18. Luke
Idon’t know why I’m nervous about showing off my property in the Hamptons when I’ve been showing it off for as long as I can remember. But then again, I’ve been showing it off to childhood friends who have properties sprinkled around the area and are used to this kind of lifestyle. And I’ve never taken my dates here, deeming them too casual to bring somewhere this personal.
Olivia and Riley are a different matter because…well, they’re different. I can sense their awe the moment I give them a tour of the mansion, with Riley bouncing around with barely-contained energy and Olivia acting more subdued. When I finally show Riley her bedroom, her face lights up and she runs into my arms so I can lift her in the air.
“This is so neat! I get this room for the weekend?”
I bite back a grin and nuzzle her neck. “Yes, sweetie. It’s yours for the weekend. And it’s officially yours whenever we visit this place.”
I brace for Olivia’s warning look for promising things like that, but she’s fighting back a grin, too. When Riley pulls away from me to check the bed closer, Olivia leans her head against my shoulder.
“Luke, what did I say about spoiling her?”
I smirk. “Don’t deny that you don’t enjoy the way she lights up.”
And she can’t deny it. I know it makes her happy, too. I can feel it in her relaxed form as we watch Riley explore the room with her childlike curiosity before she eventually gets bored and returns to us.
“Are we going out today?”
I nod. “Yup. Do you have your swimsuit ready?”
Riley’s eyes widen. “Why?”
“Because after we explore the area, I was thinking of visiting a friend’s party. He has a nice pool that I think you would like. Or we could even check out the beach before that.”
Riley doesn’t need more than the word pool to get her going, opening her suitcase and whining to her mom that she doesn’t know where her swimsuits are. Olivia, always patient, sits down with her and helps her out. I get ready, too, before the three of us meet up downstairs and head to my car.
“All strapped and ready, girls?”
There’s a resounding yes. Minutes later, I drive us around my property, then the main road where most of the tourist shops and establishments are, to get them acquainted and get some food. Afterward, we park the car and walk down the beachfront, where Riley doesn’t waste time playing in the sand.
I get worried when she nears the water, but Olivia hollers.
“Just up to your ankles, Riley!” Then she nods reassuringly as if she can tell what I’m thinking. “She knows how to swim, by the way. I took her to lessons when she was around four, but those waves…”
“Yeah. She’ll enjoy the pool better.”
We set up a picnic blanket on the sand, and then the basket with the food we purchased earlier. To my relief, Riley stays mostly on the sand, becoming occupied with building a sandcastle while the waves roar in front of her. I set the food out and look up in time to see Olivia watching me.
“What?”
Her eyes twinkle. “You’re starting to spoil me, too.”
It’s meant to be a joke, but the way she looks at me softens me up. I sit back beside her, creating a space for her to lean into. We call Riley back seconds later, and the three of us share the meal of grapes, cheese, and the pizza that Riley requested.
After, we stroll some more, then eventually head back to the car and drive off.
“Adam Snyder is a childhood friend and a good friend of mine. He’s having a poolside party, which a lot of people here do, but the good thing about his parties is that he keeps the invitation minimal. None of that oversized crowd.”
Olivia bites her lip. “Don’t you have another childhood friend who’s also a doctor? What if he sees us together?”
“Oh, you mean Kyle? Yeah. But he doesn’t come here anymore. He sold off his property—another way of rebelling against his family.”
She nods, but I can sense her nervousness. When we arrive, I introduce them to Adam immediately and watch in amusement as my friend charms the hell out of Olivia as if she’s the prettiest thing he has ever seen. But he does the same to Riley, sending the kid into a giggling fit before he ushers the two toward the pool area.
When it’s just me and him, however, Adam gives me a speculative look.
“The kid looks like you. And her.”
I raise a brow. “Does she?”
At that, Adam grins.
“Fine. I’m not going to ask. Yet. It’s good to see you, man.”
“Good to see you, too, bud.”
“Unlimited drinks at the bar and plenty of food in the kitchen.” He winks. “But I think you’ve already had your fill with your two lovely companions.”
“Hmm.”
“Is Olivia?—”
“My date.”
My possessive tone comes out of instinct and earns a chuckle from Adam, who was probably trying to bait me all along. He shakes his head and pats my back good-naturedly.
“Gotcha. Perhaps you should let the others know, too.”
I roll my eyes and walk toward the pool area, too, not taking his bait this time. I spot Riley first, already in her swimsuit and playing around in the shallow part of the pool. Then, dealing with others is the last thing on my mind as I see Olivia next…and damn, what a sight she is.
Unlike Riley’s kid-friendly, pink one-piece with ruffles everywhere, Olivia’s wearing a simple green two-piece. It’s not revealing by any means, but the way it shows off her curves and highlights her eyes sends my mouth watering. I can’t look away as she emerges from the water, the bikini bottom clinging to her even more, and my imagination runs wild thinking about what she’ll look like when her hair and top eventually get wet, too.
Shit. I can feel myself hardening, but it’s not enough of a motivation to turn away from the sight. Instead, I amble closer and bend to my knees, partially covering my erection that way.
I smirk at her. “Having fun?”
Her green eyes twinkle. “Yes. The pool’s great. And you’re right. There’s not a lot of people.”
On cue, one of Adam’s female guests engages her in conversation, asking who she is and how she met Adam. I smile briefly as I’m introduced, then step back to sit on a lounge chair and let them have their moment. Within minutes, Olivia and the woman named Nila are laughing together before Riley joins them.
I’ve never been much into the party scene, to be honest, but there’s something relaxing about attending a non-formal one with my daughter and the woman I can’t stop thinking about. It just feels so…wholesome. I suppose it’s because, despite our sexual tension and initial animosity, Olivia and I get along well and have now gotten to talking about anything under the sun and just having fun together.
I like it. Do I want more? Hell, yes, but I’m content with how this is going and am willing to take it slow if it gets me to the end point.
And the end point? I don’t know what yet, but I definitely don’t just want to call her my date.
When I know I’ve been staring for too long, I force myself to stand and wander around until I spot some familiar faces. I get reacquainted with people I’ve already met, then chat with their plus ones that I haven’t met yet. It seems like Adam mostly has guests over from his work environment, which makes me feel more comfortable since meeting families can be stressful—especially when they bring up your career achievements like it’s the only thing that matters about you.
It’s a good thing that while my parents are wealthy, they never really pressured me—maybe because I already pressured myself enough. And they’re off enjoying their retirement somewhere in a tropical destination, which has always been their thing.
When I’m about to return to the pool and ask the two if they want to recharge with food, I hear Adam nearby and assume he’s about to join me. But the familiar voice accompanying him halts me in my tracks and has me whirling to face them.
Adam’s face is tense, though he’s trying his best to hide it and keep a polite smile on. His gaze shifts toward me, but I barely notice as I’m too busy eyeing the woman in front of him. Shock fills my senses at the sight of her, different but the same: dark hair, blue eyes, and a willowy figure that fits well in the beach dress she has on.
Except my ex-wife is tanned now and has a man hanging on her arm—and no, it’s not the same man she left me for.
This one’s younger. He smiles when she introduces him to Adam, but soon her attention trails to where Adam keeps glancing: me. Carol’s eyes widen before she kisses Adam’s cheek and saunters toward me.
I catch Adam shooting me an apologetic look—a silent message that he didn’t mean for her to be here. Then Carol’s blocking my view of him as she plants herself in front of me, a wry smile on her face.
“My, my. First, I wasn’t told there would be a party, then I wasn’t told who would be here. How long has it been, Luke?”
Her casual tone and carefree attitude make me wary, but I match her energy and answer casually.
“I don’t remember. I haven’t really thought about it.”
I don’t mean it as sarcasm because it’s true. I realize I haven’t thought about her in a long time. In fact, there’s no prick in my heart at the sight of her like there used to be as if she’s just a stranger now—or a longtime acquaintance who doesn’t matter that much anymore.
Carol, however, takes it as sarcasm and laughs, then rolls her eyes.
“Oh, Luke, you never change. How are you?—”
“What are you doing here?”
She stops at my interruption and tilts her head. “I just came back from a vacation. I always come to the Hamptons since I have a house here, too.” Carol searches my face, her expression turning soft. “Really, Luke, how are you? How have you been?”
There’s a hint of sincerity there, but I can’t help my walls going up. I glance at the man with her, who’s still engaged in conversation with Adam but keeps glancing back at us.
“I should be asking you the same thing.”
My tone is as disinterested as ever because I genuinely don’t want to know. But Carol reads it wrongly, her smile widening.
“I’ve been well. I notice that you’re looking better now than the last time I saw you. Like you’re getting a lot more rest. You’re probably not as busy anymore.” She laughs. “I remember I had to twist your arm to spend some time here with me.”
Did she? It’s crazy how different I was and how I have more free time now…or rather, I am more willing to put aside work to make time. A glimmer of my past guilt comes back, but it leaves just as quickly when Carol places a hand on my arm.
Her touch used to send a thrill down my spine. Now I feel nothing.
“But really, you’re looking good, Luke.”
“So is your date.”
Her eyes twinkle like we’re playing a game. She waves a hand off.
“Oh, he’s…new. Just someone fun.”
“Because that’s always what you’ve wanted, wasn’t it? Fun all the time.”
She startles at my words but doesn’t back off. I sidestep when she tries to touch my arm again. Carol opens her mouth.
Then she pales when her gaze shifts beyond my arm, locking in on something else.
Without even looking, I already know what she’s seeing. It doesn’t take her long to analyze it, either, her eyes widening.
“Luke, what the hell is that?”
I don’t know if her voice being louder than usual is intentional or not, but a few heads turn our way. I turn slightly and catch Olivia and Riley in the corner of my eye, the two frozen in place. Then I sense Carol moving and know a confrontation is about to happen.
And it’s not the nice kind.
Before it can happen, I take her arm and steer her away from Olivia and Riley, passing by Adam and giving him a nod. He nods in return, understanding, and even Carol’s date has the good sense to step back and let us go, probably getting that my thunderous expression isn’t to be messed with.
I manage to steer Carol to the empty kitchen before she pulls her arm away. I shoot her a warning look.
“Don’t you dare make a scene, Carol.”
She scowls. “You dare to bring someone else here? Seriously?”
“You’re the one who can’t be serious.” I scowl back. “You shamelessly brought your date here to a party you know my friend is hosting?—”
“Adam is my friend, too?—”
“—and you arethe one outraged that I brought a date?”
I expect her to be even more angry that I called her out. But to my shock, her indignation shifts into something else entirely: her face crumbling and tears shining in her eyes, though they don’t fall yet. When Carol finally responds, her voice is soft.
Small.
“She’s your child, isn’t she? That little girl?”
Because I don’t ever want to deny my child’s existence, no matter how unintentional, I answer honestly.
“Yes. She’s my daughter.”
“Yet you never had one with me.”
Stupefaction slams hard at her words, then at her expression. My mind reels and my body…it’s frozen on the spot as I can only stare at her.
The woman who showed no remorse when she cheated on me and left me?
The woman who didn’t bother to contact me throughout the years after that?
She looks hurt now. Genuinely hurt.
And I don’t know what to do with it.