Page 96 of Reckless Desire

The chair lets out an impatient sigh. “There is still the concern over the current reputation issue you’re facing.” She looks at Hunter. “I’ve been fielding multiple calls from parents who are worried about their children alongside your daughter, given your lack of morals.”

Hunter drags his hand over his face and shakes his head, looking resigned.

I burst to my feet, my chair tumbling behind me with a deafening crash. Everyone at the table instinctively recoils. Or I think they do.

“Sydney?” Hunter’s voice cuts through me like a knife. God, I miss my name on his lips. It caresses me like a touch of silk, boosting my determination.

“Let me tell you something about the character of Caroline’s father.” I no longer look at Hunter or Dan. I’m making my case to the chair because she needs to hear me out. “Did you know he is not her biological father? He adopted her after her mother, his sister, succumbed to cancer. In fact, theimmoral behavioris related to that… but that’s beside the point. Knowing him, how generous and kind he is, how he supports his family, makes me question the characters of all his accusers.”

I narrow my eyes briefly at Dan, and then return my attention to the woman across from me. I should probably stop at this point, but I’m past reason or playing safe.

“He might have not chosen the most socially acceptable way to make money, but he did it for his family. He also spent time with a lonely elderly woman, not because he had too much free time, but because she had nobody. And when he opened his first club, instead of capitalizing on his location and catering to top dollar clientele, he made sure the gym is accessible to others, including underprivileged children.”

The words spill from me like a wild river. “So if you’re concerned about reputation, perhaps think about what it says when this school turns its back on families like this one.”

“That’s enough, Sydney.” Dan stands up, closing his folder with a thud.

“I agree.” The chair stands as well. “We’ve heard enough. Mrs. Lowe, thank you for joining the meeting. Mr. Stuart, please accept my apologies and I hope Caroline can continue her progress in this school.” She walks around to the door. “Mr. Ravinski, in the future, don’t waste my time with meetings based on thin air. We’ll talk more about this later. I have parents’ phone calls to return now.”

She opens the door and turns to Hunter. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just tell the parents your little scandal is not true.”

“But it is.” Hunter is the last one to rise from his chair.

“Yes, but it’s your mess and I don’t want to deal with it.” She wrinkles her nose as if the idea rotted on her tongue, shrugs and leaves.

I’m stunned, unable to move for a moment.

“I take it you’re back from your leave?” Dan asks, not even trying to mask his bitterness.

I blink a few times, my body too aware of Hunter’s closeness. “Tomorrow is the last day before the holiday break, Dan. I can’t wait to be back in January.”

I turn and walk out. Part of me wants to run and hide, process everything. I’ve just defended a man who I claim I don’t trust. Who I blame for… helping me.

“Sydney.” Hunter’s voice stops me. He approaches and goosebumps run down my spine. “Can you look at me?”

The silence in the long corridor thunders in my head as I pivot and meet his eyes. I’ve always thought the intensity of his gaze was burning, baring, devastating. I can see now it’s way more. It’s protecting, caring, loving. It’s too much, and not enough at the same time.

“Thank you, Sydney.” He hisses my name in that sensual tone, and it tears me apart.

A tiny gasp escapes me as the three simple words shudder through me. “I’m sorry.” I’m not sure what I’m apologizing for, but that’s how I feel. I’m sorry for all the hurt I caused us because of my fear of commitment.

“I’m sorry I went behind your back,” he replies. “I realize how my gesture looked vile in the light of your previous experience, but you need to understand I acted out of love.”

“I don’t want to go back to the twenties,” I blurt, and Hunter jerks his head up, taken aback and frowning. “I don’t want to go back in time to the Art Deco era. I’d like to go back to the day we were going to skate, and instead of everything else, I’d very much like to skate under the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Center.” I sniff, biting my lip.

“We don’t need a time machine for that, we can do that tonight if you want. Sydney, the only thing that matters to me is protecting you and Caro, loving you, taking care of you. Because my life is better with you in it. It’s so much better. Without you, I don’t seem to function anymore, Sydney.”

My breath catches. “I think we have a lot of fucking to catch up on.” I smile hesitantly.

He shakes his head and chuckles. It reaches his eyes and I know the look of those gray eyes on me is more important than anything else I’ve accumulated in my life.

“Though I’d love to spend a day with you and Caro first. I’ve missed you both.” Hope swells in my chest.

“She would love that. We made a special edition of her magazine for you.”

God, I want to run into his arms. But he hasn’t opened them yet.

Hunter closes his eyes, lets out a long breath and then looks at me again. “Damn it, beautiful, you promised not to get into these things here at school. I need to kiss you.”

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