“So, did you stay with the baby yesterday?” Melissa probes.
Although I had no doubt she would ask, there’s no chance I’ll talk about Guillermo or Nina with her. “Yes.”
“Had you already met her?”
“No, it was the first time I saw her.”
She sighs and then smiles. “I’m sorry. It’s not fair to pressure you for answers, but the entire hotel was talking about it yesterday, and Kathleen seemed about to kill someone. And speaking of Kathleen, Mr. Guillermo said he wants to talk to me this afternoon. Do you know what it’s about?”
I drop the salad—which I wasn’t feeling like eating anyway, to start with. “Melissa, I’m not sure what your question means, but let me give you a heads-up: I’m just an employee, so how could I know what our boss wants to talk to you about?”
“Wow, sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It was just a question.”
“I have to get back to work. I’m sorry,” I say, already getting up, but she stops me, holding my arm.
“Olívia, I didn’t mean to upset you. I promise not to be nosy anymore.”
“You already promised that before.”
“I know, but how can I not be curious? Mr. Guillermo has never let strangers near Valentina.”
“I don’t know anything about that, but let me tell you what I think about prying into others’ lives: it’s none of our business, Melissa. No matter what you or anyone else is thinking, what others live through is not our concern.”
Her cheeks turn red instantly. “I know. You have my word that even if I catch you two in the act, I won’t open my mouth to ask anything again.”
I should be upset because even after apologizing, she doesn’t give up, but I end up laughing at her audacity. “Alright. Thanks for your consideration,” I say sardonically. “But now I really need to get back to work.”
Chapter 23
On the same day
She ran away.
As soon as she left the room, I stayed just long enough to calm Nina, who was looking at her uncle as if he were the big bad wolf. Once my little girl’s suspicion of my jerk of a brother passed and she was willing to go into his arms, I went after Olívia.
Not only did she run away by leaving my house without speaking to me, but she did the same when we woke up.
“Waking up” is one way to put it. I hardly slept the entire night.
It had nothing to do with my body aching for her or having spent almost the entire night with an uncomfortable semi-erection, and everything to do with my not wanting to move, lose her warmth, or wake her up.
In the silence of the night, all I wished for was a little more of Olívia.
I know I messed up and got myself into a mess that won’t be easily resolved. It wasn’t my intention to let the physical attraction I felt from the moment I saw her cloud my judgment.I tried to fight it because being together is wrong from every angle I look at it, but I just couldn’t back down.
She’s not just beautiful. The world is full of beautiful women. Olívia, however, has that something extra that makes her unique.
The mischievous smile, the irresistible and effortless sensuality, the intelligence in her remarks, and the off-balance sense of humor would be enough to pique my interest. Even before any real intimacy, she was already driving me crazy.
What happened yesterday, however, the chemistry between us, the way she makes my blood boil, gave me the certainty that I want more, much more, with her.
I don’t understand why she ran away from me this morning.
Shyness realizing the intimacy we reached, perhaps? I doubt it. Olívia is young, but she seems to know what she wants.
She’s as sweet as honey but has a lot of backbone too. Anyone would need it to survive the last year living in that place.
I don’t know how to take the next step. While I’d like to take it easy until I’m sure how to tell her all the secrets about her past, I fear that by doing so, I’ll chase her away.
