I could hardly take it any longer. I decided to get out of the house, and I took the car to the Ryder offices and finishing the rest of the workday there. The offices were bustling, the employees there busy with the legitimate work of the company.
What would happen to them? Would my working with the FBI bring the entire company crumbling down? Was I making a huge mistake?
No. I’d never been one to doubt myself before, and I wasn’t about to start then. It was time to do the right thing.
No matter the cost.
The day flew by as I worked through the more mundane tasks of my position as CEO. And all I could think about was April, how much I wanted to be with her.
Not being honest with her was selfish, in a way. But that didn’t stop me. I was…excited, like a kid.
After wrapping up at the office, I was soon back at home. April was there in the first floor lounge, dressed in one of her effortlessly stylish outfits. She was strong, sure, but April was so innocent.
How the hell had I managed to get her wrapped up in all of this? One more life tainted by my bad decisions.
Soft jazz played on the stereo, and a bottle of wine sat opened on the table in front of her.
“I hope you don’t mind,” she said. “I kind of helped myself.”
“No,” I said, stepping over to her. “I insist.”
I poured myself a glass and sat down next to her.
“How was work?” she asked.
What a question.
“It was fine,” I lied. “Usual day. You dropped off Willa?”
“Yes. But she wasn’t happy about not getting to spend the evening with us. Had to bribe her with a promise of a movie and ice cream date this weekend.”
I smiled at the idea of such an innocent night out.
“You look great,” I said, my gaze moving over her body.
“Thanks,” she said, reaching forward and loosening my tie. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
There was an ease to us, a comfort that I hadn’t known with a woman in a long time.
And more than that, there was much to say. But I had no idea how to say it.
My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I checked it to see it was a text from the delivery place, letting me know they were nearly there.
“Food’s here,” I said. “I’ll get it.”
“And I’ll get the plates. Where do you want to eat?”
“Third floor balcony—weather’s perfect for outside.”
“Sounds great.”
I leaned in and kissed her softly. I wanted her so, so fucking badly. But April broke away, going to the kitchen.
How the hell could I be thinking of sex at a time like this? But I couldn’t help it. Even the way she swayed her hips while she walked was enough to steal my attention, to make me think of nothing but being inside of her.
The deliveryman greeted me at the door and, food and wine in hand, I went up to the balcony. There was a small table there, the view looking out over the city.
I sipped my drink, trying to let everything that was on my mind melt away.