“Why not?”
I set the glass down and looked away. “I guess I have a lot on my mind,” I echoed him and sighed. “I’m not really used to the peace and quiet.”
“I know what you mean. I sleep better in the city.”
I glanced back at him. So did I. “That was nice of you to fly back early for the wedding. I’m sure it made Dani happy.”
“Like I told you earlier—I didn’t do it for her.”
I crossed my arms and played with the tie of my robe until the silence became awkward. “It’s been a while since we were, you know, alone together,” I said softly. “I guess.”
“Around fifteen weeks.” He shrugged. “But who’s counting?”
He looked too good for three in the morning. His dark hair was soft, no longer perfect, as though he’d showered since the ceremony. My fingers tingled with the urge to touch it. Or to curl into his gray t-shirt, tight over his broad shoulders. I struggled for something to say, not trusting my disobedient thoughts as my eyes drifted down to his drawstring navy and green tartan pants. Not his style and slightly too short in the leg.
“So you took a job out of town, I heard,” I said.
He nodded. “I’m here half the week to finish up the hotel and in New York through the weekends. I needed the distraction. And distance.”
“From?”
He hesitated. “Life.”
I waited for him to continue. When he didn’t, I said, “Sounds like you’ve been busy.”
“You as well. Congratulations on your promotion.”
“How’d you know?”
“I just know.”
Of course he did. He’d always known things about me before I’d told him. I nodded. “Oh.”
“What I didn’t know is how much weight you’ve lost,” he said. “It’s upsetting. It concerns me.”
“Does it?” I asked, holding the cold water glass against my chest.
“Yes, of course. Your well-being is—I mean, it’s your health, Olivia. If it’s because of me—”
“Have you heard anything from Cooper about Mark Alvarez?” I asked and looked out the window over the sink. I couldn’t get into the reasons behind my weight loss with David. As it was, most days, I was hanging on by a thread. It wouldn’t do any good to lose it here, with most of the people I cared about under one roof.
“The piece of shit knows he’s guilty for attacking you,” David said, “so he took a plea bargain.”
I widened my eyes. “Nobody told me.”
During waking hours, I actively avoided thinking about the encounter, but as I slept, my mind refused to let it go. The memory that haunted my nightmares flashed before my eyes—Mark appearing in my office doorway, then ripping open my blouse. His hiss as he’d said Bill had better get Mark’s brother out of prison after helping put him away for life. And then, relief when David had come to my rescue, detaining Mark until the police could arrive.
“We don’t have to testify,” David continued. “There won’t be a trial. Basically, he won’t serve as much time, but he’s still going to prison for a while.”
“So I don’t need to worry anymore?”
He cocked his head. “Have you been worried?”
“A little,” I said.
“Don’t. I’m looking out for you.”
“How can you be? You’re not around.”
