Liar

She gestured for me to read, and I scanned the top.

Internship Application for

Wellington and Russo Marketing Team.

“Oh…Wow. I…”

“She specifically said you were her top pick and hoped you’d filled it out.”

Tears burned the backs of my eyes, and I had to blink to hold them at bay.

“You’ll be a shoo-in, Olivia, with all your talent.”

“Thank you,” I breathed, overwhelmed by her kind words.

Daniel always told me I was smart, that I had crazy talent, but these last couple years, I’d walked around flippant about my future and letting people believe I was a spoiled airhead. I had no reason to prove otherwise, no one else expected anything else. Maybe part of me began believing it to be true.

But after this project, I felt a drive like I hadn’t before. To have Carina Russo say that she wanted me, locked that ambition in place, and I couldn’t wait to get home and fill it out.

“Well, sweetie. I have to go make some phone calls. I’ll see you around. Hopefully, at the party.” She stepped around the corner and jerked back, her hand to her chest. “Goodness, Alexander. You scared me,” she laughed, walking past him.

“Sorry about that, Viv. Thankfully, I remembered I forgot some papers before I made it to the airport.”

I thought I’d make it out without seeing him. I thought I’d get a reprieve, but just hearing the deep rumble of his voice from around the door had my heart tripping over itself to get to him. When he rounded the corner and saw me standing there, he froze, and I fought every muscle in my body to not run to him. His beard was thicker than before, and he looked tired.

“Olivia.”

Just my name, but it stroked across my skin, trying to seduce me into his arms. When I didn’t move, he closed the door and stepped closer, only stopping when I took a step back. His eyes pinched closed as if in pain before opening. I could at least be kind enough to not lead him on.

“How are you?”

“Fine.”

“You’ve ignored my calls.”

“I’ve been busy.”

The muscle along his jaw jumped. “Don’t lie, Olivia,” he ground out.

My lungs squeezed too tight to take a deep breath. He’d inched closer and sucked all the air from my lungs, refusing to give it back until I gave him what he wanted. I just didn’t know that I could. “What do you want me to say, Kent?”

Another step. “I want you to tell me the truth. I want you to come here and be in my arms. I want you to let me love you.”

He made it all sound so easy.

“You know I love you.” I wouldn’t pretend everything would work out, but I, at least, wouldn’t lie about how I felt about him. No amount of time dimmed that love.

“Olivia.”

“I’m sorry.”

That muscle jumped again, and he tried to hold my gaze, but his dropped before popping back up filled with the answer I was tired of hearing.

“Then, nothing has changed.” It wasn’t a question.

I tried to step around him, but his hands framed my face and held me close. “Please, don’t do this.”

Please don’t make me stay here and see what my fear was holding me back from.

I stared into his deep brown eyes, remembering how much they’d entranced me when we first met at Voyeur. Who knew one night would end like this? Was this the end? Was this the last time I’d ever look up and want to sink into his gaze?

Wanting to take the chance while I had it, I pressed to my toes and almost had my lips to his when his phone vibrated in his pocket.

“Shit,” he muttered. “That’s my driver. I have a plane waiting.”

I sank back to my feet and nodded.

“I have to go. He leaned down, speaking the words against my lips. His mouth moved like a whisper, barely there, almost imagined. “I’ll call you when I land.”

Everything in me pushed to close the breath of a gap between us. But for once, in the presence of Kent, my mind won out, reminding me of why having his hands cradle me so gently hurt so much.

I stepped out of his reach. “Don’t worry about it.”

I hated myself, standing there watching his fists clench and unclench, letting my fear win out. Terrified, if I lost Daniel, I’d find nothing but a hollow bimbo underneath. Terrified of the world of hurt awaiting me when he finally walked away.

“Dammit, Olivia.” His jaw clenched. “Listen. I’m here. If you want to talk, I’m here. Call. Message. Smoke signals. Anything.”

The lump that had been residing in my chest since last week worked its way up my throat, and I was scared that if I opened my mouth, it would all come out—I would sob and beg him to not leave me. So, instead, I nodded.