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I don’t like keeping secrets from Ari.
But if I tell her I’m heading into the city to confront Lucas Morgan, Kyle’s father, she’ll be worrying about it all day. And I don’t want to give her something else to worry about. I’ll tell her after it’s done, and hopefully I’ll have some good news to accompany it.
Like Lucas agreeing to rein in his son—accepting that Kyle is going to jail, and there’s no way he’s getting out of it this time.
I’m certain the elder Morgan has been bankrolling Kyle for years, allowing him to pay off the women he victimized. But this time, I have the contacts to impact his business. I know plenty of investors who could be persuaded to stop doing business with Lucas Morgan.
And I know men like him. He may want to protect his son, but if he could lose money from it? There’s a chance I can convince him to see it my way.
Or he could deny everything, take the financial hit, and my visit will have been for nothing. Which is another reason I’m not telling Ari about it. I really don’t want to get her hopes up, only to crush them if this doesn’t work out the way I want it to.
“I’m ready, sorry, my hair wouldn’t agree with me today.” Ari comes rushing into the kitchen, looking slightly flustered but perfect to me. She’s wearing a fuzzy pink sweater that hugs her curves, her hair is like silk cascading down her back, and she has the cutest sheepish smile curving across her lips.
“You look great, hun.” I wrap my arms around her, dipping my head for a kiss. We’re on a schedule, but I can’t resist tracing the seam of her mouth, dipping my tongue inside and tasting her. Ari sighs as she leans into me, clutching my arms, her breasts pressing temptingly against my chest.
All too soon, she pulls away, a little pout appearing. “I wish we could stay home and skip work.”
“I know.” Except not today, because I have a deal to make. “Maybe tomorrow,” I offer with a smile. “You could call in sick, and I can work from home.”
“I wish.” Ari gives a rueful chuckle. “I’ve already missed too much work.” She grabs the travel mug of coffee I have waiting for her, taking a sip and making a little moan of pleasure. “You make the best coffee, Cash.”
Her moan sends a jolt of arousal straight through me. Ari glances down at the bulge in my pants and laughs. “Seriously?”
I give her a heated look. “Don’t make those sounds, then. You knowwhat they do to me.”
Ari smirks at me, her cheeks pink. “I know.”
Shaking my head, my lips twitching, I say, “Okay, trouble. If you want to get to work on time, we have to go. Or—” I slip my hand under her sweater, trailing my fingers across her belly. “You’ll have to call for a sub, because I’ll be keeping you busy here.”
“Fine,” she huffs, her eyes sparkling. “But we’re revisiting this tonight.”
I’m so relieved to see Ari smiling after the news of this past weekend, I would agree to anythingto make her happy. But sex after work? Definitely nota problem. “I think we should revisit it severaltimes, at least.”
As we head to Ari’s school, her good mood continues. We talk about plans for dinner—another cheesy casserole, no complaints there. Ari tells me about the newest Hallmark movie that she wants to watch; ”all about a Christmas ornament factory this time, and,shocker, a big-city businesswoman who wants to take it over.
“But thistime…” Ari says, trying to stifle her laughter—she knows how silly the plots are. “There’s an ornament designing contest, as well. And the winner of the contest could win enough money to savethe struggling ornament company.”
By the time we pull up by Ari’s school, we’ve both come up with several of our own ridiculous movie plots and we’re snickering like little kids. “I know,” Ari announces triumphantly. “A Christmas dog show, but all the dogs have to be dressed like Santa. And there’s a jaded woman from the”—she pauses for emphasis—“big citywho has to judge it, but she’s been scared of dogs since she was chased by one as a child.”
“Sounds amazing,” I agree. “You should write screenplays for Hallmark.”
“I know,” Ari replies solemnly, then bursts into laughter.
After checking our surroundings, I escort Ari into school. At this time of day I feel relatively safe—there are plenty of other teachers and students milling around, so I don’t think anyone would chance taking a shot at her now. But I still keep it quick, keeping Ari tucked against me, shielding her, as we make the quick trip from my car.
Once inside, I give Ari a more chaste kiss on the cheek. “I’ll be back for you this afternoon—I’ll text you when I’m here.”
Her eyebrows go up. “You don’t have to stay at work?” Most days, I bring Ari to work, but one of the Blade and Arrow guys picks her up afterwards, since I don’t usually leave the office until after five, and Ari gets done with school at three-thirty.
“I’m out of the office today,” I tell her. “I have a meeting in the city. So I’ll come straight here afterwards.”
It’s not really a lie. I really do have a meeting.
“Okay.” She glances at her watch and frowns. “I have to go or I won’t have things ready for first period. Have a safe trip. I love you.”
I give her another quick kiss before backing away. “Love you, too.”
I’mstillsteamingaftermy meeting with Lucas Morgan.
