by Renee Ryan
“So that’s good news, right?” He stood, felt the ground shift beneath his feet and quickly sat back down.
“It’s great news, better than I expected.” He thought he heard her sigh. “However...”
“What’s wrong, Olivia?”
“I don’t know. I have some reservations.” She sighed again, this time the sound easy enough to discern. “It’s all happening so fast. It’s one thing to dream about something like this, another thing to make it happen. I need to bounce this off someone, talk it through, figure out what’s what.”
“I’m your man.”
“Yeah?”
Oh, yeah. He tightened his grip on the phone, realizing how that sounded and, surprisingly, wanting to say it again. And again. And one more time for good measure.
He restrained himself. “I’m a good listener, Olivia, and an even better sounding board.”
“You’d be willing to discuss the pros and cons, help me organize my thoughts?”
More than willing, he was eager to discuss the particulars with her. “You better believe it. How about tonight?”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
He felt his eyebrows pull together. “I don’t think so.”
“The hospital gala is tonight.”
Perfect. “Those things are boring. We’ll find a table in the back and... No, better yet, we’ll make an appearance and then cut out early, right after dinner is served, and go somewhere where we can talk.”
“I like that idea.”
He did, too. But his phone beeped before he could tell her he agreed. Lowering the phone, he read the caller ID. “Gotta go, Olivia. The hospital is calling me.”
“No problem. I’ll see you tonight, Connor.”
“Looking forward to it.” He spoke over the buzz of the incoming call. “And, Olivia?”
“Yes?”
“The first dance is mine.”
She laughed, the rich, husky sound full of unrestrained happiness. “Goes without saying.”
Trying not to laugh himself, he switched calls with a smile on his heart and a slice of wonder in his soul.
He could get used to both sensations.
Chapter Eighteen
The knock came at precisely six-thirty. Olivia hurried into the foyer, intending to answer the door before Ethan or Ryder could.
No such luck.
Her brothers arrived in the tiny hallway at the same time as Olivia. Both were dressed in tuxedos, looking elegant and handsome, the kind of men that deserved a second glance. For a moment, she simply stared at them, feeling the full press of sisterly pride.
“Guess we’re all going to the same event.”
“Guess so.” They grinned at her, looking like the boys from her childhood instead of the men they’d become.
Another knock came at the door. She waved off her brothers. “I’ve got this.”
“No, Liv, we’ve got it.” Ethan attempted to nudge past her.
She held her ground.
“Step back, Olivia.” Ryder shifted her aside with a hip bump. “It’s our job as your older brothers to vet your date.”
“Not even remotely funny.” She shoved around them, a near-impossible feat since Ethan and Ryder were taking up all the room, elbowing each other to get to the door ahead of her.
Ethan’s elbow connected with Olivia’s ribs and she fell back a full step. “Ooof.”
He reached out to steady her. “Sorry.”
Ryder made his move for the door, smirking over his shoulder as he yanked it open. “Hello, Connor.”
Olivia scowled at her brother.
“Ryder.” Amusement in his gaze, Connor looked over his shoulder and connected his stare with Olivia’s other brother. “Ethan.”
The three men sized up one another, all but circling like a pack of dogs.
Olivia pushed her way through the tangle of testosterone.
“Ignore the prehistoric welcome committee.” She looked pointedly at both brothers. “They were just leaving.”
Ethan gave her the hairy eyeball. “Not yet, we aren’t.”
“Fine, then Connor and I are leaving.” She linked her arm through his.
Connor remained frozen in place, his gaze locked on Ethan’s. “I’ll take good care of her.”
“Yeah, you will.” Ryder issued his own version of the hairy eyeball. “And we’ll hold you personally accountable if you don’t.”
“Understood.”
A beat of silence passed. And then another. If Olivia didn’t know better she’d think the three men were discussing more than just tonight’s hospital event.
Ryder was the first to break ranks. “Now that we’ve got that settled, no driving fast or taking chances. You’ve got precious cargo with you.”
Connor smiled down at her. “Yeah, I do.”
At last, the Scott men stepped aside and let Olivia pass.
“Have a good time, kids,” Ethan called after them.
“Not too good,” Ryder corrected.
Already outside, Connor gave a single wave over his head, then opened the passenger door for Olivia. She waited until he joined her in the car before saying, “Sorry about that. They had no right to—”
“On the contrary.” Connor took her hand. “They had every right. I’ll be just as bad when the twins start dating.”
“You’re their father. Ethan and Ryder aren’t mine.”
“In many ways, Olivia, they are.”
She thought about that, thought about all the times they’d come to her defense, stood in front of her, protected her from making a mistake.
She’d made mistakes anyway.
Yet now that she was back in Village Green, they’d been nothing but supportive, giving her space to figure out her next step in life without their interference.
“I should have come home sooner,” she whispered.
Yet, if she had, she wouldn’t have been so determined to set her own course, to reach for her dream. She definitely wouldn’t have been in a position to help out Connor in his time of need.
God’s blessing had shown up despite Olivia’s mistakes. She was about to make her dream come true, not because of something she did but because the Lord had a better plan for her life than the one she’d been pursuing on her own.
Connor let go of her hand, put the car in gear and pressed on the gas. “The past is the past, Olivia. We all have to move on eventually.”
Heart in her throat, she turned to look at him. “Does that mean you’re no longer blaming yourself for your wife’s death?”
“It means I’m coming to realize I can’t control every part of my life. Either I can claw my way through the day, angry, holding on to the past and wondering ‘what if’ or...” He braked at a traffic light and turned to look at her. “I can trust there’s a bigger plan than the one I can see. That everything happens for a reason.”
As he spoke, his eyes communicated what he wasn’t saying. That he was letting go of the past in ways he hadn’t before. The significance of that stole her breath. Connor didn’t sound bitter anymore. Maybe a little resigned, weary even, but not as angry as the last time they’d had a similar conversation.
“Oh, Connor.” She took his hand and pressed a kiss to the knuckles. “You’re making me cry.”
He frowned. “That wasn’t the intent.”
“They’re happy tears.”
He said nothing.
They arrived at Pinebrooke Country Club in silence, both lost in their own thoughts. Nosing his SUV into an empty space, Connor cut the engine and came around to her side of the car.
Outside the entrance, Connor tugged her to the side. “Take a walk with me.”
Feeling suddenly vulnerable, and not s
ure why, she inched backward, shaking her head. “Connor—”
“Please.”
The appeal in his eyes called to the part of her that could deny this man nothing. From the moment in Hawkins Park when their gazes had connected across the lush green lawn, Olivia had known her life would never be the same again. “All right.”
Silently, carefully, she linked her fingers with his.
He drew her away from the entrance, then down a narrow sidewalk. As they walked side by side, Connor’s nearness attacked the doubt clutching at her heart, making her believe, for one small second, that they could have a happy future together.
Hands clasped loosely together, they walked at a leisurely pace. Light spilled out of the country club, illuminating their path. The slender beam of the waning moon glowed small but bright, like the spark of hope in her heart. The farther they walked, the more brilliantly the stars sparkled against the inky fabric of the sky.
Olivia reveled in the smooth camaraderie that fell between her and Connor. A comfortable serenity she thought might be what married couples experienced after years of knowing each other intimately.
They ambled past the main building. Only the stars and moon provided light now, the mountains standing guard in the distance as though protecting them against the fierce enemies of the world.
Connor looked to the heavens, took a deep breath, then turned to face Olivia. “It’s a beautiful night.”
“Yes, very.” Now, Olivia. Tell him how you feel. It’s the perfect time.
She swallowed, losing her nerve as soon as she’d found it. Where did she start? For all their closeness, there were still moments like these that she felt slightly disconnected from him. As if he were holding a portion of himself back.
Or was that her?
Maybe Olivia was the one afraid to take a chance. Maybe she feared he wouldn’t be able to love her as he’d once loved Sheila.
Well, of course he would never love her as he’d once loved Sheila. And that was all right.
Olivia didn’t want to replace Connor’s wife in his heart. She wanted to be what he needed now, to love him as the man he’d become.
Fearful she would blurt out her feelings, and botch the whole affair, Olivia started to turn back. His gentle touch to her arm stopped her.
For a split second, everything in her stopped.
Then...in one swift movement, he caught her against his chest. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head, the tender gesture breaking down the last of her defenses. This man had so much love to give. Did he know that about himself?
She pulled away so she could look him in the eye. His gaze softened, his eyes communicating something she couldn’t quite name, didn’t dare name. Just for tonight, neither of their pasts mattered.
Only now mattered.
This moment.
She rose onto the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his chin. “Connor—”
“Olivia—”
They laughed, then stepped apart. Olivia’s heart rolled around in her chest, pounded violently against her ribs.
She would tell him she loved him. Tonight.
* * *
Connor took Olivia’s hand and pulled her back to him. “Before we go in.” He tugged her a fraction closer, determined to speak what was in his heart. “Thank you, Olivia. For coming into my life when you did, for showing me that barely making it through the day is no way to live.”
“You’ve always done what’s needed to be done, Connor, and done it well. You’ve created a thriving family medical practice while raising two lovely daughters on your own.”
“I’ve also made things harder on myself than they needed to be. Olivia.” He took both her hands, willing her to him clearly. “I’m more balanced because of you. You’ve taught me how to share my burdens, how to rely on more than my own strength. Again, thank you.”
“Oh, Connor.” Her eyes shone like brilliant sapphires under in the moonlight. “You’re the very best man I know.”
“If that’s true, it’s because of knowing you.”
He stepped back and stared down at her.
His breath hitched in her chest. Olivia stood gazing up at him, her heart in her eyes, her smile solely for him.
He took a moment to simply enjoy the view.
“What?” She touched her hair. “Something out of place?”
He closed the distance a bit more, touched her cheek. “If I haven’t told you already, you look beautiful tonight.”
And Connor was feeling especially tender toward her, more than ever before. The sensation made his heart pound so hard his chest hurt. Even Sheila hadn’t made him feel like this.
He was coming to believe that was okay. He was a different man than one he’d been with Sheila. He wanted different things now, for different reasons. It only made sense he would want a different woman, need a different woman.
That didn’t mean he would ever forget Sheila. She’d been there for all the firsts in his life. But it was time to let her go, once and for all.
“Thank you, Connor. You look especially handsome yourself.”
They smiled at each other.
Things were getting very real. Everything was happening too fast. He had to remember his goals and desires for the future weren’t the only ones requiring consideration.
Olivia’s wants and needs were important, as well.
Connor took a step back, both mentally and physically. No matter how close he felt to Olivia at this moment, no matter how much he wanted her in his life, he had to let her reach for her dreams without him standing in her way.
He couldn’t bear another woman he loved resenting him.
For Olivia’s sake, he had to maintain perspective. “Tell me more about your meeting with Hardy.”
“Not now. I want to enjoy the evening with you. No talk about the future.”
Sounded good to him.
The inevitable was coming; he felt it, accepted it. But he would make the evening special for her anyway. And for himself, as well. He would ensure that this was a night they would both remember for the rest of their lives.
In silent agreement, they began the trek back to the country club. Two steps later, Connor drew to a stop again. “Before we go in, I want to do this....”
He pressed his lips to hers, gently at first, then with a bit more feeling before he stepped back. “Now we can go inside.”
They decided to hit the silent auction before finding their table. If the crush of people was any indication, everyone in town had been invited to the gala. Connor wasn’t sure how it happened, a jostle from the right, a shove from the left and he lost sight of Olivia.
He spent the next ten minutes searching for her dark hair among the sea of bobbing heads. Frustrated he couldn’t find her, he made his way out into the hallway.
Still no Olivia.
He decided to head back into the silent auction, but was stopped by a slap on his back. “Connor Mitchell. First on the phone and now in person.”
“Hardy Bennett.” Connor nodded to the banker, a man he’d known all his life. They’d even been on the same baseball team together in high school. “Wasn’t expecting to see you here tonight.”
“Tasha invited me, but I seem to have lost her in that madhouse.” He hitched his chin toward the silent auction.
“My date’s in there, too.” Connor swept his gaze across the crowd, coming up empty again. “I figure if I wait out here I’ll catch her when she finally makes it out.”
“Not a bad idea. I’ll wait with you.”
They spent the next few minutes catching up on each other’s lives.
When a lull fell over the conversation, Hardy said, “Hey, can’t believe I didn’t mention this sooner.” He glanced at the doorway again. “But I want to thank you for s
ending Olivia Scott my way.”
“No problem.”
“That woman can write a business proposal like I’ve never seen.”
Connor felt his shoulders bunch at the admiration he heard in the other man’s voice.
“Of course.” Hardy chuckled. “That’s to be expected, given her background in corporate restructuring. She’s dealt with far larger budgets than the one she presented to me this afternoon.”
“So you were impressed with her idea.”
“More than a little.”
Although Connor wanted to ask Hardy specifics, the man continued talking without any prompting. “In fact, I’m thinking of renting her space in a building I own downtown.”
“Olivia mentioned something about that.” What she hadn’t mentioned was Hardy owning the building in question.
“Did she?” Hardy shrugged this off. “The place used to be a Mexican restaurant, but they couldn’t make a go of it with Señor O’Toole’s as competition.”
Connor felt a spike of dread. “You think a tearoom will have a better chance?”
“Absolutely, especially with Miss Scott’s idea to sell her chocolate creations as a separate operation from the tearoom business.”
“So you think she can make a go of it?”
“Yeah, sure.” Hardy nodded. “She has a solid plan in place. And since she isn’t married and doesn’t have kids, she’ll have plenty of time to devote to the business.”
The unspoken message was clear. Starting her own tearoom would require Olivia’s undivided attention.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the process, even if all I do is rubber-stamp her loan application.”
Connor tensed. Not wanting to know the answer to the question weaving through his brain, but unable able to resist asking it, he pressed for more. “Would you have considered giving her the loan if she’d had a husband and children?”
Hardy’s face went immediately blank. “That would be discrimination.”
“Right. Sorry I asked.”
But he wasn’t sorry, not for asking the question, at any rate. Despite his denial, Connor knew Hardy wouldn’t be this enthusiastic over Olivia’s venture if she was a married woman.