by Sadie Grubor
He sighs once more, this time in defeat.
"You need to tell her about it before she hears it from someone else. I am telling you now, do it before she finds out the wrong way."
"You think I don't realize the edge I'm walking?" I growl. "Do you think I want to risk this over one almost indiscretion? I'll be damned if I get further into that night than necessary."
"But the guilt—"
"I'll deal with that. It's not yours to bear."
"How can you say that? I've never spoken about the details, not even to Scarlett, and it eats away at me. We don't keep secrets and I bear this burden every day…for you!" Hugh's voice rises.
"Keep your mouth shut," I order through clenched teeth.
"You need to handle this better, Damon. I won't say anything, but if the question is asked, I won't lie for you any longer."
"Fuck you," I growl and hang up.
Tossing my cell to the desk, I press my palms onto the mahogany top and try to calm.
Nothing happened, yet just knowing I considered—
"What was that about?"
Olivia's voice cuts my thoughts and draws my attention. She stands in the doorway of my office with a black coffee cup in her hands, her brow wrinkled in confusion.
"Nothing," I quip.
The look she gives shows her disbelief, so I attempt to change the subject.
"Hugh and I simply don't agree about something."
"Uh huh." Her lips purse tightly before she walks away from the door.
"Did you need something?" I question as I follow.
"Yeah, the truth, but it's clear I won't be getting that from you," she responds with her back to me as she keeps walking.
My lips twitch with the urge to confess my sins, my deepest, darkest secrets — where I truly was the night Rebecca and DJ died, who I was with, what I'd almost done, and even the truth about Alex.
"Momma!" Alex calls through the baby monitor sitting on the kitchen island. Olivia changes course to get him.
"I'm coming, little man," she responds, climbing the stairs.
My phone rings in the distance and I stomp back to my office.
Scarlett.
"What?" I bite out as I walk to the kitchen for coffee.
"Don't take that tone with me Damon," she scolds, as if she were my mother.
"I'm sorry," I mumble, hating her ability to make me feel like a child.
"As you should be." A small giggle follows her response. "I want you to meet us for lunch at Tavern on the Green. I already made the reservation and won't take no for an answer, so meet us at twelve." She hangs up.
Groaning, I slam the phone to the marble countertop.
"Another nothing, huh?" Olivia asks, carrying Alex to his highchair.
"No, that was Scarlett demanding our attendance for lunch this afternoon. We don't have to go if you would rather do something else." Pushing away from the counter, and my phone, I move toward the coffee.
"Did you have something else planned?" she asks from within the refrigerator.
She straightens, pulling out eggs, milk, and butter.
"Which cabinet holds your pantry items?" She looks toward me for guidance and I point to the large cabinet behind her. She turns and stretches for a box of pancake mix. After two attempts to reach the top shelf, she braces her hands like she's going to climb.
I quickly move to grasp her waist to prevent her from falling. She starts a bit and tenses under my touch.
"Thanks." Her words are breathy as she slips down against my chest.
Olivia quickly moves away from me, busying herself with making pancakes.
I sit in a chair next to Alex and play a game of peek-a-boo until Olivia places pancakes on the breakfast bar. We eat in comfortable silence, discussing the warm October weather expected and decide we should get Alex out of the apartment.
While Olivia gets herself and Alex dressed for the day, I clean up breakfast plates and mixing bowls. When complete, I go to get myself dressed.
Once dressed, I meet Olivia and Alex in his room.
"I'm thinking we could take Alex to the Central Park Zoo."
They both turn to me. The wooden doorframe presses into my shoulder as I lean and wait for her to respond.
"Dad," Alex blurts, toddling toward me.
My eyes shoot to Olivia, both of us wearing matching expressions of shock. I finally find my voice.
"Yeah, that's right."
Stepping into the room, I lift him into the air.
"I'm your dad."
There is no fighting the smile off my face. Pulling him close to my chest, I look down to Olivia. A mixture of emotions play on her face.
"So, what do you think?" I ask, bringing the conversation back to the zoo.
"Yeah, sure." She shakes her head.
Obviously, she's settled on being annoyed by this stepping-stone between Alex and me.
"You want to go see some animals?" I tickle under his chin.
He laughs and then screams, "Anmahs!"
After Alex's day bag is packed and we have extra jackets, I hail a cab to take us to the zoo. Most of the animals are still outside and we haven't needed our coats yet. Halfway through our outing, my phone vibrates and dings. Pulling it out of my pocket, I find another text from Scarlett.
You had better show up.
I shake my head and slip the phone back into my pocket.
"Scarlett is adamant we join them for lunch."
"Okay." Olivia shrugs.
She helps Alex to stand on a stone fence to see the animal enclosure better.
"We should start heading back to the entrance if we want to meet with them on time."
"Okay."
Narrowing my eyes, I study her lack of reaction.
"Are you going to speak to me at all today?"
She helps Alex back into a wagon and we make our way back to the entrance.
"I've spoken to you." She leans down to give Alex a spill-proof cup.
"Hardly," I growl. "You're being very short."
She sighs.
"I don't appreciate being lied to."
We don't speak again or look at each other until we are secured in another cab.
"What if I said I was arguing with my brother because he and Scarlett can't mind their own business?"
"Is that the truth? Or has it taken you all morning to come up with this?" She raises a brow.
"The truth."
"Hmm." She turns to look out the window. She's obviously not sure whether she should believe me.
The ride to the restaurant is quiet, aside from Alex squealing.
When we arrive, Scarlett swoops in on Alex and Olivia. Hugh stands, calmly and apprehensively, gaging my reaction to his presence.
"Everything okay?" I ask.
He nods. "I've said my piece."
"As have I." I raise my brow and smirk.
"Come and sit down, you two." Scarlett rolls her eyes and waves us over to two empty seats.
During lunch, the previous tension between Hugh and I dissolves. We casually discuss business and family. Scarlett engages Olivia to learn more about her and Alex.
"Oh, Damon," Scarlett blurts across the table, "we got the box for the Yankees game. You two should come with us." It wasn't an invitation. She was making demands again.
"Scarlett, I've made some plans—"
"Cancel them. We have the box and it's the World Series. You and Olivia can join us. We’ll have fun." She turns from me to Olivia. "Tell me you'll come?"
Scarlett doesn't pout, but she has this look that defies rejection. I almost feel bad for Olivia. She doesn't stand a chance.
"Well, I'm not sure. Alex will need a babysitter and I don't know if—"
"Heidi will watch him, I'm sure." I could've gotten us out of the invitation, but I'm now seeing the possibilities of this outing. An outing where Olivia and I can relax, have fun, and also have the buffer of another couple.
Scarlett smiles, knowing I'm completely onboard with
the plans.
"Idee?" Alex looks around for her. "Idee?"
"You want to see Heidi, huh?" Scarlett coos.
A large grin lights up his little face.
"I guess. If Heidi doesn't mind, that is," Olivia hesitantly resigns.
"Since she's done nothing but talk about Alex since their night together, I'm sure she will be more than willing," Hugh reassures with a smile.
"We'll have to ask her." Olivia looks to me.
"Taking care of it now." Scarlett smiles, her phone already to her ear.
Scarlett is a force. And this is why she works for me.
"Heidi, it’s Scar. We are out with Damon, Olivia, and Alex."
She pauses, and then tilts her phone from her face. Her eyes meet mine and then Hugh's.
"She says hello and she loves you both."
I smile. Heidi is a softer more loving force, but just as powerful.
"Heidi, can you watch Alex tomorrow evening?" Scar nods, listening. "I'm sure they can bring him to your house this time." Her eyes seek mine in a silent question.
I nod.
"Yes, they will bring him to you." Another pause. "Great, thank you so much!" A smile spreads over Scar's face. "Yes, I promise to start calling you mom, and I love you, too."
Scarlett ends the call, beaming. She's gotten her way — again.
"All set."
"I'm not so sure about leaving Alex in an unfamiliar house. I mean, he may get nervous about—"
"Olivia, he loves Heidi and she will spoil him rotten. You know how great he is with her."
She nods, reluctantly, looking at Alex and running her fingers through his hair. Pulling away from her touch, he shoves French fries in his mouth.
At the conclusion of lunch, we settle the final details of our night out. Scarlett calls it a double date and Olivia cringes.
"I'll have some Yankees clothes sent over to Damon's for you." Scarlett grins.
"My father would have a heart attack if he saw me in anything other than Pirates gear," Olivia giggles.
The sound is perfection.
Scarlett, a diehard Yankee girl, scrunches her face in distaste.
"Well, we'll remedy your penchant for black and gold tomorrow." She hugs Olivia as we part ways.
Alex fights sleep in the car on the way home, rubbing his eyes and sucking his fingers. He loses the battle just as we pull up to my building. Olivia leads the way to the elevator and to the apartment, as I cradle Alex in my arms. The curve and natural sway of her hips draws my attention.
She turns when we reach the door and catches me ogling her. I snap my eyes to her face, prepared for her annoyance. I’m surprised to find amusement glinting in her bright eyes. Shaking her head, she holds out her palm.
"Key?" she whispers.
"Left pocket," I respond in a hush, jutting my hip out.
For a moment, she hesitates, staring at my hip. Then she steps closer and slips her hand into my pocket.
Her fingers moving against me, so close to my groin, are enough to stir my lower body to life. I silently pray she finds the key before she finds me reacting like a teenager.
She fishes out the key and unlocks the door.
I calm myself, and my erection, while taking Alex to bed. On my way back downstairs, with the intention of going to my office, my body springs back to life at the sight before me.
Olivia lies across my couch, on her stomach, flipping through television channels. The curve of her ass is prominently displayed by the way she rests on her forearms.
Licking my lips and swallowing roughly, my fingers twitch to touch her, to glide over her curves and grip the plump flesh. Knowing she unwelcomes my touch, I turn quickly for my office and close the door behind me.
Groaning, I sit behind my desk and take deep breaths. No matter how much I try to fight the arousal, the image of her sprawled on my couch leads to memories of her naked body. It's been a month and I can still remember the softness of her skin, the way she molded against me, and how explosive the night had been. Reaching down, I adjust the discomfort in my pants.
Down, boy.
A crash and curse from the other side of the office door brings me out of my chair and moving toward the kitchen.
Olivia stands next to the counter with glass shards scattered around her sock covered feet. Her eyes move from the mess on the floor to me.
"I'm so sorry." She flushes from embarrassment and takes a step forward.
"Don't move." Throwing my hands out before me, I pin her with one look. "Stay there," I order and she obeys.
I turn, slip on the shoes I took off, and come back to the kitchen. Olivia still stands, unmoving. The glass crunches under the soles of my shoes as I step to her and lift her over my shoulder.
She squeals and fists the material on the back of my shirt.
After setting her down in a glass free zone, I move to the closet and retrieve the broom.
"Let me." She steps toward me. "It's my mess."
Waving her off, I sweep the glass into a pile. I reach for the dustpan, but Olivia grabs it first and crouches to help.
"Your feet," I object before noticing she slipped on shoes.
"All covered," she responds, emptying the glass into the garbage.
After returning the broom and dustpan, she looks up with concern in her eyes.
"I hope the glass wasn't valuable or of some sentimental value." She licks her lips in a nervous action. It doesn't help to quell the naughty thoughts swirling in my mind today.
Leaning against the counter, I grin.
"Olivia, until last week, I didn't even have glasses in the cabinet."
Her mouth pops open, closes, and then she laughs.
"In fact, just about everything was stocked right before you and Alex arrived. What were you trying to get?"
"The pitcher." She points to the highest shelf.
Reaching up, I hand it to her.
"Thanks." Blushing, she steps around me to a bowl of lemons I hadn't noticed.
"What are you making?"
"Lemonade."
I watch as she slices, squeezes, and tosses the juiced pieces into the sink. She continues by adding water, sugar, and stirs.
"What?" she asks in an annoyed sigh.
"What do you mean?"
"Why are watching me? It's making me self-conscious."
"I dunno." I shrug. "I was just watching."
Once she pours herself a drink, she returns to the living room and I walk back to my office.
After Alex wakes from his nap and eats a small snack, we play cars in the living room. The moment is quiet, casual, and, for me, so surreal. Crayons, cars, cartoons, and blocks are now more satisfying than anything else in life.
"What would you like for dinner?" I ask, my head buried in the three-foot coloring book Alex and I are working on.
When she doesn't respond, I look up and catch her in deep thought.
"Olivia?"
She blinks and focuses on me.
"I can cook something," she offers, standing from the floor and walking to the kitchen.
"I didn't mean you have to cook. We can call for delivery or go—"
"I can cook," she cuts me off with pots and pans banging.
Not wanting to argue this point, I return to coloring.
The evening remains quiet and casual. We follow dinner with a Disney movie, the three of us relaxing with Alex in the middle. With my arm stretched over the back of the couch, I can almost encompass both of them. When Alex falls asleep, Olivia carries him up to bed. As I follow, the doorbell rings.
"I'll get it."
I open the door and one of the doormen greets me, holding multiple bags in his arms.
"Miss Manson had these sent for Mrs. Knyght. May I bring them in?"
Stepping aside, I allow him to bring the bags in and set them to the floor. He quickly exits with a nod and a 'good evening'.
I stare at the multiple bags. Just how much Yankees clothing does Scarlet think Olivia needs?
"What is all that?" Olivia's question draws my eyes away from the mound of packages.
"I'm pretty sure it's your Yankees gear."
Reaching down, I pick the bags from the floor.
"All of this?" she asks, astonished.
"I'll carry them to the bedroom so you can go through them."
"I can take them," she reaches out.
Avoiding her hands, I step around and ascend the stairs.
"Thank you," she practically whispers when I set them on the bed.
"You're welcome." I quickly step to her and kiss the side of her head.
Before exiting the room, I turn back to her. "I'll be in my office if you need anything."
"Okay." She doesn't look up as she pulls clothing from a bag.
I hesitate a moment longer, watching her take shirts, shorts, a jacket, and other accessories from the bags. She mumbles about buying so much and how it probably cost a fortune. Keeping my amusement to myself, I descend to my office.
Friday morning, I wake alone in bed to loud screaming from downstairs. Jumping from the bed, I rush toward the loud voices.
"What the hell is going on?" I look between Maria, my housekeeper, to an annoyed Olivia.
"Please tell her who we are." Olivia gives me a pleading look.
"Maria," I grin and walk toward her, "this is my wife and son."
Her brow furrows. "Señor?"
"Yes, Maria." I move, standing next to Olivia and putting my arm around her. "This is my wife, Olivia, and our son, Alex."
Maria studies the three of us for a brief moment before relaxing her defensive stance.
Nodding my thanks in her direction, I turn to Olivia.
"Olivia, this is Maria, my housekeeper."
As the situation sinks in, I fight not to laugh.
"You're so intent on telling everyone about us, how about you make sure your cleaning lady doesn't think I'm robbing you with a baby on my hip?" She snorts and then laughs.
My laughter erupts and Alex even joins in with forced chuckles. As she goes about her weekly routine, Maria mumbles, "Loco.”
We laugh harder.
After the unusual wake-up call, we eat a quick breakfast before getting ready for the day ahead of us. Olivia and Alex go upstairs to dress while I work in my office and Maria completes her three hours. Maria’s departure makes me aware of the time. Needing to get ready for the day, I step away from the work waiting on my desk.