She wasn’t wrong. The room was huge, with several bedrooms and a view that looked all the way out to the Thames, the circle of the London Eye rising up among the buildings of downtown. Willa ran over and plopped onto the couch, kicking up her legs.
“I have a ton of energy right now. I can’t believe I slept through the whole flight.”
I glanced at April, the two of us sharing a knowing expression. She and I hadn’t done much sleeping, of course. We’d spent the flight talking and relaxing and making love. Truth be told, it was the most relaxing, wonderful stretch of hours I’d had in a long while. My problems remained, but up in the air with April, they’d seemed to vanish, if only for a short time.
But what would we do when we returned to New York? Were she and I going to…date?
No, it was impossible. Even with the matter of her being my nanny, there was still the slight, oh-so-slight, issue of my business dealings.
But what if I managed to pull off my plan? What if I succeeded in turning all that into nothing more than a memory?
It seemed almost impossible to imagine. But maybe, just maybe, it could happen.
My phone shook in my pocket, and I took it out. A text from Sean Maxwell, my London contact, was on the screen, as if reminding me I had a life that was about more than love and family.
The text was to confirm that I was in town. I replied in the affirmative, and the next was for a meeting place with Peter—some pub a few blocks away in an hour’s time.
“Dad!” said Willa. “What do you want for lunch?”
“Dad’s got to go to a meeting,” I said. “But we can do something later.”
Willa let out a disappointed groan. “OK. But as long as we can hang out.”
“Definitely,” I said, giving her shoulder a squeeze.
“You want me to take her out for a little while?” asked April.
I wanted to say “no.” After all, did I want the two of them running around town without me knowing what the situation was in London?
Then again, what would I have said? That they had to stay in because there might be criminal gangs looking for them?
I was being paranoid, anyway. My meeting with Peter would likely be nothing more than a check-in to make sure he was still playing ball. That was my hope, anyway.
“Sure. But don’t go too far. Stay around the hotel. And it’s a new city, so keep alert.”
“Will do,” said April. “And I’ll be in touch to let you know where we are.”
“Perfect.”
Nothing else to do but get on with it. I took a quick shower, still feeling wiped from the flight, and changed. Willa was still bending April’s ear about all the things she wanted to do that day, and I hoped we’d get the chance.
What would it be like to be a normal family? To not have to worry about all that came along with the kind of life I lived? I never wanted Willa to know about it. I might not have been able to protect her mother, but I sure as hell would protect her.
When I was ready, I said “goodbye” to the girls and headed out. The hotel was secure—no doubt about that. No one other than Willa or April would be getting in that room. It was no small assurance. And if they did decide to leave the hotel, they’d stay close.
Before too long, I arrived at the Winchester, a small pub. The place was dark inside, no one there. Sean was seated at the bar, and a Winchester rifle hung above the many bottles of liquor.
“There he is,” said Sean, standing up and giving me a slap on the back as I approached. “The man himself.”
Sean had a tall pint of dark beer in front of him, the top thick with foam.
“Fancy a pint?” he asked. “This is Peter’s place, so we’ve got the run of it.”
A beer sounded great, to be honest. But I knew I’d need a clear head for the conversation to come.
“I’m good for now. Maybe some club soda with a lime.”
“Whatever the boss wants, the boss gets.”