26. Olive
26
OLIVE
I drape myself over Leo like a cat, hardly believing how comfortable I am with him. I want to stay in this little cottage forever. Who am I going to have fun with when I get home? Or cuddle with? Help shave?
He pushes my hair out of my face, gazing at me with the sweetest grin, and all I can do is melt into him. Could it be love I see shimmering in his dreamy eyes?
“You make me so happy, Olive. Happier than I’ve felt in years,” he murmurs. My heart hammers against my chest. “You were so unexpected. I thought New Year’s Eve was going to be the same old thing. Then you appeared, and I knew my life would never be the same.”
I caress his smooth cheek. “Me too. You broke the chains that were preventing me from moving on, and you’ve reminded me what happiness feels like. You’re dealing with your own traumatic past, yet you remain positive. I’m a different and better person now because of you, because of this hotel… I couldn’t have asked for a better gift for my thirtieth birthday.”
“That makes me even happier and strokes my ego.”
I tickle his ribs. “I’m sure it does.”
One smoldering kiss later, he continues. “What are we going to do after you leave tomorrow? I’m not giving up on us. This isn’t a fling for me.”
I rest my cheek on his chest and let out a long sigh.
He massages my back with firm, relaxing strokes. “What are you afraid of? Talk to me.”
“Pretty much everything.”
“I need a little more than that, beautiful.”
“If we’re going to have this discussion now, let’s sit first,” I suggest.
I slide off him and onto my knees next to the couch, then stand. He sits up and twirls on his butt until he’s facing forward. Once he’s comfortable, I turn to sit next to him, but he pulls me onto his lap. Of course, I’m hesitant because of my weight, but I know he likes it.
“That’s better.” He pulls me in for a gentle kiss. I love how he spoils me with affection. I rest my forehead against his and breathe in his soft scent. “Now, what are you worried about? Tell me…specifically. Let’s get it out in the open and see what we can do.”
Always Mr. Positive. I wish I could be like that. “I love the way I feel here. Happy, relaxed, and mentally stronger. I’ve been more outgoing—with your help, of course. I’ve challenged myself, and I have a better outlook for my future now. I love who we are together, as a pair. This attraction is more than physical. It warms me up from the inside and pours into my veins. I was drawn to you the second I heard your laugh.”
“It wasn’t my awesome ass?” I eye him, and he squeezes my hips. “Okay. I’m sorry. I’ll be quiet.” He zips his lips.
I scratch my head. “Hmm. Where was I before I was rudely interrupted?” I grin, but then I get serious. “I’m afraid that once I drive onto that ferry tomorrow morning, everything I’ve gained will disappear. I’m afraid that what we have will fizzle out. I want to be a better person, a better partner, but I have to figure out my own issues first.” I groan. “And I have to deal with my mom.”
“How are things going? Has she chilled with the messages?”
“Somewhat. I got a text from my uncle saying he had a long talk with her and hopes it’ll defuse some of the lingering tension.”
“I don’t know your mom, which makes it difficult for me to give advice. But once she sees that you’re happier, maybe she’ll give you the space you need. Or she’ll reevaluate how she’s treating you.”
“I don’t want her to be the one who brings me down. She’s not a terrible mom, Leo. I know that. She’s dealing with her own grief. We deal with things differently all the time.”
“What about your living arrangements? Do you want to start over again somewhere new? You can build websites from anywhere.”
Should I tell him? I purse my lips and hesitate for a few seconds. “Want to know a secret?”
“Sure. Secrets can be fun,” he says, his eyes sparkling.
“I don’t need to work. Dad left me a lot of money in his will. And then, when Mom sold his half of the company to my uncle, I inherited money from that too. I’m only working for him to occupy my time.”
“D’you mean I’ve met the woman of my dreams, and she’s a sugar mommy? I hit the jackpot!”
I click my tongue. “ You know it . Well, I might be sweet, but I’m not that rich. Anyway, my point in telling you this is that I could’ve done whatever I wanted. But because of Mom and because of my mental health, I wasn’t brave enough to make a fresh start—not till I was at the end of my rope. And it led me here to you.”
He squeezes my backside and pulls me closer to him. Slowly, he peppers kisses down one side of my neck and up the other. Then he asks, “Do you have a plan?”
“I think so. My next project is supposed to start in February. I’ve decided to take a leave of absence and transfer that project to another team.”
“Hmmm.” He purrs against my skin. “Can I be part of that plan?”
I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss his sweet lips. “I hope so. But how, when you’ll be traveling everywhere and hardly have a permanent residence? How can we build something when we can’t see each other?”
“You’re right. It’ll be a challenge, but I love a challenge here and there.”
I blow a strand of hair out of my face. “I can see that.”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to go a day without talking to you. We can text, call, or video-call. We can get to know each other without the physical being involved. It’s also a way to share our daily routines.” I pull on my lower lip considering what he just said. “Please say that’ll be enough for now until we figure everything else out.”
I run my hands down his chest. “Yes, that’s what I want too. I guess I’m hesitant because I don’t want to bring you down when I have bad days.”
Oh God, I’m such a pessimist. Why the hell would he want to be with someone like me? We aren’t perfect people. But maybe we’re close to perfect as a pair.
He grabs my hand and presses his lips to my palm, making me quiver. “When you have bad days, I’ll help pick you up. Do you think I don’t have days like that too? I do, and I’ll need you even more then. I’m all in, Olive. You won’t get rid of me without a fight. Deep in my soul, you’re who I want.”
That warmth in my heart ignites again, reminding me how cherished he makes me feel. How could I not fall in love with him? I’m not only going to fight for me, I’m going to fight for us . We’ll figure it out.
“You know what else, sweet thang? I have a secret too.” Sweet thang ? He pulls a chuckle from me. “If I say yes to it, it will be a huge game changer for me. And it might be the answer to our living arrangements.”
I tap playfully on his chest with my fingers. “You’ve been holding out on me. Spill it.”
An earnest expression transforms his cheerful face, piquing my curiosity.
“The current manager of the hotel is retiring soon. Mom asked me to take over when he leaves. And in the future, I’m probably in line to take over the hotel when Mom can’t do it anymore. Sully has already said he doesn’t want to do it. Tonya isn’t sure, but I have the feeling she doesn’t want to either.”
My eyes widen with surprise and hope. “Holy shit. That’s awesome. Well, I think it is. Does that interest you?”
He flashes me a lopsided grin. “Well, I met this woman who’s compelling me to rethink everything. Especially about settling down. It could be here…or maybe not. Not sure where it would be, actually, but as long as we end up there together, I don’t care.”
I rest my forehead against his. “I want that too. So much. Are you willing to wait for me?”
“Look at me, Olive.” I pull back and gaze at his serious face. “I’d wait for you forever. I want you to get into a place where you feel you can give yourself freely, not because I want you to. Find your way. You need to do what’s best for you. Not for your mom, not for me, not for anyone except yourself.”
I wrap my hands around his and bring them to my lips. “Okay, but that goes both ways, Leo. It’s not all about me. I want what’s best for you too. You’re also your own priority.”
I’ll ask it a million times—how did I end up here in this amazing man’s arms, being treated like a priceless diamond? Do I deserve him? Maybe. Maybe not. He gives me the encouragement to bust my ass for what I want. And at the end of the day, he’s who I want standing by my side.
Leo sits back and looks concerned. “I didn’t tell you this before, but my aunt and uncle want to have a memorial for Corey to mark five years in March. All the things I’ve avoided are coming to a head. When you leave tomorrow, I have to start facing them. And it’s something I have to do by myself. We’re kind of in the same boat.”
I caress his cheek with my finger. “When you put it that way, I guess we are.”
He lightly grips my thighs and gazes at me intently. “When we are ready, Olive, I’ll be waiting for you with open arms.”
There are plenty of things I’ve done that I’m not proud of, but I must’ve done something right to find someone as special as he is. “I guess me leaving is a good thing in the long run,” I conclude. “We both need time to make things right.”
“Yes. And when we achieve what we want, the endgame is you and me, baby.”
“You and me. I like that.” I comb my fingers through his soft hair, and his eyes sparkle like he knows what I’m going to say. “Can we take a break from all this serious talk and move on to kissing and—what did you call it the other day? Do the naked dance?”
“I’m all for that,” he says with a heated gaze. “I need an extra-large dose of you to hold me over until we see each other again. It could take all night.”
Without warning, I push off of him and dash for the stairs. Leo growls. I run up the steps while pulling off my shirt. Not as easy as I thought it’d be. I’m already breathless. Leo’s footsteps aren’t far behind me, making me move faster. Once I reach the top, my bra goes next. I gasp when he wraps his arms around me from behind.
“Caught ya!” he purrs close to my ear. “Ready to put in an all-nighter?
I twist around in his arms. “Bring it on, tough guy. You’ve met your match.”
It’s time to seal the deal. There’s no going back.