Page 116 of For One Night

She gasps. “How wonderful, I’ll get this done right now.”

“Thank you.” I hang up and continue to wait for my food.

I scan the room, looking around for nothing, just people watching. A man in the corner looks angry, his brows are pulled low, and his jaw ticks. I snicker, thinking it’s a deal gone bad.

I glance away, then back to find him talking through gritted teeth. Oh, yeah, he’s seething. “That’s a helluva conversation.”

No sooner do I say it, I regret it. A person sitting at the table in front of them moves, and I get a full view of Lola, the recipient of the asshole ranting across from her. My feet begin to move before I can stop them.

Blind rage pulses through me like a wild fire. I can’t stop myself. I’m not sure I want to either. I stand behind her, glaring at him.

“Lola,” I say through a clenched jaw.

She spins in her seat, leaping from it when she sees me. “Lennox, wha-what are you doing here?”

“I needed to run an errand and stopped for lunch.” Her eyes cut to the man sitting with her. “You are?”

Lola grips my arm. “Carter Eastman,”—she nods at him—“Lennox Daly, my … boss.”

“Carter.” A loud pounding fills my ears. I hand trembles as the rage drives me like a locomotive.

Lola’s bottom lip quivers. “He’s my ex-husband.”

He stands, offering his hand. “As if it’s been long enough to say ex, and are you ever really?”

“I think so.”

Carter narrows his eyes. “Lola speaks highly of you.”

“Does she?”

“I’ll be right behind you, Lennox.” She flashes me my favorite smile.

Carter leers at us. “You call your boss by his first name, how progressive of you both.”

I look from her to Carter. “I suppose I should go, before it’s too late.”

“I won’t be much longer.” Her eyes plead with me, and my gut tells me not to leave, but I have no claim, no right to stay. No matter ho much I want her to leave with me, it has to be her decision or I’ll always wonder.

I smash my mouth into a thin line. “Fine.”

“I’ll just get the check,” she mumbles.

“Do that, sweetheart,” Carter grunts.

“I’ve got this.” I hold up my Palladium up. “Lola.”

I turn, storming away from her and the talking asshole. I take care of our lunches and trudge to the office, and by the time I get there, I’ve changed my mind about the rest of the day.

I march into the office lobby, placing her gifts on the security desk. “Please make sure Lola Turner receives these. Thank you.”

I turn, and with a determined stride, walk out. I’m done with this damn day, maybe with life. I hop in my car, wasting no time to get as far away from them as I can. As I’m about to turn the corner, I see them on the sidewalk.

“Fuck!” I hit the gas, peeling away from the light.

Driving as fast as my car can carry me, I put as much distance between them and myself as I can get. I want her, but at what cost? I haven’t a clue. I only know I need her as much as I want her.

Pulling into my drive, I slam it into park and take my steps two at a time. I open the door, slamming it against the wall. I grab some whiskey and a glass on my way out the back.