After asking to be sure the car’s interior was a comfortable temperature, April eased into traffic.
It took little more than five minutes to reach the building that housed Donovan Worldwide.
April said she was at Lara’s disposal.After thanking her, Lara went inside the building.
No matter how calm she pretended to be, nerves swarmed Lara as she rode the elevator.As she waited for it to stop and the doors to open, an odd feeling settled over her.She’d made this trip twice in two days.As Connor’s wife, his sub, it might not be that unusual.The idea of calling him husband seemed intimate, frightening, exhilarating, all in one.
Again with confidence she didn’t feel, she exited the elevator then walked toward Connor’s office.Unlike yesterday, Thompson stood to greet her when she arrived in the reception area.
“The biscotti was a nasty lie, something just to entice me, wasn’t it?”she asked him.
“Not at all.I baked it last night.”
“You…” She opened her mouth, stunned.This big, burly former military man brewed the best coffee on the planet, and he baked?But instead of finishing her sentence, she said, “Impressive.”
“I have many talents, Ms.Bertrand.”
“As I’m learning.But aren’t they complicated to make?”
“Time consuming,” he replied.“Helped that I had all the ingredients on hand.”
She was moved in a way she rarely was.That he’d gone out of his way for her, that he assumed—or knew—she’d be back, that he was giving his tacit approval to her, touched her.“I’m not quite sure how to thank you.”
“By eating them,” he said with a big grin.
“I shall.Ah… Is Mr.Donovan available?”
“He is.Said to send you right in.”
The anxiousness that had settled somewhat suddenly took flight.Yesterday, Thompson had walked with her.Today, it was as if she were a regular guest.
“Decaf or regular?”Thompson asked.
“Decaf, if it’s not too much trouble.”
“No trouble at all.”
She pulled back her shoulders and knocked before entering Connor’s office.
The sight of him all but stopped time.
He was back in professional dress, wearing a charcoal suit that was so dark it was nearly black.His white shirt was starched, and his tie was a contrasting silver.His eyes were a shade lighter than his suit, and his smile was as broad as it was welcoming.How could she resist him?
It took her a moment to realize he wasn’t alone.
Connor stood, and so did his guest.Even if she hadn’t seen a picture of Nathan, she would have recognized him.
“Lara,” Connor said, coming around his desk.“Welcome.”
She hadn’t been sure of her reception, but he took her in his arms and kissed the top of her head.Stress and anxiety faded as she leaned into him.How did he manage to simultaneously make things so difficult and yet so easy for her?
“People will believe this is real if you keep that up,” Nathan said.
Connor stepped back.With a slight frown, he said, “Lara, I apologize for this ill-mannered lout.My younger brother, Nathan.”
Nathan’s grin was relaxed, making it impossible to take offense at his words.
“I kicked him out five minutes ago, but he’s used every stall tactic available so that he could drag out the meeting long enough to run into you.”
