With those words, he walked away.
Stunned, silent, she didn’t follow.
“But, I will make you believe again,” she vowed to the echoing silence. “No matter what it takes.”
Chapter 8
The next three months passed in a blur, and as they did, she found herself completely smitten. As they’d developed a natural rapport and ease with each other over time, they’d continued working side by side.
She fell deeper in love.
And what was not to love? Every part of him was completely fascinating, she thought, propping her chin in her hand. And dangerous, smooth, sullen, sexy, playful, witty, moody…even those attributes she couldn’t name. Besides, many weeks ago, hadn’t she deemed that there were many sides to him, and that there wasn’t a single word fit to describe him. In her world, he was the perfect shade of mystery.
She let out a contented sigh.
In all, she’d become enamored, infatuated, smitten, and taken with the enigmatic Jarrod Sabatino. Then, realizing that she was openly staring, she blushed and turned her attention to the work in her hands.
On top of that, he held a vocabulary that was…well, lively.
Staring at him across the mahogany desktop, she couldn’t disguise her amusement. For the endless time in the last minutes, it seemed, he released a fiery string of expletives.
“What? That’s complete and utter bullshit, and you know it!” Jarrod exploded over the phone, rising up in the chair. Apparently, the other party was releasing his own curses, for she caught a few colored phrases or two. “There’s no way in hell we’re dropping the rates, especially for a sly bastard like Jake Tracker. Tell him if doesn’t want the deal, he can track his ass somewhere else, and that’s my final offer.”
With that, he ended the call.
As she held the paper up to her face, her lips twitched, and finally, she could no longer smuggle her giggles.
“What are you laughing at?” Jarrod asked, cutting his green gaze at her, and tried to keep a stern expression. But, still, his lips twitched as he suppressed a grin.
She pointed at him. “You. I’m sorry---I can’t help it. But, you just crack me up with how animated you get over things. Sometimes, you’re really over the top. Have you ever heard of keep your head?”
“Calm and cool aren’t even a part of my vocabulary,” he said smoothly, leaning back in his chair. “By now, I’m sure you know that.”
“No doubt,” she agreed, perusing over the paper, and then winced. “Uh, this is in Greek. As a matter of fact, a quite a few of them are written in it. How am I supposed to read and understand what it says?”
Frowning, engrossed in the paper work, he said, “Pull your chair over here. We’ll look through them together.”
“Alright,” she shrugged, and did as he bade.
As she pulled her chair alongside his, her nervousness kicked in. Wasn’t that the norm where he was concerned? Getting close to him always left her in shambles.
He brushed against her as he leaned to the left, and her stare transfixed on his face as he spoke.
“Fuck, what does that say?” he asked, giving a short laugh, and hauled the laptop closer to the edge of the desk. “Thank the tech guru for the invention of the online translator.”
Brows furrowed in concentration, Jarrod began typing the words in, and like a besotted fool she breathed him in.
Her gaze slid over him.
Today, he was a picture of casualness.
White polo top and tan trousers---
And his dark hair was cut close in a modern, edgy style.
The man simply looked good in anything.
“Olivia, did you hear what I said?”
“Oh, what?” she asked, embarrassed. “What did you say?”
“What’s wrong with you? It’s not like you’re focusing at all today.” He shook his head. “Anyway, I need you to write this down.”
She forced her thoughts back to the present and began recording the information.
A half hour later, they finished with the arduous task.
“Need a break?” he sighed tiredly, rubbing at his shoulders. “Take about a half hour, no make that an hour. It’s lunch time already.”
“Doesn’t seem like I’m the only one who needs one.” She stared at him close. “You’re worn out.”
He shrugged. “Who isn’t? The world never stops turning and there’s always bullshit to deal with.”
“Why such a negative view?” she asked softly.
“Please don’t tell me that you’re going to hold a naïve and simplistic view of this world,” Jarrod muttered, raising a brow. “Things are never that simple.”
“Maybe not,” she shrugged in turn. “But, I’d like to believe that dreams have a way of coming true.”
And wasn’t hers being realized now?
Being with him---
“Olivia, go take a break. I’ll take care of this,” he said, grabbing a steno pad off the desk. “Take an hour or however long you want.”
“No,” she shook her head. “Give me that.”
She pulled the steno pad from his hand and then shut the laptop.
“What in the hell are you doing?” Jarrod asked, turning towards her fast, and the exasperation played on his handsome face. “I was about to---”
“If I’m taking a break, so are you. Come on, I’ll make us lunch.” After placing the steno pad safely on the desk, she stood up, and as she did, he glowered at her. She placed a hand on her hip and gave him a disapproving look. “Stop giving me that look. Everyone else may be intimidated by it, but I’m not.”
His scowl deepened. “I don’t like people giving me orders.”
“Well, it’s apparent that you like giving them. But, at the moment, I’m taking charge of things,” she huffed, crossing her arms along her chest. “I expect to see you in the kitchen in thirty minutes or I’ll be hunting you down.”
Without waiting for a further response, she moved from behind the desk and headed for the door.
Thirty minutes later, she surveyed her handiwork in the kitchen.
She eyed the fresh crisp salad, watercress tea sandwiches, and freshly squeezed lemonade on the counter. It certainly wasn’t up to Rosa’s standards, but it’d do. After placing two shiny white plates on the counter, she passed a nervous look at the clock.
She bit her lip.
Surely, he would show---
“Am I late?” Jarrod asked, striding into the kitchen.
Suppressing an elated smile, she faced him. “I’d say that you’re right on time.”
“Wow, the lady does know how to make a meal,” he teased, taking the stool at the end of the counter. “Color me surprised.”
“It wouldn’t hurt you to be nice, now would it?” she chided, already heaping salad onto his place. “Oh, by the way, there’s not any olive oil. I know that you love it on your---”
Stunned, she halted in surprise, and the look he gave her said it all.
Her words were barely audible. “How did I know that olive oil is what you prefer? Have I remembered something important?”
“Yes, you have,” he said, and his expression was serious. “Olive oil is my favorite salad topping, and it’s a fact that you’ve always known.”
As the tears stung her eyes, she turned away from him. But, she couldn’t control the soft sobs as they racked her body.
“Hey,” Jarrod said, standing, and pulled her close. “You’ve remembered something. It’s nothing for you to be afraid of.”
Still, she cried, and for the longest moment, she held onto him, absorbing his strength. Sniffling, she pulled free and turned blindly towards the counter. “I’m sorry, Jarrod. I didn’t mean to lose control like that. Let’s eat lunch. We have to get back to---”
“You’re afraid.”
Though her back was turned to him, she felt the intensity of his gaze. As she nodded, the tears welled in her eyes again. “Y-yes,” she stammered, body trembling. “I’m afraid th
at for the rest of my life, I’ll only be left with scattered pieces.”
She felt the heat of his body as he stepped behind her. “Take those scattered pieces and remember that they count for something.”
She turned to face him again. “But, what if I never remember?”
“Olivia, I don’t have the answer to that. Yet, I do believe that it’s important to build new memories,” he insisted. “Maybe in some way, they’ll lead you back to the ones that you’ve lost.”
“You’re right,” she agreed tearfully, nodding again. “I should be happy about it rather than slobbering like a baby.” She wiped a tear away. “Now, how about we eat the lunch that I’ve prepared?”
As she busied with serving the food again, she missed Jarrod’s pensive look.
***
The sunny day was perfect for a picnic.
“But, I don’t want hot dogs, I want hamburgers!” Meghan pouted, stomping a bare foot against the sandy ground, much later that afternoon. “Why do we always have to have hot dogs?”
“Ok, sweetheart, forgive me for saying this, but you’re seriously working Daddy’s nerves right now,” Jarrod said, not taking his eyes from the charcoal grill. With ease, he turned the wieners over. “We had hamburgers yesterday evening, the day before that, and you had them for lunch today. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. In this case, it’s hamburgers.”
Across the way, sitting cross-legged on the beach towel, Olivia read the mystery novel, but was still amused by their usual antics. Of course, with those two, things certainly were never boring, she thought, hiding a smile.
“You said that we were going to build a sandcastle, too,” the little girl whined, twirling the doll fast with her hand, and gave a pouty face. “We haven’t done it yet either. I bet we won’t even do it.”
“Poppet, can’t you cut me some slack,” he muttered, stoking the hot coals, and blew a fast breath. “There’s only so much that I can do at one time.”
She closed the mystery novel.
It was definitely time to intervene.
“Meghan, come here,” she called out, adjusting the wrap over the red bikini, and stood. Then, moving to the area where most of the supplies were waiting and spread out, she looked for any missing items. “Bring a bucket and shovels…everything else that we need is already here. And make sure that you bring Livvy and Carly over.”
The child sped off towards her slew of toys.
Amused, she watched as she dug through them.
After choosing the dolls and other items that she’d requested, pigtails swinging, Meghan charged in her direction. The child was breathless when she reached her. “I got’em, Livvy.”
“Oh, I have an idea,” she said, purposely widening her eyes, and knelt down. Sitting back on her haunches, she faced Meghan. “Why don’t we build a fortress for Livvy and Carly. That way they can work together and thwart the bad guys!”
“We can build a huge fortress across the whole beach!” Meghan said excitedly, dropping to the ground, and spread her arms wide. “It can go from here, all the way back home.”
“Let’s not get too ambitious, kiddo,” she murmured, already scooping sand into a bucket. “We’ll start here and see how far we can go.”
A half hour later, they’d finished the task.
They both stood back and surveyed their work with pride.
The sandcastle really was impressive.
“We did it! We did it, Livvy. Just like you said,” Meghan squealed, jumping up and down. “You’re the best sandcastle builder ever!”
“High five, kiddo!” she laughed, slapping her palm against Meghan’s. “I think that we make a great team.” She placed her hands on both hips. “Now, it’s time for Livvy and Carly to enjoy their fortress.”
Already, Meghan had dropped back to the ground with her dolls. “No one and I mean no one is getting in!” Meghan vowed. “Especially not any stupid silly boys!”
She laughed. “I agree, especially not them.”
“Olivia, I need your help over here,” Jarrod called out.
As she turned, she saw him standing alongside the grill, and a strange look played across his face. At the look, the concern grew within her. “I’m going to see what your father wants,” she said, turning her attention back to Meghan. “Alright?”
But, the child was hardly paying her any attention. “Okay.”
When she turned around, Jarrod was facing the grill again, and yet his movements seemed jerky all of a sudden. As she joined his side, she watched him in silence for a moment. “Whatever it is, you need to stop taking it out on those poor wieners,” she murmured, attempting a joke. “With the way that you’re poking them, you’re about to send them to the next life.”
“You don’t have to do that, you know,” Jarrod said stiffly, still not looking at her.
She frowned in confusion. “Do what?”
“While I certainly appreciate that you are doing it, I don’t want you to think that you have to.”
“Wait,” she said, grabbing hold of his wrist. “Can you please stop talking in riddles and just tell me what you’re talking about?”
Jarrod looked at her fully. “Meghan can be demanding sometimes, but she’s one helluva kid,” he said and the pride played in his voice. “I know that’s surprising, considering the fact that I’m her father. I’m trying my best---”
“Jarrod, you are an amazing dad, and she is so lucky to have you. I love watching the two of you together. It’s evident how much you both love each other.” Her eyes searched his. “I can only imagine how difficult it’s been for the both of you, especially with her mother being gone.” She paused. “I love Meghan and spending time with her. She’d never be a burden to me. So, if that’s what you’re thinking, you can dispel that idea at once.”
“Again…thank you.” He turned to the grill again. “I’m about finished here. So, if you want to go and bury your head in that mystery book again.”
“I think that I’ll hang here awhile if it’s okay with you,” she said, reaching for the other spatula. “I’ll help you get things ready.”
He shrugged. “If that’s what you want to do.”
Of course, it was, she mulled, cutting him a side glance.
Wasn’t he the greatest mystery yet?
***
Hours later, at dark midnight, a startling white moon hang over the watery abyss, splaying illustrious shadows of bright light upon its surface, and in a perfectly synchronized dance, the waves rolled onto the shore.
A new day was overtaking the last---
A day that’d been perfect...
With that thought lingering, Olivia closed the curtains against the breathtaking sight.
As she turned and faced the room that’d been home for months, she paused. Wasn’t it a great feeling to not hold apprehension and uncertainty any longer? And couldn’t she honestly admit that she was at peace? Dare she say it---happy? This sleeplessness that she was experiencing now was due to that very fact, she realized, stopping at the center of the bedroom. If she let go for even the briefest moment, would those feelings be lost and never recaptured?
Like today…
All the precious moments that they’d shared together---it’d seemed as if they were a real family. But, of course they were a family; it’s just that she had no immediate recollection of that fact. The deep emotions that’d stirred within her as they’d laughed and played, she sighed, staring into the open space, there were no appropriate words to describe them.
These last months had given her a glimpse into their personal lives…the very one that she’d lost and was fighting for now.
Everyday was like an adventure as their relationship deepened, she mulled. Meghan was more adorable than words, and she enjoyed the little girl’s company immensely. In a short time, they’d bonded on a level that was even surprising to her.
And Jarrod---
She caught her breath.
He was everything that she wanted in
a man.
All raw male…
Sensual, sexy, playful, intense, moody, dangerous…
But, in so many ways, their tentative relationship was still at ground zero. All because he wanted to keep an emotional distance, she thought, biting her lip. Beneath that tough exterior, she saw and understood the vulnerable side that he kept secret.
She shook her head to clear it.
But, it was more than that.
“I’m getting my life back,” she whispered, teary-eyed. “After all this time, it’s really happening.”
After tugging the thigh-length wrap closer around her, she padded for the bed and climbed in. Reaching over, she grabbed the novel from the nightstand. But, after reading a few pages, her interest dwindled, so she snapped it shut before laying it back down. With a heavy sigh, she sank into the plush bed pillows, and as she’d done countless nights, she held her ringed hand out, staring at the expensive engagement ring. Even under the dimmed floodlights, the small clustered diamonds shone with an explicit brilliancy.
“Mrs. Olivia Sabatino,” she said, spreading her fingers apart. “I just love the sound of that.” Her heart skipped a beat. “And nothing seems more right.”
As the words left her, she frowned in concentration. But, when would things progress between the two of them?
As a matter of fact, he’d been the consummate gentleman at all times, and if she were truthful with herself, it was disappointing. She wanted him to make romantic gestures, she thought with a reddened face.
What did that say about her?
That she had no boundaries?
But, there were obvious truths, her mind argued.
Didn’t the very essence of him linger with her day in and day out? Not to mention their attraction to one another. “And the fact that I love you trumps everything else as far as I’m concerned,” she whispered to the darkness. “Only problem is that I don’t know what to do about it.”
With that knowledgeable thought, she flicked the lights off and pulled the covers up to her chin. But, after lying there and staring into the darkness for another thirty minutes, she gave up.
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