Page 42 of Reckless Desire

I burst into the gym. I haven’t been working out as religiously as I used to, but I haven’t even broken a sweat. At least there’s something I can be proud of.

To my surprise, I manage to arrive before the potential client and I stay focused for an entire half hour. The meeting goes beyond our expectations.

“We might need another location soon.” Ash high-fives me as soon as they leave.

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” I wave at a few regulars lifting weights on my way to the office.

“What’s up with you, dude? You’ve been distracted since that night with London and Sydney. What happened?” He plops onto the sofa by the door and swings his legs up, settling in.

“Nothing happened, and don’t get too comfortable. I’m sure you have work to do.” But I’m the one who has work to do. I’ve been pushing papers around and avoiding emails for a week.

He whistles. “So it’s what hasn’t happened that is the problem—”

“Oh, it’s what happened. Like her getting engaged the following day?” I snap. Why did I just say that? The last thing I need is Ash knowing what an idiot I am. I won’t hear the end of it.

“What? No way. The chemistry between the two of you was so palpable, the bar was under a serious fire hazard last Monday.”

So I’m not imagining it. “I walked in on him proposing, so I guess your chemistry radar is broken.”

“That makes no sense. London didn’t mention anything.” His eyes go wide and he jerks up on the couch, suddenly very interested in a magazine on the coffee table. He adjusts his seat and rolls the magazine up.

“When would she not mention something?” My best friend starting something with Sydney’s sister is only going to fuck things up further.

“We hooked up again this weekend, but it’s nothing. Back to you. I can’t believe Syd is engaged, though. How do you feel about it? Besides the foul mood and general grumpiness. Do you want to go out tonight? Let’s find ourselves some willing but completely no-strings-attached pussy. That always helps.”

“You might be onto something. I need to snap out of this. I can’t tonight though. And get out of my office, I have work to do. And so do you.” I glower.

Ash rolls his eyes and saunters toward the door. “I’m going to check on Tribeca. Enjoy your brooding.” He closes the door before I can throw a stapler at him.

I haven’t been brooding. It’s not like I have feelings—other than attraction—for Sydney. I need to snap out of my daydreaming. Work should fix everything.

I attack the pile of emails to respond to, paperwork to review, orders to process, payroll to approve, financials to reassess.

When my cell phone rings, I realize it is way past lunch. Good. Work is a decent distraction from Caro’s teacher. I’m not even going to say her name again.

I grab my phone. It’s the school. My stomach tightens. It’s never good when the school calls. Worry coils around my intestines.

“Hunter Stuart,” I practically snap into the phone.

“Oh, hi, it’s Sydney.” So much for deleting her name from my mind. “I’m waiting here with Caro, but her grandmother hasn’t come to pick her up and she’s not answering her phone.”

Fuuuuuuuck.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes. Can you stay with her?”

“Of course. It’s raining. We’ll be in the classroom.”

“Thank you.”

I’ve completely lost track of time. I dash out of the gym and for the second time today I run like a lunatic for several blocks. By the time I reach the school, I’m drenched. I take the steps to the entrance three at a time.

I scrub my hair to stop the water from running down my face. It achieves nothing, so I enter the building sopping wet, immediately enveloped by silence. I wipe my shoes on the doormat and head down the hallway.

Singing practice is not going too well behind one door, but otherwise the place seems deserted. Every step squeaks and echoes through the corridor. I slow down, hoping to temper the sound and remain unseen. As if gliding through the place unobserved can erase my lateness.

Another set of footsteps creaks on the staircase and I look up, meeting the gaze of the man who knelt in front of Sydney last week. So her fiancé is her colleague. I scan his face and realize I’ve seen his picture recently. Where?

“You are dripping all over the floors,” he says when he reaches me.

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