"Hey, it’s okay,” Olivia soothed, brushing the tears from the little girl’s face. Then, pure defiance breathed within her as she eyed the stranger. "And there’s no point in making a huge ordeal from a simple matter, is there?”
Narrowing his gaze, the stranger edged closer to them. "Obviously, you aren’t thinking clearly, Olivia, but you haven’t been well, so I’ll overlook that blatant lack of good judgment." He carefully extracted the child from her before lifting her up in his arms. "My little Poppet," he said, addressing the child with a smile, and then, Meghan squealed delightfully as he tickled her playfully. "Dry these pretty little eyes and go check on Cricket. She’s back from the vet and is missing you right now."
The child gasped in amazement. "Is my kitty all better?" Meghan demanded, squirming in his arms, and he relented as he placed her down. “I wanna see her now!” Excited, the child tugged on his large hand. “Didn’t you hear me, Daddy? I want to see her now! I want to see her now!”
A different play of emotions crossed his face, and to her surprise, his tone lightened. “Guess what? She’s just as eager to see you! Rosa is keeping her company right now, and that’s why I was looking for you earlier, Poppet. So, you can only imagine my disappointment when I found you disobeying my rules."
"I think that Meghan has learned her lesson, don’t you?" she broke in, laying a hand on the child’s shoulder. "After all, she’s just a child.”
Again, the raw anger flared in his eyes.
How was it even possible that he was her fiancé?
If so, what kind of judgment did she have?
It was obvious that he was a hothead and short-tempered!
Breaking his eyes from hers, he addressed Meghan again. "Rosa’s waiting for you in the kitchen, Poppet. So, go. I’m sure that Cricket is as anxious to see you as well.”
He’d barely gotten the words out before a gleeful Meghan charged from the room.
They were left alone…
An uncomfortable silence lingered.
But, neither of them broke it.
Besides, wasn’t she practically invisible to him anyway, she mulled, staring at the side of his face.
He wasn’t even sparing her a glance.
With a quiet quickness, he crossed the study before moving behind the desk. Striking a careful pose, ignoring her, he picked up the elegant pen before scribbling on the ledgers spread across the desk before him.
She stared at him across the room.
Despite her misgivings, she had to admit his attractiveness. Now, that they were alone, she was able to get an unblemished view.
By heavens grace, she thought, holding her breath.
He was the most gorgeous creature alive…
Six feet of utter male perfection…
In waves, his dark hair fell, ending at his nape, and his skin was a shade of light brown honey, displaying his Italian heritage. His features were like those of an artist’s rare masterpiece and carved with the utmost perfection. He had dark green eyes so intense that they’d rival any precious stone. They were like a pool of green water, and if she stared into them again, would she continue to drown? A nose that flared slightly to express any given emotion, and probably those emotions were prone to be volatile. It was offset by his firm full lips, and if he laughed, smiled…kissed, she blushed. They’d easily prove to be a deadly weapon to any woman’s resolve.
The chiseled jaw line was taut, even now, and showed his control, or therefore, the lack of it, she mulled, suddenly feeling like an innocent captive.
For wasn’t she captivated by what he represented?
Tall, lithe, sexy, well-built…
There’d never be a single word to describe him.
He was simply it.
The white polo top matched his trousers and fit his lithe form to perfection, outlining and defining his lean muscles in all the needed places, she thought, unconsciously flexing a soft fist at her side.
When he spoke, his sexy and suave timbre jarred her back to the present. “Are you coming in, or do you plan on hovering there like a frightened child?”
With a gasp, she started.
Across the space, his dark green eyes met hers.
Suddenly, she felt exposed.
Taking an inward breath, she fought to regain her composure. And certainly there wasn’t any justification for his shortness!
Stiffening, firming her shoulders, she crossed the room before stopping at the desk, and at his dismissive look, she grew angrier. “Rather than treating me like I’m a nuisance. Why don’t you explain to me who I am,” she demanded, staring at him squarely. “After that, tell me two things: who are you and why are you keeping me prisoner?”
“Prisoner?” he asked, raising a brow. Passing her a cool detached look, he tossed the pen onto the desk “A bit melodramatic, don’t you think? Besides, Dr. Roma should have filled----”
“He wouldn’t tell me anything,” she interrupted, trying to remain unaffected. But, those deep green eyes of his were making that nearly impossible. “The only thing that he’d say was that I’m Olivia Lange, and quite truthfully, he didn’t reveal much about my lost identity.” Though it shook badly, she held out her ringed hand. “No one explained this, and I have awakened to find---”
“That you’re engaged to Jarrod Sabatino, the lost and insufferable bastard of Lamarie Rock, and you’re looking straight at him. Quite frankly, I don’t know if I’d be pleased with that very news myself. My attributes are less than stunning, unfortunately. I’ve heard that my bedside manner sucks, I use the F-bomb too often in conversations when speaking, I take everything personally, and the decisions that I make are for my personal gains and no one else’s. Let’s just say that I’m not the kind of man that you want to take home to momma,” he stated, sizing her up again. “As for your being held prisoner---don’t be ridiculous. We’re engaged to be married, and there’s no reason for me to force you to stay.” He paused momentarily. “Since the coma, your thoughts haven’t been clear, and understandably so. So, I’ll forgive this untimely rant.”
She stared into his handsome features.
“So, we are going to be married?” she stammered.
Again, his look was long and cool. “Yes, we are Olivia,” he murmured, clearing his throat noisily. “And once this crisis is over, we can go on with our lives.”
She gulped hard.
This handsome devil before her was the man that she was soon to be betrothed---the very one who was watching her with a dismissive air and impatience? Still, there were holes in the whole story.
Like the fact that his daughter was clueless to her existence, she thought, stiffening.
“You can only imagine that I have questions,” she said, staring at him hard, trying to read him. Which she couldn’t, she thought, heart sinking.
“Of course,” Jarrod shrugged. “It’s only natural.”
“I have lots of questions. Like if we’re engaged, why doesn’t Meghan know me? I’m practically a stranger to her. That fact is rather upsetting to me, and I’d like to know the truth.”
“Certainly, I didn’t plan on us meeting like this after you came out of the coma, and even though we’re engaged, I’m virtually a stranger. All of this has to be rather jarring for you.” Leaning back in the chair, Jarrod passed her a long look. “You’re right. What can I say except that our situation is very complicated,” he said evasively, and his eyes steeled over like hard granite. “Meghan doesn’t know you because she lived abroad until awhile ago. For reasons that I’m not ready to explain, I kept her a secret from you, and she had no idea about you until now.” He blew a frustrated breath. “Where Meghan is concerned, it’s a delicate situation, and I have to tread cautiously.”
She shook her head. “No, it doesn’t make sense. Nothing does.”
“Of course, it doesn’t, and it shouldn’t at least not at the moment. You’ve gone through a traumatic experience, and the last thing that you need to do is bring up things that will delay your progr
ess. When the time is right, I’ll tell you everything. But, that time is not now. Overwhelming you with so much information at once will only cause a setback. That’s a risk that I’m not willing to take with you.”
“My a-amnesia,” Olivia stammered, feeling her anger and resolve crumble under his deep stare. “Do you think that I’ll remember who I am or the life that we share together?”
Again, a panged look crossed his handsome features. Was it guilt, she pondered, wiping the stray tear from her cheek.
But, he masked it quickly, and once more the cool aloofness won out. “Dr. Roma stated that it’s too early to determine if it’ll be permanent memory loss or not.” This time, genuine sympathy laced his tone. “I’m sorry.”
Then, dismissing her with another quiet look, he shuffled the papers on the huge desk.
Staying her shaky hands, she settled in the chair facing the huge desk. “What happened? H-how did the accident happen?”
“There was an explosion at a local church in the States,” he hedged slowly, adding his signature to one of the papers in a fast flourish. “Minutes before the ceremony, a hand-made bomb was detonated at the west wing of the church, and you were at that exact point when it happened. You don’t realize how lucky you are to even be standing here right now.”
“Was it our wedding?” she asked, frowning in confusion. “As for the explosion, what happened? Was there a gas leakage or something?”
His features were tight. “Authorities are still investigating the situation.”
The alarm ran through her. “After two months, they’re still amidst an investigation? That doesn’t sound good. Do they suspect foul play? If so, why would anyone go to such level to stop our w---”
“It wasn’t our wedding. Though it’s unfortunate that there was an explosion, it’s a good thing that the marriage didn’t take place. They were all wrong for each other,” Jarrod added with an odd expression.
“And you say that with such certainty,” she said, watching him close. “It’s apparent that you knew them both well.”
“All too well,” he confessed, holding her gaze. “He was all wrong for her.”
An electrifying current filled the air.
It hit them both at once, and in that moment, an unspoken message seemed to pass between them. At the dark cresses of her conscience, she caught a brief glimpse of the two of them together, she gasped, seeing her tear-stained features. But, then, in a flash, the image was gone.
“What happened?” he asked quickly. “Have you remembered something?”
Her voice shook. “No. Not really…but, in my vision, I was crying. I sense that I was heartbroken,”
Olivia stated, and her words caught on a half-sob. “I remember nothing about you. Why can’t I?”
“Olivia, these things will take time.”
“Tell me about us,” she pleaded, meeting his intense gaze again. “…every tiny detail that you can, and maybe, hopefully, I’ll remember something.”
“I have no choice, but to be upfront with you.” He met her gaze head-on. “Our relationship is tumultuous at best, and we’ve been estranged these past few months. Things have occurred recently that have tested our relationship. As a result, we’ve been growing apart.”
His confession hit home.
Now, things were beginning to make sense.
The vision from earlier, her tear-stained features—something had caused strife between them.
Apparently, it was the cause of his aloof attitude towards her. “Then, why am I here?” she asked, swallowing hard, already assuming the worst about their relationship. “Why am I not home in the States?”
“Although you’re recovering from the accident here at Laramie Rock, it’s the perfect opportunity for us to work things out and let go of our broken past. Think of it as a new beginning in every way.”
“But, what if it’s already too late for us?” she probed. “Only a fool wouldn’t notice the obvious disdain that you hold for me.”
That quickly got his attention.
“Why would you say something like that?” he demanded angrily, rising higher in the chair. “It’s the most absurd thing that I’ve----”
“You look as if you hate me,” she admitted, looking away uncomfortably. “It’s like you can’t even bare to look at me.”
“That’s the furthest thing from the truth!” he snapped. “We care deeply for each other---more than you even realize. It’d be foolish for us to turn away from each other just because of the accident and what’s happened between us in the past.”
“Maybe things would be better if I weren’t here,” she said, holding his intense gaze. “You’ve admitted yourself that things with Meghan are complicated. I’m sure with me being here, I’m nothing more than a burden.”
“No, you’re not going anywhere.” Jaw clenched tight, he shook his head in disapproval. “I’m not giving up. You’re not giving up. We’re going to see things through to the end.”
Why was he referring to their relationship as if it were a business merger? And what did he mean by ‘seeing things through to the end’? It certainly didn’t seem like they were the perfect match, but more like a forced paring, she thought with a panged expression
Or was she somehow caught up in a modern-day blood ties mafia family? The things that he was saying…it made her believe so.
“You’re my fiancé,” she said, distracted, staring down at her ringed finger, and then passed him a flustered look. “I don’t even know who you are---you’re practically a stranger.”
“What do you want to know?” he quipped tightly, leaning back in the chair again. “Fire away. Ask me anything that you want, Olivia Lange.”
She blushed again.
And why wouldn’t she?
Certainly, she was in company with the most fascinating creature….
As the light splayed into the room, it fell across him, and his green eyes gleamed with an intensity that was nearly stifling. Swallowing hard, she glanced away, and her soft question lingered in the air. “How long have we known each other?”
“For the better part of a year and a half, we’ve been together, but we’ve only been engaged these last several months.”
She frowned. “Again, you haven’t fully explained this situation with Meghan---”
“And as I said before, it’s complicated.” A hard edge laced his tone. “She’s my daughter, and while I’m not perfect, everything I do is for her.” There was no dismissing the flash of pain that crossed his face. But, his hard mask slipped back into place. “Since you’re obviously intent upon rehashing this bit of information, I’ll tell you more. Like I said, Meghan has been staying abroad.” He had to force the next words out. “Her mother’s dead, and we’ve both been finding ways to deal with it.”
“I’m sorry, and I can only imagine how difficult it is for her to be without her mother,” she whispered, horrified, feeling the naked shame. Her next words came out in a stammer. “A-am I the reason that the two of you weren’t together? Did we have an affair?”
Before her eyes, he seemed to turn to granite, and so many unspeakable emotions played across his features. “For now,” he said stiffly. “That’s all that I can tell you, and I’m not going to discuss anything further about Meghan’s mother. Don’t ask me anything else about her. It’s a closed subject as far as anyone’s concerned.”
And that ‘anyone’ included her…
She watched him, completely taken aback by his hostile tone and demeanor.
It was obvious that her death was a painful matter, and how could she be so selfish by only focusing on herself and her needs, she thought with guilt. Was it possible that he loved her instead of her?
The fact that it bothered her was surprising.
For wasn’t he a stranger, still, in spite of the fact?
But, poor Meghan, a motherless child---
She blinked back the fresh tears. “How could I be so self-absorbed? And how could I forget the life that I share wit
h you? I’m a horrible---”
“You’re nothing of the sort,” he disagreed, tensing. “So, stop putting those ideas in your head.” He blew a fast breath. “Look, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you like that, and you’ve been through enough today. There’s no need in over-exerting yourself---”
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!” Meghan squealed, bursting back into the study.
“What Poppet?” he smiled, standing up. “What’s got you so worked up?”
Just as he rounded the desk, he scooped a running Meghan into his arms.
As Olivia watched them, a tiny smile curved her lips. There was no denying the mutual affection that the father and child shared.
Which didn’t explain Meghan’s earlier comments.
She sank deeper into the plush chair facing the desk.
Why had he described himself as the ‘lost one’?
It was apparent that he shared a deep bond with his daughter.
“Cricket’s gonna have babies!” Meghan exclaimed, slapping her tiny hands against her cheeks, and her eyes widened with wonder. “Bet she’ll have lots of them! If she does, can we keep them all, Daddy? Please, please…”
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?” Jarrod chided.
“But, you said that it’s always important to plan ahead, and that’s what I’m doin’, Daddy. I’m plannin’ ahead,” Meghan said firmly, narrowing her eyes. “Just like you.”
A sad smile fleeted along his face. “A stubborn streak a mile long, just like your mother,” Jarrod said quietly, and then, regaining composure, he shook his head again. “Now, I want you to do me a favor, Poppet.”
“What Daddy? What can be more important than Cricket?” Meghan complained with a sullen look.
“I want you to take Olivia to the kitchen to meet Cricket,” he said, turning his attention to her. As he stared down at her, she resisted the urge to squirm in the chair. “And while you’re both there, get Rosa to fix you some lunch.”
“Daddy, her name is Livvy, not Livvia. Call her by her right name!” Meghan pouted.
“But, I’m not hungry,” Olivia said, voicing her own protests, too, and rose. “And I want to talk more about who--”
The Pawn (Shattered Series Book 1) Page 6