Chapter 5
five
Gabriel
B y some unspoken agreement we avoid discussing what to do next, going back to those general getting to know you questions everyone despises. When our benedicts arrive, I fear she’ll pick at the huge plate of egg-topped English muffins and pan fried potatoes. Unlike other women who try to impress me with their tiny appetites, Olivia’s unabashed delight in the food makes me love her even more.
Damn it. I love her. In less than twenty-four hours I’ve fallen. Hard. Heart, soul, and body. I want her with an intensity so fierce I can’t breathe.
She keeps giving me looks from under her long, dark lashes that zing electric awareness straight to my dick. I don’t believe her flirting is intentional. In fact, I’m certain she doesn’t realize what she’s doing.
Or thankfully how it’s affecting me. I shift again to ease the pressure against my zipper. Thought I’d outgrown this lack of control years ago.
Olivia crosses her fork and knife on her empty plate. “That was so yummy. I haven’t eaten such a good meal in… oh, it feels like forever. Thank you for bringing me here.”
From the drab and sparsely furnished appearance of her apartment, I guess she hasn’t been taking care of her basic needs very well. That stops now. She’s mine to care for and protect. Mine to love and spoil. Mine. I rein in my escalating thoughts. Emotionally she’s not where I am. Not yet.
I pay the bill and we return to my car. I’ve got to handle this right, or I’ll scare her away. Other than dealing with her ex-landlord, coming off as a demanding alpha isn’t going to work. I hide my grin as I help her settle in the passenger seat. Or maybe it would. I noticed the romance novels she’d stuffed into her suitcase. Mom enjoyed those same authors and enjoyed regaling me with the heroes’ antics.
A wave of sorrow washes through me. I miss Mom. I could really use her advice and her thoughts on how best to handle this delicate situation. I’m on my own here. Flying blind. I sure as hell don’t want to screw up my chances with Olivia by being a dumb shit.
In the bright sunlight I notice a slight discoloration on her cheek. “Olivia, I’m going to touch your face.”
Her eyes go wide for a moment. “Oh no. I don’t have hollandaise on my chin, do I?”
“No, you’re safe from sauces.” I curl one finger under her chin and encourage her to turn her face toward me. “I just need to check…”
Fuck. A bruise mars the skin just below the outer corner of her eye. Where that bastard slapped her. I bite back a growl and succumb to the temptation to stroke her soft skin with my knuckle. She gives a soft gasp when I skim the bruise.
“Ow. That’s tender.”
“There’s a bruise. I’m sorry I didn’t show up in your apartment sooner. Stopped him from?—”
She catches my hand and after teasing my fingers open, presses her cheek against my palm. “He’s not worth being angry over. Not worth even thinking about.”
“He hurt you.”
“I’ve been hurt before.”
Rage burns in my chest. I’ll make a list and go after every person who dared harm my woman.
She covers my hand with hers, patting softly. “Down boy. What happened is in the past. He can’t hurt me anymore.”
The dimness of her eyes tells me she’s lying. More than just the encounter today, the past continues to cause her pain. I alter my silent vow. Retribution is out. Creating a new future for her, with me, becomes my priority. Starting today.
“We need to discuss a few things.”
Olivia releases my hand and leans back. “Yeah. Like what I’m going to do now. Where I’m going to live. I’ve got the rent money, but I hate to spend so much of it short term for a hotel.” She pulls out her phone. “I’ll search for someplace cheap, if you don’t mind taking me there.”
“Olivia.”
“I’ve done a lot of kitchen work and I don’t mind starting at the bottom—again—so hopefully it won’t take long to find a job.”
“Livi.”
“I don’t need much, so it shouldn’t take too long to save up enough for a real place to live. Or a ticket to somewhere else. Maybe I’m not supposed to be here.”
Heavy agony fills my gut at the thought of her leaving. There’s a reason our paths crossed. She is supposed to be here. With me.
While poking at her phone and swiping the screen, she continues mumbling to herself. She’s trying so hard to be brave, but there’s a tremor in her voice.
“Livi,” I say with more force.
She ignores me. Her frantic mumbling continues and her scrolling grows jerky and frantic.
I have no clue what to say or do. Instinct takes over and I reach across the console and cover her phone with one hand. With the other I turn her face toward me again and spear my fingers into her silky hair. “Olivia, we’ll figure this out. You don’t have to do this alone. I’m here. I’ll?—”
Her eyes are wide, dark, and luminous. The soft strands of her hair caress my fingers. The parting of her lips is an invitation and I pray she knows what she’s offering. When I lean toward her she matches my movement. It’s difficult as hell, but I pause when our mouths are barely an inch apart.
“I need to kiss you, Livi,” I whisper.
“Yes,” is her breathy response. “Me, too.”
Holding my desire in check, I press my lips to hers. She sighs and angles her head to perfectly align our mouths. Her lips part but I only tease my tongue over the fullness of her lower lip.
Her lips tickle mine when she moans my name and I curl my fingers against the back of her head. The hint of sweet orange juice from breakfast urges me to taste deeper, to explore the flavors of my woman. Holding back is damn difficult but will make the discovery later so much better. For both of us.
As I’m rethinking that decision, my phone chimes with a text from my office manager. She never bothers me unless there’s an urgent problem, so I ease from the warmth of Olivia’s breath on my cheek. “Sorry.”
She blinks twice then straightens with a nod. “I’ve taken up too much of your time today.”
I hold up both my phone and a finger to stop her from saying more. After her shoulders relax and she nods again, I swipe for the text.
Brenda: Walter’s here pacing your office. Says he’s gotten two calls this morning you need to deal with.
Me: Two? I expected one.
Brenda: From the Abbot agency? I heard about that.
I frown at the screen. How does she always know what’s going on before I do? She’s done that since I was a kid and she worked with Mom. Thank god she agreed to stay on after Mom passed. I’m fairly certain Brenda is the real glue holding Angel Night together.
Me: What’s the other?
Brenda: Guy claims you tore up a check owed to him. Wants the money. From the expression on Walt’s face, the guy’s being unreasonable.
Me: I’m sure he’s planning on claiming personal damages as well. I’m five minutes out.
Brenda: Good. Or you’ll have a path worn in your carpet.
Slipping the phone back into my jacket pocket, I reach for the ignition. “We’ve got to get to the office. Your ex-landlord has already lawyered up. My attorney will want to talk to you.”
Not the way I wanted to keep her at my side today, but I’ll take it.
Her sigh fills the car and my dick throbs. If she sighs like that when I’m in her… Forcing my thoughts back to the mundane concerns of lawyers and possible legal actions, I say, “I’m sorry. This isn’t how I wanted today to go.”
Her plump lips tilt to a rueful grin. “Not high on my list either. I can’t imagine it’ll be too difficult to get him off your back. I’ll pay back any money it takes.” Her lips turn down. “Eventually.”
“I’m not worried. We can discuss that later,” I hurry to add when she looks ready to argue.
“Oh, we definitely will.”
At the office I motion for her to exit the elevator first then run into her when she stops three feet into the lobby. “Wow. You weren’t kidding about it being busier today.”
Beyond the reception desk the six large cubbies are filled with activity. Not only are the staff noisily arranging their belongings, but they’ve enlisted the help of housekeeping and even some of the seamstresses and their assistants are carrying boxes and arranging furniture. There’s smiles and laughter all around
It’s noisy. A crazy mess. I love it.
“Come on.” I take Olivia’s hand and we skirt the edge of the workspace and head toward my office. Walt is leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed, shaking his head while Brenda speaks with him. When he notices us, he straightens and moves into the office. He’s not happy with me.
I don’t blame him. I’ve got a good head for business, I just don’t do things the way Mom did.
Brenda moves to rest her hip against the corner of her huge antique desk and we join her. After making introductions, I blow out a long breath. “Let me go talk to Walt first.”
Brenda waves one hand. “Go on with you. The sooner you talk to Walt, the sooner his blood pressure will get back to normal.”
I give Olivia’s hand a squeeze. “Okay?”
“Of course. I’m not going anywhere until this gets settled.”
I nearly lean in to kiss her then catch Brenda’s smirk from the corner of my eye. I take a quick step back. “Hopefully this won’t take long.”
“Don’t worry,” Brenda says. “Olivia can help me arrange my workspace.”
As I turn away, she chuckles then says, “So. You’re the girl who’s causing all this ruckus.”