Chapter 21 Duke
DUKE
Lukas had been in a stare-off with his niece for the past five minutes. He narrowed his eyes, glancing between his cards and the stack of chips she had piled in front of her.
He slammed his cards down on the table, displaying a flush. “I fold.”
Charlie’s lips curved upward in a knowing smirk, laying down her hand for all to see. She had nothing. Absolutely nothing, and yet she’d played her uncle for a fool.
Again.
“Who the hell taught you to play Texas Hold ’em?” Lukas asked, sitting back in his chair. The man had always been a sore loser, no matter what he was doing—cards, sports, you name it.
Charlie reached forward, adding the winnings to her already impressive pile. “Uncle Bishop. He told me it was a valuable skill for me to have, and to make sure I can take all the boys for their money when I get older,” she said very matter of factly, dipping her chin.
Cleo and Olivia reached across the table to give her high fives. “Lennox would be so proud,” Cleo said, and Olivia nodded.
At the mention of her aunt, Charlie perked up. “Can we call her and tell her I took all of Uncle Lukas’s money?”
“I’m sure she’d love to hear from you, sunshine,” Cleo said. “Let’s go in the kitchen to give the boys room to pout.” Charlie and Harper followed them into the kitchen, where Olivia topped off her wine glass while Cleo called her sister.
“We’re not pouting!” Lukas called after them. He crossed his arms, grumbling, “She didn’t take all my money. And it’s not like it’s real money anyway.”
Grady and I stared at one another. “Yeah, okay.”
“Walk away while your pride is still intact, man. Cause she’ll take you for all you’re worth.” Grady grimaced. “Ask me how I know.”
“Oh, you’re shit at cards,” Lukas mumbled. “Always have been.”
“That’s because you’re the one who taught me,” Grady shot back. “Not my fault, my teacher was shit.”
“Fuck you,” Lukas said, pounding his fist on the dining room table.
I brought my beer up to my lips. “If the boot fits… You gotta wear it.”
“Whatever this is,” he said, pointing between Grady and me, “needs to fucking stop.”
Grady leaned back in his seat, bracing his hands behind his head. “Don’t be mad because you suck. Be thankful for the precious memories we made tonight.”
I nudged Grady’s arm. “I, for one, will always think back on the time you got your ass handed to you by a nine-year-old with a smile.”
“Fuck you both,” Lukas muttered. “I’m glad Olivia divorced you.” Then he slid his gaze to me. “I pray to god she doesn’t end up with you next.”
Unease settled in the pit of my stomach as I took a sip of beer. I knew Lukas would want to talk about how affectionate I’d been with Olivia over the past few days, but I sure as fuck didn’t want him doing it in front of her ex-husband.
To call me out, not only while Olivia was in the same room but also while Grady was now staring at me, was uncomfortable as fuck.
“I’m gonna grab another beer. You want one?” I tried to stand, but Lukas grabbed my elbow and tugged me back down.
“Oh, no you don’t,” he said, narrowing his gaze. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you and her have been canoodling lately.”
“Jesus Christ. What are you? Eighty? Who the fuck says canoodling?”
“And now you’re deflecting,” Lukas said. “Wonder why that is?”
I levelled him with a stare. “I’m not deflecting. It’s a weird fucking word choice.”
Grady placed his elbows on the table. “What exactly are your intentions with my ex-wife?”
“Yeah,” Lukas said, matching Grady’s posture. “What are your intentions with my sister?”
“I don’t have any. We live entirely different lives,” I mumbled, picking at the label along the bottle.
Our conversation this morning had been running through my mind all day. How she’d looked so pained at the thought of kissing me, of saying goodbye. There was no way we weren’t going to end up hurting one another. Especially when she was still dead set on leaving.
But my restraint was hanging on by a goddamn thread, and I’d needed to kiss her at least once for my own sake. There was no way I could let her walk away without confirming what I already knew: I was well and truly fucked when it came to Olivia Hart.
The kiss was selfish on my part, but part of me hoped it would have been enough for her to at least consider staying. To figure out if this connection was worth exploring. But when I pulled away, I knew the decision had already been made. No amount of kisses or sweet words would be enough.
So, I decided that was it. I had to stop pining for Olivia and be the friend she needed.
Or so I hoped.
I glanced up, noticing Olivia’s eyes locked on me. The smile she’d been wearing earlier had slipped ever so slightly. Now, she looked deep in thought.
I couldn’t help but wonder if she was as torn up as I was about her decision.
Likely not, since it remained absolute, but would she end up regretting that?
Would she think of me every night before she went to bed, like I already did?
Or would this flirtation simply be a fleeting memory? An anecdote we kept to ourselves?
Lukas tapped my arm, bringing me back to the unfortunate conversation at hand. “Stop ogling my sister right in front of me. It’s fucking weird.”
I turned toward my friend. “No, what’s weird is your vocabulary. Maybe I’ll get you a thesaurus for Christmas.”
“Look, I’m just trying to prepare myself for the inevitable conversation we’ll have where you tell me you’re sleeping with her.”
“Well, you can prepare yourself all you like, but that conversation’s never going to happen.”
“Don’t think I didn’t see the carrying or the hand holding yesterday,” Lukas said.
I rolled my eyes. “Forgive me for offering comfort to a friend.”
“And you slept here,” Grady pitched in, trying not to smile.
“Olivia said she didn’t want to be alone,” I muttered. “And the girls wanted to have a sleepover.”
“And where, pray tell, did you rest your head?” Lukas asked, finishing his beer. “Was it on the couch, or next to Olivia?”
“Both, smartass. We all fell asleep watching a movie. I trust you noticed the fucking nest the girls built in your living room?” Lukas didn’t say anything, just continued staring daggers at me.
“Look, I don’t know how else to tell you that nothing happened between your sister and me last night.
” Because we kissed this morning. And I would have kept kissing her if I had the chance. “There’s nothing between us.”
Lie, lie, lie. It was all I seemed to be doing. And not just to my best friend, but me. Trying to convince myself I wasn’t falling for Olivia was futile. It was happening whether I wanted it to or not.
And I did want it. I wanted her so badly I could hardly breathe. She’d completely taken over my life until I was just as concerned about her and Charlie’s wellbeing as I was mine and my daughter’s.
Both men were silent for a moment before Grady spoke up.
“Do you want there to be?” He raised his hands as I turned to him, ready to attempt to convince him—and myself—that I only viewed Olivia as a friend.
“For what it’s worth, I kinda hope you do.
Liv deserves someone great. You kinda seem to fit the bill.
And Charlie already knows and adores you, so it’s not like I have to worry about what you’re like with our daughter. ” He shrugged. “That’s all I’m saying.”
Having his approval felt monumental. Like some major breakthrough I didn’t even know I was trying for.
I just wish it mattered.
Every person at this table knew there was nothing capable of rooting Olivia to one spot. Her sense of duty was too great for her to ignore. It was one of the things I admired most about her. At least, it had been until I realized it was what was keeping us apart.
“As much as I appreciate the pat on the back, there’s nothing to report.
” I stood up, collecting the empty beer bottles from the table.
There was no way I could keep having this same conversation.
Eventually, I’d fold like a damn lawn chair and spill all my secrets.
I’d tell them exactly how much Olivia meant to me and how desperate I was for her to stay.
“No intentions. No secret plans. Nothing.”
“Doesn’t mean you don’t want there to be,” Lukas said, softening his tone.
“And I’m just gonna go on record and say that I agree with my former brother-in-law.
My sister only deserves the best, and you’re the best man I know.
” He gestured between himself and Grady. “Present company excluded, obviously.”
“What about the present company?” Olivia asked, walking over and bracing her hands on the back of her chair.
Lukas smirked, jerking his head my direction. “Oh, you know… Just telling Duke what a great guy he is, and how any woman would be lucky to have him in their corner.”
Olivia looked toward me suspiciously. “That’s a weird topic of conversation.”
Fuck. Now she was going to think I had something to do with it, when I’d been trying to shut it down all along. The last thing I wanted was for her to think I was trying to manipulate her into staying.
“Why’s it weird?” Lukas asked. “Can’t a man compliment his friend? Women do that shit all the time.”
“I mean, yeah, but—”
“Thank you. Point made.”
Olivia turned toward Grady. “What’s your excuse?”
“Duke and I are friends,” he added. “I’m with your brother on this one.”
I stepped away from the table. “This conversation took a weird turn. I’m grabbing more beers.”
Without waiting for an answer, I headed through the French doors to the beer fridge on the patio. I reached inside, grabbing three beers before turning to head inside. Only, I was surprised to see an angry blonde waiting for me.
“Fuck,” I cursed, nearly dropping the drinks. “Warn a guy next time, won’t you?”
She reached out, grabbing my arm and pulling me around the corner and out of sight. “What did you say to them?” she hissed.
Oh, she was pissed alright. I could see the fire raging in her eyes, begging to be let out, and I was the fucker crazy enough to take the brunt of her wrath so long as it made her feel better.
“I didn’t say anything. Your fucking brother and ex-husband kept asking what my intentions were and, despite me denying everything until I was blue in the face, they wouldn’t let it go.”
She blinked up at me in surprise before forcing back on a cold mask. “Well, why were they talking about how great you were? Did you ask them to change my mind or something?”
I tilted my head to the side. “If you really think I’d do that, then you don’t know me as well as I hoped.” As much as I wanted her to stay, I didn’t want it to be because I pulled some fucking trick. I wanted it to be because she wanted to stay. Because she wanted me.
I tried to push past her, but she grabbed my arm. “Wait, no! I’m sorry,” she said in a rush. “I don’t know why I said that. Of course, I know you wouldn’t do that.”
I clenched my jaw tight, giving a terse nod. “Thank you.”
Her hand fell away from my elbow, exposing me to the cool evening air. I hated it. Hated being reminded of her leaving. Even if she hadn’t brought it up in the first place, it still hung in the air between us like a rotting, rancid smell.
Olivia groaned, leaning up against the side of the house. “I wish you hadn’t kissed me.”
“Just what every man wants to hear,” I scoffed, hanging my head. The kiss had been stupid, but hearing her say she wished it hadn’t happened was too much. “Don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”
I only made it two steps before her voice stopped me dead in my tracks. “It isn’t because I didn’t enjoy it.” Slowly, I looked over my shoulder to find her staring at me with pleading, pain-filled eyes. “You should know that.”
“Then why did you say it, Olivia? Why twist the knife even more?”
On trembling legs, she stepped forward. “Because that kiss made me want things I shouldn’t.
Things I have no business wanting.” Another step.
“I hate that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about the way your lips felt on mine since you walked away.
Not even when my entire family is just inside.
And you’re everywhere. I haven’t been able to get a moment alone because you’re here, in my house, and invading my space. ”
“Then I’ll leave,” I said. Not like it was that easy, given I’d been drinking. “I’ll stay with Lukas tonight so I’m not bothering you any more than I already have.”
“God, you’re stupid,” she grumbled, closing the distance between us. “The problem isn’t me not wanting you here. The problem is that I want you too much.” Her gaze flicked to my mouth. “I want you so much I can barely stand it.”
Our lips were so close. All I’d need to do was lower my head a fraction to capture her mouth in a searing, brutal kiss. A kiss, I hoped, that would show her just how much I wanted her back.
I brought my hand up, cupping the base of her throat. My thumb hovered over her pulse. “Honey, I—”
“I’m getting thirsty in here!” Lukas began to yell, though he was quickly cut off by his mumbled curses. “Ow. Jesus! What was that for?”
I groaned, dropping my hand and stepping back, leaving Olivia panting in front of me.
“I can’t do this,” I whispered. “I can’t kiss you again knowing you’re just gonna walk away from me.
” Once was my limit. It was a deal I cut with myself, which was a cataclysmic mistake because it had been too good. Felt too right.
“Duke—” she began, but I quickly shook my head.
“I’m going to leave with Lukas tonight. If Harper wants to stay with Charlie, I’m okay with it, as long as you are. I’ll pick her up in the morning.”
Her bottom lip trembled, the sight nearly sending me to my fucking knees. “What if I don’t want you to go?”
“And what about what I want?” I asked, turning her question back on her. “What if I asked you to stay?”
“It’s not the same.”
“Isn’t it? You want me to stay the night here, and for what?
We aren’t going to cross that line, and it’s not going to change the fact that whenever your work calls, you’ll get on that fancy private jet and answer.
” Forcing a smile, I said, “And that’s okay.
I don’t understand it, but I can’t change your mind. Just like you can’t change mine.”
The image of her horror-stricken face was burned into my mind as I slowly backed away and headed into the house.