by Lia Lee
“At least it isn’t Delilah,” Samson joked back.
“At least!” Al Bell laughed.
It was a cute, light interview. Not really one of Samson’s best, but he’d been right about the puppies. Her fondness for him was rising by leaps and bounds. What was it about a handsome man holding a small cute animal?
“Would you like to hang out with him, Dame?” she asked her dog. Damien stared at her in his loving, oblivious, cockeyed way and panted happily.
With great expectations, she clicked on the other video. This one took place not too long after the puppy episode, maybe a year later, so Al Bell started off by apologizing that the set was puppy-free. There was a round of disappointed noises from the audience, which caused Samson to laugh and promise them he’d upload a video with him and a dog soon, even if he had to borrow one.
“Are you dating anyone now? You were with some model last time. The girl had the wildest name.”
“You could say I let that Kite fly away,” Samson drawled.
Al Bell laughed. “That did not end well, if popular gossip is to be believed.”
“Well, no, but at least it ended.”
Laughter.
“I’m not that disappointed, frankly. It allows me to move on to greater things. I have so much to do in my career, so many things to advise on. I’ve even been requested to do a bit part on a sitcom in New York,” Samson shrugged. “So, I really don’t have the time for a relationship.”
“Right, right. Sometimes the timing is bad.”
“I couldn’t imagine the timing will get better. I never wanted to marry Kite. We were just having fun. You know how it is. She’s starting her career, I’m building mine, we both needed a bit of release…”
“The checkout lane tells me that you are a man that needs a lot of release,” Al Bell said.
Samson spread his hands. “I’m a man.”
More laughter.
“So, what’s the future for you? No more flying Kites. But maybe once you’ve spread your business, what’s happening there? Family? Politics?”
Samson wrinkled his nose. “No, no. I don’t think I’d ever be interested in any of those things.”
April swallowed and paused the video. That didn’t mean anything. Not really. The interview had been years ago, but she still wasn’t sure what she was to Samson. Maybe what they had was just fun to him. Could she blame him for that? She had been the one to move them forward after initially putting on the brakes. He was following her lead. She bit her lip and unpaused the video.
Al Bell joked with Samson a bit more, shooting names of famous actresses and models Samson might want to settle down with.
“Just because one doesn’t decide to procreate doesn’t make one heartless. I have a baby sister. I have my colleagues and my friends. For some people that’s enough. And anyway, even the most gorgeous model, after popping a baby or two?” He looked to the audience and grimaced. “I’m just not that fond of children anyway. I’ve never been a man to start something I can’t finish.”
April shut the window. Maybe she just needed to take a deep breath, enjoy the ride, and know that it was all only temporary.
“Our relationship is a mandala,” she murmured. “Build it and let the wind blow it away. Nothing to show.”
That wasn’t exactly true. She would have her memories of him. She would have her experience at this job. She would have everything she learned. And she would have her first love.
That would have to be enough, because she wouldn’t be the one pulling back this time.
***
It wasn’t clear how Babette knew that April and Samson had sex on her desk, but April knew that the woman suspected. Babette caught April with a cold glance when she saw her walking up to work and closed the elevator before April could get there.
The last thing April wanted was news of her affair with Samson getting out around the office. It seemed she didn’t have much control of the situation, but when she finally got up to see her team, their effusive questions focused only on the trip, what they had seen, how the meetings had gone, and if she had any gossip about Samson to share.
“He was mostly business on this trip,” April said reluctantly.
“He probably went out for fresh meat when you were already in bed,” Jessie surmised.
April couldn’t say how she knew that Samson had been in bed with her… when they made it to the bed.
“We did have drinks and dinner with his boarding school friends a few times,” April admitted finally. “And they told me a few things, but Mr. Bennett will fire me if I tell you any of them.”
“What were they like?” Garcia pressed. “Playboys like him? Stuffed shirts?”
“Um, neither from what I could tell.” April narrowed her eyes as she thought about it. “They seemed very playful, but I don’t think they spend a lot of time chasing tail. I’m about ninety percent sure they were a couple.”
“Aw. Can we get them instead of him, then?” Jessie said.
Garcia shook his head at her. “It’s not like he flirts with you. April puts up with way more than you do.”
“He doesn’t. I mean, he’s not bothering me,” April protested.
“He does enough that I think Babette is about to throttle him,” Jessie said. “They dated back in Atlanta.”
“Oh, dear God, can we stop with the gossip?” Garcia sat down to his laptop. “April, I’d like to get your thoughts on these final comments from the contractors. We’re almost ready to go here.”
“Great. Let’s do work.” April sat next to him and tried to focus.
When Samson came into the office, though, she couldn’t help how her eyes drifted to him. She was going to give herself away if she weren’t careful. He might have been practiced at covering up affairs, but she’d never been good at hiding anything.
***
A few days of separation was too much. April was glad she wasn’t the only one who felt that way. She was beginning to fear that Samson would be done with his “fun” now that they were back in town, but come Wednesday, he called her into his office for a meeting and asked her if she would like to go exploring in this city as well.
Of course, the answer was yes.
Friday after work, April fought the traffic frantically and then rushed up to the apartment to freshen up and change before Samson came to pick her up. She was standing in front of her mirror trying to decide between two outfits when Lana knocked on the door.
“Come in. I need the advice of someone in fashion!”
Lana came in and dropped onto April’s bed. “Hey there, girl,” she said flirtatiously.
“Which one should I wear?”
“Is this for a daaaate?”
“Yes, it’s a daaaate. Help me! I don’t have that much time.”
“First date, or…?”
“Um… We’ve spent a lot of time together…”
“Have you gone out to eat?”
“We’ve, um, stayed in to eat.”
Lana looked at April suspiciously. It was that little eyebrow furrow that Samson did sometimes when he suspected she was teasing him but not quite certain.
“We’ve spent most of our time together having sex,” April admitted.
Lana shot up. “Oh my God! When?! You never told me you finally lost your flower!”
“I didn’t lose it, you weirdo. I offered it to him under the table, and he came running.”
Lana threw one hand against her head and fanned herself with the other. “Oh, my stars! My little girl is growing up!”
“You are the worst! Pick an outfit!”
“No, seriously.” Lana took a look at the outfits, threw them both on the bed, and looked into April’s closet. “Why didn’t you tell me you were thinking of doing that? After all this time?”
“I’m only twenty. It’s not that long of a time since you lost yours.”
“It’s not the amount of time. It’s the amount of opportunity. I was a chubby little creature in school
. You’ve always been gorgeous.”
“I have not. I was a genderless scarecrow.” April sat by her mirror and pulled her hair down so she could brush it. She licked her lips. “I didn’t tell you because you know him.”
“Intrigue!” Lana held up a finger and breezed toward the door. “I’ll get you something to wear. Oh! A letter came for you. It’s on the bed.”
April hadn’t noticed it. She grabbed the letter and opened it. As she began to read, her face was consumed in flames.
“Now this will- Oh, God, April. You’re a beet.” Lana put the new dress down and went to April’s side. “What happened?”
“My old apartment complex is demanding thousands of dollars in repairs and rent for the apartment.” April slumped in her chair.
“They can’t do that. You don’t even live there.”
“They’re blaming me for the broken door. And for ‘skipping out’ on my lease.”
“They evicted you. Do they get to demand money for you after they kick you out?”
“I don’t know! I’m not a lawyer! I still can’t even afford to get a lawyer!” April curled over and covered her eyes. She was going to cry. And get blotchy. And look like a complete wreck when she showed up on her date.
“Just stay calm, hon!” Lana knelt by her and touched her arms lightly. “Daddy’s a lawyer. I’ll ask him what to do. Just breathe.”
April did as she was told. There was nothing else she could do, and the management of that place knew it. She had no resources beyond her monthly paycheck that was still mostly paying off her student loans, and no understanding of how this business worked.
Lana’s father did, though, and Samson would. April wasn’t sure she wanted to go to Samson for help, but it was definitely an option. He would understand what the laws in Texas were regarding real estate, ownership, and renters’ rights, and if he didn’t know the details, he had teams of employees who would be able to answer their questions. Even if she didn’t plan on asking him, the knowledge that he could help her, that help existed, made April calmer.
She folded her hands together and looked up at Lana. “I um, I need to tell you who I’m going out with tonight.”
“Are you okay, though? I don’t care about the gossip if you’re going to have a nervous breakdown over this stupid apartment.”
“No, I’ll be okay. I have a place to live, and a job, and that isn’t always a given. Ask your dad, and I’ll put out some feelers. I don’t have to pay this tomorrow, so I have time to make a plan, and maybe talk them down a little on the amount.” April drew in another deep breath as she prepared to explain the situation with Samson to Lana.
That conversation went so well that when the doorbell rang, Lana darted to the door in front of April, opened it, and shouted, “What the hell is wrong with you?!”
April sighed and tried to hurry getting dressed and fixing her makeup. She could hear the two of them arguing. They bickered just as though they were still a teenage boy and his six-year-old sister.
“This is what you got yourself into,” April muttered. She took one last look at the letter before heading into the den to break things up.
“If it isn’t my two favorite people in the world!” she announced.
Lana crossed her arms and pouted. Samson didn’t look far from pouting either. Neither spoke for a long, awkward moment while April checked the contents of her purse.
“If you break her heart, Sammy, I’m gonna break your balls,” Lana said finally.
Samson began argue, but April took his arm. “Don’t break his balls, Lana. I like them.” April reached over and took Lana’s hand. “Please, try to be okay with this?”
“There are millions of women you could date, Samson,” Lana said. “Why are you dating my best friend?”
Samson clenched his jaw. April looked up at him. Not so intimidating, oddly, when cowed by his baby sister.
Finally, he said, “I’m dating her because I can’t just spend time with her. I can’t just fool around. I need more.”
April felt heat creeping up her neck.
“What, are you addicted to her vagina?” Lana pressed.
“What?” Samson screwed his brows together.
April covered her eyes.
“It’s not an addiction, and it’s not just sex,” Samson answered. “I don’t know what else it is, because we haven’t had the opportunity to explore it. However…” He touched April’s chin with two fingers and looked into her eyes. “I’d like to.”
“I’m, um, I’m good with just having fun,” April lied. “But I’d like to see where this goes, too.”
Lana threw her hands up. “Fine. But you’d better treat her better than you do every other girl you date. I’m not kidding. Don’t use her and lose her like you did Boobette.”
“I did not ‘lose’ Babette. She still works for me.”
“She still works for you because she thought you’d still be dating,” Lana said. “I don’t know how a guy as smart as you can be so dumb.”
“You have never been this mean to me, ever,” Samson grumbled.
“You are dating my best friend!” Lana shouted.
April let him go, moved over to Lana, and took her hands. “This will be fine. I promise that I’m okay.” She smiled. “Take a breath. This isn’t the worst thing that’s happened to me in my life. Not by a long shot.”
Lana rolled her eyes. “Just wait.”
“May I go out with your brother?”
“If you must.” Lana scowled at him. “But you’d better let me cut off his dick if he cheats on you.”
“I’m not going to do that.” Samson rolled his eyes.
April wrapped Lana up in a hug and patted her back. Lana eventually heaved a sigh and let her go.
“Well, at least you look bomb in that outfit. Where is he taking you?” Lana eyed Samson.
“We’re starting at the Museum of Fine Arts,” Samson said. “Then I’ll be taking her to dinner.”
“Nerds,” Lana declared. She dropped into a chair and grabbed the remote. “Don’t be out too late. Or do, but don’t get caught in traffic.”
“We won’t.” Samson went over to her and mussed her hair.
“I hate you.”
“I hate you too, sis.”
April took his arm again and felt her chest expanding with affection.
Chapter Ten
Exploring Houston didn’t make Samson like it that much more. There were plenty of good restaurants, but the rest was endless miles of patched concrete, palm trees, and humidity. Their explorations did, however, make him like April more with each passing day. This woman had the capacity to talk to anyone, roll with any situation. She could mend a button while he was driving, change a tire, and beat him at bowling. Her temper was short at times, but in truly difficult situations—which included a driver cutting them off, stopping in front of them, and then getting out of the car to scream at them—she was unflappable.
Samson had moved beyond attraction, beyond intrigue, and into being afraid that she might realize she was more than he could handle and leave. He wasn’t sure where that kind of feeling came from. He never worried about a woman leaving him before. He mostly worried that they wouldn’t leave, and he’d have to ask them to do so.
When April didn’t spend the night, though, he fretted. When she was too busy to go out, he felt like she might have tired of him. He loved most of the feelings he had when he was with her, but he loathed the feelings he subjected himself to when she wasn’t there. He was actually annoying himself.
Since April had taken the lead so far in their relationship, Samson remained content to leave the direction of their affair in her hands. She said that she was okay just having fun, but a month and a half into their relationship, which was still secret around the office, and he was no surer of where he stood. He had to cement her feelings for him somehow.
To that end, Samson went back to the beginning: an architectural tour of the city. She clearly enjoyed it, and Samson a
ppreciated getting to spend the day with her wearing her short-shorts and a tank top that didn’t exactly cover much on top. In practice, though, the tour did not put April in a very romantic mood. She spent more time taking notes and sketching than looking into his eyes.
“How would you like to take a trip?” Samson suggested over a light dinner. Normally, he would have only taken her to upscale restaurants, but she hadn’t seemed too enthusiastic about going back to change and then heading out on the town again. They were sitting outside on the patio of a place called Empire Cafe, sipping water and waiting for pasta to arrive.
“Are you acquiring another business?”
“No, I mean just for the weekend. Take some time together.”
“We’re together now.” Her eyes twinkled with teasing. “I know what you mean. Maybe in a little while? I’ve been feeling kind of run down lately.”
“Oh?” He took her hand and rubbed the back of it with his thumb. “How so?”
“It’s not a big thing. It’s just an accumulation of stresses. Getting more sleep should help.” April shrugged. “Where were you thinking of going? Or did you want it to be a surprise?”
“I was thinking of visiting San Antonio for the River Walk.” Samson nodded to the waiter as he brought their dinners by. “Or New Orleans. They have both architecture and a great night life.”
“Oohh. New Orleans, please.”
“Excellent. When you’re feeling up to it, we can go.” He squeezed her fingers and then let go of her hand so that she could eat. She seemed to have lost a bit of weight recently, and he was fond of her figure just as it was. “What is it that’s causing you so much stress?”
April looked down at her creamy pecan and sundried tomato sauce over linguini and sautéed shrimp. Her forehead was lined, and her voice sounded a bit weary as she explained the situation with her former apartment. He’d heard a bit of the problem from Lana before he hired April, but he hadn’t realized it was a continuing issue.
“I can fight it. I mean, I think I can. But I’m not sure I want to. Financially, it might work out the same if I just give them the money, rather than hire a lawyer, which will cost more,” April explained.
