“Oh, Jason,” Mom says, rushing up to me the second I walk through the door. “How’s April? Is she all right?”
“Yeah, she’ll be okay. I’ve never seen anyone shake like that. I was worried, but she calmed down after a while.” I head toward the entryway and see my brother in the control room.
“Kyle, I’m going to take a shower, and then I want to review the tape before calling the police,” I say over my shoulder as I head for the stairs.
“Hurry up,” he demands, scanning the computer monitors.
“I will,” I say, running upstairs, taking the shortest shower known to man. I hate to wash April’s scent from me though. She fucking smells good.
As soon as I slip a T-shirt over my head and put on a pair of jeans, I run my fingers through my hair and then head downstairs.
When I return to the kitchen, I’m surprised to see Rita fawning all over April and Emily. She pours April a cup of coffee and asks her if she wants a toasted bagel. I’m pleased when she says yes.
“Hey,” I say, walking up to her, stroking her soft hair.
“I know you said you’d be back, but I feel more comfortable here, with you guys.”
“You can be here if you want.” She smiles her thanks and takes a sip of coffee, closing her eyes, savoring the taste.
Kyle waves to me from the doorway. “You need to see this.”
The tape reveals a male figure jumping out of the trees that surround the property to the west of the gate that then disappears behind the house. He’s picked up again on camera skirting the pool and then again as he runs to the back of the garage to April’s. He knows his way around. He’s familiar with the property.
“I’m going to have a security door placed at the bottom of the stairs and replace the door leading into the apartment,” Mom says, calling her contractor as she speaks.
“Mom, let me talk to him, would you?” I say, taking the phone from her.
“Hey, Clay, it’s Jason.”
“Good morning, Jason.”
“Listen, we need two security doors to the apartment over the garage. One at the bottom of the stairs and one at the entrance doorway. I know you have the blueprints, so you can get the measurements from them. I want a keycard entry system with four programmed cards. I also want a magnetic door lock for the downstairs entry as well. The tenant needs to have the capability of granting access from inside her apartment.”
“And you want two doors?” he asks, sounding incredulous.
“Yes, and I want it done today.”
“I don’t know if I can get it done today, Jason, but I can certainly have it done by Monday.”
“Then you aren’t the man for the job. Thanks, Clay.” It doesn’t take long before I hear him calling my name before I hang up.
“Wait—hold on—hold on. Shit, Jason. Your impossible demands will send a man to the grave. Let me get on it, and we’ll be out there as soon as we can.”
“Good man.” I hand the phone back to Mom. “He’ll have it done today.”
“Thank you for taking care of that, Son.” I turn to April and catch her looking at my body.
“Will those modifications make you feel safer, April?”
She doesn’t answer. She’s too busy checking out my jeans and bare feet.
“April’s scoping you out, bro,” Kyle whispers in my ear. I elbow him in the stomach and let her have her fill.
After a moment of silence, her eyes snap to mine. I raise a questioning eyebrow.
“I asked you a question,” I say, stepping closer to her.
“You did? I didn’t hear you.” This makes me grin.
“I asked if those security doors would make you feel safer.”
“Um … yes,” she answers with a peachy blush on her cheeks.
I grin at her for being flustered, and then the buzzer to the gate makes everyone jump.
“The cops are here—put the pot away, Mom,” Kyle jokes. After checking the monitor, he releases the gate allowing them access.
“Already stashed it in the safe,” she says blithely.
April releases a gasp.
“Gotcha,” Grace says, laughing as she follows Garrett to answer the door.
We gather in the formal living room, where April explains to the officers everything that happened. After answering their questions, we head over to April’s apartment where they begin their investigation. We also show them the video and provide them with a disk for their files.
“It looks like that’s all that can be done right now, April,” I explain as we sit in her living room after the police leave. “Once Clay installs the security doors, no one will have access to your apartment again without your permission. It’ll be like Fort Knox in here. I just want you to feel safe in your own home, and will do anything to make sure that happens.”
“Thank you, Jason.”
After the installation of the new security doors and the excitement of last night dies down, I convince April to take a hot bath and a nap before she drives my mother and me to the airport. While she naps, Kyle and I test out the new security system and are very happy with it. No one will get past the door at the bottom of the stairs, that’s for sure. The magnetic lock is very secure. Checking on April one last time, I head home to shower and dress for my father’s arrival.
~.~
At seven o’clock sharp, April has the Rolls parked out front, waiting for us. I miss my dad and will be so glad to hear his voice in the house and office again.
“Rita, are you making dad’s favorites for dinner tonight?” I ask on my way to the refrigerator to get a bottle of water to take with me.
“You know I am, Jason. We’ll see you when you get back.”
When I walk out the door, April is standing at the passenger door of the Rolls wearing my favorite uniform that I’ve seen so far. The knee-high boots, black mini skirt, and a short waistcoat. I have no doubt she’s wearing little skimpy things underneath it all.
“Looking beautiful as ever, Ms. Sanders,” I say, bending to slide in the back seat.
“You as well, Mr. Rowe,” she replies, waiting for my mother to arrive.
“Um,” she begins. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for the flowers and the rare wine you sent for my housewarming.”
“Did you enjoy it?”
“I haven’t tried it yet.”
“You didn’t drink it with dinner?”
“No, I didn’t.” She offers me a shy smile and turns to wait for my mother.
“Jason,” she begins, pleasing me by saying my name, “how many key cards did the contractor make today?”
“Four.”
“And who has the other two?”
“Well, the master file, of course.”
“And?”
“And what?” I ask, evading the question.
“Do you have one?”
“I do. Just in case of emergencies,” I say quickly. “I swear to you, April, I won’t use it unless I get a call in the middle of the night to come rushing over to rescue you.” She tries to hide her smile when she bends to look at me through the open door. I think I may have blushed a little bit.
“Define emergency,” she feigns a scowl.
“According to Webster, it’s an unexpected need, requiring immediate attention.” I quote, grinning at her. I hold her eyes as she processes this definition, and then she giggles.
“Do you have a photographic memory, Mr. Rowe, or do you just keep that definition handy … in case of an emergency?”
“As a matter of fact, Ms. Sanders—”
When Mother finally comes out, she’s nervous and in a hurry, swinging a tote over her arm.
“You look beautiful tonight, Ms. Grace,” April says before my mother slides in across from me.
“Thank you, dear.”
“Goodness, mother. April’s right, you have outdone yourself tonight. Perhaps we should drop you and father off at Motel 6 for the night. You know, the one on the corner of the airport exit?”
“Yes, ma’am. The Peninsula. Your bag is already in the trunk.”
“But, Mom, Rita is making his favorite dinner.”
“Why is she doing that? I didn’t ask her to cook tonight,” she says, looking at me surprised.
“I know—I did. I thought you forgot in all your girly excitement.”
“Well, I’m taking my husband away for the night, if you don’t mind. I haven’t seen him in over a month.”
I wink at April when I see her grinning at me in the mirror. She’s on to my antics.
“You kids can have dinner tonight without us.”
“Kyle and Nicole have dates tonight. You are seriously going to leave me home alone?”
“Oh, for god’s sake, Jason, you are twenty-nine years old, and you are sitting there whining like you’re twelve.” Just as I’m about ready to reveal my ruse, my mother leans forward.
“April?”
“Yes, Ms. Grace?”
“Would you please do me a favor and have dinner with Jason tonight, so Rita’s efforts don’t go to waste?”
I look at April’s expression in the mirror and can tell she’s just as surprised as I am by this request. Maybe my fake-whining act paid off after all.
“If you wish, Ms. Grace.”
“I do,” Mother says. “There, Jason, you are no longer alone in that big house.”
I sit back and grin at my fortunate turn of events.
We finally arrive at O’Hare, where we find my father patiently waiting at the curb. Mother barely waits for the car to stop before she opens the door and running out to meet him. She flings herself into his arms, nearly knocking him backward. I enjoy seeing my parents like this.
“So sweet,” April murmurs.
“Yep. After thirty years, they’re as much in love today as they were the first day they met.” I give my mother a few minutes with him before I get out of the car to welcome him home.
“Hello, Dad,” I say, not wanting to interrupt them, but excited to see him.
“Jason. It’s so good to see you, Son.” He hugs me like always.
“It’s good to see you, too.”
April begins to load my father’s luggage in the trunk, struggling with the larger bag.
“Well, who do we have here?” he asks, helping her lift it.
“April Sanders, sir,” she says offering her hand.
“Well, April, welcome to the family,” he returns, taking her hand.
“Thank you, Mr. Rowe,” she says, a lovely pink blush appearing on her cheeks.
After we get settled in the back of the Rolls, Mother arranges for April to pick them up at noon tomorrow, and we head toward The Peninsula. I watch as my parents walk arm-in-arm into the hotel, and I silently hope that I have that someday.
“So, April, since we’re stuck with each other tonight, do you want to watch a movie after dinner or something?”
“Well, I wanted to get in a swim since I didn’t get to run this morning. Do you want to do a few laps with me?”
If I had a mustache, I’d be twisting the ends, thinking devilish thoughts.
April in a bikini … stupid movie … bikini-April … stupid movie …
“Sure, sounds good.”
Pulling my phone out of my pocket I call Rita and wait for her to answer.
“Hi, Rita, it’s Jason.”
“Yes, I know. We have caller ID, remember?” Rita can be a real smart ass sometimes, but I like that about her.
“We do?” I grin.
“Yes, and you know we do. What can I do for you?” She sounds as if she’s in a hurry.
“I made a mistake by asking you to cook for dad. Mom kidnapped him for the night. Are you still cooking?”
“No, it’s warming on the stove waiting for you to get home.”
“Well, Kyle and Nicole are out for the night, but April and I will be there. Do you and Garrett want to join us?”
“We already ate, and we’re leaving for a movie shortly. You and April can dish yourselves a plate and take it outside on the patio.”
“Great idea, thanks, Rita. You two have fun.”
“You be good,” she says before hanging up.
“I don’t believe I’ve ever been alone in that house before. It feels like I should have a party or something with the parents away—a rite of passage thing that I never got to do.”
April giggles. That pleases me.
I go inside and prepare our plates while April makes the short trip to her apartment to change and comes back in a pair of yoga pants, a white tank, and a bikini underneath. I also slip into the control room and turn off the camera to the patio, so my dinner with April is private against my very nosy brother.
After a pleasant meal, we sit on the patio and listen to music, enjoying a bottle of wine. We talk about her college experience and how she fast-tracked to her Masters in Literature. April is intelligent and has a clever wit about her that I find terribly sexy. I resist the impulse to ask her why she’s driving and not doing something with her degree.
“You ready to swim?” I ask.
“Just a few more minutes, if you don’t mind. I want to finish this glass of wine and let dinner settle a bit.”
“I’ll run up and change, then. I’ll be right back.” After I take the stairs two at a time, I quickly change into a pair of swim shorts, grab us each a large towel and head back out to the pool.
I return just in time to see April as she lifts her tank top over her head and then lowers those pants over her perfect derriere. I don’t want to get caught staring, so I pretend I’ve just arrived and toss the towels onto the bench. With my back to her, I lift my glass, and as I take a sip of wine, I see her reflection in the glass door. Her eyes roam over me for the second time today. Turning, I set my glass down and walk toward her, focused on her luscious lips. Heat stirs in my stomach, seeing her stand before me in a midnight blue bathing suit that barely covers the cheeks of her ass. I want to graze my hand over it.
She has a different plan, however, because with each step I take toward her, she takes one step back—until I’m close enough for her to push me in the pool. Coming up for air, I let out a primal sound and swim in her direction.
“You better get in here, because if you don’t, I will throw you in.” With a sharp laugh, she dives in over me, gliding under the water to the other side of the pool.
After swimming twenty laps each, we hang off the edge of the pool to catch our breath. Folding her arms on the pool deck, she lays her head on them and watches me. Her eyes study me with intense curiosity. Pushing off, I swim backward, kicking my feet until I’m on the opposite side of the pool from her. Her eyes continue to follow me.
What is she thinking?
I enjoy the reflection of her almost naked body in the blue lights under the water and the way her long hair floats on the surface. She’s watching me so intently, it’s as if she’s sending me a mental message.
Taking long, slow breast strokes, I make my way back to her, reaching out to her. She floats toward me until my hands wrap around her slim waist. She rests her hands on my shoulders, following me willingly to the center of the pool. She’s still eerily silent.
Treading water, I circle her, as she continues to follow my movements, talking to me without saying a word. She lowers her face under the water until she’s only peeking above the surface. Water droplets hang off her long lashes.
The intense silence is haunting, and it’s then I know what she’s saying.
When I place my hands on her narrow hips, I kick my feet behind me, returning her to the edge of the pool. After positioning her against the tiles, I lift her arms, wrapping them around my neck.
I press my body against her, wanting her to feel what she does to me. I’m pleased when she parts her legs and loosely wraps them around me, allowing me to rub my cock against her. Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply knowing what she’s pressing
against me. I press into her to relieve some of the pressure and smile when she whimpers. Taking her face in my hands, I lick my lips.
“I need to kiss you.” As soon as those words are out of my mouth, her lips are on mine. I hold my breath when she squeezes her legs around my waist and pulls me tight against her. My heartbeat can be felt pounding through my chest, and it gets worse when she begins to rock her hips against my very hard cock. Then, I remember her words. She said she doesn’t want this with me.
“April,” I whisper. “We have to stop. Please. You’ll regret this.”
When she moans into my mouth, that does it. My traitorous hands dip into the back of her bikini bottoms, sliding lower and lower. I want to touch her … to slip inside her. Just once. Time stands still when I graze across her smooth, bare skin, shuddering at its softness.
Her mouth is sensual, and the way she uses her tongue tells me I would love the feel of it wrapped around the head of my cock.
We’re separated by scant, flimsy material that’s still strong enough to keep me from her. Just as I push upward, she breaks our kiss and gasps, holding me tighter against her. When I pull the thin material to the side, she trembles when my fingers rub her swollen flesh. I push the elastic band of my swim trunks down, setting my hard shaft free in the water. I use it to tease her, rubbing the head against her, testing her for approval.
“Oh god,” she whispers in my ear as she hangs onto my shoulders, moving her hips against me.
“Tell me that you want this because I couldn’t bear it if you regretted it tomorrow.”
“Please,” she begs. “I want you, Jason.” I’m undone. She cries into my mouth when I’m buried inside her.
“I’m not going to last,” I say, thrusting upward and rolling my hips against her, feeling how warm and tight she is. “Hold on to the edge of the pool, baby.” The water suspends her, making it easy for us to move together. With each thrust, I see it building. It’s all over her face.
“Fuck … yes. Right there. Oh, my god, Jason.” Her arms fly back around my neck, and she rides me hard.
“This is it, April,” I say into the curve of her neck desperately trying to hang on. “My god you feel good. So fucking good.”
The Chauffeur Page 10