He grins and holds out his hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met, I’m Joshua…McKenzie.”
Lightening strikes. “Olivia’s cousin?”
“One of them.”
I sigh in relief and narrow my gaze at Olivia. She clears her throat. “I was going out to dinner with Joshua when you so rudely interrupted.”
Raising a brow, I grin, which is part amusement and part relief. “I didn’t interrupt anything. You stopped in front of me.”
“Now children. I will go and eat at my sister’s place. You two need to talk.” He smirks. “I don’t need a badge to tell me that.” He kisses Olivia on the cheek, and pauses in front of me. “Look after her, or I will hunt you down.”
Olivia snickers. “Joshua is a good guy. Like a brother.”
“It’s a relief to know you’re related. I didn’t like seeing you with another man.” I frown, wondering what the hell made me admit that. Stepping toward Olivia, I take her arm and turn her around. “Let’s go back to your apartment and order in. I don’t want an audience for our conversation.”
Olivia surprises me and is rather subdued as we walk into her building and use the elevator. She opens her apartment door and reengages the lock before she leads me through to her open-plan living room. She’s quiet and that bothers me because the Olivia who spent time with me, wasn’t quiet, and she always had a ready smile.
Needing to get things off my chest, I admit, “Michael told me he let slip about me being in town.”
“He did. That’s why I refused to come to dinner.” She shrugs pretending it’s no big deal when I can see it is.
I toss my jacket to the sofa and move to stand in front of the beautiful woman. Even though she looks elegant and unapproachable, my body reacts to her. “We haven’t spoken or seen each other for months Olivia. I wasn’t sure if you’d want to see me. It took me three days to get business sorted, and as soon as I had, I asked Michael to bring you to dinner. I was actually worried you’d turn me down, so yeah, I took what I thought would be the easier route. Turns out I was wrong.” I back away and run my hands through my hair.
“You really did want to see me?” she whispers.
Watching her from under my brows, I realize she’s just as unsure as me. “I’ve thought about you for months, Olivia,” I admit, softly. “I guess I didn’t want you thinking I was using you for a booty call.” I smile wryly. “It’s Christmas and although Derek has invited me to spend it with him and Madison, I don’t want to intrude on their first Christmas together. I thought maybe—” I leave the sentence hanging and hope she’ll fill in what I haven’t said..
“You want to spend it with me?” Her mouth starts curving into a beautiful smile.
“The last time I thought something was going my way, and I wanted it badly, it didn’t work out so well for me.” I cough with nerves not wanting to go back into the past. “With everything in my life I’m confident, but for a long time I haven’t been in my personal life.” I smile and take one of her hands into mine. “I want to spend Christmas with you Olivia, if you’ll have me.”
Olivia rapidly blinks, but she isn’t quick enough to prevent a tear from slipping down her face. Reaching up, I wipe it away with my thumb. “Am I forgiven for being a jerk and not getting in touch with you sooner?”
“Yeah.” She smiles. “You are.”
19
Olivia
Having Geary inside my apartment feels unreal and amazing all at the same time. I want him to be here with me, but I’m afraid to believe in him. I’ve been let down before, and wanting and craving the man has been driving me crazy.
My head has been full of Geary from the moment we met and the cocky cowboy standing before me is trying to hide his nervousness, which I find sweet.
I smile softly and with a light caress over his face, I admit, “I told Michael today that I’m taking the rest of December off.” I rub at his bottom lip with my finger. “I was planning on visiting you.”
Geary lets out a relieved breath. “Olivia McKenzie was coming to me.” He gloats. “Madison was wrong.”
I blink and narrow my gaze. “Madison?”
He grins. “She told me to get off my ass and to come and get you. She said you wouldn’t chase.”
Groaning, I try to frown and look annoyed but I’m anything but, because it brought him to me. “Madison would normally be correct. I’ve never chased.” My embarrassment
rises, but I continue, “I was about to go after you. If you hadn’t shown up here.”
I’m suddenly wrapped in Geary’s warm embrace, and he just…holds me. I sigh and relax against him, wrapping my arms around his waist while I nuzzle into his neck. “I’ve missed this,” I whisper, and softly add, “and you.”
I feel a kiss against the top of my head. “I missed you too, Olivia. That’s the only reason I’m here.”