Page 57 of All In: The Price We Pay

That’s how I need to look at our situation. The breaks, the distance: they’re good for us. I realize that it won’t do anyone any good if we rush into anything. Even though I think I’m coping with the situation, I still need to find my place in this life that I didn’t want eight years ago.

I didn’t want this life.

Evan did. He still does. That’s probably never going to change. What I can do without, though, is all this sneaking around. Leaving a building through some back exit or underground parking garage isn’t what I picture as a relaxed relationship. The only thing missing is Evan hiding me in his dirty laundry on the way to the laundromat next time.

But that’s the reality of the situation.

So, it’s time to find solutions.

Until he’s back, I’ve got plenty to do, anyway. Enough to keep my mind off things.

The elevator doors open, and Ricky grins at me from where he’s standing. “Good morning.”

I hand him a coffee, and he nods gratefully. “Heavens, I need that.” He holds me back as I try to walk away. “But there’s a surprise waiting for you in your office, too.”

I shake my head, narrowing my eyes. “You know I hate surprises. What is it?”

Ricky waves his free hand dismissively. In the other, he holds his coffee like a treasure. “No, you’ll have to see for yourself. I promise, it’s nothing bad.”

“It’s not Derek?” I whisper to him.

He covers his mouth with his hand and laughs. “No. That wouldn’t be a surprise. That would be a hostile takeover, and I’d be warning you. Now, come on.”

I roll my eyes and keep walking. I’ll be damned if some prank is going to ruin my mood.

Slowly, I make my way from desk to desk. The staff who are already there grin at me. An intern, Louise, nods and mouths “wow,” which only makes me even more skeptical.

Carly gives me a thumbs-up. I head straight for her. “What?” I snap at her.

She just laughs. “No, no. You have to see it for yourself.”

With quick steps, I stride through the open-plan office area, turn right into the hallway, and open my office door. The scent of spring hits me. It smells sweet and fresh, almost like a flower shop. Colorful bouquets are scattered across my desk, the sideboard, and there’s even one on the floor. I quickly count them. Five huge, colorful bouquets and a single long-stemmed rose lying right where I sit. Wow.

Behind me, Carly taps me on the shoulder. “It’s not like Ricky and I were snooping. He had to accept the flowers, and I helped him carry them. We had to make sure everything had arrived. No card.”

“Wow.” I say out loud.

“Yeah. That’s what we thought, too. But do you know who they’re from?”

I walk into the office and raise an eyebrow.

She waves her hand dismissively. “Not that you have to tell us. If you don’t want to. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t some stalker going crazy, but that these flowers were wanted.”

My gaze darts from the flowers to Carly and back. “No stalker. As far as I know. I have a hunch.” But that would be more than I could hope for. Of course, there are security measures in place that prevent anyone from tracing who sent the flowers. If it came out that it was Evan, he could still say it was because of the work we’re doing for him. But the fact that he’s even taking the risk of us being linked together is huge. He must realize that during the years we haven’t seen each other, I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’m gay.

The fact that he’s risking someone finding out that he’s giving flowers to a gay man is so far outside Evan’s comfort zone that I don’t know what to do or think.

On the other hand, maybe they aren’t even from him.

Ricky steps into the doorway next to Carly. “Good, right?”

I nod. “Yeah.”

“Do we know who they’re from?” he asks.

I exhale sharply and spin around. From my seat behind my desk, my entire office resembles a sea of flowers. “Did you arrange this, Ricky?”

He smiles at me and bats his eyelashes. “Of course. This way, they’re at their best from your desk chair. Only that single rose belonged right there. You can’t work now, but . . . ”