“Like I said, it’s not fair,” Luke repeats and shakes his head. “But I respect you coming in here today to talk to us, Vaughn.”
“At the end of the day, Olivia is an adult.” I rub my hands on my jeans as Luke turns his cold, blue eyes on me. “And she will make her own decisions. But she loves you more than just about anything, and I know it’ll kill her if she thinks she has to go against your wishes.”
“Are you giving me an ultimatum?” Luke asks.
“Not at all. I’m just stating the facts.”
“I do believe you’re in love with our daughter,” Natalie says with a smile on her lips.
“I haven’t known her very long—”
“It doesn’t take very long,” she interrupts.
“I don’t think you’re a bad man,” Luke says slowly. “In fact, I quite like you. I think you’re a hard worker, an excellent actor, and I see you doing wonderful things in our industry.”
“But you don’t see me doing wonderful things with your daughter.”
Luke rubs the back of his neck. “No. I don’t. Like I said, it’s nothing personal, but you’re—”
“Famous.” My mouth twists into an ironic smile. “It’s never done me much good, you know? I hope you change your mind. Because I don’t plan on going anywhere unless Olivia tells me to hit the road.”
“And that’s how it should be,” Natalie replies softly. “Good luck, Vaughn.”
I hold Luke’s gaze as I answer his wife. “Thank you. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
I nod and walk to the door, then turn before I leave.
“Maybe you should ask yourself who, exactly, you’re trying to protect here. Because the woman I know is more than capable of taking care of herself.”
Luke blinks, and I walk out, moving down the hall to the elevator.
I don’t stop on Olivia’s floor. She’s not in her office yet.
She went home to settle in and then planned to meet with her parents later this evening for dinner.
But I needed to speak with Luke right away. I needed him to know that I’m not hiding this. Olivia isn’t a secret.
I’m quite sure that she’s the love of my life.
And I’ll be damned if her father will keep us apart.
Chapter 10
~Olivia~
I sit in my car and stare at the house I grew up in. It’s a big home in an established neighborhood not far from my current house on Alki Beach. This one is fully gated with two separate garages, and it’s gone through several upgrades over the years.
The inside has expansive views of the Sound, many big rooms, and plenty of space to play, hide, or find a little corner for yourself.
I know every inch of it better than I know the back of my hand.
And for the first time in my life, I’m afraid to go inside.
I blow out a gusty breath, reach for my handbag, and climb out of the car.
“I guess I’d better get it over with,” I mutter as I climb the steps to the front door and walk inside without bothering to knock.
We never knock.
Only Haley and Chelsea, the two youngest, still live at home as they both finish college. They could live anywhere, but they like living here.
I can’t blame them.
“Hey,” Chelsea says from the kitchen where she’s chopping vegetables. “You’ve caused quite the drama around here.”
“Are they seriously super-mad?”
Chelsea pauses and drops some cucumber into a bowl. “I wouldn’t say mad. I would describe it as tense.”
“It’s fine,” Haley says as she joins us. “Chelsea is just dramatic.”
“Tell me Dad isn’t walking around here with his teeth clenched,” Chelsea challenges our sister. “He never gets super-mad. He just looks like he’s chewing nails. It’s kind of scary.”
“Great.” I take a deep breath. “Nice. Awesome.”
“They’re in their bedroom,” Haley says helpfully. “You know, like they do when they want to fight or have a grown-up conversation without us hearing.”
“Perfect,” I add before walking that way.
“Good luck,” Haley calls after me.
I’m not used to having these kinds of conversations with my parents. Keaton was always the one who got into trouble, not me.
I round the corner to Mom and Dad’s room and stop when I hear them speaking.
“Listen,” Mom says, “you said it yourself. He’s not a bad guy. And he came to you today to have the conversation about Liv. I think that’s a sign of a good, upstanding person.”
Vaughn talked to my dad?
“You know why I feel the way I do, baby.”
“I know. But I also think you should open your mind a bit. You’re so laid-back and kind when it comes to people, so this is unlike you. I don’t think you have an issue with Vaughn just because he’s famous. What’s really bothering you?”
There’s a pause, and I can just picture my dad dragging his hands down his face in frustration.
“I know his parents,” Dad says at last. “They’re not exactly the salt-of-the-Earth kind of people.”