Hot SEAL, April's Fool by Becca Jameson (smart books to read .txt) 📗

smiled as she followed Rodney back into the main area of the station and accepted his help finding a seat in the crowded waiting area. She dropped down onto the cold, hard chair feeling a combination of emotions. She was heavy with the weight of unspoken words that needed to be said to Cole. She also couldn’t imagine what the death of the mayor would mean for Cole’s family and their business. Would they still owe a debt they had no way of repaying?

Chapter 17

When Cole finally emerged from the small room where he’d spent over two hours talking to two investigators about his family’s situation with Richard Chamberlain, he was exhausted. He rubbed his eyes as he headed toward the exit, and then stopped moving when he saw April in the waiting room.

She rose to her feet, offering him a wan smile.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other, but Cole was overwhelmed with the swell of feelings that came to the surface the moment he saw her. When he finally convinced his legs to propel him forward, he hurried toward her, closing the distance as she rushed toward him at the same time.

Her smile grew as they closed the distance, and the moment he could reach her, he hauled her into his arms and hugged her fiercely. His heart beat faster, and he buried his face in her neck. “Thank you for coming.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Besides, they needed a statement from me too,” she whispered into his ear.

He finally leaned back, his hands on her shoulders. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Agreed.”

He took her hand, threaded their fingers together, and led her out into the midday sunshine. “Your place?” he asked as he drew her closer.

“Yes.”

“Where’s your car?”

“My mom dropped me off.”

“Good.” He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles, not wanting to release her, not wanting her to drive separately, not wanting another moment to exist without her in his space. “Have you eaten?”

“Toast.”

He chuckled. “Let’s grab something on the way then. Chinese?”

“Perfect.”

He lost contact with her only long enough to round the hood of his SUV after settling her into the passenger side and shutting her door. The moment he was in his seat, he set his hand on her thigh while she typed away on her phone, placing an order so they could pick it up.

It felt like he was holding his breath while he waited for her to finish so he could hold her hand again. It seemed like the oxygen in the car wasn’t right until he had her fingers in his grip. He blew out a long breath, not even realizing he’d been holding it.

He held her gaze for several seconds too until she offered him another smile and then leaned over the console to cup the side of his face with her other hand and kiss him gently. “Let’s go. We can talk when we get to my apartment.”

He nodded and started the engine, glancing at her every few seconds to make sure she was really with him and he wasn’t imagining it.

After picking up their food, they headed for her apartment, but the moment they were inside, Cole dropped the food on the floor next to the door and grabbed her around the waist.

She giggled. “I thought you were hungry.”

“I am.” He held her tighter, gazing into her eyes. His voice dipped lower when he spoke again. “Last night was the second-worst night of my life.”

She sobered and licked her lips. “Same here.”

“Can you forgive me for being a total jackass ten years ago?”

“Yes. I don’t have a choice. I can’t live without you. I won’t.”

He blew out the first full breath in over a day and set his forehead against hers. “I love you so much.”

“I love you too.”

He groaned. “I want to drag you into your bedroom, but I need to feed you first. You’re shaking.”

“I agree. It’s a conundrum,” she joked.

He leaned down and grabbed the bag of food and tugged her toward the kitchen table. As if they were in a hurry, he opened all the containers and pulled out plates and silverware.

He couldn’t keep from smiling at the spread in front of him. “You remembered all my favorites.”

“Yeah. We did eat Chinese a time or two when we were dating.”

Cole handed her a plate and they both filled theirs with some of everything before dropping onto adjacent chairs and stuffing their faces.

He loved the little sounds April made when she enjoyed her food, and she had to be starving, so she was more expressive than usual, moaning around every bite.

April scarfed half her plate before swallowing and speaking. “What happens next with your shop?”

“Well, there are no guarantees, but Chamberlain’s death may make the entire problem go away.”

April sat up straighter and lifted a brow. “Really?” She grinned.

“Hopefully. It would seem that Chamberlain’s wife had no idea he was operating so underhandedly to acquire that land. In addition, Chamberlain was shuffling around dirty money, using what he extorted from one seller to pay another. Neither his wife nor his daughter was aware. In fact, they seem to be appalled, according to Rodney.”

“And you believe them?”

“Well, it might not matter. If they’re lying and they knew everything, they will look guilty and be charged with the multiple crimes Richard was involved in. If they’re smart, they will take this opportunity to insist they knew nothing and generously forgive all debts. Time will tell.”

They continued eating for a few more minutes, but then Cole couldn’t stand it another second. He took April’s fork out of her hand, dropped it on her plate, and dragged her from the table.

She giggled as he backed her into her bedroom, cupping her face. “Enough nourishment. I need to be inside you.” His hands went to her shirt to tug it up and over her head. He attacked the button of her jeans next, but she made it difficult because she was pulling his shirt over his head at