy offered. If basketball truly was the golf game of the Osland corporate world, she was more than willing to give it a try.
Jack’s mouth thinned as he spoke to Hunter. “Dating Kristy is not the answer.”
Dating? She glanced from one man to the other.Dating? What had she missed?
“It’s nothing but a basketball game,” said Hunter.
“Drop it,” said Jack.
Then a voice interrupted from the plane’s intercom. “Mr. Osland?”
Jack pressed a button on his armrest. “Yes, Simon.”
“Just to let you know, we’re reading an indicator light up here.”
A muscle in Jack’s temple twitched, and everything inside Kristy went still.
“I’ll be right up,” he said.
“No need,” Simon responded with a static crackle through the small speaker. “I’d like to have air traffic control divert us to Las Vegas to check it out.”
Jack shot Hunter a glance.
Kristy tried to interpret his expression. Were they out of gas? Out of oil? Losing an engine?
He pushed the intercom button. “Your call, Simon.”
“Roger that, sir.” The intercom went silent, and Kristy’s throat turned paper-dry.
Neither of the men spoke.
“An indicator light?” she rasped.
“I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about,” said Jack.
Kristy waited, expecting him to say more.
“That’sit? ” They were at thirty thousand feet, and something was wrong with the plane. She picked up her mimosa and took a healthy swallow.
“The jet is in perfect running order,” said Hunter.
Her voice rose. “Except for theindicator light. ”
Her thoughts flashed to her sister. Sinclair had begged her to postpone the trip until after the holidays.
But Kristy hadn’t wanted to risk losing Cleveland’s interest. So she’d insisted on rushing to California.
If only she’d listened. If only dreams of fame and fortune hadn’t clouded her brain.
Then she wouldn’t be here. She’d be home and safe, instead of facing…She stared up at Jack. “Can you at least ask him what the light was indicating?”
“Kristy—”
She nodded to the intercom button. It washer life at stake, too. “Will youask him?”
Jack heaved an exaggerated sigh. “Trust the pilot. He’s a professional. And if it was serious, Simon wouldn’t be chatting about contacting air traffic control. He’d be declaring an emergency and taking us down.”
Kristy peered out her window at the last orange sun rays in a darkening sky. She didn’t see a fire, didn’t hear any metal twisting, and the aircraft wasn’t losing altitude or bouncing around. Then the steward appeared, looking calm and collected as he cleared away the drinks.
She supposed there would be a few more signs of panic if a fiery death was imminent.
“Relax,” said Jack.
“It’ll be fine,” said Hunter.
But both men were on alert.
Then something banged on the airframe. The plane lurched sideways, and the steward nearly fell over.
“Buckle up,” Jack commanded.
The man nodded, his face instantly pale. He slipped into the nearest seat and clipped on the belt.
There was relative silence for a few minutes. No more banging, and the plane stayed smooth, the engines purring normally.
“Ever been to Vegas?” Jack asked into the steady hum.
Kristy blinked at him.
“Ever been to Vegas, Kristy?”
She shook her head, stroking Dee Dee with a trembling hand. She wished now she’d left the little dog at home. At least then Dee Dee would be safe. Sinclair would have adopted her, Kristy was sure of that.
She blinked away a burning in her eyes. Sinclair. What if she never saw her sister again? Or her parents?
What if her family was forced to watch the twisted, fiery wreckage of the jet on the evening news, knowing—
“Kristy?”
She glanced up to see Jack’s expression soften with sympathy. “Everything’s going to be just—”