Damn.
Just lunch? Livvy is here...
Immediately a message pinged back.
How did the chat with her work rival go?
He let a wry smile cross his lips.
Maybe I should have listened to you... but I think she’s forgiven me.
While he dumped the peeled potatoes into the pan—yes, he could have bought gnocchi, but cooking for Livvy made him happy—Pat’s reply came back.
Only need you for lunch shift. I’ll be back for 3:00 p.m. You can leave at 3:05 p.m.—after giving me a full update.
He smiled and sent her a thumbs-up, then glanced over at the living room where Olivia was now riding the giant ball, her hips moving in a way that reminded him of how she rode him...
Reluctantly he looked away. What was he going to do about tomorrow? Could he ask Olivia to look after Ellie? Was that fair to either of them?
Figuring he could at least see if there was another option, he dialed his parents, then put the phone on speaker so he could carry on prepping the miso sauce.
“Hi, Mum,” he called out when she picked up.
“Hello, Connor. How’s my granddaughter?”
“She’s good, thanks. And so am I,” he added dryly. “But I’ve agreed to work the lunch shift tomorrow. Are you around to look after her?”
“Maybe you should have askedbeforeyou agreed to work it,” she replied tartly. “You’re twenty-eight, Connor. Time to stop relying on your parents to bail you out of trouble.”
Frustration licked at his insides. Would his parents ever stop dragging up his history?
At the sound of a throat being cleared, he turned to find Olivia hovering on the edge of the kitchen. Fucking great.
Her eyes met his. “I can take care of Ellie tomorrow.”
This was what he’d been trying to avoid. He didn’t want her to feel she had to. Nor did he want to have this discussion with his parents listening in.
“Who’s that?” His mother’s voice echoed into the kitchen from the phone on the worktop.
“Olivia. My girlfriend,” he added, because he liked the sound of it.
“And can we trust her with our precious grandchild?”
Christ. “Itrust her withmydaughter.”
He looked apologetically at Olivia, who nodded and walked toward the phone. “I appreciate your concern,” she said evenly into the speaker, “but my sister trusts me with my nine-year-old niece. I’m sure I can manage a few hours with Ellie without her coming to any harm.”
“Looks like the situation’s resolved, then. Thanks, Mum, speak to you later.” He jammed his finger on the Call End button and turned to Olivia. “I have to work the lunch shift tomorrow.”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I heard.”
She was pissed at him. He pried out her hands and clasped them in his. “I’m sorry, I know this is crap, but Pat doesn’t often ask for a favor, and I kind of owe her.”
She nodded stiffly. “I understand.”
Okay, still pissed. “If you’re not cross that I have to work, what is it? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. I reckon I’ve got a reasonable read on you now.”
Her hands shifted inside his. “Why didn’t you ask me to take care of Ellie instead of troubling your parents?”
