Over the years, she’d had to find some way of coping and in a lot of ways, she felt dead inside when it came to this part of her life.
She cleared her throat and took a breath. “His heart attack was brought on by the cancer’s progression. A shut down of his organs, they said. In the days that followed, I found out about the cover up. Logically, I know why they did it. My father didn’t want me to give up on culinary school. My mother knew I would have dropped everything and spent every minute with him. Quinn…Quinn was just as lost as I was. She did what her parents told her was best.
“They’d planned on telling me that summer, between high school and college, but that choice was taken out of their hands. They robbed me of those last months with the person I loved most on this earth. I didn’t get to tell him how much I loved him. I didn’t get to say goodbye. I didn’t even get to be there with him when he went.” Those thoughts still brought tears, ten years later. “I felt totally betrayed by the people I trusted most. The people who were supposed to love me and keep me safe. And the last thing I wanted to do was stay there. I didn’t even want to go to culinary school anymore. Everything that was tied to my family reminded me of my loss and the betrayal.”
Tate pulled into his complex. He navigated into his parking spot and turned off the truck. Olivia sighed, straightened and released her seatbelt. Tate did the same, but made no move to get out. They sat there a moment in silence.
“In the last few months of his life, my dad had become almost preachy about the value of living life to the fullest and following your heart. He’d gotten me hooked on the idea of never missing out on the adventures life had to offer. So when I felt like I had no one left I could trust and I needed to escape the heartbreak, I took everything I’d saved over the years from birthdays and part time jobs and bought a one-way ticket to Paris, because it was one of the places we’d always talked about going. I didn’t end up staying there long before I started moving around. And I’ve lived on every continent, experienced dozens and dozens of cities, but now, coming up on the tenth anniversary of his death, living, working and soon going to culinary school in Paris seems like…fate or destiny or coming full circle. Whatever you want to call it, it just feels like something I need to finish before I can figure out where I go from here.”
Tate stroked a hand over her hair. “He’d be so damn proud of you, Liv.”
That pushed tears to her eyes again and she huffed a sound, part laugh, part sob. “Yeah. He would. Thanks.” She looked down at her hands. “That’s why this thing with mom’s company is so… It’s troubling and upsetting and it pisses me off, too. From the moment I got here, I’ve been discovering things I didn’t know. Things they’ve kept from me. And I still don’t have the whole story.
“Mom and Quinn used Dad’s life insurance and the money mom and dad had saved for college to start the company. I couldn’t have cared less, but I didn’t think that was fair to Quinn. But when I left, they felt abandoned, despite the fact that their behavior pushed me away. It’s a huge rift, a decade in the making. We’ve made small progress over the years, but they’ve still never visited me once. Never truly valued my abilities until I saved them at the engagement party. Yet, still won’t take my advice. I just don’t know if we’ll ever be able to mend things.”
“Man, baby,” Tate commiserated. “That’s messy.”
“Very messy. Too messy. I can’t do it anymore. I can’t do lies. I can’t to secrets. I need things open and out front so I know where I stand, you know?”
He nodded. “I get it.”
“That’s not happening with mom yet. I’m not even sure it’s fully happening with Quinn. I don’t know if it will ever happen. And, God, I love them, but I don’t trust them. It’s a horrible thing to say, but it’s a worse way to feel. And how do you repair a relationship like that? I just…I don’t know what to do with them and it breaks my heart a little more every time I come home.”
He sighed, shook his head. “I’m so sorry you went through all that. I can’t even imagine how painful and complicated it has to be for you.”
“And I’m sorry into turn in such a downer after such a blockbuster start to the night.” She smiled stroked his face.
He laughed, leaned in and kissed her. “You’re not a downer. Thank you for sharing it with me.”
He kissed her again, sliding his warm tongue into her mouth. Olivia sighed and leaned into him. Pulling back just enough to break the kiss, she said, “Thanks for being so awesomely you.”
11
Tate drew Olivia into the master bath by the hand and reached in to turn on the shower. While he adjusted the temperature, she rested against his back, draping herself over him.
Once he had the temperature right, he turned and drew her dress over her head then unclasped her bra. Olivia dragged off his tee and pushed down his pants and they both stepped into the steamy shower.
He held her, letting her rest as much of her weight in his arms as she wanted. That was something he’d always wished for in a mate, to know that when things got really rough, the other person would be strong enough to carry you through. Lisa hadn’t even come close. But looking back, she’d never shown signs of having the strength.
Olivia, on the other hand, had more inner strength than anyone Tate had ever known. All she’d done with her life after all she’d been through was a testament to her perseverance and commitment.
Now if he could just get her to commit to him.
In the very next thought, he realized that by asking her to do that, he’d be asking her to give up something important. Something that made her who she was.
Tate squeezed body wash into his hand and stroked it over her back while Olivia kissed his chest and held him close. “You know we only have a few days left.”
> She groaned softly against his skin. “I know.”
“Did you mean what you said to my dad tonight?” he asked. “Or were you just being nice?”
She tipped her head back and looked up at him. Her lashes were clumped with droplets, her face glowing, her cheeks rosy, her eyes clear blue. “I always mean what I say. I may change my mind about something, but when I say it, I mean it. I loved your dad. Your sister too. And the thought of showing you my little corner of France thrills me.”
He breathed a little easier. But there were still several hurdles to jump. He put them off, focusing on enjoying the moment and soaping every inch of her down then using her like a human sponge against his own body, making her laugh.
Tate was already aroused when they dried off, and it felt amazing to fall into bed with her, naked. Feel her slide and move against him. Know he’d wake to her in the morning.
The thought of letting her go kept sneaking in and stabbing at him. He tugged her on top of him, twining her legs with his, and brushed her hair back from her face. “Tell me about school. Is it every day? Do you get weekends off?“