Page 39 of Wife By Accident

“Are you enjoying your day so far?” he asked.

“It’s amazing,” Olivia replied. “Truly amazing. I would never have dreamed that my first trip to New York City would be like this.”

“Good,” Leo said. “I’ve had a nice day, too.”

“Good,” Olivia repeated. “And if you ever come to Seattle — or Coeur d’Alene — I promise I’ll return the favor.”

“Coeur d’Alene?” Leo asked. “Is that where you’re from in Idaho?”

“Hmm.”

“Is it nice?”

“It’s not bad,” Olivia said. She smiled at Leo. “No, that isn’t true. It’s a beautiful town. It has a big, beautiful lake, and it’s near lots of open farmland. The people are lovely. But it’s not very big, and it’s kind of isolated, because it’s up in the north. That’s why I wanted to go somewhere else and figure life out for myself.”

“What was it like when you first moved to Seattle?”

“It was exciting. And scary. I drove there by myself in my car, which wasn’t in great shape, and I was kind of worried it would break down.” Olivia laughed softly. “Now, I usually fly. Do you go back to visit LA often?”

“Not really.” Leo glanced at her. “It was a nice place to grow up, and I do miss my parents, but my whole life is in New York now.”

“Does your brother live here, too?”

That shadow came back. “He…”

But before Leo could answer, the cab slowed and came to a stop.

“We’re here,” the driver said. Leo paid him, and they got out.

“This is our last stop of the day,” Leo said. “But it’s my favorite. Ready?”

“Ready,” Olivia said. And she was — though she couldn’t help wondering what Leo had been about to say about his brother. Something in the back of her mind, perhaps a memory from their night in Vegas, told her it was important, though she couldn’t place exactly why.

Or maybe everything about Leo just seemed important. Olivia was starting to see why she’d married him. She hadn’t clicked like this with anyone in… years. Maybe ever. She was interested in every tiny detail about him, from his relationship with his brother, his childhood memories, to whether he liked pickles on his hamburgers. And she wanted to tell him things, too, because he really seemed to listen. Unlike too many of the guys she’d dated before, he didn’t seem like he was just waiting for an opportunity to lecture her or fill the conversation with his own opinions.

Olivia was here in New York to get divorced. And she would get divorced. Even if a small part of her was beginning to worry that her life would be emptier when Leo left it.

CHAPTER 17

LEO

Leo hadn’t taken a day off in years — apart from attending his brother’s funeral and flying to Nevada to scatter his ashes. And he wasn’t sure he’d ever taken a day off just because he wanted to. But today, he had no regrets at all. In fact, he didn’t want the day to end.

As he’d shown Olivia around, he hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her. She’d been so full of wonder at everything — not just the aerial view of the city or the trip on the yacht, but the little things, too, like seeing hot-dog vendors on the sidewalk or kids playing in the park. It had made Leo see his city through new eyes. Her eyes.

He was seeing her in a new way, too. He’d quickly forgotten that he was supposed to be keeping her at arm’s length. Especially when she’d told him that lots of things were more important to her than money. It had made Leo think about the things that were more important to him than money. Like Kyle. Like the essence of his company. Like the way he felt when he was talking and laughing with Olivia.

It was silly. They barely knew each other. Yet Leo couldn’t help feeling a connection with her, the kind of connection he couldn’t deny or ignore.

“Oh, wow,” Olivia said softly beside him. They’d just stepped off the elevator and into his favorite rooftop restaurant. A waiter came over to lead them to his usual table overlooking the city, where the sun was just sinking beneath the buildings. The sky was tinged pink and orange, and the glass of the skyscrapers was, too. Even the Hudson River gleamed like a colored ribbon far below.

“Do you see why I like this place?” Leo asked as he pulled a chair out for her.

“I do,” Olivia nodded, sinking into the chair. “I really do.” She turned to look at the view, and one hand absently tucked a strand of her curls behind her ear. Her hair had been braided at the beginning of the day, but now curls were escaping in loose tendrils that framed her face. She looked even lovelier now.

“Should we risk some champagne?” Leo asked.

“Maybe just one glass.” Olivia met his eyes again and smiled, “We should celebrate today, after all.”