Eight Long Years (Heart of Hope 5)

I frowned wondering if she often felt unimportant. Had August not valued her work? Probably not. That’s why she was here.

“Well, when you’re done, you can lock up and head out. Have a good weekend.” That last comment was like ash on my tongue as I imagined her with Matt.

My interviews weren’t tedious, but they weren’t fruitful either. It was after five when I finished, and I considered going back to the hotel, but then decided I’d go to the office and work through some of the video footage April hadn’t. Chances were, the videos were the key to discovering what was going on.

The door was locked, but there was a light in the back still on. I walked in and went to April’s desk, grabbing some of the disks in the box, and then making my way back to my office.

April came out of the breakroom, startling me. She let out a yelp. “Oh God, you scared me.”

“I’m sorry. Why are you still here? It’s late.”

She blew out a breath. “I got caught up and didn’t realize what time it was.”

I entered my office to set the disks down. Then I turned to her. She was leaning against the door jamb of my office.

“Did you see anything?” I asked.

She shook her head. “Nothing I thought was suspicious.” Her stomach growled, and she laughed as she covered it.

“You’re hungry. How about I buy you dinner. A reward for staying late?” I wondered if my voice sounded as desperate as I felt.

“Thank you but I’ve got to get going. I have plans.”

Inside I went red hot as I imagined her plans. Would Matt fuck her first and then feed her?

“Matt no doubt,” I said, unable to hide my irritation.

She scoffed. “You’re being silly.”

I whirled on her, again, moving into her space. “Is

he the type you wanted all the long, April. Was I just an easy way to lose your virginity?”

Her eyes widened. “No.”

“I was a fucking SEAL. I have my own business, but you and August, all you see is some nothing from the poor side of town.” Jesus, I was being a whiner.

“No.”

“What does Matt have that I don’t?”

She shook her head. “That’s not what this is about.”

“Then what is this about, huh, April?”

She gave me an expression like my teachers used to give me when they’d had enough of my nonsense. “It’s about knowing when to quit, Jude.”

I leaned into her, not in aggression, but so she could see my face. So she could see in my eyes that what I was saying was the God’s honest truth. “I never quit, April.”

She held my gaze, looking a little bit confused and a whole lot stunned. I drew my fingers down her cheek.

“I can’t quit you,” I said it so low, I wasn’t sure she heard me. Then I leaned in and kissed her trying to hold back the frustration, and hurt and anger, and simply let her know that I still cared for her.

I expected her to pull away or push me away. But when her hands came to my chest, her fingers fisted in my shirt, and held me to her as she slanted her lips and took the kiss deeper.

I groaned, the sound of it echoing in my office. Need reared up, hot and wild. I gripped her hips, turning her and pushing her back until she was leaning against my desk.

My blood was raging inside me, wanting to fuck her hard. To possess her and make her understand what she did to me. My brain was just intact enough to temper all that aggression.