Her Surrender (Irresistibly Bound 2)

Right. April had been so distracted by the unsettling comments that she’d forgotten all about it. After April’s TV interview, Oasis had backpedaled, stating that they were still negotiating with the library representatives. The next day, Vicki’s assistant called April to arrange another meeting. She didn’t give any details, but April was hopeful.

“I’ll see you there,” she said to Lexi.

Five minutes later, April got up and headed to the meeting room. It was all the way at the other end of the building, and she got lost in her thoughts as she walked.

“Hi, April.”

April jumped, her hand flying up to her chest. “Vicki. You scared me.” The blonde-haired woman stood next to her, that irritatingly sexy smile on her face.

“I haven’t gotten my photo yet today,” Vicki said.

April shushed her and glanced around. They were alone. “You’ll get it when I’m ready.” She continued toward the meeting room.

Vicki placed her hand at the small of April’s back. “You know I don’t like to wait.”

Heat spread up April’s cheeks. “What would happen if I didn’t send you a picture?”

“Try it and find out.”

One look at Vicki’s face told April that she wasn’t messing around. It only tempted April more. One of these days, she was going to test whether Vicki would actually follow through on her threats. But not today. She had already taken a photo, she was just waiting for the right moment to send it.

Just before they came into view of the meeting room, Vicki pulled her hand away. April’s back tingled where Vicki had touched her.

“After you.” Vicki opened the door.

April and Vicki entered the room and took their places at opposite ends of the table. They were the last to arrive. Lexi gave April a strange look. April avoided her gaze.

“Sorry we’re late,” Vicki said. “April and I were having a very interesting conversation.”

April ignored Vicki’s comment. “Let’s get started.” Surreptitiously, she placed her phone in her lap and tapped the screen, sending off a message.

Right on cue, Vicki pulled out her phone and glanced at it under the table. Her gaze flicked up to April, the thirst in her eyes hidden from all but April.

“Vicki?” April said. “You called the meeting, is there something you’d like to share with us?”

“Yes.” Vicki shoved her phone in her pocket and cleared her throat. “Given the recent attention that the Oakmont Street Library has been getting in the media, Oasis Developments has decided it’s in everyone’s best interests to delay the Oakmont Street project until a more suitable location for the library can be found.”

April’s heart leaped. It worked. It actually worked. “That’s great,” she said. The library wasn’t safe just yet, but this was the best outcome they could have hoped for. Now they had enough time to figure out what to do.

“I’ve been talking to the head of our corporate sponsorship program, and he’s going to see if we can spare some funds,” Vicki said. “It won’t be much, but it should help.”

“That would be amazing,” April said.

“I understand you’ve been doing some fundraising,” Vicki said.

“Yes. And now that we have more time, we can raise even more. And there are some federal grants we can apply for.”

The two of them went back and forth, discussing options, the others around the table chiming in now and then. Vicki took plenty of notes and seemed to be taking their feedback and suggestions seriously.

Almost an hour later, the meeting came to an end. As everyone filed out of the room, April told Lexi she’d catch up with her, and stayed in her seat. April didn’t have to ask Vicki to stay. Once the room had emptied, Vicki sat down next to April.

“So, what do you think?” she asked.

“This is amazing!” April said. “Why didn’t you tell me about it sooner?”

“It wasn’t a done deal until this morning. I had to get approval from the board. They weren’t exactly pleased with my proposition, but I convinced them that going forward now would be a PR disaster.”

“You did this?”