While the 672 fire is still under investigation, I dock the other 672 protypes pending more information. This prompts a very disgruntled phone call from my brother.

"What the hell, Asshole? I am literally boarding The Grace with some friends for a weekend out at Bainbridge Island and Mac tells me that the boat is not allowed out. What the fuck?"

I laugh at my brother's problem. At least there is one shining star in the engine fire debacle. I get to cockblock the homecoming king of Seattle all the way from another continent.

"Sorry, Lells. One of the prototypes had some complications so we grounded the fleet until we work out the kinks."

I trust my brother with my life, but he can get a serious case of the talkies when he is drinking. There is no reason that he needs to know the specifics about the engine fire and what not.

"Christian," he whines. "There is a music festival on Bainbridge, and we can't take the ferry. I've got a date, and her favorite band is playing."

I can tell my brother wants something to make up for my unusable yacht.

"What do you want, jack hole? I'm in the middle of something, and my bullshit threshold is at an all-time low."

"Do you think, that maybe Charlie Tango is available? Pretty, please with a cherry on top. It's the only way that we can make it to the island in time for my girl to see her band."

I inwardly groan. Only my brother would have the ingenuity and bravado to suggest such an over-the-top gesture to impress a date. Little does his flavor-of-the-day know that she will be replaced with another Barbie doll doppelganger within days.

"Ok, you can use Charlie Tango. I'll text Bruno. You'll have to meet him at the heliport."

"Well, it's just that we've been drinking…"

And the real reason that Elliott and his friends can't take the ferry to Bainbridge comes out.

"Do you think that Bruno can swing by the marina to pick us up? It sure would make things easier for everyone."

More like, make things easier for Elliott to get in Music Fest Barbie's pants.

"Ok, Ok, I'll have Bruno pick you guys up at the Marina. But listen closely. If even one of your friends vomits in my helicopter, that's the last time you ever set foot in Charlie Tango."

"No barfing in the chopper, got it. Thanks lil bro. I owe you one."

"Yeah, try like you owe me millions, jack hole."

I can't help but laugh at my older brother. He is intent on living his best life. I bet that he and Ana would get along smashingly. The thought of Ana and I hanging out with my brother in Seattle brings an unexpected smile to my face. I text Bruno his orders and promise him a bonus for having to put up with Elliott's gaggle of drinkers.

I go in search of my girl. We have spent our second full day in Brinard resting at the holiday rental while awaiting news that the Gendarmes Maritime are ready to issue their report on the 672 fire.

I find Ana enjoying the late afternoon sun on the terrace while working away on her laptop. I pour us both a glass of wine and bring the bottle to the table. Ana closes her laptop and gives me a beautiful smile as she takes a long sip of her drink. We sit next to each other and enjoy the sun sparkling off the water below us. I hold her hand and she rubs her thumb across my knuckles. I want to end every day doing just this. I wonder if Ana will like the balcony at Escala? We can do this at the end of all of our work days. We can leave work together and head to our home to enjoy a glass of wine as we unwind on the balcony. Wait, did I just refer to my apartment as our home? Ana deserves so much more than that cold steel and glass box in the sky. I wonder what type of house that she would like for us to live in?

Ana's phone pings on the table. She picks it up and spits out a howling laugh.

"What's so funny?"

"It's my roommate, Kate. She has a date to some concert. The guy arranged to take her in a helicopter. Look, she sent me pictures."

I nearly spit out my wine. Ana holds her phone for me to look, but I don't need to see to know who her roommate's date is. Like a trainwreck, I look anyway. Yep, Ana's roommate Kate is currently being wooed for a one-night stand with the man whore of Seattle, one Elliott Grey. I bury my face in my hands as I shake my head back and forth.

"Baby, that's my helicopter."

"Huh?"

"I think that your friend is on a date with my brother, Elliott. They were planning to take my boat over to Bainbridge, but the fleet is currently docked. My brother called me earlier and asked if he could use Charlie Tango."

"Who is Charlie Tango?"

"Charlie Tango is my helicopter. Look, you can see my pilot, Bruno, in the picture."

I scroll through the pictures until I get to a picture of Elliott and his friends posing in front of the Eurocopter-135 with the GEH logo clear as day. I hand the phone back to Ana to prove my point.

"Shut the front door!" She exclaims.

Ana takes a quick selfie of the two of us drinking wine and starts tapping out a reply to her friend's pictures. Seconds later I get a text from my brother.

Holy Batman, lil bro! Your assistant is my girl's roomie! What are the odds? Wait, is Ana the drunk girl from Taiwan? No way….She's HOTTTTT!

Elliott punctuates the text with several flames. I put my phone down without bothering to respond. Ana is getting pinged back from her friend.

"Christian, did you call your brother from my hotel room in Taipei?" She asks. I can tell she's not upset. She is laughing at whatever Kate just texted.

"I did. You had just passed out, and you had been throwing up. I wanted to make sure that you were ok, but I didn't want you to freak out if you woke up and found me in your room. I called Elliott for advice."

"What did he tell you to do?"

"He told me to take good care of you," I reply and lean to steal a kiss. Ana doesn't need to know that I passed out before implementing Elliott's advice.

Her phone pings again. She reads the text and laughs some more.

"Did you pass out on my bed while you were talking to your brother?" She asks through a laughing fit.

"Maybe," I tease and give her a wink before I take a long sip of my wine.

She throws her head back in cackles as she taps back a reply to her friend who is currently enjoying one of my favorite toys, my helicopter. I love that Ana is so good natured. She relaxes and enjoys life. I know she has some inner bitch. She handed Van Wiggles his ass on a plate in Baden-Baden. That's what makes her so great. She can instill fear in men twice her size, but not much bothers her. She is a fucking knock out. She's bloody brilliant. She's hilarious. I mean who else says, 'Luxury is my natural habitat?'

"What are you smiling about?" She asks me with a nudge of her arm.

"You," I smile and lean in for a kiss.

Ana wraps her hand around the back of my neck and pulls me closer. Her lips part and I moan thanks as she grants me entry. We kiss like this for several minutes before settling back into our chairs.

"Whew!" She says, fanning herself.

"Oh, you liked that, did you?" I tease with a cocked eyebrow that elicits more of her magical giggle.

"Speaking of things that I like," she jests back with her own raised eyebrow. "I believe that promises were made in the Black Forest."

"Oh, really, Ms. Steele? To what promises do you refer?"

She holds her hands out in front of her as though she is examining her fingernails.

"Oh, I don't know, Mr. Grey. Something about hearts and flowers and a man worshipping my body, if I recall." She puts her hands down and winks at me.

"Oh, yes, Ms. Steele. I remember those promises well. I look forward to worshipping every inch of your body. It's just that a holiday rental that we are sharing with a staff, four security officers, and a PR guy doesn't fit the bill for the hearts and flowers part of the promise."

Ana nods her head in agreement. She is clearly trying to hold back more giggles. I could make it my life's work to elicit those.

"Well, Mr. Grey, might I suggest that you get to work coming up with a scenario where hearts, flowers, and worshipping are all three simultaneously possible?" She slowly emphasizes the words 'hearts, flowers, and worshipping' as she walks two fingers up my forearm.

Holy hell, Ms. Steele is taking control of things, and I freaking love it!

"On it, babe!" I give her a good kiss on the lips, grab my phone, and jog inside to see about some hearts and some flowers and some alone time with ma'lady.

"Wait, Christian, where are you going," she calls behind me.

"I've got some things to arrange. Get ready and pack an overnight bag. We are getting the hell away from the rest of these clowns!"