by Mary Davis
That was how he felt when he kissed Liv. Lights and color bursting inside him. He just wanted to sit here with her. Once the fireworks had ended, he knew he needed to walk her home. But he didn’t need to release her from the quilt.
He stood, lifting her to her feet. She leaned against him.
Nick handed him his box, and he tucked it under his free arm while maintaining a hold on the quilt.
Liv didn’t protest or say anything on the way to her house.
Once they arrived in her yard, he faced her and kept his arm around her. He bent forward and kissed her. Her lips were soft, warm and yielding. “So have you forgiven me?”
With a smile, she ducked out of his grasp and pulled the quilt off him. “Perhaps tomorrow.” She rolled the quilt around her arms.
He’d come to hate those two words. “I’ll hold you to that.”
She lightly ran up the steps of her porch and turned. “You do that, Mr. Morrison. You do that.” She blew him a kiss and slipped inside.
His jaw slackened. Was she saying tomorrow? All this nonsense would be over tomorrow? She would forgive him? Not that this little game of theirs hadn’t been fun, but he would be glad to be done with it.
He turned on one foot and whistled his way home.
Chapter 3
Olivia woke to rain tapping on the roof. She didn’t care. This was going to be a glorious day in spite of the weather. She stretched her arms above her head and smiled. The rain made the air smell fresh and new. Just like the day.
Troy had gone a whole year without one mishap with another woman. At least that she knew of. And she didn’t want to think otherwise. She could trust him now and therefore forgive him.
She hastened to put on her prettiest pink dress and then prepared breakfast for Mother and Gran.
Mother patted the table from where she sat in her wheelchair. “Sit and eat.”
“I ate enough while I was cooking.”
Gran gave a toothy grin. “Have you and that handsome boy finally reconciled?”
“Today.”
Mother smiled, as well. “With the look on your face when you came home, I figured you two made up last night.”
“It’s about time.” Gran eyed Olivia. “Yesterday was a final test for him, wasn’t it?”
“I was never testing him. But I needed to learn to trust him again.”
“And now you have?” Gran asked.
“Oh, yes. He was so sweet yesterday. And attentive.” She ignored the fact that he’d smiled at Violet. That girl needed to understand that Troy was her beau and she’d best find her own. Violet thought her family’s wealth entitled her to anything—or anyone—she wanted.
“I’m glad,” Mother said. “We’ll see you later. Have a nice time.”
“Oh, I will.” Olivia kissed her mother on the cheek and then Gran.
From the stand by the door, she grabbed the blue umbrella Troy had given her. She didn’t care that it didn’t match her dress. This whole past year she had avoided using it. Wielding the pretty blue gift might have given Troy the idea she’d forgiven him. But now that she had, she was happy to use it for protection.
She wrapped herself in a shawl as she stepped outside and pushed open the umbrella. She fingered the white lace that lined the inside. The only one like it in town.
She would need to be vigilant to keep her dress from being ruined by mud. She wanted to look nice for Troy.
* * *
Troy sat behind his desk in his office at the bank and couldn’t help but smile. Liv had all but said last night that she would officially forgive him today. Unofficially, he knew she already had. He couldn’t wait for his workday to be over so he could see her. He would gaze into her sky-blue eyes, ask one final time for forgiveness and kiss her.
From his vest pocket, he pulled out a small black velvet pouch, loosened the strings, and poured the contents onto his palm. Set in a white-gold band, a solitaire blue zircon sparkled. It was the sapphire’s paler cousin and the color of Liv’s eyes.
Jack, the office boy, poked his head through Troy’s doorway. “Mr. Jones wants you.”
“Thank you.” He returned the ring to the pouch and pocketed it. He had bought it six months ago, but he’d known he would have to wait until just the right time for Liv to accept it. Tonight was that night.
Troy stepped into the bank manager’s office as requested. He stopped short at the sight of the man’s wife and daughter. “I can come back later.”
Mr. Jones waved him in. “Come in. This concerns you.”
A sudden unsettled feeling twisted in the pit of his stomach. He took one more step inside but left the door open. He smiled at Mrs. Jones seated in a chair and at Violet standing next to her. Then he turned back to his boss. “You wanted to see me, sir?”
“What plans do you have for this coming Saturday?”
That was four days away. Other than seeing Liv? None. Not that she knew about it yet. He planned to see her tonight and every day and night for the rest of his life.
“No plans?” The bank manager’s mouth spread into a wide smile. “Good.”
Troy regretted not speaking up faster but didn’t quite know why.
“My wife has arranged a dinner party for Saturday.”
No.
“It appears we are one guest short.”
Don’t say it.
“You will be Violet’s escort.”
Noooo. “That’s very kind of you, but I must decline.”
His boss pulled his eyebrows low. “I thought you had no plans. I’ve seen the way you look at my daughter.”
He looked at all the ladies the same. Except Liv. She was different.
Violet’s mouth twisted into a possessive smile. She sashayed close to him and hooked her arm through his.
He wanted to jerk away from her, but it would not bode well for him if he rejected his boss’s daughter. Why couldn’t he have said he had a previous engagement? Trapped, he swallowed hard. “I would be honored, sir.” He nearly choked on his answer.
Violet tilted her head onto his shoulder.
Troy stiffened. This was not good. Not good at all. He had to figure some way out of this without offending his boss and losing his job.
And without Liv finding out.
* * *
Olivia couldn’t believe the scene before her eyes. Troy with Violet snuggled up to him.
Images of her father kissing Widow Baxter crashed over her like a violent storm. She’d successfully pushed the memory away and bought into his fictitious death. Lived the lie so long, she believed it. Until seeing Troy with Violet again brought it all hurling back. The pain of abandonment. The humility of betrayal. She had pushed the memories and pain aside before. She could do it again.
She had wanted Troy to be different. But he wasn’t.
He just stood there talking with his boss with Violet securely at his side. He evidently wanted Mr. Jones to think there was something between him and Violet. He was probably trying to win favors with his boss.
Olivia couldn’t watch any more. She raced out of the bank and ran into a gentleman on the boardwalk.
He gripped her shoulders to keep them both from tumbling into the muddy street. “Pardon me, miss.”
“I’m sorry.” She turned away from him and dashed out into the rain, not bothering to dodge puddles. Not caring if her dress got dirty. Rain soaked through all her layers of clothing right to her skin. Her skirt hung heavy with rain and dragged in the mud.
Breathing hard, she knocked with a clenched fist on the Devlins’ door.
Missy, the youngest Devlin, opened the door and gasped. “What happened to you?”
Olivia must look bedraggled. She pushed a wet tendril from her face. “Forgot my umbrella. Is Felicity here?” Her lips quivered.
Mrs. Devlin appeared behind the girl. “You poor child. Come in out of the wet and cold. Missy, go get your sister.” She touched Olivia’s arm. “Come into the kitchen and warm yourself by the stove.”
Olivia sat in the straight-back chair Mrs. Devlin pulled up to the stove. “Thank you.”
“I’ll get you a towel to dry your hair.” Mrs. Devlin scurried out.
Taking a deep breath, Olivia spread the folds of her skirt out so it would dry quicker. The bottom four inches were spattered with mud.
Felicity burst into the kitchen with a towel and handed it to Olivia. “What happened? Is it your mother? Granny?”
Olivia felt the tears burn her eyes. No, she would not cry. Never again would she cry over that man. But the tears came anyway. “I hate him.”
Felicity pulled up a chair. “But you were getting on so well yesterday.”
Nice how Felicity didn’t even have to ask of whom she spoke. “Apparently not as well as I thought.”
“What happened? Did something happen when he walked you home last night? Did he do something unspeakable?”
Oh, no. He had played at being the perfect gentleman. Making her believe all was well between them. Making her believe he was faithful to her. Making her believe he loved only her. “He was with her.”
“Her who? When?”
“Violet. This morning.” Olivia tried to push the image from her mind, only to have it replaced by the image of him kissing Violet a year ago. He’d promised!
“No.” Felicity shook her head. “He’s devoted to you.”
“Evidently not. He prefers her dark hair and exotic look to my pale, washed-out one.” She put her hands on her cheeks.
“No. You’re beautiful. He doesn’t love you for how you look. What was he doing with her?”
“She was at the bank with him.”
“Now, don’t jump to conclusions. Her father does run the bank. It’s perfectly natural for her to be there.”
Olivia moved her hands in tight, frustrated circles. “She was hanging on his arm. Then she put her head on his shoulder.” She whimpered.
After a moment, her friend said, “What did Troy do? Push her away? Tell me he pushed her away. You stayed this time to see his reaction, didn’t you?”
“He did nothing. He stood there with her wrapped around his arm and did absolutely nothing.”
Felicity touched her arm. “Livia, breathe.”
“I don’t ever want to again.” Unfortunately, she had no choice and inhaled. “Do you think he’s been seeing her this whole time?”
“Certainly not. We would have known. I’m sure he has an explanation.”
“He always does.” Just like her father. She slapped away the tears on her cheeks. “I guess that’s it. After dallying around for six years, it’s finally over.” Why couldn’t he have just asked her to marry him back then? Instead he had to go to college and prove himself to her father. Then Father had passed away. At least that was what they’d told everyone to avoid the humiliation of his abandoning them for another woman. And then last year was the Violet incident. Troy’s worst yet.
Felicity hugged her. “I’m so sorry.”
She was, too. She would never marry now. For she could never love anyone else as she loved him. And he couldn’t be trusted.
* * *
Troy bounded up the Bradshaws’ steps in one leap and knocked. He’d had a difficult time waiting all day to see Liv. He’d hoped she would have stopped by to see him. But he was the man and should be doing the calling on her.
Granny Bradshaw opened the door and smiled. “Good to see you. Come in.”
As he stepped over the threshold, he patted his vest pocket. Tonight would be the beginning of their future.
Mrs. Bradshaw wheeled over in her chair. “Good evening, Troy. Go on into the parlor. I’ll send Olivia in.”
Granny Bradshaw added, “And we’ll leave the two of you alone.”
He appreciated that. He sat on the settee and then stood. Walked over to the hearth and back to the settee. Too restless to sit, he returned to the hearth. He would look good standing there. And he could easily see Liv when she came in.
Liv entered with a tray of tea and chocolate cake. She wore a striking blue dress with black pinstripes. She had apparently dressed up for him, but she wasn’t smiling.
He’d expected her to be smiling. Was something wrong? Troy wasn’t used to being rattled. He took a deep breath and pushed the disquiet aside. “Hello, Liv.” He reached for his vest pocket.
Her expression remained neutral as she set the tray down on the serving table. She sat on the edge of the wingback chair facing the settee and looked up at him. “Cake?”
He left the velvet bag where it was and took the offered plate. He sat on the settee by himself but left ample room for her. He patted the seat. “Sit beside me?”
She handed him a cup of tea. Taking neither cake nor tea, she shifted back in the chair. “I’m comfortable here.”
Why was Liv acting so strange?
“Is everything all right?”
She smoothed a nonexistent wrinkle in her skirt. “I don’t know. Is it?”
He put his cup and plate back on the tray. “Apparently not. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“Very well.” She folded her hands in her lap and raised her blue gaze to him. “I sense that there’s something you need to tell me.”
The hair on the back of his neck prickled. “Like what?”
Olivia stood, crossed to the hearth, and swiveled to face him. “Think, Troy. Think real hard.”
A sudden sour taste in his mouth caused the back of his throat to ache. Did she know? She couldn’t possibly. Someone must have told her. But who? “Who told you?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Told me what?”
She wanted him to say it, to admit it. But he could tell that she knew. Maybe it was Violet herself who’d made sure Liv knew.
His chest tightened, and he couldn’t draw in a full breath. He held his hands out, palms up. “I don’t want to go to this supper.”
Her eyes widened in anger. “Supper? You’re taking her to supper?”
Wasn’t that what she was hinting at? She obviously knew some of it, so he might as well come clean.
“Violet’s parents are throwing a dinner party, and I’m to be her escort. I don’t have a choice. Isn’t that what you’re talking about? Someone told you I was going to be at their supper party on Saturday with Violet?”
“No one told me anything. I saw her wrapped around your arm with my own eyes.”
She had seen? She had been there? His heart constricted. She always managed to catch him in unfortunate situations. And today was going to be the day she forgave him and put all this nonsense behind them. Why did she have to see?
He stood, holding out his hands. “Liv, that’s not my fault. She—”
“That’s the problem. Nothing is ever your fault. Poor Troy, everyone takes advantage of him.”
“I couldn’t push her away with my boss there.” He reached for her hand.
She jerked away from him. “Don’t touch me.” She turned to leave.
He couldn’t let her. He grabbed her upper arms and made her face him. “Let me explain.”
She wrestled to free herself but gave up quickly and hit her fists on his chest. “You promised! You promised!”
“I know. But there is nothing between Violet and me. You know that.”
She kept thumping her fists against him. “Then you should have pushed her away. You should have. Let me go.”
“Not until you calm down.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her close to keep her from hurting herself.
She struggled in his embrace for only a moment and then went stiff. “Let. Me. Go.”
He sensed if he did, he might never have her in his arms again. With a deep sigh, he released her. “If I rejected Violet right there in front of my boss, I would have been fired.”
She stepped back. “So Violet and your job mean more to you than me?”
“No. But I can’t take care of you if I don’t have work.”
Olivia stared at him vacantly.
Didn’t she believe him? “Liv,
I love you.”
She shook her head. “I can’t put up with this anymore. I can’t always be wondering if you are with her or some other girl.”
“I’ve never been with another girl. Only you. You are the only one I care about.”
“You have allowed yourself to get into this position. You haven’t gained any wisdom. I want you to leave.”
“Please, Liv. We can talk about this.”
“I just can’t.” Her blue eyes brimmed with unshed tears. “If you won’t leave, then I will.” She strode out of the parlor and to her room across the hall. She closed the door almost silently.
But she might as well have slammed it for the impact it had on him. She had shut him out as though she’d never cared.
Her mother and grandmother stood in the hallway. They both had sympathetic expressions for him.
“She’ll settle down in a day or two,” Granny Bradshaw said. “I’m sure she will.”
That was a nice sentiment, but he doubted it. Liv’s temper had a long memory.
* * *
Liv peered through the crack between the curtains and watched Troy walk down the path and turn onto the street. A part of her wanted to call him back and forgive him. But the part of her that was tired of being hurt by him wouldn’t let her. She pressed her palm to the cold glass.
A lone tear trickled down her cheek.
Chapter 4
When Troy arrived at work the next morning and opened the bank, he noticed a lone umbrella in the stand. Blue lined with white lace. He removed it from the brass container. Liv had been here. And left in a hurry. She had accused him of not pushing Violet away, so she had evidently stayed long enough to notice that.
His heart hoped she would get over this soon enough and forgive him. His head said otherwise.
He took the umbrella to his office. He didn’t want anyone else to accidentally take it home. Having it near made Liv seem closer somehow. Somehow he had to make her understand. He didn’t want to lose her and knew he needed to do something.
He waited until his boss had been in his office for a while, then went to see him. He hadn’t wanted to go too soon and seem overly eager. He knocked on the closed door.