You More Than Anything In The World

Benjamin's eyes darkened a little.

“Leave some for Gavin and the others.”

Kingsley smiled. “I will. Are you afraid that I would finish everything and leave Arissa hungry?”

Shaun and Ethen snickered.

After glaring at Kingsley, Benjamin turned his gaze toward Arissa and the children. Upon seeing that they were indulged in their own amusement, he took out his laptop and began attending to work.

Shaun gave Mary a drip which soon put her to sleep.

Finally tired of seeing nothing but clouds, the six children returned to their seats.

Except for Tim, the other five were already drowsy.

“Close your eyes for a bit, Sweetheart. Home is still a couple of hours away.”

“Yes, Mommy.”

Tim nodded obediently and settled into his seat. Too excited for sleep, his gaze danced about restlessly before finding the door to the cockpit.

Arissa tucked in the edges of Mary's quilt and covered the children with a blanket. Noticing Tim's curious stare, she squatted in front of him.

“Would you like a tour of the cockpit, Sweetheart?”

Tim's eyes lit up.

“Oh, may I?”

“Of course you may.”

Arissa nodded as she undid his buckle and picked him up in her arms.

Catching her quiet movements out of the corner of his eye, Benjamin shut his computer before getting to his feet to take Tim from Arissa's arms. He then headed for the cockpit ahead without a backward glance.

“I'll take him!”

Arissa shook herself out of her startled reverie and strode up after them, who were already engrossed in a deep discussion on aircraft mechanics as they made their way toward the cockpit.

The corners of her lips curved upward at Benjamin's patience in explaining the structure of the plane to her son, and at the rapt attention on the latter's face.

The man's low voice held her spellbound. So intent was her concentration that Arissa had even learned something new.

The pilots turned to greet Benjamin when they arrived at the cockpit, who gestured at them to carry on as he continued his discourse with his son.

Tim pointed at something. “What does that do, Mr. Graham?”

Benjamin turned to the direction the child indicated. “That's the brake valve.”

Tim stared at him. “Can you fly a plane too, Mr. Graham?”

The boy was fascinated with the way Benjamin seemed to know everything.

Benjamin nodded. “I do indeed.”

Tim's bright eyes sparkled in admiration.

Benjamin tousled the boy's hair and had the pilot give up his seat before handing Tim to Arissa.

She took his son and asked with a smile, “Are you going to fly the plane?”

Benjamin glanced at her. “For several miles, yes.”

Without waiting for her approval, he put on his headphones, got into the pilot's seat, and took the yoke in his hands.

Tim's curiosity was so intense by that point that nothing could make him tear his eyes away from Benjamin.

Arissa watched the man in the pilot's seat and thought privately about how handsome he looked when he was frowning with attention. A haze of infatuation made her eyes appear more watery than usual.

The bodyguards tactfully stood aside and did not interrupt the moment.

“You will learn to fly a plane when you're a little older, Sweetheart,” Arissa said softly to the boy.

Tim stared at Benjamin longingly. “Is it difficult?”