There was no doubt Kent still wanted me. But there was also no doubt that he wasn’t going to repeat our night. Logically, I knew that was the right decision and didn’t pursue it. I wasn’t desperate enough to throw myself at someone who would continually turn me down. Too bad, my body didn’t get the message.
“Two nights in one month,” my mom said to Kent across the table. “I’m liking this trend.”
“How can I turn down such good cooking?”
“It’s the least I could do for all your help. Usually, David is able to assist me with all my computer woes, but he’s still out of town for work.”
Daniel slapped Kent’s shoulder. “Kent’s a whizz with computers. Almost got a degree in computer science before I lured him over with my business plans.”
“Biggest mistake of my life,” Kent joked, slapping Daniel’s back harder.
My mom smiled and shook her head. “You two are grown men, and yet, you still act like boys in college.”
They both shrugged, unrepentant with who they were. Daniel had always been a work hard, play harder kind of guy, and I imagined Kent was the same way.
“And I get Olivia here twice in one month too. I really am being spoiled with attention.”
“Har. Har, Mom. I’m here more than twice a month.” I looked over at Kent, who was looking anywhere but at me. He’d had no problem staring at the hotel, but in my home, he avoided looking at me like I was Medusa and would turn him to stone. “Besides, I can’t pass up the opportunity to see my new boss outside of work.”
“How is your project going, by the way,” Mom asked.
“Good. I’m enjoying it more than I thought.”
“I hear you’re there more than you need to be,” Daniel chimed in. “You going to become a hotel magnate like Kent here?”
Daniel winked, and it warmed me to my bones. He’d always told me I was destined to be great. He said I had too much power within me to be the socialite my parents envisioned.
“I hardly doubt Olivia will run an empire. Maybe a shopping one,” Mom joked. My parents loved me and supported me, but like most people, they didn’t look past the surface. Not like Daniel did.
“Maybe someday,” I said, ignoring her comment. “Who knows, maybe I’ll use all of Kent’s information against him and start my own empire to challenge his.”
He finally looked up and cocked an eyebrow at my challenging stare. His lips parted like he was going to speak when the front door opened.
“Honey, I’m home,” my dad called from the foyer.
My mom’s face lit up as she stood from the chair to greet my dad when he walked into the dining room. “You weren’t supposed to be home until next week.”
“I finished up early and rushed home for my girls.”
I’d been staring at Kent as everyone’s attention was focused on my dad, and his neutral expression tensed when my father kissed the top of my head like I was a child. During our night together, when I’d admitted I was only nineteen, Kent had frozen, and I was sure he was going to pull away. But he’d already tasted me—touched me. My age hadn’t mattered past having more. But sitting at my family table with my father, my age sat like an elephant between us, impossible to ignore.
“Speaking of travel,” Dad began, settling into his seat. “How was New York?”
“Good,” Daniel and Kent said at once.
“We had a meeting with our market analyst at Voyeur a couple weeks ago and feel good about where we’re taking it,” Daniel explained.
“I’ll have to host my next meeting there,” Dad joked.
“Kent set it up,” Daniel explained, nudging Kent with his elbow. “He likes to mix business with pleasure. No matter where he goes.”
My dad barked a laugh while my mom admonished Daniel for talking so openly.
Kent glanced my way only for a second before facing my dad with a shrug and leaned back in his chair like he hadn’t a care in the world.
“By the way,” Daniel continued, ignoring my mom. “Did you take that woman home that night?”
I dropped my eyes to the table, unwilling to watch his reaction. I ground my teeth, trying to ignore the heavy weight sitting on my chest. I wasn’t familiar with the feeling spreading like fire through my veins. But the thought of Kent—of being presented with solid evidence that he’d fucked someone recently—had every muscle in my body tightening, rejecting the idea.
Jealousy. I was jealous.
Such an odd feeling. With Aaron, I’d been devastated, but not this. I’d never had jealousy touch me before as I’d had everything I could want or need. Except for Kent.
“That’s enough, boys.” Mom made sure they heard her slight by calling them, boys.
“Don’t be with men like us, Olivia,” Daniel said, laughing at my mom’s scowl. Somehow, I managed to lift my eyes and give a semblance of a smile, avoiding looking over at Kent.