He parked the car in front of the steps and cut the engine. “Ready?” He wasn’t sure which one of them he was asking.
Olivia nodded. “Let’s do this.” She reached for the door handle, but Cole stopped her.
“Wait,” he said. “Let me get it.”
She shot him a look he was beginning to know quite well. It was the one that said, “Don’t be an idiot.” Only question was, what had he done to earn it this time.
“I can get my own door.”
“I was raised with proper manners, Olivia.”
“That may very well be, but I have never been the type to sit like a delicate flower waiting for a man to open my car door. And my parents know darn well I wouldn’t marry a man who expected me to.”
Jesus, how the hell were they going to navigate an entire weekend if it took them this long just to get out of the car?
Their debate was cut short when the screen door swung open. Olivia’s mom stepped onto the porch. She was barefoot and wearing a pair of faded jeans and an embroidered peasant top. She looked more like she could be Olivia’s older sister than her mother, and with her wavy blond hair and big blue eyes, was a dead ringer for Goldie Hawn.
“Well, don’t just sit there,” she said. Her smile was wide and warm. “I want to meet my new son.”
Cole got out of the car and extended his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Ramsey.”
She shot him a look not unlike the one he’d just received from her daughter. “Handshakes are for strangers. We’re family.” She threw her arms around Cole and pulled him in for a tight hug. “And please, call me Susan.”
When she was done squeezing the life out of him, she moved on to Olivia. “How was your drive?” she asked them. “Have much traffic?”
Before he could even answer, she was on to the next topic.
“Are you hungry? You must be starving. Dinner’s about ready but I can fix you a snack if you’d like?”
“Mom, take a breath.”
At least six beaded bracelets slid down her arm as she dismissed her daughter with a wave of her hand. “I’ve made all of Livvy’s favorites, but I figured you for a meat eater, so I’ve got a pot roast too.”
“You didn’t need to go to all that trouble on my account.”
“Believe me, Brian is thrilled to have a fellow carnivore in the house.” Susan started up the stairs. “Grab your bags and meet me in the kitchen.” She stopped to pat the head of the patient Labrador. “And be sure to introduce Cole to Bucky. He can’t get down the stairs anymore, but he’s been sitting here waiting for you all day.”
The porch door swung shut, and Cole turned to his bride. “Livvy?” he asked. He didn’t even bother trying to hide his amusement.
Olivia wrinkled her nose. “Childhood nickname. But don’t even think about using it. And while you’re at it, wipe that stupid grin off your face as well.”
“I didn’t say a word.” Yet. Cole chuckled as he reached for their luggage. “Christ, it’s a lot warmer here.”
“Indian Summer,” Olivia said, referring to the stint of unseasonably warm weather that often occurred in the early fall. “Always hits harder below the I-88 corridor.” She pulled her sweater over her head and tied it around her waist. A warm breeze blew across the fields, and her nipples pebbled against the thin fabric of the tank she wore beneath.
Sweet Jesus, this was going to be a long two days.
“Ready” she asked. The smile on her face made it look as though she was actually looking forward to this.
“Lead the way.” Cole followed Olivia up the front steps, stopping when she suddenly dropped to her knees in front of the dog.
“There’s my sweet boy,” she said. Her smile grew wider as Bucky gave her a slobbering face bath. He might have had trouble getting around, but his tail wagged like a puppy’s. “Cole, this is Bucky.” She whispered in the dog’s ear. “Be gentle with him. He’s a city boy.”
The dog lumbered over to Cole and immediately started sniffing his crotch. Fabulous.
“Nothing much to see there,” she told Bucky, laughing as she guided his head back to her face for more kisses. When she was satisfied he hadn’t missed a spot, she gave him an affectionate pat on the head. “Come on, let’s go inside and get you a treat.”
He was fairly sure she was talking to the dog, but he wouldn’t have said no to a beer. Or maybe a scotch.
Straightening, Olivia reached for the handle on the screen door. She held it open for Cole as he and the dog made their way into the family home. Inside, the house was even more welcoming than it had seemed from the driveway. The front room held brightly colored, mismatched furniture that reminded him a bit of the apartment on Friends. It was far too cluttered for Cole’s taste, but it looked comfortable and from what he could tell of Olivia’s mother so far, perfectly reflected her personality. There was no television, but where one should have hung was a large piece of driftwood. It was painted a bright turquoise and read, “Life Is Too Short For Bad Vibes.” Her living room might have been decorated like Monica Geller’s apartment, but Susan Ramsey was decidedly more Phoebe Buffay.
“Livvy,” Susan called out from the kitchen, “will you give me a hand mashing the sweet potatoes.” She appeared in the doorway, wiping her hands on a dish towel, and her gaze fell to the duffle bags Cole held in each hand. “You can just go ahead and dump those up in Olivia’s room,” she told him. “Top of the stairs, second door on the left.”
Fuck. With everything else on his mind, Cole hadn’t taken the time to consider the most obvious complication of all: They would be sharing a room. Forget getting through two long days; how the hell was he doing to survive two long nights?
He climbed the stairs and with each creaking step thought of topics he could use to distract himself when the time came for bed. Baseball lineups weren’t really cutting it anymore. He’d spent so many nights trying to get his dick under control by reciting the statistics of the Cubs lineup, he could practically take a job with the team. Besides, keeping his mind off the fact that Olivia was sleeping within arm’s reach was going to take a lot more than batting averages and RBIs.
For a moment, he indulged the dark side and let himself wonder what she wore to bed. The night they’d spent together in Vegas, Olivia had slept naked. Not that she’d had much choice in the matter. It wasn’t exactly like she’d had a chance to pack a bag. But what if that was her go- to choice? Cole groaned. He wasn’t so sure he had the willpower to resist all that naked perfection only a few inches away.
He’d fantasized about her more times than he could count, let alone would be willing to admit. Sometimes she was wearing lingerie, the sexy, slutty kind they kept in the back of La Perla. Sometimes she was in nothing but a black lace bra, thigh-high stockings and stilettos. Other times she was in white lace, innocent and wide eyed as she looked up at him with his cock between her lips. No matter the version, they all ended the same way: with her beautiful body fully exposed and his for the taking. The visual had his dick pulsing against the fly of his jeans.
But when he opened the door to Olivia’s room, all thoughts of her naked body left him. “You’ve got to be kidding me?” he mumbled under his breath. “The Jonas Brothers?”
Pictures of the trio covered one wall while Justin Timberlake was plastered all over another. It was as if he’d stepped into a millennial time warp. The room wasn’t overly feminine—he wouldn’t have expected that from Olivia—but the posters were a dead giveaway that this had once been the sanctuary of a teenage girl. And while thankfully there was no ruffled pink comforter, there were enough stuffed animals on the bed to stock FAO Schwartz. It was like she had her very own version of Noah’s ark.
Cole dropped the bags on the floor and moved closer to the bookshelf. The entire hardback collection of Harry Potter filled the shelf in front of him. Her love of the boy wizard wasn’t entirely surprising, but the well-read paperbacks from The Twilight Saga were a bit of a twist. He made a mental note to give
her shit about that later and moved on to the marked-up poster taped to the wall above her desk. It was map of the world with the words “Global Issues” written across the top. Various regions had been circled in red marker, labeled and dated. She’d documented everything from oil spills, to mining incidents, to ice sheet weakening. Some went as far back as the mid-nineties. She might have been a colossal pain in his ass, but Cole couldn’t help but smile as he pictured six-year-old Olivia standing on a chair to document the latest environmental crisis.
“Dinner’s ready,” Susan called from the foot of the stairs.
Cole made his way down and as he neared the kitchen, heard the distinct baritone of a male voice. Here goes nothing, he thought.
“Dr. Ramsey,” he said, extending his hand as he entered the room. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Olivia’s father stiffened but offered his hand in return. “Same. Although I gotta be honest Cole, Susan and I would have appreciated the courtesy of an introduction before you two exchanged vows.”
Okay then, guess we’ll dive right in. It wasn’t a bad idea really. After all, there was no sense ignoring the elephant in the room. And while it meant having his feet held to the fire from the get go, Cole respected his father-in-law’s no bullshit approach. “I understand, sir. You have every right to be disappointed, but please don’t be angry with Olivia. It was my fault.” He moved closer to his bride and placed his arm around her shoulder. “I got caught up in the moment and suggested we get married in Vegas.”
“Carpe diem,” Susan said to no one in particular.
“Exactly,” Olivia added. She was gazing up at Cole with a look of appreciation laced with a touch of confusion. Was she really surprised he’d fallen on his sword? As Rebecca had so eloquently pointed out, Olivia had gone into the lion’s den for him, and there was no telling what little surprises his grandmother had in store for them next. Least he could do was take the bullet with her parents.
Her father stood with his hands on his hips, scrutinizing the two newlyweds. His lips were pressed into a thin line, but judging by the look on his face, Cole suspected he had a lot more he wanted to say on the subject. A phone rang in the distance before he had the chance.
“I better get that,” he said, moving toward the back of the house at a fast clip.
“That’s his office line,” Susan said. “No telling how long he’ll be.” She motioned to their chairs. “Please, dig in while it’s hot.”
Cole didn’t feel right about sitting down to dinner without Dr. Ramsey, but Olivia seemed unfazed, giving Cole the impression that life with a doctor—whether it be one for humans or animals—meant interrupted meals.
Mrs. Ramsey passed Cole the platter of beef then handed her daughter the bowl of sweet potatoes. The diamond on Olivia’s hand caught the light, and although Susan didn’t comment, her eyes grew wide.
“How have things been at the shop?” Olivia asked her. The speed with which she spoke was no doubt tied to her desire to avoid a discussion of not only the ring but more than likely the entire subject.
“Same old, same old. Not much money in the incense gig,” Susan said with a laugh. She placed what appeared to be a slice of tofu onto her plate causing Cole to send up a silent prayer of thanks that his new mother-in-law merely objected to eating meat, not serving it. “But the new beeswax candles have been a hit.”
Olivia turned to Cole. “My mom has a store in town, Baubles and Beads.”
Cole nodded as if this was new information.
“Your dad thinks I should hire someone to help out while I’m out of town, but I think people can survive a few days without candles.”
“Where are you headed?” Cole asked. He lifted the gravy boat and poured a hefty serving onto his meat and potatoes.
“Not far. Just up to Oglesby.”
“Starved Rock?” Olivia asked. She forked a slice of the mystery loaf onto her plate and Cole wondered if his food looked as disgusting to them as theirs did to him.
“Mmm-Hmm, meeting with the Sierra Club.”
“Are you a climber, Mrs. Ramsey?” Cole asked.
“Not so much anymore.” She began to pass Cole a basket of biscuits, then pulled it back. “No more food for you if I hear that Mrs. Ramsey stuff again, are we clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She gave a throaty laugh. “Ma’am isn’t much better,” she said as she handed him the basket.
“My mom’s not going up to Starved Rock for leisure, Cole. She’s been spearheading the campaign to stop the travesty that’s ruining it.”
Cole shot her a confused look that was met with an exasperated sigh.
“Open pit sand mines ring any bells?” Olivia asked.
He paused with a forkful of pot roast in midair. His gaze shifted from Olivia to her mother. “You’re going up against frackers?”
Susan nodded.
His eyes grew wide. “No offense to your efforts, Mrs. Ram—, I mean Susan.” She smiled as he corrected himself. “But those mining companies have deep pockets. You’ll never get them to abandon that mine.” The irony of the situation wasn’t lost on Cole. No doubt someone had cautioned Olivia with the same warning when she’d decided to take on Grant Industries.
“Maybe not, but someone needs to draw attention to what’s going on up there.”
The phrase “like mother, like daughter” didn’t even begin to cover it when it came to Olivia and her mom. The similarities between the two women extended far beyond their looks. Whether a case of nature or nurture, Olivia had obviously taken after her mother when it came to fighting for causes she believed in. And whether Cole agreed with their positions or not, it was clear their zeal was genuine.
Brian came back into the room. Careful not to interrupt his wife, he took a seat and tucked his napkin into his shirt. Once he was settled, Susan began passing him bowls of vegetables all the while continuing to extol the motivation behind her efforts.
“Not only is fracking threatening one of our most beautiful state parks, but the particles they are sending into the air are impacting communities all along the banks of the Illinois River.”
Cole shifted his focus back to his new father-in-law. On first impression, Dr. Ramsey seemed like a man who was set in his traditional ways. Yet his wife was anything but traditional, and there was no denying the affection and pride that filled his eyes as he listened to her speak of the cause so close to her heart.
“How about you, Olivia,” her mother asked. “Making any progress with the long-eared bats?”
Olivia glanced at Cole then back to her plate, focusing on piling as many peas as possible onto the tines of her fork. “Um, yes, actually.”
Olivia’s father stilled. It was only for a moment, but the reaction didn’t go unnoticed by Cole. Brian reached for his glass of ice tea and took a long sip. When he was finished, he wiped his face with his napkin and placed it on the table next to his plate. “Tell me, Cole, what do you think of Olivia’s work?”
The clinking of silverware stopped as his words hung in the air.
Cole kept his expression neutral, not that it mattered much. Brian Ramsey had his laser focus trained on his daughter. It made sense really. He didn’t know Cole, his mannerisms, or his poker face. His daughter, on the other hand, was a different story. There was little doubt he knew all of her tells, and at the moment he was using his paternal instincts to find a crack in their barely strung together facade.
“I admire the passion she has for the causes she champions. Working for non-profits requires a dedication not seen in most other fields.”
Her father shifted his gaze to Cole. “You mean because it doesn’t pay well?”
“Practically speaking, yes. But also, because it often means going against the grain, so to speak.”
“Do you think that will be a problem for the two of you?” Susan asked. Her words were to the point, but her voice was full of genuine concern.”
“Olivia and I don’t always agree, but we respe
ct each other’s opinions and try our best to see the issue from that vantage point.” He reached across the table for her hand and clasped it in his. “Opposites attract and where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
For fuck’s sake, could he have fit any more clichés into that sentence?
“That’s a very enlightened approach, Cole,” Susan said. “And we’re living proof that it can work.” She looked at her husband and smiled. “I know Brian hasn’t always agreed with some of my efforts, especially when we were first married.” She gave a small laugh. “Remember that one night in Arizona?”
Brian scowled. “Show me the man who’d want his pregnant wife arrested.”
Susan stood and wrapped her arms around her husband from behind. “My point is, we accept those we love and embrace them for who they are.” Cole half expected her to break out into a round of “Kumbaya,” but instead she simply planted a kiss on Brian’s cheek before grabbing the extra tray of biscuits out of the oven.
“Saw Mrs. Hunt the other day,” Dr. Ramsey said with his eyes once again trained on his daughter.
A loud clatter came from the direction of the stove. One of the biscuits fell to the ground and rolled across the wood floor. “Catch that for me, Brian?”
But instead of reaching for the errant baked good, he pushed on with his agenda. “She said Derek is doing some really great work, even has plans to expand his research.” His gaze never once wavered from Olivia. “Heard anything from him lately?”
Now it was Cole’s turn to asses Olivia’s reaction. Her face flushed ever so slightly but she answered without missing a beat. “Not since he left for Africa.”
“Well, I’m sure he’s been busy.” Brian leaned back in his chair. Clearly, he was in no hurry to end the conversation. “Doctors Without Borders is a damn fine program, wouldn’t you agree, Cole?
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