I really do need to distract myself from the one-track mind that my brain is unable to do anything about when Olivia is near, so I decide to talk about things that aren’t sex.
“So why did you and Sean fall out about me?” I pass her a piece of bruschetta.
“Thank you. We didn’t fall out, not really. He said that you fancied me and that I should be careful because you were probably a player.”
I stare across at her as she continues to eat, oblivious to my rising anger at the other man for daring to interfere in my life, not that he knows that Olivia is my life. I realise I am totally done for without any interruptions from my inner voice.
“Did he now?” I’m trying to sound indifferent, but am unsure if I manage it looking at her concerned expression.
“Mmm, he was trying to look out for me I think, but I got mad with him and told him to mind his own business, oh and that’s when I said that he should check with Arianna if you were a player when you were married, sorry,” she says, and I can see why because her advice for him to check up on my status as a faithful husband does piss me off a little, but I know she was just setting him straight, especially as Sean is liaising mainly with my ex-wife.
I wave off her apology. “I understand his concerns on the face of it baby, but maybe if he knew about us it would be easier for everyone concerned.” I know that I might just be using this situation to my advantage because I don’t want to play cloak and dagger or hide my relationship with Olivia away. We are both free agents and are doing nothing wrong.
“How would that look to everyone? My bosses, colleagues, your friends and family?”
I reach for Olivia’s hand in an attempt to distract her in some way because I don’t like the sad, worried expression on her face.
“I’m not saying there wouldn’t be some nudging and winking, but I don’t give a shit.”
“I’ll think about it,” she concedes with a smile.
“You’ll need to think quickly if you’re coming away with me on Wednesday,” I tell her. I am on a real roll here directing conversation.
“I can’t—”
I interrupt with my disagreement. “You can, if you want to, so please don’t say you can’t.”
“Fine. It wouldn’t be wise. I have work and I have no holiday left to take, and even if I did, it wouldn’t be agreed at such short notice, and I really want to do the design on your office, it’s a wonderful opportunity for me.”
I watch her and as much as I can offer a solution to all of her objections, I know she doesn’t want me to, not really and I will only be away for three days tops. “Okay,” I agree and judging by her shocked expression she expected me to put up more of a fight. “I am likely to be in back to back meetings so it probably wouldn’t be fair to leave you sitting in a hotel room or wandering around Rome alone. You win, you stay home alone and miss me while I sort business and miss you, but another time.”
“Okay,” she agrees and does that thing I’ve noticed she does, she just lets the words fall out of her mouth, allowing her true feelings to dictate what she says. “I will miss you and I would love to explore places with you, just us, but not alone. We do have two more nights before you go.”
“Yes, we do and two more lunch breaks.” She blushes with a smile. “And then there will be a weekend when I get back.”
“I should get back to work, on your office and while you’re away I will make a start on some ideas for your bedroom.” She pushes her empty bowl away as she gets to her feet.
“Kiss me first and then I will meet you in my office in ten minutes, business, I promise, you on your design and me on my business.”
“See you in ten then.” She grins as she circles her stool to stand in front of me.
On tip toes she cups my face to pull it towards her where she closes her lips over my own and kisses me with the softest, gentlest, sweetest kisses I think I have ever known, then she is backing away, heading for the door.
“Keep your pants on,” I call after her making us both laugh until she replies.
“No promises!”
The door closes behind her and I realise I am wearing the soppiest grin I have ever known, and I like it, I like her, a lot, and my sneering inner voice can go and fuck itself.
Chapter 22
Olivia
Waking up alone seems almost alien to me after spending every night with Mason since he returned from Rome almost a month ago. I stretch out in my own bed and smile as I think of Mason who is now officially my boyfriend, although we hadn’t planned on coming out, as it were. It seemed that by the Monday after Mason returned from Italy our relationship was clear to everyone around us, so with a little persuasion from him I agreed that we should go public a couple of days later.
Other than Dec I have yet to meet any of his family. I no longer have any family, so Mason has none to meet. I only have my small circle of friends and he has already met Sarah and Jed several times. My initial concern had been my work, my bosses, mainly Mr Peterson. He was a little disapproving when I told him, although his mood seemed to change quite quickly from judgemental to apathetic, convincing me that Mason had intervened as they know each other, not that they seem like natural friends.
Brad, who I had met with while Mason was away wanted to tell me to my face that he has a new girlfriend, an old friend of his sister. I think it made him nervous that I might think there had been some crossover between me and her, and I did. I still do believe that when we were on a break he and she weren’t, but honestly, I am unbothered by it because Brad and I were over.
