get the last round of appraisals done and to gather as many “repair” pieces as possible.
“Love, can you help me load this?” I ask, peeking my head through the glass door and peering at Zane, who has taken a spot on the other side, sipping water, and reading a book. He stopped in to say hello on his way home from a bookstore—I begged him to stay and take me home, because there’s no way in hell I’m riding home with Olivia. I need to be gone before Travis returns.
“Sure,” he says, only glancing from his page for a second. “I’m almost done with this chapter.”
I squirm. Everything else is picked up, and Olivia keeps giving me death glares because she thinks I’m rushing the guests.
“Please, Love. I’m ready to be home.”
I nudge Olivia to open the doors and unlock her car.
“Why are you in such a hurry?” she whispers through gritted teeth.
“It’s been a long fucking day.”
She shoots me another glare. I’ve been too loud, and now I wish that I was louder.
“You need to tell …your husband that we are going out of town next Sunday for two nights, to a beach cottage near The Hamptons. Zane already booked us a place,” I say, patting Olivia on the arm. “Your office is closed next week, right?”
She’s already told me that it would be. It’s the only time her wicked boss gives her official time off.
She squints at me, ready to ask questions. “But—”
“No buts. We deserve a quiet getaway. Our treat,” I say. “Bring the machine over Monday after work.”
I look over my shoulder at Zane, who smiles his sweet, genuine smile.
My throat grows thick. God, I love him.
He takes my hand and leads me out of the building and to his car, opening the passenger door for me.
I slide an arm around his waist and yank him to me, giving him a peck on his lips before releasing him. He steps away, winking before he turns. I smack his ass, then slide inside.
“She doesn’t want to go to the beach with you?” Zane asks, landing in his seat.
“She does; she’s just being stubborn. Besides, it’s the least I can do for her. She’s had a tough time lately with fertility treatments. She’s pushed me out of my comfort zone.”
It feels good to tell someone’s truth, even if it’s not mine.
“Is it something you want to do though, Hun? You’re in such a hurry to get out of here today,” he says, turning in his seat to look at me dead on with no indication of leaving.
My heart races as a car’s headlights shine on us, and I catch a glimpse of a sportscar pulling into the parking lot.
I grab Zane’s thigh and slide my hand up his leg until I reach his crotch. He leans over to kiss me, moaning in pleasure.
I don’t meet his lips, instead, I whisper, “Get me home.”
As always, he obeys, pulling out of the drive. I relinquish my grip on him and slide into my seat, hiding my face from the window with my hand.
“Nice car,” Zane says, pointing as we drive past Travis’ flashy piece of shit.
“Meh.” I shrug.
“Have you met him? Olivia’s husband?” he asks, taking my hand and rubbing my thumb as we head down the road.
“No?” I make sure it sounds like a question.
“That was him. He looked familiar, but I don’t know from where.”
Zane has no idea how close our world is to shattering in the presence of that man and his fucking expensive car.
I take several breaths to settle my nerves. When it doesn’t work, I focus on my hand in Zane’s, and let his touch ground me.
“Not sure, Love,” I say, calm as possible.
A deep sadness rises within me, tightening and restricting my breath.
“Pull over.” I point to an abandoned parking lot ahead.
“What’s—”
“Please, just do it,” I demand.
He eases the car into a spot and gingerly puts it in park. I navigate the small space, climbing over the center console and hunching to sit on his lap. Grabbing the manual latch on his worn cloth seat, I lower the back until it stops. The buckle digs into my knee, and my back presses against the cool steering wheel.
“Hun, we can’t. Not here,” he says, but holds me close to him.
“I can’t wait until we get home,” I whisper.
If I wait, I’ll fall apart. I can’t do that. I need a release that I can control, an emotion—or feeling—I can dictate.
He slides his hands under my shirt and across my nipples. I sigh with pleasure.
“What if we get caught?” he asks, pushing his hips against me.
“Take a chance.” I kiss his neck.
“Okay,” he says.
That’s all I needed to hear.