by Malone, M.
What the hell was he really doing here? His plan was clearly a failure since his parents and his sister seemed to like her. Sure, he could tell them the real story of where he’d met her but after watching Olivia in action, he had a feeling they wouldn’t care.
The only one in danger here, was him. Every moment he spent in her company would only make it harder to walk away.
It was time to bring this experiment to a close.
Chapter Eight
Three weeks later…
Olivia double-checked her appearance in the mirrored elevator doors. When her mother called to make sure she was still coming to their fundraiser, she’d been so tempted to make an excuse.
However, no matter what had ever happened between them, she wouldn’t embarrass her parents. Even though that was all they expected from her anyway.
The doors opened and she stepped out into the main lobby of the Ritz-Carlton hotel. Her parents had started Racing for a Cure when she was only a child, gathering their peers in the horse ranching industry to support a cure for breast cancer.
Her mother had beaten the disease but had been determined to use her position to advocate for all of the women who didn’t have the same resources.
She was so fiercely proud of everything her mother had accomplished in the years since then. Despite her tense relationship with her father, she would put on a smile and charm the attendees into opening their wallets.
This day wasn’t about her or how incredibly stupid she was for once again falling for the wrong man.
Just the thought of him made the headache that had been lingering behind her right eye for the past few days throb dangerously. She blew out a breath, determined not to let thoughts of him derail her night.
What had she really expected? For him to call her the next day? To become her boyfriend? To take her out and listen to her and spend all night whispering sweet nothings in her ear?
Gah!
She could just kick herself for allowing even the idea of him into her thoughts. Thane Kingsley the freaking Fourth, and yes she’d looked up his full name on his Club VIP paperwork, was an ass. An entitled trust fund baby and a double douchebag of the highest order.
She had clearly gone way too long without a man if he could affect her this strongly after only one night.
But Bennett had really stepped up to fill the void. She smiled thinking of her best friend. Normally so shy, she hadn’t expected him to ever initiate their phone conversations or call her just to check on her. But for the past three weeks, he’d been so attentive.
He was still awkward, it was Bennett after all, but he was making such an effort to be there for her. She’d tried to play it cool the first time they’d spoken after her ill-timed night with King but somehow she’d ended up spilling the whole story.
Bennett had listened, asked questions and even offered up some useful advice. He’d asked her to come up early before the award ceremony so they could hang out. It had been years since they’d had time to spend together doing absolutely nothing.
She’d been completely right about Bennett. They were going to be great together.
Once she got all thoughts of the double douchebag out of her head!
Having been to this hotel for prior year’s galas, she knew exactly where to go. Her mother stood just inside the doors of the main ballroom wearing a gorgeous bright blue floor-length gown.
Daniela Reyes was still a beautiful woman and for a moment, Olivia was overcome with sadness. Even though she talked to her mother on the phone every week, their once close relationship had grown distant.
When she’d gotten pregnant, her father had been livid and wouldn’t allow her in the house and her mother hadn’t stood up to him. With time and distance, Olivia didn’t really blame her mother. She was a soft-spoken woman, easily flustered by harsh words and confrontation. Though she’d come around to forgiveness, their relationship had never been the same.
“Olivia! You look so beautiful, baby.”
“Thanks, Mom. Where’s Daddy?”
Her mother looked across the ballroom. Olivia followed her gaze to where her father stood talking to someone she didn’t recognize.
“That’s Senator Denton. I believe they play golf together.”
They watched as her father shook hands with the Senator before walking toward them. Her father acknowledged her presence with a nod. She hated it but his scrutiny immediately made her stand up straighter.
“Good, you’re here. I was worried you’d be late.”
“She was early, Alberto. Stop worrying. Everything is going exactly as planned. I have a feeling we’ll raise even more money this year.”
Her father’s stern expression softened slightly as her mother adjusted his tie. Daniela was the only person her father ever spared his smiles on. As if he could hear her thoughts, his eyes swung to her. He frowned slightly taking in her bare shoulders.
“Don’t you have a wrap? That dress is too revealing, Olivia.”
Her shoulders slumped. Her dress was strapless but it was a modest neckline and floor length. She hadn’t thought anyone would be scandalized by the sight of her bare shoulders.
“Young people these days don’t carry wraps, Alberto. Don’t be so old-fashioned,” Daniela chuckled.
Her father didn’t look convinced but for once he didn’t argue his point.
“Just don’t offend anyone. This is an important night for your mother. Try not to embarrass us.”
“Alberto!” Her mother glared at him until he lowered his gaze. She turned back to Olivia. “He didn’t mean that, mija.”
“It’s okay, Mom. I know what he meant. I know I can be blunt sometimes.”
Olivia opened her evening clutch and pretending to look for her phone, determined not to let even a single tear fall. What was the point?
She’d always known that her father was ashamed of her. He didn’t even know how she made a living. She wasn’t sure if he ever checked the balance on her trust fund to know that she hadn’t touched a penny of it since her accident.
Even if he knew she wasn’t using that money, he probably assumed she was a mistress for a wealthy man. For years, she’d tried to conform, to make herself fit the mold her father wanted and it was not only unsuccessful but painful trying to bend herself into shapes that would never come naturally.
Well, no more.
Nothing she ever did would be good enough for him so from now on she wasn’t even going to try. This was the last time she’d bother with keeping up appearances. She was done.
Olivia snagged a glass of champagne from the tray of a passing waiter. She would mingle, smile widely and speak as little as possible. Then as soon as a respectable amount of time passed, she was going home.
There was nothing here for her anymore.
Chapter Nine
Fate is playing games with me, King thought. That was the only logical explanation.
For the past three weeks he’d done everything to distance himself from Olivia. He’d given his Club VIP membership key to James. He’d taken her number out of his phone to reduce the chances that he’d give in one night and drunk dial her.
Which had been a real possibility. It was embarrassing to admit because he could usually hold his liquor very well but he’d seen the bottom of more than a few bottles of scotch since then. Hell, he couldn’t even visit his family without one of them bringing up her name.
Olivia was so sweet.
Olivia was so funny.
When are you going to bring Olivia around again?
His parents had never been so eager to see him and he was their flesh and blood!
How arrogant he’d been to think he could just walk away and not look back. She was never far from his thoughts, no matter what he was doing. He ached for her and it was more than just physical. He wanted to see her eyes light up when she challenged him.
No one ever talked to him like that. He was used to people saying what they thought he wanted to hear.
Olivia hadn’t cared about impressing him. She’d just been herself. Which, it turned out, was exactly what he needed.
Now after all of his failed efforts to forget about her, his parents roped him into attending a charity gala with them and here she was. He glanced up at the ceiling briefly.
Message received. I won’t fuck it up this time.
It would be a cruel twist of fate if he was pining away and Olivia had gone on with her life like nothing had happened. She might have even met someone else.
The thought made him stop in his tracks. His father looked back in confusion. His mother walked on, greeting someone she knew, oblivious to his distress.
“What’s the matter, son? Did you see someone you know?”
He lifted his chin and gestured to the other side of the room. “Do you know the couple that just walked in?”
His father glanced over. “With the wife in the blue dress? Actually, I do. He’s the one hosting this event. His wife is a breast cancer survivor.” His father laughed suddenly. “Is that Olivia? Well, what do you know. I didn’t realize she was related to Alberto Reyes. One of his horses almost took the Preakness last year!”
King didn’t follow horse racing at all but even he knew that was huge. His brow furrowed. Why hadn’t Olivia told him about her family? Not that he’d given her many opportunities.
He cursed himself again. He’d been so focused on what he needed that he hadn’t given her the chance to share much about herself. Everything he knew was gleaned from observation.
She was brash, quick-witted and obviously only working at Club VIP for fun if her family was as wealthy as it appeared.
“Come on, let’s go say hello.”
“No, wait.”
But it was too late. His father was already halfway across the room. He trailed behind, uneasy about how Olivia would respond after the way he’d ghosted on her. He would have preferred to initiate contact in a more private setting.
By the time he caught up, his father was shaking hands with Mr. Reyes and Olivia was watching him approach with a deer-in-headlights look. She apparently hadn’t expected to see him again so soon, or ever, either. Then her expression hardened and she whispered something to the woman he assumed was her mother.
He would have expected the silent treatment but as usual, his brash Olivia took the initiative, although she addressed his father instead of him.
“Mr. Kingsley. What a surprise to see you here. It’s so nice to see you again.”
Mr. Reyes looked between them uneasily. “Olivia, you know Mr. Kingsley?”
His father guffawed. “Your daughter is making an honest man of my oldest boy here. It looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other now, Alberto.”
Mr. Reyes glanced at him in surprise before extending his hand. “Well, that’s nice to hear. Your father is very proud of what you’ve accomplished at Kingsley International. He brags about you all the time. It’s a fine thing to have a son to carry on your work.”
Olivia winced slightly but then her smile returned full force. King clenched his fist at his side. This was a side of her he’d never seen. The dutiful daughter holding her tongue and pretending her father’s callous words didn’t hurt.
It made him want to plow his fist into something.
He’d spent the past three weeks fantasizing about kissing that lush mouth again. Now all he wanted to do was stand in front of her and protect her from the arrows that only family know how to aim so accurately.
“Actually sir, I hope you and your wife don’t mind if I borrow Olivia for a dance.”
“You kids go on and dance. Don’t hang out here with us old folks.” Mrs. Reyes beamed at him and nudged Olivia in his direction. She looked like an older version of her daughter with short, curly hair.
King held out his arm and Olivia curled her fingers around his forearm. He led her into the middle of the ballroom so they’d be obscured by the other dancers. For what he was planning, he needed cover. First, he was getting Olivia away from her toxic father and then he would apologize for the way he’d left things.
Then he was getting her out of that dress.
* * *
If Olivia could have held her nose without looking like a total weirdo, she would have done it. As it was, she tried to hold her breath. It was the only way to ignore how good he smelled.
There hadn’t been any way to decline dancing with him without causing a scene but that didn’t mean she had to like it.
Except, she definitely liked it.
“I’ve been thinking about this for weeks. Ever since that night. All I can see when I close my eyes is your face when you came. I haven’t gotten any work done.”
His voice was rough in her ear as they danced and the deep timbre sent a delicious tingle down her spine.
“Whose fault is that?” she mumbled back, trying so hard not to be affected by that sexy voice growling in her ear.
“Yours. Entirely. You and those sexy lips.” His hands tightened on her back and he held her closer.
The position made it obvious that he was just as affected by the conversation as she was. The thick length pressing against her belly was proof of that.
“Apparently you didn’t have that hard of a time since I haven’t heard from you.”
She hated herself for letting him know she’d waited for the call. Her pride wanted him to think she didn’t care. Hah! See how he liked that. She should let him think his lovemaking was so unremarkable she hadn’t even missed his presence in her life at all.
Jokes on you, Your Majesty. I have screaming orgasms against random bedroom doors all the time!
Even as she thought it, Olivia knew she could never pull off a nonchalant vibe when it came to how Thane Kingsley IV made love. She was on the verge of having a heart attack just thinking about it. She pulled back slightly, already overheating.
“We need to get out of here,” he rasped.
Olivia had never wanted anything more. However, her parents liked having the whole family present throughout the event. Her father seemed to think it was good press for them to be photographed together smiling and happy.
Olivia thought it was ridiculous. By the end of the night, most of the patrons were too drunk and happy themselves to care whether she was there or not.
“My parents will notice if I’m gone. I can’t do that to my mom. This is her event. She’ll be hurt if I leave without saying goodbye.”
“Not if I ask my parents to distract them.”
“Why would they do that?”
“Because my father wants me married. If he thinks giving me time alone with you will get me closer to that goal, then he’ll do anything I ask him to.”
He sent a text to his father. Then grabbed her by the arm.
“Where are we going?”
He glared at her, as if his arousal were all her fault. And it was, Olivia thought with satisfaction.
“Somewhere I can take care of you.” He glanced down at the now noticeable bulge in the front of his pants. “And somewhere I can take care of this.”
Olivia gulped.
Chapter Ten
King knew there would probably be talk the next day after the way he’d practically dragged Olivia from the ballroom.
He couldn’t care any less.
He was done trying to deny the effect she had on him. Clearly she was the one woman he couldn’t maintain his cool façade with and if he was going to give in, he’d be damned if he didn’t get exactly what he wanted in the process.
Olivia, naked and willing.
The valet pulled his car up and he tipped him generously, after helping Olivia into the passenger seat. Normally he’d have wanted to show off a little, maybe tell her about the completely over the top Maybach Landaulet convertible he’d just had to have.
Instead he bit his lip, trying to hold back all the filthy things he was sure would spill out if he attempted to engage her in conversation. They rode in silence until he turned into the underground garage of
his condo building on the North West side of the city.
Olivia sat up in her seat. “Where are we? I thought you were taking me home.”
He pulled into one of his parking spaces. The other two were occupied by his Range Rover and the Bentley he liked to drive on occasion.
“I am. My home.”
Olivia crossed her arms. “You are so infuriating. Do you ever think about asking what someone else wants?”
“I know what you want, angel. And I’m going to give it to you. Much slower this time and it’ll for damn sure last longer.”
He got out of the car without waiting for her response which would have probably been to slap him. Not that he wouldn’t enjoy a little slap and tickle but he’d rather not put on a show for any neighbors who might be in the garage.
Olivia got out of the car before he could open her door. Surprisingly, she didn’t argue with him but followed quietly as he led her to the elevator. Another man rode up with them and she exchanged polite hellos while King remained silent, his eyes on the digital numbers as they rose higher. He didn’t care about exchanging pleasantries.
His neighbors already knew he was an asshole.
After the other man got off, it was only about thirty seconds before the doors opened to the penthouse level. He led her down the marble hallway and then opened the door to his East-facing unit.
“This is beautiful. It looks like the kind of place where you’d live.”
He stood back and let her wander, her big curious eyes taking in the post-modern furniture his decorator had picked out and the artwork on the walls that he’d bought sight unseen. Her words, innocent as they were, pierced through straight to his newly exposed underbelly.
He’d lived there for years and it still didn’t feel like home. More like a place to rest his head on the random days when he didn’t crash in his office. Suddenly, it was like he could see himself through her eyes and he didn’t like what he saw.
A man who worked at the expense of everything else in his life.