Chapter 32 – Vale #2
“You didn’t answer me. I thought you said I can never date. Why are you acting so silly today?” I ask. “I need to know the answer, by the way. Because if you say yes, I’m going to ask him out on a date. It’ll be all your fault when I fall madly in love with him. I’m going to blame you.”
“Ask him out, I dare you. I’ll give you my answer after he says yes. It won’t matter though. I think you’re already in love with him.” My cheeks couldn’t be more red at this point.
“Gramps, he’ll never agree to it, he’s scared of you,” I explain. Oliver knows Gramps doesn’t want me to date.
He opens his mouth in a wide grin and stares at me. He’s happy Oliver’s afraid of him. Men are weird. I think he’s been drinking because his cheeks are flushed and he seems almost giddy talking about Oliver and me dating. The fact that he’s smiling about me asking Oliver out isn’t normal.
I change the subject by refusing his money. “Oh yeah, I don’t need the money, Gramps. Maybe you can take me shopping. We can go together. I’d love that.”
“Already in your wallet. Shouldn’t have answered your phone,” Gramps says, then he stands up straight, grabbing an envelope from the counter. “There’s your date.”
Oliver is standing at the back door, his hand up about to knock, when I turn around. I wave at him as Gramps steps around me, opening the door. I grab my bag and follow him outside into the heat. The sun is so bright I pull my sunglasses from my bag and tug them down over my eyes.
When I look up, Gramps is handing Oliver the envelope. He holds it in his hands like it’s important, then Gramps pats him on the back. Oliver looks him in the eyes and something unsaid passes between them. What are they doing?
Gramps turns toward me. “Good luck, Vale. Pick me up some madeleines if that shop carries them. Have a good time.” I narrow my eyes on Gramps. He’s up to something. I know he is.
“Thanks,” I say, though I don’t like how they seem to be scheming together.
Oliver takes my hand, wrapping my arm through his and placing my palm over his forearm. I’m taken aback by his sudden gentlemanly nature. I crack a smile, but I don’t look up at him as he leads me to a charcoal-gray SUV. Oh damn, it’s a Jaguar. He’s going to let me drive a Jag. Sweet!
“Nice wheels.”
“Thank you,” he answers softly.
Oliver removes his hand from my arm and opens the door for me.
When I finally look up at him, he’s smiling shyly, unable to make eye contact with me.
He’s blushing, and there’s something so innocent about that.
I can imagine him looking like this at my age when a pretty girl came along and caught his eye. It’s adorable.
He wears one of those perfectly pressed shirts in a plum color that makes the unique green of his eyes pop.
The sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off his powerful forearms. He always looks so perfectly dressed, but today he’s wearing jeans and that’s a rarity.
Did he have trouble choosing what to wear as well?
“You look beautiful, Vale.”
My heart speeds up so fast I feel dizzy.
I lay a palm on his chest to steady myself.
Heat singes my hand, and I jerk away. I get into the car quickly before Gramps has a chance to see me touching him.
I have to get away because I know I’m about to kiss him.
I want to kiss him. I don’t want to hide how I feel about him anymore.
Oliver closes my door, and I grab the seat belt, pulling it over my chest. I take a deep breath before he sits down in the driver’s seat and starts the engine. Are we on a date? Is that why he’s nervous?
“Thank you, Oliver.” I say, my voice so quiet it’s almost a whisper.
“Are you ready to go?” he asks while he stores the envelope in the console between us.
I nod my head, then I blurt out, “You look handsome, but then again, you always do.” I take in a deep inhale, feeling embarrassed. What happened that we feel nervous around each other?
We weren’t like this yesterday. I was so confident and demanding. I felt strong. Now, I’m having a hard time telling him he looks handsome. Oliver knows he’s handsome, I don’t have to tell him, but I want to. He doesn’t say anything, just shifts the car into gear.
Oliver’s movements on the steering wheel are graceful. He moves so confidently all the time. Those beautiful hands have touched me. He’s held my hand in his. They’ve made me feel such glorious pleasure and also love. Every single part of him is beautiful.
He brakes at the last stop sign on Hudson Street and slams the shifter into Park.
His seat belt is released before I know what’s happening, then he grabs my jaw, pulling me closer.
I pull my sunglasses up to the top of my head, so I can look into his bright green eyes.
There’s so much happening in those eyes right now I wish I could read his mind.
“Beautiful doesn’t begin to describe what it is I see, what I feel, when I look at you.
There are no words, Vale. Not one single word comes close to your beauty.
So every time I say that word, understand that it’s a lie because it doesn’t come close to how exquisite you are to me. Nothing has ever come close.”
Shallow breaths escape my trembling lips. I love you! Those are the words I’m dying to say, but I stop myself because I’m afraid he doesn’t love me. He thinks I’m beyond beautiful, but does he love me? Could Oliver Byron ever love me? He said it himself, that’s not who he is.
I wrap my arms around him and slam my lips against his.
Everything is right in the world. His lips are against mine, and it feels so good.
My hands travel up so I can twine my fingers into his bound hair.
We’re clinging to each other, lost in the kiss.
Those words try to escape again. I want to tell him.
I want to scream them out at the world so they can be free.
I want him to know that I love him. But once again, it’s not meant to be. Someone honks their horn behind us.
“Later, I promise. I’ll kiss you all night if you let me,” he says against my lips, and the words tear at my soul.
I feel the kind of emotion in my chest that is so strong it brings tears to my eyes.
I hold it together for once, like the strong woman I want to be.
I hold it together because he offered me all night.
I want that. I want to be locked in his arms, trapped against his body, our hearts syncing up, his mouth against mine.
I want every night. I want to wake up in his arms and know I’m loved. I want to be there when he needs me, and I want him to be there when I need someone.
“I don’t know when it happened, but you’ve become everything to me, Oliver,” I say because it’s as close as I can get to telling him that I love him. “Everything,” I repeat.
He buckles his seat belt quickly and the car lurches forward, both of us quiet. When we get to the highway, Oliver grabs my left hand with his right. He holds my hand with care, and I can feel I’m important to him. He needs to touch me.
“I want to be your everything,” he says, and his words make my heart swell.
This time, the tears form in my eyes. I open my eyes wide so they don’t fall. Don’t cry, Vale! Don’t! You’re wearing mascara!
“What is it, baby?”
“I’m trying not to cry because I’m wearing mascara. I never wear makeup, and now I’m worried I’ll look like a raccoon.” I lean my head back against the headrest, then turn to look at him.
He looks at me for a second before focusing back on the road. “I never want to make you cry. Not ever again.”
“I don’t mind crying happy tears.”
Oliver brings my hand up to his lips and kisses it. “If they’re happy tears then cry away.” He smiles against my fingers. “I hope you cry happy tears when I surprise you. We’re taking a bit of a detour.”
He exits the highway quicker than we should and makes several turns. Let him surprise me; nothing could ever surprise me more than meeting him this summer, touching him, falling in love with him. Nothing could be as great as all that.