20. Brett
Brett
I set a plate of scrambled eggs in front of Zackery and dropped into the chair across from him.
“I don’t know why you insist on coming here for breakfast when you have your own place.” I stabbed at my eggs, already exhausted, and it wasn’t even nine a.m.
Zackery smirked, stuffing a forkful of food into his mouth. “Because yours tastes better. And because you clearly need someone to talk to.”
I shot him a look. “I talk to Phoenix.”
“Grunting at Phoenix doesn’t count.”
“I don’t grunt,” I informed him.
My German shepherd, curled up by the kitchen island, thumped her tail at the sound of her name. Traitor.
Zackery leaned back, sipping his coffee. “Is Chloe still against your relationship with Olivia?”
I sighed. “Yeah. I’ve tried everything. She just shuts down. She won’t even look at her most times.”
“You ever consider a real heart-to-heart? Sit her down and talk it out.”
I exhaled sharply, setting my fork down. “Of course, I’ve tried. Every time I do, she acts like I just told her I’m selling her to the circus.”
Zackery nodded, swirling his coffee. “Then maybe it’s not about talking. Maybe it’s about doing.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Take her out and do something fun.”
“I gave her a day off school, and we spent the day together. We had a great time, but she shut down when I tried to talk to her about anything important.”
Zackery grinned. “Take her somewhere she actually cares about. What about a concert.”
I scoffed. “Right, because you know how much I love concerts.”
Zackery shrugged. “This isn’t about you. It’s about her and what she wants. She’ll see you making the effort. What if I take her?”
I hated how logical that sounded. But more than that, I hated the idea of Zackery getting through to Chloe when I couldn’t.
“Fine,” I muttered. “What concert?”
“I think the best thing would be to ask her and see what she says.”
“You’re making this sound so easy.”
As if on cue, Chloe padded into the kitchen, her dark brown hair a mess, wearing her oversized hoodie-like armor. She barely acknowledged me before slumping onto a stool with her phone.
“Morning, pumpkin,” Zackery said casually, popping another bite of eggs into his mouth. “What’s the best band in the world right now?”
Chloe blinked at him, caught off guard. “Um. Everstorm.”
I frowned. “That’s a real band? Sounds like a cheap cologne.”
Chloe rolled her eyes, a flicker of amusement breaking through the usual frost. “They’re amazing.”
“Cool,” Zackery said. “Have you ever seen them live?”
She shook her head, a shadow of longing passing over her face. “No. They’re in Chicago this whole week, but tickets are impossibly expensive.” She looked at me as if she had asked me to buy her tickets, and I said no. I’d never even heard of the band before.
Zackery pulled out his phone. “Not impossible. Let’s see... bam. Got ‘em.”
Chloe’s eyes widened. “What?”
“Front row.” He looked at me. “Sorry, bro. I could only get two tickets.” He turned his attention back to Chloe. “You in?”
She actually smiled. Like a real, genuine, teeth-showing smile. “Are you serious?”
“Dead serious. All good with you, Brett?”
I nodded in disbelief, then blinked. “Of course. You should spend time with just your uncle.”
Chloe jumped off her stool and threw her arms around Zackery in an unexpected burst of excitement. “You’re the best.”
My stomach twisted. It was like my brother was doing magic.
Zackery winked at me over her shoulder. “Told you.”
I leaned back in my chair, watching as Chloe rattled off her favorite Everstorm songs while Zackery listened, fully engaged. He barely had to try, and she was already opening up to him like they were best friends.
And I hated how much that stung.
Later, as Zackery put on his jacket, I caught his arm. “Hey, thanks.”
He gave me a knowing look. “She’ll come around, Brett. You just have to meet her where she is.”
I nodded, even though it still felt like I was on the outside looking in. As Zackery walked out, Chloe danced to her room, humming some Everstorm song.
I sighed and scratched behind Phoenix’s ears. “Guess it’s just you and me tonight, girl.”
She thumped her tail again. At least someone was on my side.
The next day, I was halfway out the door when I remembered the charity gala. I sighed, pulled out my phone, and dialed Olivia.
She picked up on the third ring. “You’re calling me early? What’s wrong?”
“Wow. Maybe I just wanted to hear your voice.”
She paused. “You’re being sweet today.”
“I’m always sweet. Don’t forget about the gala tonight.”
“Gala? Oh, right, the gala.”
“I know how much you love dressing up and pretending to care about rich people’s problems.”
“Almost as much as you do.”
I grinned. “See you at seven, Liv.”
At the office, Jerritt was already nursing his second coffee, and Vahn was on a call, waving me off like I was an inconvenience in his life. Work flew by, and negotiations ran smoother than usual—probably because I wasn’t distracted by thoughts of Olivia.
Lies. I was absolutely distracted by thoughts of Olivia.
I hit the barber for a quick trim and then the gym, where I pushed through a brutal workout. There was no reason to slack, even if all I had to do tonight was stand around in a suit, schmoozing.
Back home, I showered, threw on my navy suit, and checked my reflection. Decent. But would Olivia be impressed? She used to be. Back when I was the reckless asshole who walked away from her.
Phoenix trotted over, nudging my leg.
“Yeah, I know. I look good. But what if she doesn’t buy it?”
She huffed, unimpressed.
I sighed. “Yeah, yeah. I deserve that.”
Olivia slid into the car, her perfume—dark cherries and temptation—filling the space. The royal purple dress hugged her body like a damn secret I wasn’t supposed to know.
“You look… “ I exhaled sharply. “Dangerous.”
She smiled, but I could tell it was fake. I knew her so well.
I didn’t start the car right away. Instead, I turned toward her, studying her profile. Sharp. Sexy. Stunning. Distant. “Liv.”
“Brett.” Her voice was soft and hesitant.
“You’re quiet.”
She stared straight ahead. “I’m thinking.”
“About?”
She hesitated. “I don’t know if this will work,” she said finally.
“Define ‘this.’”
She turned to face me, eyes searching mine. “Us.”
I gripped the steering wheel, jaw tight. “That’s sudden.”
“No, it’s not.” Her voice was quiet but calm. “Chloe doesn’t like me.”
I tensed. I hated this conversation already. “She doesn’t know you.”
“That’s the problem, Brett. She doesn’t want to.”
I exhaled through my nose. “She’s twelve, Liv. She thinks I belong to her and only her. It’s not even about you on a personal level.”
She crossed her arms, fingers gripping the fabric of her dress. “But it is about me. You said it yourself—she thinks I’m a threat.”
“I also said we’d figure it out.”
Her laugh was soft, humorless. “And if we can’t?”
I reached out and caressed her cheek. “Then we keep trying.”
She swallowed. “I don’t want to be the reason she resents you.’
“And I don’t want to lose you.”
Silence. Heavy. Loaded.
I forced a grin, trying to shake the mood. “Besides, if you’re going to break my heart, at least do it after dinner. I already made reservations.”
That earned me a small smile. “You’re impossible.”
“But charming.”
“Debatable.”
I started the car and pulled out into traffic. “Chloe is just adjusting. I’m not letting her—or anything—push you away.”
She held my gaze. “You’re sure?”
I chuckled, mostly to stop myself from dragging her into my lap. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”
She bit her lip.
I slid a hand onto her thigh, feeling her breath intake sharply. “Tell me you don’t want this.”
Silence. Then, a whisper, “I hate how much I do.”
Jesus. I nearly ran a red light.
I pulled into the restaurant parking lot, killed the engine, and turned to her. “Olivia, I’m all in. No running this time.”
Her fingers curled into my shirt. “What if I’m the one who runs?”
I leaned in, brushing my lips against her ear. “Then I’ll chase you.”
Her breath shuddered. “Brett… “
I grinned. “Don’t ‘Brett’ me. I need to know if you are in or out.”
“I will try, but what if Chloe never accepts me?”
“She will simply have to adjust to sharing me. I will try to get her to realize that I can be there for both of you.”
“Maybe you need to talk to her a lot about it.”
“I will do anything.”
“Let’s go inside and have dinner,” she suggested.
“Dinner first. Seduction later.”
She rolled her eyes, but her lips curved. Good. I wasn’t losing her tonight. Maybe not ever.
After dinner, we went to the gala. Olivia tensed immediately. Not the elegant, poised kind of tense—more like she’d just spotted a live grenade in the middle of the ballroom.
I followed her gaze and found the source: Nora.
Her boss. The boss. And the same woman who’d set up our partnership to restore the old hotel.
“Olivia,” Nora greeted smoothly as she approached, her sharp gaze flipping between us. “Brett.” She nodded.
I gave her a nod. “Nora.”
Olivia’s grip on my arm tightened—so slightly that no one else would notice. But I noticed.”
Enjoying the evening?” Nora asked pointedly.
Olivia turned on her best work smile, polished and professional. “Absolutely.”
Liar.
“Good,” Nora said. “I expect nothing less.” Then, after a pause, “We’ll talk soon.”
With that, she disappeared into the crowd, leaving Olivia standing way too still beside me.
I turned to her, studying the tension in her shoulders. “Alright. What was that?”
She exhaled, but it didn’t help. “I’m up for a promotion.”
Ah. Now we were getting somewhere.
“It’s between me and someone else. We’re both equally qualified, but Nora hasn’t decided yet,” Olivia added, her voice carefully even. “So, yes, I’m tense.”
I nodded, processing. She wanted this. Badly.
“Okay,” I said. “Then let’s dance.”
She blinked. “What?”
“Dance with me,” I repeated, gesturing to the floor. “Nora’s watching. You want to impress her, right?”
Her lips parted slightly—whether in surprise or irritation, I wasn’t sure. “And you think dancing is going to impress her?”
“Yes,” I said quickly. “Because right now, you look like you’d rather be filling out tax forms than enjoying yourself. And that’s not going to help your case. Besides, I’m your client, and you must make me happy.”
She hesitated, torn between logic and sheer stubbornness.
Then I leaned in, lowering my voice to a lazy, knowing murmur. “Nora’s looking this way.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You’re using my boss as leverage.”
I grinned. “Guilty.”
She let out a slow breath but placed her hand in mine anyway. “You’re insufferable.”
“I sure am.”
I pulled her onto the dance floor, settling my hand at her waist. At first, she was stiff, all business. But as we moved, something shifted.
Her fingers curled tighter against my shoulder. Her body relaxed—just enough for me to feel the heat between us.
And damn, it felt good to hold her in my arms. Dancing with Olivia wasn’t just dancing. It was intense, and desire ignited between us immediately, unspoken things coiling in the space we weren’t quite closing.
She knew it too. Her breath practically ceased to exist when I tightened my hold and pulled her closer.
“Brett,” she murmured.
I should’ve behaved and kept it light.
Instead, I murmured back, “I’m falling in love with you.”
Her steps faltered.
For a second, just a split second, I thought she might run. But then she tightened her grip on me, and I knew I had her.
And then, of course, Nora reappeared.
“Brett,” she said smoothly, “mind if I cut in?”
Olivia went rigid.
I, however, grinned. “Not at all.”
I stepped back, flashing Olivia a wink as she stared at me like I’d just committed an act of treason.
As we moved, Nora cut straight to business. “You’ve been working with Olivia for months now. Tell me—how do you think she handles pressure?”
I didn’t hesitate. “Better than anyone I’ve ever worked with. She’s sharp, decisive, and sees problems before they happen. She doesn’t just handle pressure—she thrives under it.”
Nora hummed, clearly absorbing that. “Interesting.”
The song ended. I gave her a polite nod before heading straight back to Olivia.
The second I reached her, she grabbed my arm. “What did she say?”
Instead of answering, I took her hand and led her outside, where the cool night air curled around us.
“Brett?”
I kissed her. Not just a kiss. A claiming and a promise. It was a reminder of precisely what this was between us.
When I pulled back, her breath was shaky, and her eyes a little dazed.
I brushed my thumb over her lips and said, “That,” I murmured, low and teasing, “is for me to know.”
Then I turned and walked away, leaving her there—stunned, curious, and just a little wrecked.
And I loved knowing I’d just driven her insane.