30. Alex
30
ALEX
“You look beautiful.” I barely wanted to say the words out loud in fear of Olivia hearing the affection in my voice.
Pink bloomed in her cheeks as she lowered her eyelashes and smoothed a palm over the fabric of her dress. The emerald green cocktail dress was modest but sexy, a balance that she always managed effortlessly. I appreciated the way the garment hugged her curves in all the right places.
My gaze lingered on the flare of her hips as I conjured images of me gripping them while I pounded into her from behind. I tore my eyes away from her and tried to get my mind out of the gutter before I embarrassed myself with a hard-on in the elevator. Plus, I really didn’t want to walk into a room full of people with sex on the brain…
“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
I frowned at the wide-eyed uncertain look she gave me. Olivia was a Brentwood. The princess of the country. She was born to be in crowds and high society events. I knew she didn’t like them, but she never failed to pull off being poised and regal. Right now, she looked like she was ready to faint.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
She nodded, but it wasn’t very convincing.
As the elevator stopped and the doors opened, I placed a palm on her lower back. She jumped as if I’d burned her with my touch. My hand immediately dropped as I studied her closely. “Look, I know you might feel uncomfortable hanging out with my friends because they know about our history.”
She glanced up at me with troubled eyes, and I quickly reassured her. “They don’t know the details. No one does. Try to relax.”
Her teeth sank into her lip to punish the flesh. “It isn’t that… Well, yeah, I’m nervous about your friends judging me, but it’s more than that. It’s… a few days ago, I found out…”
My eyebrows elevated as she struggled to get out whatever it was she wanted to say. “Found out what?”
After a tortured look, she shook her head. “It’s nothing important.”
My eyes narrowed on her as she broke away from me and hurried ahead. The hum of the music and clinking glasses filtering from the open doors ahead stopped me from grilling her. I knew Olivia. Whatever she was reluctant to tell me was killing her and she’d never let it out unless I was relentless with my questions.
I supposed I’d have to curb my curiosity and get through the festivities of my friends’ engagement party first. When we stepped inside, my gaze zeroed in on the man and woman of the hour. Charlotte was absolutely stunning. Her happiness gave her an extra glow as she chatted with guests.
Jamie stood by her side wearing the strangest mixed expression of contentment and torture. I snorted my amusement. He hated parties, but he decided to put on a huge event to announce to the world that James Winchester was off the market. Plus, it made Charlotte happy to have all her family and many friends from all over the freaking world here to celebrate with them.
After taking a moment to bask in my happiness for my friends, my attention returned to Olivia. She was watching the bride and groom with a little smile that was hampered down with sadness. The look of longing in her eyes made me realize something. Maybe I longed for what Jamie and Charlotte found together too…
I swallowed hard as I processed the feelings and desires I could no longer deny. Would it be all that crazy if I put aside the past and started over with Olivia?
We didn’t do much talking on our way home from the party. Both Olivia and I seemed to be in the same contemplative mood. I knew why I was quiet and pensive, but why was she? Standing between our doors, we gazed at each other. I shoved my hands into my pockets to stop myself from reaching out and kissing her.
“Thanks for inviting me, Alex. It was great to get out and mingle. I enjoyed catching up with your gang from college. I think it’s wonderful that you guys have remained close all these years. And I adore Charlotte. She’s an incredible woman, so interesting and adventurous. Jamie is a lucky man.”
“He is.” I stared at Olivia, my mind going a hundred miles a second. Maybe I could be as lucky as my friend if I got over my emotional shit and gave Olivia and me another chance. It was crazy thinking, considering the first time she ripped my heart to shreds, but in nine years, I’d never felt for another woman what I felt for her.
“Do you want to come in?” I nodded to my door. “We could talk.”
“About how you helped get an innocent man out of prison? Thanks again. Are you sure you don’t want me to let Raymond Walters know who his real hero is?”
“I’m sure. I prefer to remain anonymous.”
Her eyes narrowed on me, and I knew she was back to being suspicious about the rumors that I worked with the government.
“Stop thinking about it,” I warned.
“How do you know what I’m thinking?”
“I know you, Liv.”
Her eyelashes fluttered down to hide her eyes, confirming that I was right. “Will you ever tell me the truth?—?”
I placed a finger over her lips. “Hush, woman. Come, we’re going inside.”
The tiniest smile lifted her lips, and I turned to open my door. When I gestured for her to go in, she asked, “So, what are we going to talk about? Weaver? His days are numbered. We’re winning, Alex. With all the information you’ve anonymously leaked to the authorities, he’s been grappling to hang on to his reputation...”
I gaped at Olivia as she went on about our secret mission because I wasn’t sure how to tell her what I wanted to tell her. Where did I even start after everything that happened between us? She hurt me, and I supposed I hurt her too by declaring war for her company. Things had gotten beyond complicated. I zoned back in to catch the rest of her chatter.
“Since he hasn’t figured out that I’m behind it, I’m still in the inner sanctum. I’m hearing that he’s losing business, associates, and money left and right.” She snorted. “Serves the bastard right. Do you know that the ass still thinks he’s going to sucker me into partnering with him? I can’t wait until we drive the final nail in his?—”
I put a finger over her mouth again, and she gazed up at me with wide eyes. Pulling my finger away, I frowned. “You’re nervous.”
“I’m not,” she denied even as her gaze slid away from mine.
“Your excessive chatter says you are.”
She huffed and threw her purse into a chair. “Alright, fine. I’m nervous but only because you said you want to talk and you’ve been acting weird all evening.”
Feeling a little self-conscious, I folded my arms over my chest and asked, “Weird… how?”
“Quiet.” She pointed a finger at me. “I know how that freakishly smart brain of yours operates, Alex. When you’re quiet, you’re most likely cooking up some elaborate plan to take over the world or… or to destroy me.” Her eyes narrowed to suspicious slits. “You found a way to swipe BioTech, haven’t you? I’ve been distracted by this whole Weaver debacle, and you found a way to ensure your victory.”
Her voice had risen to a higher pitch which meant she was on edge… and about to fall over.
“Actually, I haven't thought about our little battle in a while.”
“It’s not little,” she muttered.
I sighed as remorse socked me in the chest. I shouldn’t have set out on my stupid revenge mission. However, when I started, I didn’t imagine I’d tumble back into love with her and be willing to forgive and forget the past.
“Either way, I haven’t been plotting as of late, so you can relax. ”
She still eyed me with skepticism. “Oh… Well, what do you want to talk about if not Don Weaver?”
I looked skyward. “ Jeezus , Liv, can you just forget about him and our battle for BioTech for a minute ? I want to talk about…”
Come on, man. Just say it. I wanted to talk about us .
Olivia tilted her head and smirked. “Wait a minute, are you trying to be a gentleman because your mother reprimanded you about your rakish ways at the party? It was great to see her again, by the way.”
Heat infused my entire face as I recalled the conversation Olivia overheard between my mother and me.
Of course, Mom wouldn’t miss Jamie’s engagement party. My friends were like sons to her. When I’d burst her bubble and told her that Olivia and I weren't back together as she thought, she’d chastised me about my playboy reputation. She told me it was time to settle down like Jamie and to “stop being for the streets.” Where had she even learned that phrase? Olivia had laughed uproariously at that.
I scowled. “I really just want to talk.”
“Uh-huh.” She sauntered up to me and wound her arms around my shoulders. “It’s okay to admit what you brought me here for, Alex. As you would say, let’s do what we do best and fuck .”
I stared at her with horror. My God, had I really said that to her? Knowing me, I probably had. I felt awful now that I realized I didn’t want to just fuck .
“Liv…” I caught her wrist as she slid her hand over my abdomen and aimed downward. “Come on, I’m serious, let’s talk. How about I get us something to drink?—?”
“I don’t want to talk.” She sighed. “Just make love to me, Alex. I need the distraction.”
“From what? ”
“I said I don’t want to talk. Not right now.”
Her eyes were pools of turmoil, which had me concerned. However, I was having trouble verbalizing what I wanted to anyway. Maybe I needed a distraction as well and a dose of her would help me relax before a hard conversation.