by Lulu Pratt
The best of both worlds.
She’s out of her mind if she thinks I’ll ever be able to forget about her.
Impossible.
Whether she believes it or not, she’s wormed her way into a deep part of my soul and I know that’s where she’ll reside forever.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
OLIVIA KING
“Okay, Arnold. On the count of three, we’re going to get you up and in the chair.”
My patient just continues to stare at me wide eyed and confused. Not for the first time, guilt assaults me for leaving him for a full week.
In my absence, Gavin hired a temporary person to come in and give him his meals and daily medications but it just wasn’t the same.
At this stage in Arnold’s dementia, he needs as much consistency as possible and I’d ripped that away from him. I’d been back for three days already and he still looked at me like I was a stranger off the street.
Getting him settled in his favorite chair, I release an exasperated sigh and study him for a moment.
Nothing about this job is easy but I enjoy it all the same. There’s a soft spot in my heart where only Arnold resides.
On his good days, he charms me with stories of his time in the army and his life with his one true love, Claire. She’d died a decade ago and from what Gavin tells me, his dad had never been the same.
Handing over the TV remote, I exit the living room and head back to the kitchen, intent on cleaning up the mess I made in the process of making lunch.
In an effort to brighten his day, I’d made Arnold’s all-time favorite meal: baked pork chops and roasted vegetables over a bed of rice.
Stepping into the kitchen, I’m shocked to see Arnold’s son Gavin standing at the counter sipping from a bottle of water.
He’s never home in the middle of the day, usually preferring long hours at the office so that he doesn’t have to face his sick father.
I can’t imagine how hard it must be watching a loved one deteriorate before your eyes.
With an easy smile, I greet him.
“Oh, hey Gavin. I didn’t expect to see you for a few hours. How’s it going?” I ask in a friendly tone.
An imperceptible expression darkens his boyish features. He’s at least twenty years my senior but doesn’t look a day over thirty-five.
Gavin is a man of very few words but he’s always been a pretty fair boss.
“You’re looking tanned and well rested. Where did you run off to?” he asks as I begin clearing dirty pans from the countertops.
Thrown off by his question, I glance over my shoulder and answer him.
“I was in Turks and Caicos, remember?”
He makes a noncommittal sound in his throat but says nothing else.
Rinsing dishes in preparation for the dishwasher, I shrug off his weird mood.
“Were you there alone?”
How’s that any of your business? I want to ask, but I refrain.
Instead, I shake my head. “No, there was one other person with me.”
There’s no way in hell I’m telling him that the person with me was Sebastian.
“Olivia, when I hired you, you told me you weren’t involved with anyone. It’s part of the reason I gave you the job so quickly. I knew your time would be free to give my father the around-the-clock attention he needs.”
“I know that,” I say, trying not to sound defensive.
What the hell has gotten into him?
“I just want make sure that nothing has changed.”
Swallowing an awkward lump in my throat, I maintain my professionalism and carefully choose my next words.
“You don’t have anything to worry about, Gavin. I’m just as dedicated to taking care of Arnold now as I was the day you hired me.”
“Good, I’m glad we’re on the same page.”
Without another word, he backs out of the kitchen and heads down the hallway to his room.
That was weird.
*****
Several hours later, Arnold is tucked in for the night and I’m in my bedroom a couple doors down.
Wildly energetic despite the long day and late hour, I decide to pop in a Zumba DVD and work off some of my restless energy.
Although I’d much rather be engaged in some type of sensuous activity with Sebastian.
After seven days of constant contact, settling back into my life in Tennessee had been a lot harder than I expected.
Our routine on the island came so naturally that it was traumatizing when it was snatched away.
Leaving Sebastian on that private jet to return to California was gut wrenching. I’m not sure how I got so attached in such a short period of time, but the moment he was out of my sight my vision blurred with tears.
Saying goodbye wasn’t supposed to be that hard.
Like I told Sebastian that night in the theatre room, I wasn’t looking for more than a few days of fun and some great sex. But he’d given me so much more.
The man is the best lover I’ve ever had. So attentive and unselfish every time we were intimate. I’d never felt wilder or more free than when I was with him.
Beyond the sex, he also proved to be one of a kind. His charming sense of humor and his genuine interest in everything I have to say makes him so enticing. He’s aggressive without being brutish and he’s wildly intelligent without being a know-it-all.
I miss him like crazy.
This wasn’t a part of the plan.
So far today, I haven’t heard from him and I figure he must be busy. Just as I’d predicted he would be.
Sweating from my impromptu workout, I’m about to start song number four when my phone rings from the nightstand across the room.
Pouncing for it, I snatch it up in seconds, grinning when I read Sebastian’s name.
Still panting from the cardio, I don’t bother masking my excitement when I answer on the second ring.
“Hi, Sebastian.”
There’s a ton of ruckus in his background before I hear a door shut, blocking out the noise.
A heavy sigh precedes his words. “Olivia. Baby, how are you?”
Melting at his choice of words, I savor the sound of his voice for a moment before answering.
“I’m good, how are you?”
“I’ve been better,” he grumbles shortly.
Even though his frustration isn’t aimed at me, I frown wondering what happened to sour his mood.
“Is everything all right?”
Sebastian’s answer is vague. “It will be. Hey, you sound out of breath. What are you up to?” he asks suspiciously.
“Oh, I was just working out. Had a lot of extra energy to burn.”
Expecting him to follow up with a sexy innuendo about how I could better expend the energy, I’m disappointed when he just says, “Oh yeah?”
He sounds distracted and extremely tense. I can hear it over the line despite the thousands of miles separating us.
I’d originally planned to fill him in on my tense encounter with Gavin, but now I reconsider.
He clearly has enough on his plate right now and I won’t add my petty dilemma to the mix.
“Listen, baby. I have some bad news,” he says lowly. “I have to postpone my trip to Tennessee until further notice. Something’s come up with the app and I can’t sneak away until it’s handled. We haven’t really nailed down an end date so there’s no telling.”
“Oh,” is all I manage, my mood immediately deflating.
I was really looking forward to seeing him in a few days. But I can’t say I didn’t see it coming. He’s the CEO of a thriving company and canceled plans were bound to happen.
I just hadn’t counted on it being so soon.
Reality is a bitch.
“Liv, I’m so sorry.”
Biting my lip, I tell him, “Me, too.”
“I’ll make this up to you. I promise,” he swears.
“Don’t apologize. It’s fine,” I say with a lot more understanding than I feel.
<
br /> We chat for a few moments longer until he has to rush off to another meeting.
Suddenly drained and no longer interested in my workout, I shut off the TV and head for the bathroom.
After my shower, I curl up with some wine and text Winnie. Someone has to hear about my strange confrontation with Gavin today. Since it can’t be Sebastian, she’s the lucky winner.
CHAPTER TWELVE
SEBASTIAN DOWNS
Someone hacked the site.
Every day there’s at least one hacking attempt. I pride myself on having some of the best cyber security in the industry. But this time someone got through the defenses.
I’d already been on edge since returning to California and this just pushed me over the fucking edge.
Hearing Olivia’s voice had been a temporary salve until one of the vice presidents banged on my door, demanding my presence back in the boardroom.
Grudgingly, I’d hung up with Olivia. Walking back into the boardroom, the weight on my shoulders has nothing to do with the chaos at work. The disappointment she’d tried to hide in her voice makes me feel like shit. Not even three days have passed and I am already proving her point by being unavailable.
Plopping down in the chair at the front of the table, I survey my team of executives and hope they have some good news for me.
If not, I may just combust.
In spite of our data being secured by the most thorough encryption measures, some idiot had still been able to hack into the servers and wipe out several features of the app. The desktop version had crashed completely, causing upset customers to flood our phone lines with frustrated complaints and outright angry demands.
Eighteen long hours had passed since the problem was discovered and I’ve been right here the whole time, only stepping away from the mayhem to use the restroom.
Even then, someone usually follows me inside, briefing me on the latest developments.
It’s as if the universe had wanted to humble me after my lavish vacation away from my usual responsibilities.
But, God, I miss Olivia.
After having her within my reach twenty-four seven, having her thousands of miles away is a tough pill to swallow.
With over a decade of experience in the tech field, I’m no stranger to the turmoil that can erupt at a moment’s notice. Behind the scenes, things go wrong a lot more than people realize.
However, I can handle it because in this field you have no choice. You either roll with the punches or get knocked out.
My skin is a lot tougher for it.
What I’m not so adept at handling is this deep-rooted yearning for a woman who effortlessly knocked me off my feet.
Call me a sap, but I miss everything about her.
Everything I liked about her in high school has only been amplified in adulthood.
She’s still sweet and fun-loving. Patient and loyal to a fault. Add all those things to the fact that she’s an incredible lover and you can see why I’m a little flustered here.
“What do you think, Bash?” Malakai asks from my right side.
When I look at him, he’s staring at me intently. I have no fucking idea what he just said.
Olivia is dominating my thoughts to the point of distraction.
Not a good sign.
Snap out of it, you have a company to run and people counting on you.
“Run that by me again,” I say focusing my tired gaze on him.
*****
Hours later, I’m alone in the same room rewriting the code for the site.
I’d felt bad and released my team for a brief recess so that they could sleep and see their families before returning in a few hours.
It’s nearing five which means Olivia has already started her day in Tennessee.
Needing to hear her voice, no matter how brief, I come to a stopping point and grab my phone.
Because I’d set it to “Do Not Disturb,” I see a ton of missed calls and text messages. Swiping past them, I find Olivia’s name and press “call.”
“Hello?” she answers distractedly on the third ring. I can tell she didn’t look at the screen before answering.
Running a hand over my two-day stubble, I exhale as I let her voice soothe me.
“Good morning, sweetheart.”
There’s a short pause as she pieces things together, then her voice sounds excited.
“Sebastian, it’s not even seven and I know you’re two hours behind. So, what on earth are you doing awake at this ungodly hour?”
Leaning back in my chair, a slow grin forms on my face when I hear her mild southern twang. It only shines through when she’s excited and right now she’s apparently excited to speak to me.
I smile harder.
It’s my first real smile in days and of course she’s the one to provide it.
Seriously, it makes no sense for me to be this happy about talking to another human.
“Just wanted to hear your voice,” I answer truthfully, my words languid thanks to a severe lack of sleep.
On the other end, Olivia releases a contented sigh.
“Someone certainly has a way with words,” she giggles coyly. “You should never make a lady blush before ten in the morning.”
“Trust me, Liv. If it were up to me, I’d have you blushing from sunup to sundown each and every day. If you’d let me,” I add pointedly.
Enthralled in our banter, I slouch down further in my seat.
Olivia clears her throat at this comment and I smile victoriously.
I’d rattled her cage.
“So, what are you up to?” she asks, promptly changing the subject.
Her evasiveness is not lost on me, but I don’t dwell on it since I’m already pressed for time.
“Nothing interesting,” I tell her looking at my laptop. “I’d much rather hear what’s new with you. We got rushed off the phone last night and you didn’t tell me about your day.”
“My day was pretty dull,” her tone echoes her sentiment. Then there’s a slight pause. “Oh! I finished my application to nursing school,” she finishes with much more enthusiasm.
I can’t help but be excited for her. Even if I do selfishly want her to attend a school on the west coast.
“Really? That’s great news, Liv. How long before you hear back from them?”
“Four to six weeks,” she supplies anxiously. “Wish me luck.”
“I will, not that you need it,” I say confidently. “Any school would be lucky to have you.”
She’s waited so long to pursue this dream and I’m happy that she’s finally able to go for it.
“Okay, you can stop making me blush anytime now.”
We chat for a while longer until I see Malakai staring at me through the glass door. Olivia and I disconnect just as he comes barging in.
“I hope that goofy ass grin means you have good news for me.”
My business partner looks refreshed and ready to go after his brief trip home. Enviously, I stare at his clean-shaven jaw and fresh attire.
I should probably take a break soon. Not because I’m tired but because I can’t imagine what I smell like after working almost two days straight.
“The site is back up and running in thirteen states on the east coast, but I still haven’t had much luck with the rest,” I say filling him in.
“Hey, progress is progress,” he says, settling in to get to work beside me.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
OLIVIA KING
“Damn, girl. You look hot!” Winnie shouts when I walk into the restaurant.
I don’t even bother being embarrassed by her outburst because this is totally the norm for her and part of the reason why I love her dearly.
We hug before claiming our seats at the table for two.
“Thanks,” I say acknowledging her compliment. “You don’t look too shabby yourself. I see you finally decided to go with the bangs. Fabulous choice.”
“Why, thank you,” she says, batting her lashes. “Thank you ver
y much.”
“God, I missed your crazy ass. Sorry it took so long to meet up. Work has been a little demanding since I got back.”
Opening her menu, Winnie stares at me over the top of it. “How’s that going by the way? Has Gavin gone back to normal?”
“Not really,” I share with a sigh. “He’s been a bit overbearing all week and I can’t figure out why. He was totally cool with me going on the trip. But since I’ve returned, he’s been on my ass about every little thing.”
Winnie narrows her pretty gray eyes at this tidbit of information.
“I’ll kick his ass,” she volunteers seriously.
And I know she means it.
Winnie doesn’t let anything come from her lips unless she can back it up. Another reason I love her to pieces.
Shaking my head, I hold up a hand in objection. “That won’t be necessary.”
She doesn’t look convinced. “Have you told Sebastian about it?”
Just hearing his name sends my heart fluttering.
“No, something happened at his job. I didn’t want to bother him. Besides, it’s nothing. Trust me.”
“You wouldn’t be bothering him, Olivia. I’m sure he wants nothing more than for you to be open with him.”
Her words put me on edge and I’m not sure why.
“How’s that going?” Winnie asks candidly.
“Fine,” I say casually.
“Fine?” my friend echoes with an incredulous expression. “You know I’m going to need more than that. I don’t know why I was ever worried about you. I sent you to find an island fling and you ended up screwing the CEO all week!”
A few startled guests from nearby tables look in our direction and I hide my face behind the giant menu. Shoulders shaking with laughter, I’m not embarrassed one bit, just thoroughly tickled.
“He sure did a number on you. In just one week, you’re looking ten years younger and sporting a healthy glow from all that vitamin D, if you catch my drift.”
Oh, I caught it all right.
Winnie sips from her water glass and eyes me studiously.
“When do you see him again?”
The smile leaves my face. “I have no idea. Like I said, things are hectic for him right now. He had to cancel his trip to visit me.”