Page 9 of Loving You

But the rest of them were still in the dark, and I couldn’t quite bring myself to feel too guilty about it. Sure, up until today I’d been feeling like moving in here and lying to people I cared about had been a mistake. It’d felt like an unnecessary and immature reaction to something that probably wasn’t even as big of a deal as I’d thought it was. Not considering how Cliff seemed to believe my story about Eric, and I didn’t think he’d come around again because of him.

I couldn’t exactly remember what I’d told Cliff that night outside the bar, but definitely something about Eric beingthe eldest and most badass Walker brother.

I was pretty sure I’d also mentioned that there were four of them in total, and that they would love to…oh, what was it?Ah, that’s right…take turns swinging a bat at him like a piñata until he cried for his mommy.

Yeah, I’d been really fuckin’ drunk.

Surprisingly brave, too. But I supposed drunk me had drawn strength from the idea that Eric really had been my sexy savior of a boyfriend at that very moment, and if I needed him, he’d be there. The fact that it wasn’t true hadn’t seemed to matter, just as long as Cliff believed it.

I shivered, batting the thought away like the very idea of it was my own little piñata. Not because I didn’t like the idea of Eric standing up to Cliff for me… but because Ididlike it, and I had a feeling that if Eric knew about any of this—whether he was my boyfriend or not—he’d do it.

And that might be the most disconcerting thought of all.

4

ERIC

April ducked her head to read over something on her laptop screen, giving me a moment to observe her more closely. She was still stunning as ever—golden hair curling down over her shoulder, makeup flattering and professional, clothing appealing to an almost dangerous degree despite being a blouse and skirt that shouldn’t have any effect on me.

But yet again, her ever-present light seemed even more snuffed out today—like someone had taken a set of blackout curtains and covered her up with them. Shoulders slightly drooping, neck not as tall, a hint of dark circles under her eyes despite expert efforts to hide them, and that blinding smile totally missing in action.

“So, did we get everything?” She finally looked up, meeting my eyes with raised brows and a strained look that dropped like lead in my gut.

I thought we’d gotten along fairly well when she was at my house. Our meeting had been productive, the communication via email since then extremely cordial and useful, and ultimately we were all but ready for the big event in June,andwe were fast approaching a very beneficial deal between our businesses.

And yet…

“I believe we did.” I had no reason to keep her here, and she clearly wanted to leave based on the way she shot out of her seat.

“Sorry to run out on you, but I’ve got lunch with the girls.” She tossed me a small smile, the closest thing to an ounce of genuine pleasure I’d seen on her face all day.

“I’m glad to hear that. They all love you. I believe the lunch specials are something new from Will, too.”

God, why do I sound like the male version of Siri?

“Oh, nice. I’ll check them out.”

I resisted the urge to cringe at her response, so clear was it that my failing efforts at small talk made her all the more eager to escape. “Yes, do that.”

We exited the back hallway and cut a path through the kitchen to the bar. It didn’t seem particularly gentlemanly of me, but April’s hips swaying in her fitted skirt made the collar of my shirt feel tight.

Even so, I found myself wrenching my gaze away when I leaned in to hold the swinging door open for her.

She slipped through, a little swirl of her scent hitting me like a caress.

I have truly lost it.

Time for my own lunch, clearly, because I was waffling between self-pity that I’d driven her into misery just by existing during our meeting and self-loathing for the desire making me hot despite the odd dynamic between us.

“There she is.” Ellie beamed at April, hardly noticing me. Kate and Rachel stood and waited their turns to hug me. A spike of hope hit as I searched for my nieces.

“She’s not here, sorry.” Rachel gave me a regretful smile.

“She with Sammy?” Sometimes he went home for lunch to see them, but more likely, “Wait, she with Mom?”

Rachel grinned. “You know it. Pampering by Grandma Jenna all day today, and Lea’s with her, too.”

I chuckled low, loving the image of bruiser Willa and tiny, three-month-old Lea getting spoiled by my mom, but stopped the moment I saw April’s face.

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