Page 31 of A Midnight Romance

Lux

I t’s mid-morning when an uneasy feeling wakes me from my sleep. I open my eyes to find an empty space on River’s side of the bed, and it saddens me.

After spending the rest of the night with Stevie, I came to River’s room once she fell asleep. I can tell she’s still working through processing it all, but compared to a typical person, my sister is handling everything much better than I expected. Perhaps we’re more alike than I thought.

I climb out of River’s bed and throw on a black silk robe.

After a quick peek in the bathroom and closet, I assume he’s in his office working.

I tiptoe across the hallway of the North Wing and see his office door ajar.

Recalling what happened last time I went in there and found the cameras, I think there isn’t much more he can hide at this point.

Before barging in, I peek my head through the cracked door to see him sitting at his desk, talking at his computer screen.

Pushing the door slightly more open, I wait for only a moment for him to glance up from his computer screen. With how private River is, I’m not sure he’ll be all right with me here.

Maybe I should go back to his room.

As soon as the thought crosses my mind, he sees me and his face instantly lights up. Butterflies fill my stomach as I give him a smile. Then he gives me a quick wave, motioning for me to come in .

I tiptoe to the leather couch below the windowpane. It sounds like he’s in a virtual meeting with some people from his company, Thompson Innovations.

“The lip gloss Taser is performing well in the field?” River asks, his gaze unwavering as they stay locked on me from across the room.

“Yes,” a male voice from the call exclaims. “We’re pleased with the preliminary results.”

River casually leans back in his chair with his chin in his hand. “That’s what I like to hear.”

My eyes glance over the wall of cameras. Eliciting mixed feelings within me, I search for the screens that display my townhouse and the bedroom I’m staying in, but I’m unable to find them. Did he remove them? Is this a small gesture from him to admit wrongdoing?

When I look over at him, I find him already watching me, and it puts a smile on my face. He returns his attention back to his meeting and they spend another few minutes discussing logistics and new proposals.

“And how is the request for the proposal for new FBI recording equipment doing?”

“The marketing team is building the proposal as we speak. It should be on my desk for approval by the end of the week,” the same man states.

“Wonderful. I trust everything will go smoothly, but can you send me a copy before you submit for final check?” Rivers asks. “Also, the TI smart glasses prototype as well.”

“As always with the RFP copy,” another person answers. “And the smart glasses will be sent to you this evening.”

“But we believe this RFP is a shoo-in. We’ve worked with this division of the FBI before, so I’m sure we’ll get picked up,” a feminine voice adds.

“All right, everyone. Unless there is anything else to check in with, I’ve already taken up an hour of your time. I’ll let you all get back to work,” River says, wrapping up the meeting. “Thank you for everything you do.”

A collective round of “goodbyes” can be heard before River ends the call and closes his laptop top.

“You’re up earlier than you typically are, Raven.”

“Once I woke up and noticed you weren’t there I couldn’t fall back asleep.”

River rounds his desk and struts over to the couch. He lowers and extends his arm for me to cuddle into it. “Sorry about that. I forgot I had a board meeting this morning. Most of the time they’re in person, but thankfully this one we decided to hold it virtually.”

I rest my head on his shoulder. “I heard you talking about the lip gloss Taser.”

He chuckles. “Yes, the same one I brought you. Do you still have it?”

“Of course.”

Suddenly, he straightens and turns his body to face me fully. “I want to take you somewhere today.”

I can’t help the smile that breaks, although I don’t know where he’s thinking of taking me. “Really? Where?”

He rubs a hand along my bare thigh, peeking out from the slit in the robe. “My COO’s daughter’s birthday party is this afternoon.”

“And you want me to go with you?”

“Yeah.” He smiles.

My heart flutters with excitement. The thought of being a typical couple with River for an afternoon is extremely tempting and sounds like an absolute dream, but Andrew is still out there and now we’re aware he knows who I am, it changes everything.

“What about Andrew?”

“You’re always safe with me.” River tucks a loose hair behind my ear .

“Yeah, I know.”

“So you’ll go with me?”

I hook an arm around his neck, bringing my forehead to his. “Of course, I’ll go with you.”

He presses a soft, lingering kiss on my skin. “Awesome.”

I pull away and hop off his lap. “Thank goodness I have a closet full of brand new clothes.”

He slaps my ass as I walk out, looking forward to an afternoon of pretending to be a typical couple.

“This is where your COO lives?” I ask in awe when we pass the giant security gates, each side of the driveway lined with full evergreen trees. “You must be paying him really well for him to afford a place like this.”

River chuckles at my comment as he drives the narrow road until a historic house comes into view. “Felix has worked for my company for as long as I can remember, and I like to make sure my employees are taken care of.”

I catch sight of a light pink sign with Happy Birthday written on it and a bundle of matching balloons tied to the top of a tree in the middle of the circular driveway.

“And Nancy, his wife, makes me the most awful fruit cake every year on my birthday,” he tells me to lighten the mood, possibly sensing my nerves.

I laugh. “Who eats fruit cake anymore? ”

“Apparently, Nancy.” He pulls around to the front of the house and a young valet walks up to us.

“Good afternoon, sir,” the blond in a white and blue suit greets River, opening his door, while another valet comes to open mine.

A crisp, but warm summer afternoon wind whips through my yellow sundress as I step onto the paved driveway.

“We’ll be back in exactly two hours. Make sure my car is ready,” River demands, handing them each a hundred-dollar bill, before sliding his hand into mine.

“Thank you,” I toss over my shoulder as we both ascend the steps to the front door of the home.

“Welcome,” a woman in a matching blue suit greets us as we walk in with glasses of lemonade with freshly crushed strawberries inside. River politely refuses, but I take one, savoring the sweet, cool taste. “Could I get your names?” she asks.

“River Thompson,” he says.

Her eyes widened. “Yes, Mr. Thompson. Right this way.”

The woman leads us through a grand living area with vaulted ceilings and pink party decor everywhere. Guests are scattered throughout, and River introduces me to each one as we pass them.

I smile, repeating each name back to them, trying to remember everyone. This feels more like a whirlwind of people rather than a child’s casual birthday party. Although I am aware at this point about the amount of money and power he holds, seeing the effects in person is another level of intrigue.

River dips his head toward me to whisper in my ear. “I care little for any of these people. They’re part of the elitists who think they have all the money and power to do whatever they like. ”

I stifle a chuckle, aware of his two lives. He seems to enjoy one more than the other.

“Good to see you.” His voice rises as he greets another group of people waving him down.

We finally reach the beautiful backyard. The bright green grass looks like it goes on for more than just a few acres. There’s a cotton candy station, women dressed up like animated princesses under a flower laced gazebo, and other kid themed activities, which I have no clue what they are.

“I think I might pay him too much,” River jokes about how lavish the party is. He slows, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. “There’s Felix and his wife.”

I suck in deep breath ready to play the part of a regular couple who didn’t just kill a man in cold blood less than twenty-four hours ago.

“River!” Felix calls out as we walk beside a slip and slide.

“Looks like the perfect party.” River extends his arm for a hand shake as we approach them.

“You came.” Felix’s wife Nancy leans in to hug River and lingers a bit too long.

I don’t like it.

River pulls away, then rests a hand on the small of my back. “This is Lux.”

“Hi.” I smile, making a point of sliding my arm around the River. “You have a beautiful home.”

“Thank you, Lux, It’s great to—” Felix starts but is interrupted by a little girl in a princess dress running full speed toward River.

“Wiverr!” A high-pitched voice attached to a pink flash is suddenly at our side .

“Sophia!” River says her name with excitement, bending to lift her into his arms. “Happy birthday!”

Oh my god. My ovaries might burst for possibly the first time in my life.

“Thank you.” She twists her arms together.

“And how old is Princess Sophia today?” River asks her with a wide grin. He likes her.

“I’m four.” She giggles, holding up four fingers.

“Yes, you are.” River lowers her into the grass and she straightens her ball grown dress. “This is my friend, Lux.” River looks up at me.

I lower to meet Sophia at eye level, smiling warmly at her. “You look like a beautiful birthday girl.”

“You’re pwetty.” She twirls her corkscrew blonde hair.

“Why don’t you go see Grandma,” Felix says.

Nancy grabs her daughter’s hand, leading her away from our group. “Come on, baby.”

“See you later, River.” Her tone takes on a sensual nature, and I see red.

Glaring at her until she’s a comfortable distance away, my eyes drag back to River only to find a slight smirk on his face. Slightly embarrassed about being caught, I feel my cheeks flush. He turns his attention back to Felix, but not before sending me with a slick wink.

Felix sips his pink lemonade. “So where did you guys meet?”

My stomach drops at his question. With how carefully curated River’s double life is, we failed to prepare an explanation for us if anyone asked.

“Lux reached out to the office to do research for a novel she was working on,” River adds casually.

Stunned by his quick response, I have no choice but to go along with it.

I swallow cotton. “Yeah, River has been very helpful. ”

Felix’s eyebrows rise. “A writer, sounds intriguing.”

River changes the subject before Felix asks me more questions, and I breathe a sigh of relief. I’m not that great of a liar, and if he continued, I might accidentally say something I shouldn’t.

“I bet Sophia’s going to get some fun gifts today. I saw the present table on the way in.” The expression on Felix’s face suddenly changes. “I’m afraid to ask what you got Sophia.”

River pats his shoulder and gives him a mischievous smile. “A pony is being delivered in less than an hour.”

Felix’s eyes grow wide. “Fuck you. Really?”

I chuckle at the rapport they have and the fact that River really bought Felix’s daughter a pony. Of course, the way she interacts with him, and how gentle and caring he is toward her gives me a glimpse into what type of family man he could be.

As River continues to charm everyone at the event for the rest of the afternoon, I stand by his side watching how well he can control both parts of his world.

But underneath the friendly good-guy facade and the passionate lover I see in the bedroom, is a natural killer—hunter prowling the city streets of Seattle in search of the next bad guy to take down.

It’s fascinating, and only serves to make my affection for his passion grow deeper.

And by the time we’re in the car heading back up the hill to Thompson Manor, my adoration for him has grown even more.