18. Brett
Brett
I woke up to the sound of the wind howling against the windows, the city muffled under a thick layer of snow.
My mind was still tangled in a dream I was having before I woke up.
I was back in college with Olivia, and her laugh was still in my mind.
I scrubbed a hand down my face. No way was I unpacking that before coffee.
The smell of bacon hit me as I stepped into the kitchen. Chloe sat at the counter, her feet swinging, nose buried in a book. Phoenix lay beside her, ears perked.
“Morning, kiddo,” I said, pouring myself coffee.
Chloe glanced up. “Morning.”
I sipped, considering. Maybe it was the dream messing with me or the way work had been eating up my time lately, but something told me today needed to be different.
I leaned against the counter. “How about we skip school and work today?”
Chloe blinked. “What?”
I smirked. “Let’s call it a snow day. Just us.”
Her book hit the counter. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
She gasped like I’d just announced we were moving to Disneyland. “I’ve never played hooky before.”
“Then I’ve failed you as a father.” I nudged her plate. “Eat up. We’ve got important business—engineering the most unstoppable snow fort Chicago has ever seen.”
Chloe’s grin was instant. “I’m in.”
Half an hour later, bundled up like we were heading into the Arctic, we stepped outside. Snow hit my face like a damn ice bath. Chicago winters didn’t mess around. Chloe, of course, was already knee-deep in a snowbank, laughing like a maniac.
“You said ‘unstoppable,’” she called. “What’s the battle plan?”
I cracked my knuckles. “We go big. Reinforced walls, defense towers, maybe even a trapdoor.”
“Trapdoor?”
I shrugged. “It’s about dominance, Chloe. We must strike fear into the hearts of our enemies.”
“Who are our enemies?”
I gestured vaguely at the city. “Anyone who dares challenge us.”
Chloe giggled, already rolling snow into bricks. We worked fast, stacking and shaping, Phoenix supervising like a general. Every so often, Chloe stopped to throw snow at me. She was lucky I was a mature adult, or I would’ve buried her in it.
“Dad!” she suddenly shouted, pointing. “AMBUSH!”
I barely had time to turn before a snowball smacked me in the face. Chloe howled with laughter.
“Oh, that’s war,” I growled.
She shrieked as I scooped up a fresh batch of snow, but she was fast, darting behind the fort. I gave chase, slipping like a fool on an icy patch. She cackled so hard that she collapsed into the snow.
“I hope you’re proud of yourself,” I groaned, shaking out my coat.
She wiped tears from her eyes. “So proud.”
After another hour of fort-building and increasingly ruthless snowball attacks, my fingers were numb, and Chloe’s cheeks were pink from the cold.
“Inside,” I declared. “Hot chocolate time.”
Back in the warmth of the condo, we peeled off layers, leaving a trail of snow-covered clothes. Phoenix flopped onto her bed with a groan, clearly exhausted from supervising two lunatics.
Chloe sat at the kitchen counter, her hands cupped around a steaming mug. “This was the best day ever.”
I leaned against the counter, watching her. The happiness on her face made my chest tighten. Lately, work had been all-consuming. I’d missed too many dinners and too many bedtime stories. That had to change.
“You know,” I said, “we should do this more often.”
Chloe raised a brow. “Ditch school and work?”
“Obviously,” I smirked. “It builds character.”
She grinned. “You’re the best dad ever.”
I swallowed past the lump in my throat. “Don’t let that get around. I’ve got a reputation to maintain.”
Chloe sipped her hot chocolate, swinging her legs. “Hey, Dad?”
“Yeah?”
Her voice softened. “Thanks for today.”
I ruffled her hair. “Anytime, kid.”
She hesitated momentarily, then added, “You work too much, you know.”
I exhaled slowly. “I know.”
“You don’t have to make up for anything,” she said quietly. “I already think you’re the best.”
That one hit me straight in the chest. I cleared my throat. “You saying I don’t need to buy your love with elaborate snow forts?”
Chloe giggled. “No, I’m definitely saying you do.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Noted.”
As the snow fell beyond the windows, covering the city in white, I sat beside her, soaking in the moment. There was no boardroom, contracts, or endless meetings—just this. Just us.
And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
The next day, I felt like death. Although death might have been an improvement. My muscles ached, my throat was sandpaper, and every breath felt like I was inhaling fire. Chloe wasn’t any better—curled up on the couch, wrapped in a mountain of blankets, sniffling between weak coughs.
Phoenix whined beside me, ears pinned back like she knew I was in no shape to be anyone’s hero today.
I needed to get some medicine for both of us, but I felt too weak and dizzy to drive. I needed to ask for help, something I hated doing.
I’d called Zackery first, but he reminded me he was four hours away at some gig with his bandmate, Chad.
Jerritt? He was at a wedding out of town.
And Vahn was at a football game with his buddy, Derek.
I was officially out of options, which left one person.
I glared at my phone, thumb hovering over Olivia’s contact. Calling her felt like shoving my pride through a paper shredder. But Chloe needed someone, and I was barely standing.
With a groan, I hit dial.
She answered on the third ring. “Brett?”
“Hey,” I croaked. “I need a favor.”
A pause. A long one. I could practically hear her gears turning, weighing her options. “What is it, Brett?”
“Chloe and I are both sick. It’s pretty bad. I can’t take care of her like this.” My head throbbed. “I wouldn’t be calling if I wasn’t desperate.”
Another pause. I waited, listening to her breathe.
“What do you need me to do?”
“Would you mind picking us up some supplies on your way over?”
“Sure, give me a list.”
I gave her a list of items, ended the call, and slumped onto the couch. Olivia was coming to my rescue. Hell had officially frozen over.
When the knock came forty-five minutes later, Phoenix barked once before flopping back down. I forced myself up, opening the door to find Olivia standing there, looking unfairly good for someone about to witness me at my worst.
She swept inside, her long black coat dusted with snow, carrying a bag that smelled like salvation. “You look like crap.”
“Great to see you, too.” My voice was pure gravel. “You brought soup?” I asked, peeking into the bag she handed me.
“Yes, but that’s for Chloe. I brought you some cyanide. I figured I’d put you out of your misery.”
Despite my fever, I smirked. “And here I thought you’d come to nurse me back to health.”
She rolled her eyes and shoved the bag into my hands. “I’m here to nurse Chloe back to health, but I guess you can join in too. Where is she?”
I motioned toward the couch. Olivia’s expression softened as she knelt beside her. “Hey, sweetheart.”
Chloe cracked her eyes open. “Olivia?”
“Yes. Your dad begged me to come.”
I coughed. “I did not beg.”
“You did. It was pathetic.”
Chloe gave a weak smile before closing her eyes again. Olivia pressed a hand to her forehead, frowning. “She’s burning up.”
“No kidding.” I collapsed onto the armchair, exhaustion dragging me down. “You’re officially in charge.”
She shook her head. “We’re all doomed.”
It turns out that Olivia was annoyingly good at taking care of sick people. She set up a humidifier, forced fluids down Chloe’s throat, and then turned her attention to me with ruthless efficiency.
“Drink.” She shoved a mug of tea into my hands.
“Bossy.”
“You love it.”
She wasn’t wrong.
I sipped, watching her move around my kitchen like she owned the place. It was unsettling and attractive at the same time, but it was also frustratingly domestic.
“I really appreciate you coming on such short notice. I hope I haven’t ruined your day.
She turned, crossing her arms. “Don’t worry about it. I’m happy to help.” She trailed her eyes over to Chloe, then back at me.
Something was in her eyes—something old and possibly dangerous.
She was too close now, standing between my legs, looking down at me like she had me exactly where she wanted me.
I swallowed hard. “What are you doing?”
Her lips twitched. “Making sure you don’t die.”
“You sure that’s all?”
She smirked. “You have a fever, Brett. Don’t start thinking I have ulterior motives.”
I tilted my head back against the chair. “Funny. I was about to say the same thing.”
She scoffed and turned away, but I caught the slight shake of her hands.
I knew that reaction.
She wasn’t immune to this or us.
An hour later, Chloe was fast asleep, bundled up with Phoenix curled beside her. Olivia and I sat on the couch, both too exhausted to move. The snow outside made the city glow, reflecting off the lake.
“Hand me my laptop. I should probably check some emails.”
“Do you ever stop working?” Olivia asked.
“You ever stop pushing people away?” I asked as I watched her twirl a loose thread on her sweater.
“I’m here, aren’t I?”
I turned my head, studying her. “Why did you really come?”
She met my gaze, something vulnerable flashing behind her usual sharpness. “Because Chloe needed me.”
“And me?”
Silence stretched between us, thick and buzzing. She swallowed. “No working for you. Go to sleep, Brett.”
I watched her a second longer, then closed my eyes. “Promise me you’ll still be here when I wake up.”
“I promise.”
It was all I needed to hear. She was going to stay, and that was enough.
Chloe was curled up on the couch, barely acknowledging Olivia as she set up a movie for her. The kid had been giving her hell all day, but Olivia was unshakable. It was both irritating and impressive. She handed Chloe a bowl of soup and tucked a blanket around her, her patience saint-like.
“Anything else, Your Highness?” Olivia asked, arching a brow.
Chloe sighed dramatically. “No.”
Olivia smirked. “Thank you. No, thank you.” Then she turned to me. “She’s all set. You should eat, too.”
I leaned against the counter, arms crossed. “You sure you don’t want to be our full-time nurse? It seems like your calling.”
“Funny,” she chuckled. “And no.”
Olivia was strength wrapped in elegance, a walking contradiction that made my pulse tick up every damn time she was around. I touched her cheek and whispered, “I really want to see where our relationship can go. Promise me we’ll get together for some quality time when I’m no longer contagious.”
She looked into my eyes like she had no idea how to respond, then swallowed. “I would like that.”
It was a big win, and perhaps being someone she could take care of was the trick.
Just then, a knock came at the door, and I heard keys in the doorknob. Vahn strolled in, tossing his keys on the counter. “Alright, I’m here to take over. You can stop playing Florence Nightingale, Olivia.”
“Finally, some relief,” Olivia laughed and moved away from me. She grabbed her coat. “I need to get home to Mystic.” She looked at me. “Are you good?”
“Thank you so much, Olivia. We appreciate you coming, and I apologize for my daughter’s rudeness. I’ll be talking with her.”
Olivia smiled and said, “Good. She needs to know she can’t get away with that behavior, but something deeper could be going on than her just giving attitude. Proceed with caution.”
As she reached the door, Vahn stepped in close, dropping his voice. “Hey, before you go, so that you know—Brett’s completely head over heels for you.”
My stomach flipped. What the hell was he doing?
Olivia blinked, her lips parting slightly before snapping shut. Her gaze flicked to me, then back to Vahn. “Is that so?”
Vahn shrugged. “Thought you should know.”
She lingered for half a second, then nodded and left. I stared at Vahn, heat climbing up my neck.
“What the hell was that?” I snapped.
“You weren’t going to tell her, so I did,” he said, unfazed.
“That wasn’t your call. I’m slowly working myself into her graces. After what I did to her all those years ago, she’s having trouble trusting me.”
“It was absolutely my call,” he countered. “Look, man, you act all tough, but I know you. Olivia is the one; if you don’t do something, she’ll slip through your fingers.”
I gritted my teeth, fists flexing. “Keep your voice down, please. I don’t want Chloe to hear us. You don’t think I know that?”
Vahn tilted his head, eyes narrowing. “Then do something about it.”
He patted my shoulder and walked off like he hadn’t just thrown a grenade into my life.
Later that night, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Phoenix curled up at my side.
Olivia was in my head and under my skin.
I replayed every moment—how she handled Chloe with that perfect mix of warmth and steel, how she looked at me like she saw every version of who I’d ever been, and how her lips parted when Vahn dropped that bomb.
I wanted her. Badly. And I knew, deep down, she wanted me too. But Olivia Shaw wasn’t the kind of woman you just claimed. You had to earn her.
And I intended to.