Chapter 30 Neutral Ground
Neutral ground
Oliver
My cell is propped in the window of the excavator so I can stare at that picture as I dig.
Pregnant.
Sophia’s gonna have my baby.
And today I finally get to introduce myself.
Every time I glance at the two little pink lines, it feels like I’m grabbing a live electrical wire that sends jolts racing under my skin.
Four can’t come soon enough.
I know why she chose the bar. It makes sense. Neutral ground where her brother can be nearby to rescue her.
She’s smart.
But I’m also nervous as hell.
What if the work I’ve put in over the last few weeks to get her to tolerate me hasn’t been enough?
Will she hate me when she learns that I’ve been hiding the truth from her in plain sight?
The hardest part is watching her bring her bags to her little SUV.
She’s really serious.
My chest aches in anticipation. How can I care so much about someone who doesn’t even know I exist?
By three I’m so amped up I can’t concentrate anymore. I know she’ll be leaving soon, and I’m done waiting.
Climbing behind the wheel of my truck, I decide it’s time to poke the bear.
TheBigO: What kind of car will you be driving so I know what to watch for?
RacingQueen: I have a black Landcruiser. Are you there?
TheBigO: Not quite.
RacingQueen: I’m leaving now. I can’t believe I’ll actually get to see you soon!
TheBigO: I hope I don’t disappoint.
RacingQueen: I don’t care what you look like, it won’t change how I feel.
TheBigO: Remember that in a few minutes.
Fuck, Sophia.
You have no idea what kind of damn roller coaster you’re getting ready to ride.
Her door slams and her engine starts.
It’s time to shit or get off the pot.
Revving my truck to life, I aim for the pinch point between the two fence lines.
And stop.
Within seconds she pulls up behind me.
A moment later, her headlights flash.
I don’t move.
Her forehead is furrowed when she gets out and stomps towards my window, which I roll down slowly.
“Oliver, I need to leave. Can you please move?” She chews on her bottom lip, looking worriedly towards the road.
“In a hurry?” I turn off my ignition and push my door open, propping my feet on the running board.
Her scowl could freeze the sun.
She raises her voice and buries her fists against her hips. “Oliver Brookes, I’m going to be late for something very…important.”
“You know—” I stand up, towering over her. “—I’m getting used to you yelling my name, but it needs a little more passion behind it.” I don’t make any effort to hide my smirk.
My cards are being played.
Her nose wrinkles. “I thought I made it clear, I’m taken.”
I take a step closer to her. “I know you are.” Drawing a deep breath, I press my palm against the window of my rig to steady myself. “By me.”
She drops her brows and startles back. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
Then she pauses. “You wish,” she scoffs.
There it is, the flare of doubt.
“No, I don’t. I know it’s true. You’re mine, Racing Queen.” I want to pull her close, but I give her the chance to let my words sink in.
Her cheeks pale as her head shakes. “No,” she exhales. “You’re fucking with me.”
She lifts her arms and spins. “I don’t have time for this shit—”
“Captain Hook.”
When I drop the safeword, her spine goes rigid and she freezes.
Ever so slowly, she turns on her heel. “What did you say?”
Now or never, cowboy.
Snaking my hand out, I grab her elbow and spin her until she’s pressing her chest against the side of my truck.
Pinning her there with my body, I lower my lips to her ear.
“Maybe this will jog your memory, princess? Was it that time in the stall when I put my baby in you?” My palm is between her and the cold metal, close enough to her racing heart I can feel the rapid staccato under my thumb.
She doesn’t struggle, but takes a shuddering breath. “Biggie?” Her voice cracks.
“Yes, Soph,” I whisper, loosening my hold to frame her gently.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Pain tinges each word. “I don’t understand.”
“I didn’t know it was you until Pendleton, I swear on that. But I knew you hated me.” Blood rushes to my groin pressing against her.
I never want to let her go.
“I didn’t hate you,” she sighs.
“You don’t now. But this is why I made you wait.” I press a kiss to her temple. “It’s been torture.”
She turns in my arms to reveal her tear-streaked cheeks. “This can’t be real.”
“It is for me.” I dip my head until my forehead presses hers.
When she squeezes her eyes shut, it sends a pang through me.
There’s still a valley between us.
“Sophia, I promised you the kind of love that would endure for the rest of our lives. That we would be like your grandparents, dying in each other’s arms.” My fingers wrap her neck so I can tilt her quivering chin up.
She bites that bottom lip hard enough to make a starburst of color. “I know.”
“And that we’d skip to the good part.” I stroke her jaw, hoping like hell she’s hearing me. “You promised me a few minutes ago that you wouldn’t care what I looked like.”
When she snorts, a tiny smile tugs up the corner of her mouth and her red-rimmed blue eyes finally open.
She looks up at me like she’s seeing me for the first time. “That was in case you were ugly.”
That pulls a grin out of me. “Did I disappoint you?”
Pink rushes up her throat. “No.”
Now for the important one.
“Does it change how you feel about me?” I ask it quietly, baring myself to the agony of rejection.
I need her to say it, one way or the other.
But she doesn’t.
She clenches her fingers into the fabric of my shirt, raises onto her toes, and presses her lips to mine.