Lauren tightened the seat belt as much as she could without cutting off her circulation. “I think it’s tight enough.”

“Good girl,” he said, and even though she could only see the back of his head, she knew he was grinning from the sound of his oh-so-sexy voice.

Lauren peered out the small window as John lowered the chopper onto a white helipad with the now-familiar red G in its center. Seconds later, the loud whir of the blades lessened. She unhooked her seat belt and removed the headset. Lauren kept it, knowing she would need it for the ride to Mr. G’s house later.

John got out of the pilot’s seat and came around to her side. “Better than an electric car?” he teased.

She let him help her out of the chopper. Smoothing her hair, she laughed. “Sounds like you’ve heard about my ride with Derek.”

“Lucas called me. If it makes you feel any better, you’re not the first person to barf after riding with him.”

Lauren felt her cheeks flush. “Good to know.”

“I’ll show you the way to the penthouse, then I’ve got to let Evelyn fly for a while, and I’ll pick you up at seven-thirty.”

She nodded.

“I don’t mean to sound as if I’m ordering you around. Do I come off that way?”

“No, not at all; tells me you’re relaxed in my company,” she said, and it was true.

“I am. Very much.”

“Me too,” she said, as he opened another door, using the same kind of card Sandra Marie had used.

He must have seen her watching him. “Security is pretty tight around here. These cards are changed out daily, but you’ll learn all this after you’ve been around a while.”

“Of course, it would have to be,” she said. Actually, having seen the corporate offices, now that it was brought to her attention, she realized security must be out of sight. She’d only seen Sandra Marie use the card to unlock the steel door on the roof.

He led her down three flights of stairs, then he waved another card in front of yet another steel door and entered the penthouse.

She had that country-bumpkin feeling again.

“Something wrong?” John asked.

Lauren was amazed at how in tune he was with her emotions.

She placed her bag on the floor beside the door. “No, I was thinking about the security. I guess I expected guards at the doors, I don’t know.”

She walked across the room, used the remote to open the shades. “This is the most amazing view,” she said.

“Almost as amazing as your Blue Ridge Mountains.”

“Have you seen them in the fall?” she asked.

“Many times.”

She turned to face him. “So this wasn’t your first trip to North Carolina?”